Well, once again I have come to a tune with a debatable release date. "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" by Daryl Hall and John Oates was released in 1982 according to the Songfacts website, but it was on the album Private Eyes, which was released in 1981. So, I am going with 1981. That seems correct to me. I was pretty young, so I don't remember this song too well from back when it was released. I think I probably became familiar with it later in the '80s. It is supposedly one of the top 100 tunes of the 1980s, and I can believe it.
So, this song is pretty much about a man and a woman in a relationship. She uses her body tand now she wants his soul, but he won't think about it -- say no go. I'm sitting here wondering what "that" is that he can't go for. I am thinking it might be cheating and coming back. That seems to be a hot topic in many '80s songs. Some people take the cheater back, and some can't go for that, no can do. I can't be 100% sure that he is talking about cheating, but it seems from the song that she might be the type of woman to go out and cheat and then come back and still want to have a relationship. Not sure. In fact, I wasn't even sure that there was an alto sax solo in this, because when I listened to it, it sure sounded like tenor to me. In the video, there is an alto, but in many live performances, it's tenor. I, personally, prefer tenor because it has a richer, darker tone. Meanwhile, this song is supposedly the first to use a drum machine, which I think really gives it it's groove. I also happen to like the mystical, tinkly synthesized part in the beginning. You can hear that throughout the song as well. In fact, this tune has so many musical layers -- it is amazing. Now, I can go for that!
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