Well, I am long, long overdue for a post here at Becky's World. I took a bit of a hiatus over the holidays and will try to get back into the swing of daily posts. Meanwhile, since we all made it to 2013, I thought it would be the perfect chance to talk about one of my favorite Def Leppard tunes, "Armageddon It." Yes, it is a play on words (Are you gettin' it? Yes, Armageddon it). Pretty cool, and with this awesomely guitar-saturated rock anthem, "Armageddon It" is the perfect phrase to have fun with in this tune. In fact, it seems pretty clear as to what the song references (in terms of "gettin' it), so why not take charge of the opportunity to play around with words? If you read the lyrics, it seems to be an overture to someone who seems all fired up and ready but then hesitates to "trigger the gun." So, nothing left to do at this point but cut to the chase:
Gimme all of your lovin', ev'ry little bit Gimme all that you got, ev'ry bit of it Ev'ry bit of your lovin', oh, c'mon live a bit Never want it to stop
Pretty '80s looking jacks here
Makes perfect sense to me! And you just have to love a song that uses the term "lovin'." Yeah, only in rock lyrics can one be so creative. I mean, I don't think that would be realistic in casual conversation... So, it's great to hear it in this tune. I must admit that I never realized that "jumpin' jack" was part of the lyrics, though. Kind of reminds me of playing jacks back in the '80s. Anyway, I hope you'll enjoy this tune and video as much as I do. Gotta love the big bear slippers on Joe Elliott at the end of the video, too. I think I may have bought those for my dad or brother back in the day. I'm definitely gettin' every bit of the nostalgia from this video... Thank you, Def Leppard -- rock on!
Well, I am away from home at a conference again, so it took me a while to decide on a tune for this evening. I did a bit of browsing and decided to take a look at Pat Benatar's "Love Is A Battlefield." I absolutely LOVE this song and always did. I can't believe it came out in 1983 -- it seems like just yesterday! I used to play this song over and over and never got tired of watching the video, too. I think I took a hiatus from listening to it in the past few years, because it may have gotten just a bit too much airplay for my taste. It is a terrific song. Don't want to spoil it by hearing it too much.
So, I heard it again this evening and watched the video. I knew the video was terrific and remembered how cool the dance sequences were. I read that Pat Benatar had to learn the dances and found it to be very challenging since she was not a dancer. I can understand that. The first time I saw an opera, I was amazed at how the chorus had to sing AND dance. No way that I would be able to do that! Anyway, the video is awesome. If you haven't seen it in a while, check it out. Short story line -- Pat plays a young woman who gets in an argument with her folks. They throw her out of the house, she runs away (taking a bus out of town) and ultimately winds up as a prostitute/stripper or something like that. I think it's a prostitute, because she is in some kind of club with a bunch of other women and one really, really ugly looking pimp. Yikes. His gold tooth and the look on his face are so creepy. But, he is a terrific dancer. You can tell when they have the little shoulder-to-shoulder dance off. My guess is that the actor was a dancer. Gotta love when Pat throws the drink in his face, too. Take that, pimp! She and the girls have one last dance number and then escape from the place. Yup, they go out into the sunrise as opposed to sunset. We see Pat on the bus again. I guess she is on to her next destination (hopefully someplace with less scary pimps). Just kidding. I LOVE Pat Benatar. I know others have tried to sing this song, but only Pat can do it the way it should be done. She has a couple of tour dates in April. Maybe I will get to see her!
Finally, Friday....ah.... It's the day I have been waiting for all week! Time to celebrate, and what better way to do that than with an up tempo '80s classic? I was thinking of a particular song by Toto, and then I did some browsing on the internet, ultimately finding the song "Easy Lover" by Phil Collins and Philip Bailey. This was written in 1984, so it is perfect! I forgot how much fun this song is--and the video as well. If you watch the video, it begins with Phil and Philip (wow, I just noticed they have the same name) riding up in a helicopter. The opening synthesizer line kind of goes with the helicopter controls engaging, so it all sort of syncs up so to say. Then, the two are in the studio, rehearsing and recording the song. It looks like they are having so much fun, and I especially like the part where they are working in this "swap the mic" dance move. But, it is not as funny as the segment where it looks like Philip Bailey is showing Phil Collins some of his classic Earth, Wind, and Fire dance moves. Awesome!
