title

365 days.

365 days straight. It’s been fun, I’ve enjoyed myself, but all things must pass. This is my last post for this blog…most likely.

I’ve had fun, for the most part. There’s been some frustration–particularly in terms of some of the songs I wanted to cover but could not for various reasons–but by and large I’ve enjoyed doing this.

At the same time, it’s also been a bit of a grind. Anyone who’s followed this knows that I’ve frequently had a hard time finding something new to say about each one. I certainly got sick of saying “it’s fun” or “it’s got a great beat and you can dance to it”, but at the same time, that’s about as much as I can find frequently.

Anyway, I feel good about 365 days. I think that’s a good run, and a good number to go out on.

Thanks to everyone who’s read and commented. I appreciate each and every one of you.

Farewell.

Dress is an interesting song, and a very good song. PJ Harvey sings it very well, and it’s got a nice edge to it, which is why I like it–well, one reason I like it.

So what exactly is it about? Is it about trying to be someone that you aren’t in order to impress someone and failing? Is about non-conformity? Doing things against your nature for the one you love? Putting up a big front and being exposed? Really, the song could be about any of those things, and all of those things, or any combination, or something I’ve not thought about. Hard to say, but it’s fun to think about it.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

Put on that dress
I’m going out dancing
Starting off red
Clean and sparkling he’ll see me
Music playing make it dreamy for dancing
Must be a way that I can dress to please him
It’s hard to walk in the dress, it’s not easy
I’m spilling over like a heavy loaded fruit tree

If you put it on
If you put it on
If you put it on
If you put it on
If you put it on
If you put it on
If you put it on
If you put it on

Make A Circuit With Me is one of those perfect pop songs. Fun, clever thematic lyrics, a great beat and a simple message. It’s infectiously pleasant, and could likely bring a smile to anyone’s face. Some songs are just classic, and this is one of them.

Here’s a link to the vidoe

And of course, the lyrics:

A sweet romance is not for me
I need electricity
If you wanna make me flip
Hit me with a micro chip

I’m an AC/DC man
You can read my circuit diagram
I feed on electric jolts
I need fifty-thousand volts

Eyes Without A Face is one of Billy Idol’s best-known songs, possibly inspired by the 1959 film of the same name. From SongFacts

Les Yeux Sans Visage (Eyes Without a Face) is the title to a chillingly horrific yet classically poetic 1959 film from acclaimed French director Georges Franju. In it, a gifted plastic surgeon is involved in a near fatal auto accident which horribly disfigures the once beautiful face of his beloved daughter. Along with his assistant, he abducts young women so that he may surgically remove their facial features and graft their beauty onto that of his daughter’s grotesque countenance. More than the typical Mad Scientist gore flick of the “horror” genré in movies, it deals with real humanistic themes rather than the loud crash and bang after a minute long string instrument is played in a high key. The arrogance, vanity, and what we ultimately come to realize, guilt of the father who now treats his daughter as a sort of porcelain doll with interchangeable parts. Though he supposedly loves her so, what he does in effect, is dehumanize her for the sake of his own personal redemption. The song “Eyes Without a Face” uses similar imagery for effect. However, he tackles the concept of the modern romance and uses the same metaphors the movie used to show the absence of humanity and how cold and callous the modern world has grown to be. All that we (in the song’s case “we” have the role of the narrator) have endured getting here has made us like the doctor. While the daughter has become eyes without a face (she wears a mask a la Halloween’s Michael Myers and the only visible part of her face are her eyes), the doctor has become a face without eyes. He has blinded himself to the hideousness that he has involved himself, his family, and his poor victims in. While the woman in the relationship in the Billy Idol song is “Eyes Without a Face,” the narrator has become the face without the eyes. Wrapped in guilt for what once was a perfect love, he must face his own pettiness and the fact that he has forever altered his partner and their relationship. (thanks, Pablo - Miami, FL)

I personally love the song for it’s driving bass line, the very cool bridge, and Billy Idol’s voice (a very, very underrated singer in my opinion). It’s very easy to listen to, and no surprise whatsoever that it was a huge hit.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

