Bass Guitarists for the Win - According to Science

 

Bruce, Flea, James, JT, Paul and Sandy

Something I already knew long ago and now I got science to back it up! From Alan Cross’ A Journal of Musical Things:

[According to] an article in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the bassist is who holds a band together.

It was also a great excuse to post a sampling of some of the most amazing bassists.

Top Left to Right:

⭐️: Bruce Douglas (the Reaction, Snatch)

📸: Mark Jordan

📍: Friars Aylesbury, 1978

🔗: The Reaction - I Can't Resist/I'm A Case

 

⭐️: Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers)

📸: Frank Micelotta

📍: Woodstock, 1994

🔗: Flea - The Best Solo

 

⭐️: James Jamerson

📸: ?

📍: Blues Unlimited, 1964

🔗: Marvin Gaye - What's Going On (Live 1972)

 

⭐️: John Taylor (Duran Duran, the Power Station, Neurotic Outsiders)

📸: Denis O’Regan

📍: Oakland Coliseum, 1984

🔗: Duran Duran - Rio (isolated bass)

 

⭐️: Paul Webb (Talk Talk, .O.Rang, Rustin Man)

📸: George C. Bekker

📍: Torhout Festival, 1986

🔗: Talk Talk - Today (Live at the Paris Studio, 1982)

 

 ⭐️: Sandy Horne (the Spoons)

📸: me 😁
📍: The Tattoo Parlour, 2010
🔗: the Spoons - Romantic Traffic

🔗 (Science article): https://www.pnas.org/content/111/28/10383
🔗 (A Journal of Musical Things): https://www.ajournalofmusicalthings.com/science-says-that-the-most-important-member-of-a-band-is/

Alan Cross is the host of an amazing radio show/podcast "The Ongoing History of New Music" which is filled with bits of trivia and a sampling of some amazing alternative music. Like Pop-Up Video, but better music and facts without the bubble sound effects. He's been doing it for many years and I was happy to rediscover the show recently.

Stuff I'm Listening To - Quick Fix edition - Human League

Artist: Human League

Title: Hard Times / Love Action





Lyrics: (I must admit I actually don't know these songs well enough to pick any at the moment)

Why?: Shamefully, in a blatant consumerist attempt to cheer myself up the other day, I was browsing through a independent Canadian record dealer's website (actually not long after Record Store day) and found a couple of albums to purchase to make me happy. This 12" single actually got added in last minute because it brought my total up to that magical point where I wasn't going to have to pay an arm and a leg for shipping. Also... my excuse...  As a Talk Talk fan, it was required for historical accuracy. I couldn't find the 7" so this was going to have to do.

Those of you who follow Rustin Man (and if you don't, why are we even friends?) will likely recall his two posts (here and here) about their pre-record deal performance at London's Blitz Club and tale of a certain solitary 7' single in the booth that was the pre-show entertainment. 

Stuff I'm Listening To - 10 Albums that Strongly Influenced My Musical Tastes - A Facebook Game

So, it started innocently enough. Someone on Facebook tagged me in a post with a photo of Mark Hollis' solo album and this text:

I was given the task of choosing 10 albums that have strongly influenced my musical taste. One album per day for 10 days. No explaining, nor reviewing. Only the album covers. Every day I will ask somebody else to do the same thing.
Day 4 - I nominate ...

So I decided to play along and I dug deep into my repertoire. The problem with me is I was always very much a 'singles' and Top 40 person. For me to sit down through a whole album was a rare thing. If you had asked me what singles influenced my musical tastes, it would have been a much longer, and potentially stranger, trip indeed.

And the rules stated 'no explaining, nor reviewing'. But sucks to that. These ten albums deserve a mini-explanation at least so far as I'm concerned. If you followed me this long, you know each song or picture tells a story or is strongly connected to some kind of memory for me. Each one of these albums is here for a reason. For my selections, rather than indicate favourite albums, I thought long and hard for the albums that influenced my musical tastes in such a way as to make a permanent change in the way I listen. Each description below is linked with a selection from the album with the exception of choices 1 and 3 which I could not locate on YouTube.

1: Korean Folk Songs
This album is mostly connected to one song for me. 'Arirang'. It is an old Korean folk song that is as ingrained with Koreans as is kimchi. It's one of those things that is as essential to who I am as a person as my genetic code is. Yeah. It's THAT important. A history about this folk song is found in this link here. Below isn't the version one the album, but a good example of how important it is. EVERYONE in the audience is singing along: 


 
2: Sharon, Lois and Bram - One Elephant, Deux Éléphants
When you are in kindergarten, the types of music you have access to tended to be whatever you sang or nursery rhymes they decided to play for you. Then there was these guys. If you were Canadian and grew up in the 70s and 80s you know Sharon, Lois and Bram. Their songs were cute, and catchy. Every song inspired by numerous genres: Folk, jazz, big band and more. They wrote songs that were easy for kids to comprehend. Below, the title track from this album, the first little bit of French that I learned over forty years ago.



