Wasting time scrolling through social media, a blur of posts sliding down the screen, is not necessarily a productive use of time but it works as a distraction. Endless distractions is the way of the modern world isn't it, something to occupy your time. Occasionally something jumps out. This song did last week- I pressed play and wallowed in it.
The elements to make a perfect song are all there- cavernous early 80s drums, the slick sound of a top end studio, a beautiful bittersweet, downbeat reggae tinged pop song, with enough funk to dance to, a bumping bassline, a rolling groove and, the icing on the cake, Carly Simon's plaintive vocal, 'Why/ Does your love hurt so much?.... Don't know why'. In a song not short of hooks, the 'la di da di dah' part stands out, Carly and her unnamed lover unable to hear each other, seeing each other's mouths open and close but nothing but 'la di da di dah' coming out. If this was all any of the parties involved had done, it would be more than enough. Eight minutes of absolute bliss.
Why came out in August 1982, recorded for a film called Soup For One. It was written and produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, out to prove that they could survive and thrive after the (racist and homophobic) Disco Sucks movement killed Chic, at least temporarily. It's no surprise that this post- disco/ pop/ reggae fusion would reappear at the end of the 80s, an end of night tune in many DJ's record boxes from Manchester to Ibiza and back and various points in between.
40 years old, really? Isn't it odd how hearing a particular piece of music can make the passage of time seem to shrink, or disappear altogether? I bumped into 'Just Be Good to Me' by the SOS Band the other day, which dates from roughly the same period as 'Why' and part of my brain almost convinced me that it was actually in the charts more like 20 years ago, until I paused and did the depressing calculations.
ReplyDeleteSome pieces of music/ songs are time machines aren't they
ReplyDeleteI probably haven't heard this in the 40 years since it was in the charts. I'll be honest and say that I didn't pay too much attention to it back then, as it didn't do much for me. Played a snippet of it and found myself very interested! Amazing how tastes change and evolve the older one gets......
ReplyDeleteIt's been downloaded for future listening in all its glory....most likely on a beach soon!
Thanks!!!!!
If this isn't a beach tune JC, I don't know what is
ReplyDeleteJust Be Good To Me .......
ReplyDeleteOh, I've just noticed The Swede mentions The SOS Band too, but not the similarity.
ReplyDelete