I’m all out of hope
One more bad break
could bring a fall
When I’m far from home
Don’t call me on the phone
To tell me your alone
It’s easy to deceive
It’s easy to tease
But hard to get release
Les yeux sans visage eyes without a face
Les yeux sans visage eyes without a face
Les yeux sans visage eyes without a face
Got no human grace your eyes without a face.
I spend so much time
Believing all the lies
To keep the dream alive
Now it makes me sad
It makes me mad at truth
For lovin’ what was you.
Les yeux sans visage eyes without a face
Les yeux sans visage eyes without a face
Les yeux sans visage eyes without a face
Got no human grace your eyes without a face.
When you hear the music you make a dip
Into someone else’s pocket then make a slip
Steal a car and go to Las Vegas oh,
the gigolo pool.
Hangin’ out by the state line,
Turnin Holy water into wine,
Drinkin it down oh,
I’m on a bus on a psychedelic trip
Reading murder books tryin’ to stay hip.
I’m thinkin’ of you you’re out there so
Say your prayers.
Say your prayers.
Say your prayers.
Now I close my eyes
And I wonder why
I don’t despise
Now all I can do
Is love what was once
So alive and new
But it’s gone from your eyes
I’d better realise
Les yeux sans visage eyes without a face
Les yeux sans visage eyes without a face
Les yeux sans visage eyes without a face
Got no human grace your eyes without a face.
Such a human waste your eyes without a face
And now it’s getting worse.

Ghosts is a quiet, subtle song that lays about in your brain until you realize how good it is. It’s got a sweet, haunting melody paired with a simple, easy beat. Add in Bruce Foxton’s understated bass and Paul Weller’s quiet guitars, and it adds up to a very nice song.

As to what the song’s about, from SongFacts

This is about people who act differently so they are accepted into the crowd. If someone who isn’t comfortable in his own skin, he won’t express himself and show what he’s really like. (thanks, jack - belfast, Ireland)

I can’t see anything to persuade me that’s wrong, so it works for me.

Here’s a link to a tribute video

And of course, the lyrics:

Why are you frightened - can’t you see that it’s you
That ain’t no ghost - it’s a reflection of you
Why do you turn away - an’ keep it out of sight
Oh - don’t live up to your given roles
There’s more inside you that you won’t show

So why are you frightened - can’t you see that it’s you
At the moment there’s nothing - so there’s nothing to lose
Lift up your lonely heart and walk right on through

Songs like this are why I enjoy LL Cool J so much. Sure, all the hits have been great over the years, but for me, it’s the fun little songs like this that make him one of the greatest rappers ever.

The Bristol Hotel is sort of a love letter to a dingy, dirty, sleazy by-the-hour hotel in Queens frequented primarily by prostitutes. The anecdotes are delivered slyly by LL, primarily tongue-in-cheek, but with a little bit of a warning in the final verse as well. I love the simple, yet funky beat, and I still find the rhymes amusing.

Here’s a link to a tribute video

And of course, the lyrics:

Verse 1

(The Bristol Hotel) (till fade)

A friend of mine turned me on to this song, and I thank her for that. Elmo is a gut-wrenching confession of anger and infidelity, powerfully passionate, as the singer speaks of her latest fuck and her dissatisfaction with her current relationship.

I enjoy the passion of the song, and the anger, something you don’t always hear from female singers–or at least something you don’t hear directed at someone else. The song has a lot of power, and I think it’s much better for that.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

I’m still thinking about Elmo
Elmo 5 o’clock special
I’m still thinking about you
A thousand ways to kill you
I’m still dreaming in pink
Gives me the reason to think
When I lay down my head I’m still okay
When I lay down my head to go to bed

You run out of expression
You let me make a suggestion
You’ve left a scratch on my face
I can see to this day
You’re no innocent man
Come and catch me if you can
Didn’t have the time of day
But I fucked him anyway
Didn’t have the time of day to play

American Music is one of those songs that just slips under the radar until it’s right in front of you demanding attention. It’s a simple 12 bar blues riff, but, well, simple 12 bar blues riffs are pretty much what rock and roll is based upon.