 

3: Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 9 in D minor ("Choral") - Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra - Ferenc Fricsay

The importance of this album and music has already been discussed here. Long story short, classical music was one of the things my mother liked to listen to, so I was exposed to a fair amount at a very young age. Below was one of my dad's favourites.




4: Star Wars: Original Soundtrack composed and conducted by John Williams, Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra

Another album that's come up in previous discussions here. It's STAR WARS! It made me understand the importance of music in films and how music is so important to the way a scene is perceived. This choice could easily have been 2001: A Space Odeyssey but they never released a proper soundtrack for that movie until 1996.



5: The Beatles - 1962 - 1966


Here was my introduction to rock and roll music. This album actually belonged to my big brother. It's a wonder the thing isn't scratched to hell. At four years of age I could barely read but I knew my favourite song, 'Help!', was the first song on one of the sides of one of the records. I would let the album play through because there were other favourite songs contained within, but it was important I hear my favourite song first. 

'Yellow Submarine' was another favourite, largely because of the animated film that managed to capture my attention for the entire one hour and thirty minute running time. I imagine gave my parents a break from dealing with me, so for what it was worth, 'Yellow Submarine' was a great babysitter. One of my favourite memories of my brother was how he was determined to make me laugh, by changing up the lyric 'We all live in a yellow submarine' to 'We all live in a purple jelly-bean'. Six-year-old me laughed but was determined to explain how scientifically impossible that was. I failed in the explanation because I was laughing too hard.



6: Sex Pistols - The Great Rock and Roll Swindle

I've discussed the impact of Sid Vicious' version here. This album was the one that turned my musical tastes of mostly Top 40 pop on it's head, and directed me into the world of alternative and punk. I'd already been listening to ska lightly (read... I knew a handful of songs by Madness and the Specials already). This just just started me down the path to purchase more (among all the other alternative, punk and and ska that was to be found).



7: Arcadia - So Red The Rose

This one needs a bit of explaining. Most people would dismiss this as a Duran Duran album. At the risk of being one of those people who compare bands, let me flip this little comparison over. Talk Talk fans will understand me, so I'll let everyone else in on it. Seems every music writer needs to compare Talk Talk to Duran Duran. BALDERDASH! It's like comparing the novel 'War and Peace' to apples and oranges! That's how comparatively dissimilar they are. Oh... but they have a double name too. LAZY journalism! LAZY! But for me and for here, Arcadia's So Red the Rose was to Duran Duran what Spirit of Eden was to Talk Talk (yeah... yeah... I know it's a stretch... but hear me out). It was a direction they (Simon leBon and Nick Rhodes) wanted to explore (FYI, Roger Taylor seemed to just come along for the ride, but as with all awesome drummers did a wonderful job here) while the harder rocking boys (i.e. John Taylor and Andy Taylor) took off to play harder rock in the guise of the Power Station (with Robert Palmer and Tony Thompson), also great, but it was already what I was listening to and didn't educate me further). Arcadia went off into another direction, a little more pretentious, a little more arty, a little more depth. Unlike Talk Talk, they played by the rules and at their core, still a pop band. It wasn't, by any means, a ground breaking album, but introduced a different, slightly moodier and gothy side to Duran Duran.

Arcadia had Grace Jones do her thing for their lead off single 'Election Day'. If that's not über pretentious and amazing in it's own right, I don't know what is. It opened my ears to listen for less pop influences, and look for further depth in the midst of my Duran Duran love. Truth me told, I'm only a Duranie by default. I much prefer Arcadia and those handful of Arcadia-eque pieces scattered throughout their vast library. Below, one of the more light hearted pieces from the album and a video where Simon leBon gets to bust out his comedy acting chops to remind you, despite the moody Arcadia guise, at his heart, he's still the fun-loving happy-go-lucky lead singer of a heart-throb band.



8: Nine Inch Nails - Pretty Hate Machine

In the 90s there was teenage me looking for something different. Nine Inch Nails came along and primed me for the industrial music scene. So very different than punk. Instead of angry reckless teenage rebellious abandon via the Sex Pistols, here was anger, angst despair all wrapped in a danceable package. Here was Trent Reznor screeching all this emotion that could easily have come from my own core at the time. But through all my late teenage angst, I was dancing because I could. Below, the second single from the album which was actually the first song I'd heard from it.