I can remember this song from back in the day, and I admit that I didn't pay too much attention to the lyrics. I remember "she's an easy lover, she'll get a hold on you believe it," but that was about it. I actually remember the opening keyboard lick more than the lyrics. So, I looked at the lyrics this evening. Yeah, I kind of remember now: "She's an easy lover, she'll get a hold on you believe it, she's like no other, before you know it you'll be on your knees..." Aha! That is pretty interesting. And then it gets better: "She's an easy lover, she'll take your heart but you won't feel it, she's like no other, and I'm just trying to make you see." Ouch! She'll take your heart but you won't feel it? That is heavy. Reminds me of "Maneater" by Hall and Oates or "Evil Woman" by the Electric Light Orchestra. The difference with this tune is that it is kind of upbeat and happy--so much so that you don't realize the words are telling you this woman will rip your heart out! Ah...love...and heartbreak. Well, the woman is an easy lover, so I guess it all makes sense. Whatever the case, the song is well-written, and both of the Philip/Phils harmonize amazingly. Philip Bailey has that awesome "falsetto" type voice, and coupled with Phil Collins, it is just a terrific song. They could be singing about anything, and it would be terrific. Enjoy!
Well, what I heard this evening is that there is a new Blondie album! I had no idea! This is pretty exciting news, and it looks like the album was just released in the U.S. this past September. It's the first album since their 2003 release, Curse of Blondie. I think I may have to listen to the songs on this album a few times, because they are really addicting. I saw the video for "Mother" on their website and thought it was a terrific song...and then I found "What I Heard" this evening. Love this song! I think the lyrics are awesome, too. In the chorus, we hear "You told me you were done with her, and I believed every word, and now I wonder what I heard...oooooh oooh oooh." I think it would be really cool if she threw "kick you to the curb" in there, kind of like this: "You told me you were done with her, and I believed every word, and now I kick you to the curb...ooooooh oooh oooh." That's my kind of lyric! Yeah! In all seriousness, this song is just as full of gusto, rock, and passion as we would expect from Blondie. I love it. Lost track of how many times I heard it this evening. Debbie Harry's legendary rock vocals and the drive behind this song make it perfect for today. I hope she goes on tour again this year. Maybe she could tour with Pat Benatar again--or maybe with Heart. She can certainly hold her own on tour, too. I'd be first in line for tickets if she tours here. Rock on, Ms. Harry! You sound better than ever!
Well, it's kind of late here in Becky's World. Long day, and I am pretty tired. Well...I was pretty tired, until I found out that Survivor is on tour now. In fact, they will be performing in Rhode Island, which is not far from me. I might just have to go see them! I am feeling super-excited about this for some reason. I think I can "feel the hand of fate" reaching out to me...just like in their song, "I Can't Hold Back." Check out the lyrics -- they are pretty gripping and enchanting. That coupled with lead singer Jimi Jamison's magical voice -- ah, yes, "I can't hold back, I'm on the edge." What a fun song! I had forgotten about it. I'm sure "Eye of the Tiger" is their biggest. Everyone remembers that from Rocky III, but Survivor had lots of great tunes. I am officially naming "I Can't Hold Back" as my personal favorite. Check out these lyrics: http://www.metrolyrics.com/i-cant-hold-back-lyrics-survivor.html
The video is captivating as well. The lead singer and the girl he's swooning over are at the book store (turning the pages of desire no doubt). He sings the first two verses with acoustic guitar, and when the drums come in,,,BOOM! A flash of light...and they are in the concert arena. She is all glammed up super '80s style, and he is on stage sporting red leather pants with zippers all over the place (leather parachute pants I suppose -- remember those?). The video continues, and they eventually have quite the subway ride home. When I saw that, I thought, "Hey, is that the L in Chicago?" Yup, it is. The band is from Chicago. Love that city! Toward the end of the video, we see that the whole thing was a day dream, and he chases after her when she leaves the bookstore. Alas, he misses her, and she rides away on the L all alone... It's okay. I am sure they found each other eventually and lived happily ever after :)
So, it looks like we are in the midst of another celebrity death hoax running rampant in cyberspace. What is even more disturbing is that Kim Kardashian was out there perpetuating this rumor with her tweets. Yikes! Kim--wake-up, honey. You are Armenian! Cher is Armenian! You should support your brethren (or shall I say sisters?).
