I Can't Go for That

 
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!

Let the Music Play

I think anyone who has not heard Shannon's "Let the Music Play" must have been hiding under a rock during the 80s -- and maybe even beyond.  This song was a huge hit when it was released in 1983, and I honestly think it has not lost one bit of momentum since that time.  It was considered the first "freestyle" song due to it's Latin-inspired rhythms, synthesizer, and drum machine beats.  I still struggle with what "freestyle" is, but that's okay, because this song is a winner.  I challenge anyone to listen and not get up and dance!

Meanwhile, I paid some attention to the lyrics back in the day -- although I reviewed them again this evening.  Aside from the chorus, I distinctly remember, "Guess he discovered we are truly lovers, magic from the very start..."  Something about "magic" and the word "lovers" in songs does it for me.  I mean, they are both great -- right?  I love the idea of "magic," and "lovers" is just kind of a word that can live in a song lyric.  We don't really use it much in casual speech, though.  I mean, you wouldn't hear someone say, "yes, they are lovers" or "hello, I'd like you to meet my lover" -- although it works really well in songs.  And, little did I know that love actually speaks in this song as well!  Shannon sings, "We started dancing and love put us into a groove...but now he's with somebody new...what does love want me to do?  Love said -- let the music play...he won't get away...just keep the groove and then he'll come back to you again..."  WOW!  I must have missed "love said" after all these years -- or maybe I heard it and assumed it was the wrong lyric.  Well -- thank goodness!  Love has spoken.  Listen to love -- love knows best!  Let the music play!  From now on, I will listen to love.

As for the video, it's pretty simple.  As a young girl, I was mesmerized by Shannon putting on lipstick with a brush in the beginning.  Simple things wowed me as a child.  The video is pretty simple, too, with Shannon front and center and some ballet-type dancers in the background.  The simplicity makes sense, because the song stands oh-so-well on its own.  She could be singing outdoors in the streets of New York, and it would be just as amazing.  This groove you can't ignore -- that's for sure.  Enjoy!

Heartbeat

It's pretty late once again - but not too late for an excellent 80s song to wish everyone well for the night.  I was looking through a few tunes on the web and came across one that I had completely forgotten about.  I was finishing middle school and just starting my freshman year of high school the year this song came out.  "Heartbeat" by Seduction was released in 1989, so it just makes it in the decade as an official 80s song.  Obviously, there were many styles and genres within the 80s category.  This particular group is categorized as "dance," "pop," "freestyle," and probably some other terms.  I think it is really a crossover genre between dance, pop, and R&B.  Nevertheless, this particular "Heartbeat" song is a great representation of a trend we saw in the late 80s - dance music with a synthesized drum beat and usually a trio of female voices.  Yes, this is long before Destiny's Child, and we see the legacy carried through today.  In fact, we can see this type of vocal ensemble long before the 80s if you think about the Supremes.  Anyway, the 80s dance version of the female trio has a pretty simple recipe - three ladies (one of whom has an extraordinarily powerful, soulful voice), synthesizer, and drum machine.  Doesn't really matter what the lyrics are.  All you need are a couple of oohs and ahhs, and of course, "baaaaaa-beeeee."  Sometimes, we hear, "oooh boy," and so forth.  Perfect for the middle school crowd, but still fun after all these years.  For all the clubbers who enjoyed these tunes, it really doesn't matter what the lyrics are as long as the beat is happening.  I can't believe that after all these years, I really didn't know what the lyrics were.  For my fellow 80s fans who were dancing along to this tune, the chorus is "heartbeat, you make me feel so weak."  Listen carefully, and you will hear an additional line, "my heart beats for the one I love."  It's kind of an ostinato.  Also, make sure to watch this video all the way through.  I hope you enjoy the awesome bass feature at 4:30.