9: Talk Talk - Laughing Stock 

But why not The Colour of Spring or even Spirit of Eden you ask? Because they contained singles. So for the most part, I was able to pull apart the albums; I was still able to listen to each track individually. Not so with Laughing Stock. It was the first album in many years that made me sit down and really listen, the way Mark Hollis wanted us to. I couldn't do that with Spirit of Eden. 'Desire' stands out so strongly, it might as well be a single. 'I Believe in You', is the same and has an accompanying video that further distances it from the rest of the album in my head. But try to pull out a track from Laughing Stock. Yeah, each track could stand alone, but at that point it's an like one of those optical illusions, you know, like that three pronged trident that is really two pronged, or is it? Something is not quite right when you stand them alone. You just need to hear it all.  'Runeii' stands alone here because even though it's the end track, it's intriguing enough (at least for me) to want to go back and hear everything back from the start. My hope is if you haven't heard the album before this track will make you want to see where it came from.



10: Rustin Man - Drift Code

Before Talk Talk, I would honestly, never have considered this album for myself. It wasn't Top 40, it wasn't what I was in to. It was as foreign sounding to me as the Korean Folk Songs probably sounded to you at first. But here it was, presented to me because he was the bass guitarist from the band. Ok... I'll see what it has to offer. 

And it offered so much. Seventeen years in the making, this album doesn't sound like it's an album from 2019. It doesn't sound like it's from 2002. I can offer only this. It's one of these albums that doesn't place itself anywhere specific. It's music for the sake of being music. It's not an album you put on as background music. You put it on and you actively listen. It doesn't fit into any genre. It doesn't fit into any specific era. The songs can have a tinge of nostalgia, but make you look forward at the same time. It's an album that sits outside of time comfortably (... Why yes. I'm suggesting that Rustin Man is a Time Lord, musically speaking.. what of it? ;) ). 

So while this is a recent addition to the albums that influenced my musical tastes, it's had a noticeable impact on what I choose to listen to. Don't get me wrong. I can still listen to Top 40 (to an extent) but it often gets tiring quickly. Every song is the same. Every song is catchy and quick to hook you, but there's such lack of depth I quickly loose interest. Rustin Man's music has just further pushed me to dig deeper into any piece of music, and really listen to the layers. If your song is as thick as a one page flyer for a takeaway restaurant, you'll have lost me by the time the song is over (especially if I'm not hungry). Rustin Man's music is a feast comparatively speaking. Sorry for the food analogy... it's lunch time now and I'm hungry. 

Below, the first song I'd heard from the album, on the surface, a tale about a card game with the devil. Growing up, I had heard so many stories about people trying to best the devil, so there's your nostalgia bit. Then dig a little deeper and there's some food for thought (sorry!); that the way you live your life catches up to you eventually. Enjoy.

Stuff I'm Listening To #84 - I Want It Now - from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Artist: Julie Dawn Cole (written by: Anthony Newley & Leslie Bricusse)

Title: I Want It Now

From: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)

Lyrics: 

I want the world

I want the whole world

I want to lock it all up in my pocket

It's my bar of chocolate

Give it to me

Now!

Why?: My brain is a dangerous place. Honestly. Today one of my favourite musicians decided to announce that he was releasing a new album. Naturally I was excited and through the course of the morning my bratty nature came through with crystal clarity.

I pre-ordered the album and now have to wait until March 20th to see the vinyl arrive at my door. Unacceptable! I want it now! So immediately after my mini-tantrum played out on his Instagram page, it became clear that I'm Veruca Salt. 

For what it's worth, my apologies for being so utterly and very demanding. I know he'd been working hard to get the album together and released. I know because I watched and listened to the first video single from the album and it's just as wonderful as everything else I've heard him release. 

For your listening pleasure, the song from the movie linked above. For your viewing pleasure, a badly photoshopped recreation of me below, if I was at the record factory, which I wasn't, which was probably a good thing.  

Motorcycle Peanut as Veruca Salt in 'Rustin Man and the Record Factory'

For those interested in Rustin Man’s new single it’s linked here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT9ukDa_b2Y&feature=share

Stuff I'm Listening To - Special Happy Birthday Paul Webb Edition

Out Of Season - Beth Gibbons & Rustin Man

Artist: Beth Gibbons and Rustin Man

Title: Rustin Man

Favourite Lyrics: 


How many more days can we take in the hope of seeing you
Oh Rustin Man

Why?: Hmm. Must be someone's birthday today. HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAUL WEBB!

It's a work day for me, which means I only really get my drive in and back home to tuck into his almost 40 year old catalogue of really good music to celebrate. Of course his most recent 'Drift Code' album is in there, all three .o.rang releases and along with newly transferred from vinyl 'Out of Season' with Beth Gibbons, which has been on loop since the transfer on New Year's day when I finally got a moment to hook up my record player to my laptop. Honestly, if you haven't heard any of these albums, why are we even friends? Go out, listen, redeem yourselves! :) 

Normally, at this point, I would go on to tell you that he's one of my favourite bass players. In case you didn't already know, I have a thing for them. And there would be me gushing about how he was (along with his other bandmates) not hard to look at and hell, he's still hot. But I wouldn't lower myself to that kind of fangirlling. Not today. That would just be weird. 