I like the song’s simple sensibilities, and that it’s not quite the John Mellencamp rip that it seems. Sure, there’s some references to shared experiences, but it’s a tad more earthy than anything the worthy Mr. Mellencamp has recorded. Anyway, it’s a good song.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics;

Do you like American music
I like American music
Dont you like American music baby
I want you to hold me
I want your arms around me
I want you to hold me baby
Did you do too many drugs
I did too many drugs
Did you do too many drugs too baby
You were born too late
I was born too soon
But every time I look at that ugly moon
It reminds me of you
It reminds me of you ooh ooh ooh
I need a date to the prom
Would you like to come along
But nobody would go to the prom with me baby
They didnt like American music
They never heard American music
They didnt know the music was in my soul baby
You were born too soon
I was born too late
But every time I look at that ugly lake
It reminds me of me
It reminds me of me
Do you like American music
We like American music
I like American music baby
Do you like American music
We like all kinds of music
But I like American music best
Baby you were born too late
And I was born too late
But every time I look at that ugly lake
It reminds me of me
It reminds me of me
Do you like American music
It reminds me of me
Do you like American music…

So, this is a great song, but apparently not about what I always thought it was about.

Dancing With Myself was apparently inspired by kids in the Japanese club scene at the time. From Wikipedia:

The song is reportedly about masturbation, although it is in truth about what Tony James and Billy Idol witnessed in a Japanese night club during the bands 1979 Japanese Tour as patrons watched themselves dance in the space enhancing mirrors which covered the walls.

And from SongFacts

This song is commonly thought to be about masturbation, but it’s really more about dancing by yourself. Billy got the idea watching Asian kids “Dancing With Themselves” in a nightclub. The kids would dance in a pogo style up and down.

So I guess I was wrong about what it means.

No matter what it means, however, it’s a great pop song. It’s got enough of a driving rock feel, and it’s very easy on the ears. I love the basic hooks, as they really work nicely.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

On the floors of Tokyo
Down in London town’s a go-go
With the record selection
And the mirror’s reflection
I’m a-dancing with myself

Oh, oh, oh dancing with myself
Oh, oh, oh dancing with myself
If I had a chance, I’d ask one to dance
If I had a chance, I’d ask one to dance
If I had a chance, I’d ask one to dance
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, dancing with myself Oh, world’s all wet
Oh, oh, oh, dancing with myself I’m gonna sweat
Oh, oh, oh, dancing with myself I’m gonna sweat
Oh, oh, oh, dancing with myself sweat (18x)
Oh, oh, oh, dancing with myself.

Italian Leather Sofa is one of those great album tracks that somehow manage to elude greater public knowledge. It’s a great song with a cool beat and some excellent trumpet work. Plus, the lyrics–about a couple that use one another–are fun, and fun to sing along with as well.

Here’s a link to a mashup

And of course, the lyrics:

She doesn’t care whether or not he’s an island
She doesn’t care just as long as his ship’s coming in
She doesn’t care whether or not he’s an island
They laugh they make money
He’s got a gold watch
She’s got a silk dress and healthy breasts
that bounce on his Italian leather sofa.
She doesn’t care whether or not he’s a good man
She doesn’t care just as long as she still has her friends
She doesn’t care whether or not he’s an island
they laugh, they make money
He’s got a gold watch
She’s got a silk dress and healthy breasts
That bounce on his Italian leather sofa
She’s got a serrated edge
that she moves back and forth
It’s such a simple machine she doesn’t have to use force
When she gets what she wants,
she puts the rest on a tray in a ziplock bag
[REPEAT]
…in the freezer
She doesn’t care whether or not he’s an island
She doesn’t care just as long as his ship’s coming in
She doesn’t care whether or not he’s an island
They laugh, they make money
He’s got a gold watch
She’s got a silk dress and healthy breasts
that bounce on his Italian leather sofa

—————-
Now playing: Presidents Of The U.S.A. - Kitty
via FoxyTunes