I still don't quite understand the popularity of the death hoax, but nevertheless, I thought it would be the perfect time to pay homage to Cher. Her career has spanned several decades, and let's face it, she's an Oscar award-winning actress. I really enjoyed her movies. Her music in the '80s was fun. Nothing wrong with that. Everyone seems to remember the video from "If I Could Turn Back Time" because she wore that scandalous seatbelt-type getup and sang on a Navy battleship. When I read about the hoax, I heard the song "I Found Someone" playing in my mind. I guess I hadn't watched the video since it came out in 1987. I don't think it got as much airplay as "If I Could Turn Back Time" (well, I guess the reason for that is obvious). Anyway, check out the "I Found Someone Video." Cher's then real-life boyfriend is in there. The plot is straightforward. They go to a club, some girl gives Cher's man a look, he's tempted, and I guess he goes with her. Then, later in the video, we see Cher with a new guy, but the funny thing is that at first, I couldn't tell the difference between the two guys because of their hair. Meanwhile, Cher is gettin' down with this new guy on the dance floor--really rubbing the first guy's face in it while he dances with the other girl. But, in the end, she takes her cheating guy back. Hmm. I guess that's alright--I mean, they have to end the video somehow. That's kind of nice, but he could have at least brought her flowers.
So, I was a bit inspired this evening by NAMM once again. It's only been about two days since I returned from the convention, but I was completely thrilled one afternoon when I was there and saw Bono walk by our booth. Yes! Well, actually, no. Come to find out, it was a really great Bono impersonator. Oh well. I should have known by the lack of an entourage. Stevie Wonder walked by with an entourage, and that was the real deal.
So, I thought I would take a look at U2's "With or Without You." This is one of my favorite U2 songs - and probably one of my favorite '80s songs in general. Kind of seems timeless, though, and not very "80s." I think we can attribute that to the masterful lyricism of Bono and the extreme vocal control he demonstrates throughout the song. The entire band performs with just as much control, creating a really tightly-knit ensemble that kind of grips you a the listener from beginning to end. It is like a well-cooked meal or a fine painting with a full color palette. Hard to describe, but the progression and development of the song is amazing with its layers of instrumental parts building and its vocals intensifying with a careful crescendo. It's no surprise that there are several instrumental versions of this on YouTube. I chose two for this post: one by the Vitamin String Quartet and one by 2Cellos. Both of these are beautiful. Bono and U2 should be proud. The have inspired so many of us. Enjoy.
The '80s were filled with so many love songs, which are typically my favorite, but I thought it would be interesting to look at some other styles this evening. The dawn of music videos peeked everyone's interest and seemed sort of "other-worldly" at times. There are so many videos with themes are references to space, technology, and well -- some things that are just plane scary. I think back to 1982, when Billy Joel's "Pressure" was written, and as I watch the video, I am reminded of the film "Poltergist." Boy did that movie scare me. There were so many others, too, and I think we were all a bit enthralled by horror and the paranormal back then.
In the video, you will notice all kinds of strange, semi-paranormal things -- like people sinking into floors and being pulled sideways into walls. Coffee spills by itself, water is pouring out or a song man's desk at school. Kind of creepy and out of control! Nothing like being stuck in a maze, either. I guess this video is probably better for Halloween or something, but, the song is just so well-composed that I couldn't resist. Nice to visit something different every now and then.
I can't believe it has been almost a week since my last post. I apologize. I'm not sure how I got this far behind. I was traveling a bit and am just about ready to leave again for the NAMM show in Anaheim. That show is where everyone in the music business converges at the Anaheim Convention Center to show off all their latest goods -- and by goods, I mean products. Anyway... I was in a thrift store the other day and heard Steve Perry's "Foolish Heart." It always amazes me what great music you can hear at places like that or drugstores like Walgreen's or CVS. I've also heard some awesome '70s and '80s tunes in Michael's craft store, too. You never know where you might catch excellent tunes while doing a bit of leisurely shopping.
