Don't You Want Me - Part II

In an earlier post, I looked at the song "Don't You Want Me" by Jody Watley, but there is another very popular song by the same title from much earlier in the decade.  "Don't You Want Me" by the Human League was released in 1981 and is a completely different tune.  Story line is simple--guy finds waitress at a cocktail bar, turns her into a star, they have a five year love affair, and boom--she doesn't want him anymore.  It's that simple.  Makes for an interesting story, but the funny thing is that the actual song is very upbeat, uptempo, and has that kind of synthesized "happy pop" feel to it.  Pretty neat considering the song's lyrics seem a bit sad--and kind of desperate.  "Don't...don't you want me?  You know I can't believe it when I hear that you won't see me...Don't...Don't you want me?  You know I don't believe you when you say that you don't need me..."  It's alright, though, because the video will put you in trance with the stone cold faces of the singers, which are really mesmerizing.  I forgot that back in the day men and women wore makeup -- well, men in rock bands like The Cure and many, many other groups from the U.K.  The other thing that I forgot about was how cool it was for kids in the U.S. to watch the video and see cars with the steering wheel on the right side.  AMAZING.  I know--it didn't take much to entertain us back then.

Now I am an adult, so it takes a bit more to make me laugh...but not much.  I happened to find an "orchestral version" of this song on YouTube.  There are several of these videos, which are completely man-made and rather hysterical.  I especially love reading the comments when they say "Hey--they're not really playing this.  This is fake.  This is so dumb!"  Well, yes, they are not really playing "this," and that is why it's so funny.  This particular video is a mash-up of parts of the San Francisco Symphony performing Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4 and Stravinsky's Rite of Spring (the composer's names are misspelled in the YouTube notes, unfortunately).  Anyway, for classical music geeks like myself, it is amazingly funny.  Michael Tilson Thomas is one of the greatest conductors out there, which makes it even funnier.  So, I hope you will enjoy this clip.  I've added the original Human League video and the "orchestral version."

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...