Can't Fight This Feeling

I had just written about "The Warrior," which came out in 1984, so I thought I would take a look at some other songs that came out that year.  Low and behold, there are so many terrific songs, and it was hard to choose.  Actually, I didn't get very far down the list before I saw REO Speedwagon's "Can't Fight This Feeling."  Okay, I know -- some people might find this song to be sappy, silly, or even "cheesy."  But, I heard it on the radio the other day and felt that it was particularly uplifting.  I read through a couple of comments on a music message board, and it seems that some younger folks (probably teenagers) are really, really into this song.  They feel it identifies their thoughts and sentiments perfectly.  I guess I take for granted how powerful lyrical music is, especially when we are at a certain stage in our emotional development. 

So, obviously this is a love song.  It is heartfelt, and the lyrics are very touching.  My favorite line is "it's time to bring this ship into the shore--- and throw away the oars -- foreverrrrrrrr."  Yeah, I realize that it might seem silly ("corny" is one comment I read).  I think it's beautiful and poetic.  It's striking in its simplicity -- and it is vivid.  It's a figurative line of speech, and of course, it can be interpreted many ways.  You may snicker over some.  Sometimes I do -- I admit it.  What I was mostly surprised about was that I had the wrong lyric in my head -- yet again -- but for only one word.  I always heard the lyric, "even as I wander," as "even as I wonder,"  Wow.  Sure makes much more sense now!  Whew.  Thank goodness I got that cleared up.  Listening to this song didn't really make me think about love because I was so hung up on the "wander/wonder" thing.  It actually made me think about life in the '80s and how we didn't have computers to look everything up instantly.  In fact, you'd have to have the album to know the lyrics (they were printed inside the cover).  Or, I seem to remember some magazines that published lyrics.  Not positive on that one.  Nevertheless, the '80s were a simpler time with less distractions.  Maybe that's why the music was so good!

Shootin' at the Walls of Heartache...

Okay -- so!  I am sure that everyone recognizes that line from Scandal's 1984 hit, "The Warrior."  I loved that song back in the day, and it seems to never get old for me.  But, alas, I didn't seem to remember the video very well.  Considering it came out in 1984, well, that's about the time I started clarinet -- so I must have been busy practicing.  Anyway, I had absolutely no idea what this song was about all these years.  I could only remember "shootin' at the walls of heartaaaaaaaaaache.... bang, bang...I am the warrior."  I seem to recall bits and pieces of the lyrics, "who's the hunter, who's the game" and something about breaking out of captivity.  So, I looked at the lyrics this evening and discovered that it's about love -- and how love is kind of primal.  It's primitive as Patty Smyth tells us.  She sings, "Well isn't love -- primitive?  A wild gift that you wanna give."  Hey, I can understand that.  In fact, yes, it's true.  Love is primitive.  It is surely a wild gift that you wanna give!  Hasn't everyone felt this way at some point?  So, it's a love song -- but not your typical heart-wrenching one or upbeat bauble like Janet Jackson's "When I Think of You."  Nope, this is the real (raw) deal.

The video is something that I definitely did not remember.  In fact, it creeped me out a bit at first.  After watching for a while, I settled into the sort of musical theater feel and finally relaxed.  It seems to have a "Cats" element to it.  If you've ever seen that Broadway show, you'll know what I mean.  Actually, it has the theatrics and dancing of many Broadway shows with all the slithering and stuff.  But, it's fun, and the stage make-up and costumes are extraordinary for the day.  Pretty cool I must say.  Hope you enjoy this, and heart to heart you'll win -- if you surviiiiiiive.....

Separate Ways with Journey

I've heard Journey's "Separate Ways" a couple of times this week and thought it would be a great song to look at.  I read that it was written by Steve Perry and Jonathan Cain (Journey's keyboardist).  Two of the guitar players in the band were in the midst of very messy and difficult divorces, so Perry and Cain wrote this song to, well, I guess channel the pain and heartbreak into something creative and healing.  I'm not sure how they did it, because it really is heart wrenching if you listen to the lyrics.  It basically says, "Hey, we're done, but I will always love you."  I get the image of a man whose heart was broken and who goes through life still loving the woman who caused so much pain--ready to come to her aid at a moment's notice.  Kind of a lifelong pledge.  Difficult concept to grasp.  Could go for women, too, and that being said....well, okay, I think I understand now.

Nike Air Pegasus - 1983

Anyway, I read many comments from folks about the video being extremely cheesy.  I didn't think it was that bad, although it most certainly could have been better with a different concept.  I still think Eddie Money's "I Think I'm In Love" wins the prize for the cheesiest video of all time--although the song is great (but the goofy vampire theme is really awful).  So, back to Journey.  They are dancing and rockin' out to air instruments in the beginning of the video.  Ultimately, real instruments appear by the end of the video, but we see the drummer playing oil cans and come kind of cymbals made from metal dishes for a bit.  This part through me for a loop.  I watched the video a couple of times over, and I think it's okay.  It's not very tough or "rock n' roll," but isn't it fun to see a group like Journey scaled down a bit, just wearing jeans and causal stuff?  You can even see Steve Perry and the drummer wearing some really classic Nike sneakers.  That is alright in my book.  Long live 1983!!!!  I really think the scariest part of the video is the woman's horrible outfit and mohawk-esque hairdo.  Yikes.  White leather pumps?  White leather jacket with the collar turned up?  Bad--but the outfit pales in comparison to the hair.  Yeah, it was 1983.  In all seriousness, the song is amazing--very touching and heart wrenching but in a good way, fueled by awesome guitar solos and keyboard riffs.  I do hope you'll enjoy this tune, but if you must go----ohhhh------they wish you love.......