So, I had to write about "Foolish Heart," which was released in 1984. I didn't realize it was in the first half of the decade, but nevertheless, it is another timeless classic. I hadn't paid much attention to the lyrics over the years. I just remember, "Foolish heart, hear me calling...stop before, you start falling." Then, I thought the lyrics went on to say, "foolish heart, hear my worries..." but it is actually, "foolish heart, heed my warning." Ah, yes--sometimes we make up the most interesting lyrics in our minds... Alas, I read some background information about the song, and it is about a man who wants to be in a relationship but is a bit hesitant, because he doesn't want his heart broken. Makes perfect sense to me. Regardless of the scenario, I am simply in love with Steve Perry's voice. It is like magic. Nothing else compares. His voice has such beauty, intensity, control, and character. He could sing about taking out the garbage or raking leaves or something, and it would be amazing. The video is also very simple, which is terrific. It lets you really focus on the beauty of Steve's voice and the pure, delicate sentiment of the song. Very fitting as we approach Valentine's Day. Hope you enjoy this Steve Perry classic!
There are many songs out there from the '80s about love - no doubt about it. Many of them ask us questions. "Why Can't This Be Love?" "Is ThisLove?" The list goes on and on, but for this evening, I thought I would look at Whitsnake's "Is This Love?" Great song from 1987, and it definitely takes me back to middle school. It was such an awesome song back in the day, but I am sure people mostly remember it for the video. Yes, Tawny Kitaen was in this video and the video for Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again." "Here I Go Again" is also an excellent song and one of my favorites (very upbeat, up tempo, high octane for sure). Anyway, Kitaen and Whitesnake frontman David Coverdale were a couple back in the '80s, so it is not surprising to see her featured in the video. Guys are probably still drooling, so I give her credit. David Coverdale may be overshadowed by her in the video, but I think he looks pretty good! Gotta love that hair, but hey, he was a good-looking rockstar! He could have any hairstyle he wanted. He has also really aged quite gracefully -- just in case anyone was wondering. (Throwing a pic out there for everyone to see).
David Coverdale
The song itself is pretty simple. The lyrics tell the tale of a man who is obviously deeply in love and cannot stand to be apart from the woman in his life. He can feel his love for her "growing stronger day by day," and he can't wait to see her again so he can hooooooold her in his arms..... Wow. This is pretty intense. Definitely some intense images in the video, too, with a plot that makes you feel for David. Seems like the relationship was a bit volatile. Anyway, I do hope you enjoy the video and the song -- it's a nice, slow-paced ballad for a change, but it maintains the rock intensity of the decade with its vocals and guitar. Very well done.
I was looking for something kind of quiet this morning, and after a bit of surfing the web, I found a couple of versions of Bryan Adams' "Heaven." I think there was a dance version of this released in 2002, and it was cute. But, the original song was definitely much different and memorable for its sensitive and beautiful lyrics. The melody is simple, and the vocal line rather delicate. Written in 1983 and released on Bryan's 1984 album, "Reckless," it is a beautiful '80s ballad. I read that Bryan was influenced by Journey when writing "Heaven," particularly by Journey's "Faithfully."
So, it is much too early in the day for me to compare and contrast a beautiful rock ballad with a dance version, so luckily, I found the original video and an acoustic "unplugged" version. I have to say that the acoustic version surprised me -- I never knew it was out there! When I first saw the video, I didn't even recognize Bryan Adams (mostly because of his hairstyle). He has a different look in this video. I guess I am used to his white t-shirt and jeans look from the '80s. Anyway, the acoustic version has some truly beautiful vocals and acoustic guitar. About two minutes into the song, the rest of the ensemble joins in, and a whole new color palette is produced. It's almost like turning the lights on. I really enjoyed the performance and thought the recorder was a nice touch, too. At least, I thought I heard a recorder, but at the end I saw a man playing what appeared to be a metal tube. Hmm....I imagine it is an electronic wind instrument of some sort. It definitely does the trick. I will have to find out more about that. Anyway, hope you enjoy these two versions of "Heaven."
