I've posted this song before on 1st September but not since 2018 and it's a song I can't imagine anyone would ever get tired of hearing. September Gurls was both a single and a song on Big Star's second album Radio City, released in 1974. Alex Chilton's lyrics are economical, painting a lot of yearning and heartbreak with only a few words (two verses, a brief chorus of 'December boy's got it bad' and a bridge). The song's beauty comes as much from the performance and the recording, the crunchy jangle of the guitars, those swooning chord changes, the melodic bassline pushing things on and Alex's vocal.
The September gurl Alex sings about seems to be unobtainable to him. They were together (I think) and now she's gone. There's some thing very autumnal about the song- it isn't a summer song, it's not about the flush of teenage love, it's the regret and longing once it's gone. That's autumn too- no matter how much we say we love the rusty colours of the leaves and the cooler, crisp autumnal days, they don't last long and winter waits. Possibly the song describes the length of the relationship, from September to December, the whole thing done in less than a quarter of a year, Alex looking back at the end of the year at what's gone.
Maybe we shouldn't try to pin down or describe what makes a great song great. Maybe I should just enjoy it.
In 1986 The Bangles covered September Gurls for their Different Light album with Michelle Steele on lead vocals. The Rickenbackers jangle, the backing vocals coo away and a controversial* backwards guitar solo hints at the mid- to- late 60s. It's fine enough if not a patch on the original.
* The band had a difficult time with producer David Kahne and all of them except Michelle found their parts at one point or another were played by replacements Kahne brought in. Guitarist Vicki Peterson returned to the studio from an emergency and found that Kahne had 'had some guy show up and do a solo'. That was the backwards guitar solo on September Gurls.
6 comments:
Was just listening to Going Down To Liverpool yesterday. Some lovely 60's jangle pop going on there.
Big Star's original is one of my fave songs ever. As you say, can't imagine anyone would get tired of hearing it - I've been known to play it several times in succession (a rare thing for me), there's something oddly addictive about it.
Love your photo too, sums up this time of year.
My word, what a great song and performance it is.
I think it's so easy to replay because it seems to be over so quickly, you always want one more hit.
It's undeniably a great song, but I cringe at intentional mis-spellings in pop records, unless they're Prince. Apparently this influenced Katy Perry to misspell one of her song titles, and thus it spreads...
I always thought Prince's spelling was suspect but then it became standard text speak so I guess he was a pioneer in that regard too.
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