A Matter of Touch?

So, I was driving back from a long weekend visit with my family, and I stopped at a McDonald's at the bottom of a huge mountain range.  While I was in the restaurant, I heard a really catchy tune by Billy Joel.  I recognized it clearly, but I could not remember the title...and I certainly couldn't hear the title in the chorus.  I thought, "A matter of touch?  A matter of love?"  Wow.  I simply could not hear what he was singing.  A matter of touch surely didn't make sense.  A matter of love was a bit closer, but I just knew it wasn't correct.  Then, finally, I realized what he was singing AND what the title was --- A Matter of Trust.  Hmmm.  Sounds kind of boring as a title, actually.  A matter of trust?  Is that really very interesting?  Usually songs about cheating, loneliness, or unrequited love are always more interesting, intense, and sometimes even fun.  But, alas, this IS Billy Joel, and he is a master songwriter and lyricist.  I cannot think of a Billy Joel song that I do not like---they are all amazing.  So, with this one, there is no difference.  It is a solid, lyrical, melodic, and "meaty" tune from 1986.  It has more guitar than you would ordinarily hear in a Billy Joel song, but that is what makes it so perfect for the time (well, that and his pure, focused vocal performance).  Most of Billy's songs feature the piano, which is his main instrument.  So, this is a bit different.  I can't really imagine someone else covering the tune, but you know, perhaps there could be different lyrics.  In fact, this song is so solid that you could probably sing just about anything over the instrumental foundation.

Christie Brinkley Cover Girl Ad -- Classic!

As for the actual tune and video, both are very upbeat.  The song is obviously about a couple building a relationship to last--one that is based on trust and set to withstand the tests of time.  In the video, we see Billy's wife at the time, Christie Brinkley.  Yup, she was a famous model, and they were newlyweds.  She is holding their infant daughter, Alexa Rae Joel, who is now a grown woman and singer/songwriter just like her dad.  Unfortunately, Joel and Brinkley divorced later.  She married someone else and had a few more children.  Then, there was a scandal with her husband cheating on her with some teenaged babysitter.  Oh well!  Very, very 80s.  Well, the scandal part was 80s, but the actual facts were kind of more current (90s? 21st century?).  Luckily, the video is a fun jam in New York City, which will always be cool and inspiring, no matter what decade we are in.  I hope you enjoy this song and video.  If you can't understand the lyrics, just make something up...

Love Hangover

Happy Valentine's Day!  I know it is already February 14th in some parts of the globe, so I thought I would get a headstart on the celebration.  Valentine's Day is the number 1 holiday in Becky's World.  Why?  Well, I'm not sure, but it happens right before my birthday, so there must be something in the stars to make this my all-time favorite holiday.  There are also so many great love songs out there, and I have written about many of them in some of my previous posts.  I am trying to think of my favorite love song, but there are just so many...and not all of them have "love" in the title.  But, it is Valentine's Day after all, so I thought I would check out some songs about love.  There are over 1072 songs with "love" in the title, so this was a tough one...until I remembered "Love Hangover" by Diana Ross.  Now, this was written in 1976, so it is not an 80s song.  Again, I am cheating, but I couldn't help it.  It was performed by Erykah Badu at the BET tribute to Diana Ross in 2007, so it has definitely spanned the test of time.  I actually think this is my favorite performance of the song, so I had to post the video.  It is amazing.  What a terrific tribute to Ms. Ross!  "I don't need no cure...I don't need no cure...I don't need no doctahhhh...I don't need no cure..."  Pretty amazing stuff.  Ms.Badu's performance was really top notch.  Even Diana Ross looked pretty entranced!

On the flip side, I think my first memory of this song was from the Muppet Show.  I used to watch that show religiously.  Loved Ms. Piggy and wanted to be just as glamorous.  Meanwhile, I am not sure why this song was on, because it surely isn't for kids...but it was the 70s, so that's alright.  It was a different time altogether.  All I know is that the clip from the show scared the daylights out of me.  Something about the darkness and those big muppets dancing around frightened me.  Well, and maybe the slow tempo in the beginning, too.  Then, when the bass guitar came in, I seem to remember identifying the sound with a rubber band.  Wow, I am so glad I became a musician, because my take on the clip is so much different now.  Still a little creeped out by the muppets, but certainly not by the music.  Enjoy!  Happy Valentine's Day!

Foolish Heart

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!

Hard to Say I'm Sorry

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...