Ahh...a nice quiet evening at home, and Chicago's music is here to make me smile--or cry. I've heard "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" many times on the radio when I'm driving, and without fail, it makes me cry everytime. When Peter Cetera gets to the chorus and sings, "and after all that's been said and done, you're just a part of me I can't let go." It's like a bittersweet melody that just lingers and makes you tearful. But, alas, Peter Cetera's voice is magical, so most of the song makes me smile.
I found two videos that I wanted to share. One is from 1982 (when the song was released) and the other is from 2004. These videos are very different. In the first one, it's not hard for me to say that I was mesmerized not only by Peter Cetera's voice but his looks as well. Wow. I don't think I've ever seen anyone with such perfect hair and teeth. It is amazing, and I mean that honestly. I do believe I have a video crush now. Before I had seen this, I was simply in love with the melody, piano, and lyrics. So delicate, so heartfelt. Now, I can't stop watching this video! So, I wondered if there were more, and I stumbled one with a LIVE ORCHESTRA! BRAVO! I am so happy to have found this video. The brass really crank things up at the end, and the strings are kickin' with their funky, syncopated '70s licks. If only I could get a gig like that... Anyway, Peter Cetera looks somewhat different in this video, and I do believe that the key has changed to accommodate time and his graceful aging. But, alas, Mr. Cetera still has it. Too bad I didn't realize until today that he hasn't been in the band since 1985. Oh well! His beautiful voice and music transcend time, so it's okay if I am a bit behind...
I have had this song stuck in my head for a while. Actually, it is the synthesized keyboard "ostinato" that is really what I hear over and over, but that is a good thing. It's got this crazy momentum with a tinge of a "robotic" sound that is very addicting. So, once you get past this in the intro, you'll hear the lyrics, and we're off to the races.... At least that's kind of what it feels like. This Van Halen classic was released in 1986, and it seems to energize me everytime I hear it. It really is timeless, and it is one of the most invigorating rock songs I've heard. Makes me want to run out and buy Gatorade and then run a marathon or something. I'm not sure what it is about this song that makes it so energetic and propelling, but I am hooked.
I think, perhaps, the chorus may be the key to the intense energy of this song... "It's got what it takes...so tell me why can't this be love?" Hmm... It's got what it takes. Yes. This is most likely the phrase that hints at sportsmanship, competition, athleticism, energy. Could be a commercial. Do you have what it takes? Could you be love? Sure puts the pressure on, but SCORE! Once you find the one who has what it takes, well, it just could be love...
Okay--so I admit that the title of this post is a bit odd. Let me explain. I was watching "Behind the Music: Remastered" on VH-1 Classic.com. It was the episode about Pat Benatar, who is probably my absolute favorite female singer from the '80s (and my idol!). Toward the end of the episode, they showed a clip of Debbie Harry from Blondie because she and Pat had recently toured together. This reminded me of how much I enjoyed the song "Maria" by Blondie, which was released in 1998. So, technically, that is not an '80s song, but it was the first hit for the group since they broke up in 1982.
Anyway, Pat and Debbie are both amazing singers, and I wanted to share a light song this evening, so I thought "Maria" was perfect. Looking at the lyrics and reading a bit about the song, I found out that it is about a boy's love/infatuation for a girl from because the boy was shy and "awkward." The whole "Maria" and "Ave Maria" related to the idolization concept and the idea of the girl being sort of "untouchable" to this extremely insecure boy. Pretty neat. I hadn't thought much about it before since I just loved the vocal quality in the song and the very awesome chime sounds. I do hope you will enjoy this tune. There are so many Blondie and Pat Benatar songs that are amazing, so perhaps this will be sort of an interlude to more posts with their music!
I read this evening that Steven Tyler of Aerosmith is engaged to model Erin Brady. I hadn't heard about their relationship before, but the articles mentioned that they were dating since 2006. So, I guess it is not new news, but their engagement is new. Congrats to the couple! I guess it is a bit controversial, theoretically, since he is 63 and she is 38. But, you know, in Becky's World, age is really just a number. I don't pay attention to numbers unless they are scale degrees ;)
So, I thought it would be perfect to take a look at "Walk This Way" to celebrate the occasion. The song was released by Aerosmith in 1975, but a version with Run-DMC was released in 1986 -- and this is the version I remember. It was so cool to see a rap group join forces with a rock group, which was kind of a monumental event back in the '80s. Today I think it is much more common to see this type of genre "hybrid" or crossing (like on CMT's "Crossroads"). It certainly provides audiences with an extraordinary artistic product, and audiences who may never have heard the music of one half of the collaborators have the chance to experience something new. Back in 1986, I may not have listened much to Aerosmith, but I certainly found out who they were after this song. What I mostly remember is that rap music was new, and it was really quite intriguing. The beats, the record scratching, song sampling, and rap vocals were simply something completely new. It seemed to spread like wildfire, and it really was a phenomenon. Rap singers definitely had a look, too, and I remember many of my classmates emulating the styles. That being said, what I remember most about this song and video are the Adidas sneakers! Bright white, black stripes, no laces, tongue sticking out. Yeah. That was cool. Goodbye laces!
Since I know it is already Christmas Eve in many places around the world, I thought "Do They Know It's Christmas" would be the perfect song for today. Yes, it is Christmas time -- very magical, very happy, and I think the mere thought of the holiday brings a bright smile to the faces of so many of us as we think about gathering with our families and celebrating. It definitely brings a smile to mine!
So, "Do They Know It's Christmas" was essentially a mega-hit in 1984. As I listened to it a few times this evening in HD on YouTube, I realized that I never had the chorus correct in my mind! I always thought they said, "We know....whoah oh oh...Let them know it's Christmas time." But, in actuality, it;s "Feed the world, let them know it's Christmas time," or as it sounds to me when they sing the chorus, "Feed the wooooo---oooor---orld, let-them-know-it's-Christ-mas-time..." I can't believe I had those lyrics wrong in my mind since 1984! Wow. The other amazing part with the HD version is that I could actually hear the bass line (on bass guitar). This could be because of the HD, or because I am so much older know then when I was a 9-year-old beginning clarinetist (and by no means would have understood a bass line). It could be both my age and the HD now, but I tell you, that is a one nice bass line. And Phil Collins is really tearing it up on the drums! He must have had so much fun.
I think the best part of the song, for me at least, is the unique sound of each singer's voice. They are each so distinctive and have such character. As they sing in succession and then harmonize together, it's literally like a box of chocolates or a beautiful collage. Each voice is a unique gem. Paul Young, Boy George, George Michael, Sting, Simon Le Bon, Bono...and then some. It's amazing. As you watch the video, you can see instrumentalists from the various bands playing guitar and percussion together. Gotta love that one member from Culture Club playing maracas at the end. It's also nice to see everyone gathering with their kids, spouses, and significant others as the video progresses. When the video first came out, I thought it was so cool when they showed the singers getting out of their cars all "dressed down and incognito" to go to the recording studio. Now, I think the best part of the video is the music, so thank goodness for maturity! Hope you enjoy this, and Merry Christmas!
So, yesterday, a story broke out all over the web about Jon Bon Jovi's death. Low and behold, it was a hoax. Whew. That is good news, but that was certainly not funny! Can you imagine? For all the die-hard Bon Jovi fans out there, well, this hoax was blasphemous. I am so glad he is alive and well - and looking quite good, too. He was not "shot through the heart." Nope, he is at home in New Jersey getting ready for Christmas. Meanwhile, "You Give Love a Bad Name" would be a good song for this event, but my favorite Bon Jovi song is "Livin' On A Prayer." The story of Tommy and Gina is one that is so romantic, and all the women out there who were in love with Bon Jovi fell even more deeply in love after hearing this song. The story of these two kids surviving tough times together on love and not money is just really sweet.
The video is pretty cool, too. All those members of Bon Jovi flying around in harnesses -- wow! I wish I could have seen them live back in the '80s. Their hair was amazing, and those outfits were the pinnacle of rock and roll glamour. They were one truly rockin' "hair band." They were not all just good looks, though. Jon's vocals were powerful, and the guitar and drums were pure '80s magic. My absolute favorite part of the song is the awesome modulation at 3:52. "We've gotta hold on...ready or not. You live for the fight when it's all that you've got." KEY CHANGE! "Whoah...we're halfway there... WHOA OH...livin' on a prayer..." Totally awesome! Hope you enjoy this tune. Praise to Bon Jovi!
This is definitely one of my favorite songs from the 80s. For the longest time, I only paid attention to the chorus and assumed it was about a guy cheating on his girlfriend -- and perhaps asking for forgiveness. I admit that I didn't really listen to the rest of the lyrics or even hear them (other than the line "and now you find yourself in '82"). I thought that line about "'82" was pretty cool since the song was released then, and it sounded so "futuristic." Now it seems like ancient history... Nevertheless, I read the lyrics to the song and some commentary, and now I realize that it is about a teenaged couple. They must have had a very intense relationship, or at least as intense as teenaged relationship can be. Anyway, the lead singer is sort of reminiscing about their younger days, and now they find themselves in '82 as adults. He mentions some of her hopes and dreams from the past - "What were the things you wanted for yourself? Teenage ambition you remember well..." So, I think it conveys a message of encouragement for the woman to not grow old and loose sight of what was important to her.
Sorry I have been away for so long. I was in Chicago all of last week for the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. Yes, I realize I am a band geek. Anyway, I came back this afternoon to find a reminder on Facebook about a "Rick James Behind the Music" episode airing tonight on VH-1. Thought it would be the perfect opportunity to look at "Supefreak."
I imagine everyone in the world has heard this song - or at least the bassline. MC Hammer sampled it in his hit "You Can't Touch This," so I am sure there are 80s and 90s kids who have heard this song in one way, shape or form. Always amazes me when you hear sampling or a "remake" and the younger generation does not recognize the 80s tune within. Anyway, "Superfreak" is kind of silly and giggly to those of us who grew up in the 80s. We all know it is about an "adventurous" girl, but mostly, this song just has a very cool bassline. It also has a pretty decent saxophone solo, which in the video clip I've included from "Solid Gold" is played mysteriously by someone not moving any fingers but rather his hips. Hmmm..... I think I have two favorite parts of this song: (1) the opening two lines, and (2) the "she's alright" operatic break. I think I actually stopped listening carefully to the lyrics after the first to lines, because the word "mother" just resonated in Rick's delivery. "She's a very kinky girl, the kind you don't take home to mothaaaaahhhh." Yup, that is what I hear. I then read a bit about the song, and Rick James described the "she's alright" part as "operatic." and I suppose it is. I always thought of it more as "gospel" style. "She's alright, she's alright, that girl's alright with me yeah." Definitely a cool part. Makes me wonder what the rest of the song would be like in that style, or maybe how his voice would have sounded on some gospel songs. Well, I do hope you enjoy this song. There is an official video, but I thought the "Solid Gold" one was pretty fun.
I wrote about the Journey song "Anyway You Want It" very early on when I first started this blog, because I absolutely love Journey - and this is my favorite of their songs. They have so many good tunes, most with more complex instrumentals and heavier (or more narrative) lyrics. But, alas, this is my favorite. It just has such kick with the tempo, the awesome guitar solo, the blend of the vocals from the band on the chorus, and of course, Steve Perry's lead vocals. Oh - I forgot about the cowbell. "More cowbell!" The cowbell is pretty cool. Definitely a must in 80s songs.
Of course, everyone knows what this song is about, which I really don't think is a big deal. I think the lyrics are perfect, and when you look at them, there are only two verses. The rest is all chorus. Kind of makes it like a chant or an anthem. The verses are also catchy, clear, and certainly easier to remember. I love when they sing "about the lovin' things." The "lovin' things" is just so awesome. Simple, cool, perfect - and still creative. Yeah! What a great expression. Steve Perry's voice is so powerful, and he has such a distinctive tone quality/color. I think the best vocalists really are those who have a unique sound. His is amazing. No matter what he sings, you know it's Steve Perry. And, even if he is singing an extended line of "ohhhh ohhhhh oh oh-oh oh-ohhhh" it really kicks. It would be my dream to see him perform live one day. Wow. The video for this song is very simple as well. Gotta love the jukebox and vinyl in the beginning. I had this album on vinyl! The rest of the video is simply Journey in the studio kickin' up some amps with this little tune. The band looks great, too. Steve Perry's hair is as almost as amazing as his voice. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this song and video. I could listen to it a million times. Never gets old. Enjoy!