And calling Paul Webb a bass player? That's not a fair assessment of him. He's, as I discovered, so much more than that. Someone who takes the time to learn almost every instrument to play on his album... well that's a sign of a great musician so far as I'm concerned. So instead, I'm going to tell you he's one of my favourite musicians of all time. 

Happy birthday Mr. Webb. I hope you spent it doing whatever you wanted to do.

Stuff I'm Listening To #70 - A Week of Soundtracks - James Bond

Artist: John Barry, Bill Conti, Duran Duran, Rita Coolidge, a-Ha, Sheena Easton

Favourite Tracks: A View To A Kill, All Time High (from Octopussy), For Your Eyes Only, The Living Daylights

Why?:
In two words? Duran Duran! 

Remember? I am and forever will be a Duranie. They wrote a song for a Bond movie, so automatically, that track will be my favourite. (As an added bonus, having Grace Jones in a Bond film? Simply amazing. I fully admit, I have a crush on Grace. The 80s were a magical time and she's a phenomenal woman.)

I really like James Bond! (I really love the Aston Martin car too! Though I have a model of the Lotus Esprit from 'The Spy Who Loved Me' so I have a soft spot for that car too.) They cast a new Bond every three to five movies so he stays fresh! He's like the Doctor (Who) but for spy buffs. Everyone has a favourite Bond. I have a first Bond, and that's Roger Moore, and by default he was my favourite for a while. I've seen most of his Bond films and enjoyed them. But I was a bit too young the first time I saw Octopussy on TV with my dad and brother, but I remember the song. I liked the dreamy song. 

I was likely around five when I saw my first Bond flick with Roger, so he left quite the impression on me, and it was probably 'Moonraker' because I have a vivid recollection of the henchman named Jaws who I was able to relate to. I thought Roger was a lovely and friendly British man (I wasn't wrong - seriously, click on that link... worth it). My favourite Bond is currently Daniel Craig, I think, because they updated Bond really well with him. I really wanted Mr. Remington Steele, Pierce Brosnan, to be my favourite. But his scripts were pretty terrible. He had a good video game though with 'Golden Eye'. For the record, if ever the Ultrahouse 3000 becomes a real thing, I would totally pick the Pierce Brosnan setting and yes, yes, I'm digressing. 

I can't say much for Sean Connery. I tried watching his films a while ago, but they've become increasingly problematic in the sense that they're very dated for me. I'll give it another go, I promise. As for Timothy Dalton... Sorry! You suffered the same terrible script fate as my beloved Remington Steele. 

For this particular go, I'm sticking simply with the title track. The rest of the soundtracks are always good. John Barry (and Bill Conti for 'For Your Eyes Only') were pretty good composers (I mean Bill Conti composed music for 'Rocky'!) and their pieces fit every scene, between high action and the sexy fun times in the Bond flicks. 

I think what I love most about each Bond theme was they were as much a Duran Duran, a-Ha or Sheena Easton song as they were a Bond theme. Even Paul McCartney managed to pull of a theme that managed to strangely marry his McCartney and Wings style to it. (I didn't mention 'Live and Let Die' because this would have just started to become a crowded list of all Bond themes). 

Should watch any of Roger Moore's films? Sure. James Bond was always going to be a little on the ridiculous side during the 80s and those films were just that. A little more comedy than action. But it's a movie, and they're supposed to be entertaining right? Roger Moore as James Bond is absolutely entertaining and it's obvious they were having fun. If you wanted something a little more edgy, move onto Daniel Craig. Pierce Brosnan and Timothy Dalton were victims of the script writing trying to write hammy Roger Moore stuff but trying to be too serious about it all at the same time. Plus trying to find a common enemy after the fall of the Berlin Wall made it hard for Bond to exist during those days. 

Forgive me, I have one final slight digression to make. I dunno about you guys, but have you heard Rustin Man's (Paul Webb's) album Drift Code? After hearing the track "Our Tomorrows" I think they should ask him to write a Bond theme. Just saying.

 





All Time High - Rita Coolidge - from Octopussy


For Your Eyes Only - Sheena Easton


The Living Daylighs - a-Ha

Stuff I'm Listening To #63 - Beethoven's 9th Symphony

Composer: Beethoven
 
Title: 9th Symphony
 
Favourite Lyrics:
O Freunde, nicht diese Töne!
Sondern laßt uns angenehmere anstimmen, und freudenvollere. 
Freude!
Freude! 
Translation: 
O friends, no more of these sounds!
Let us sing more cheerful songs,
More songs full of joy!
Joy!
Joy! 
Why?: I started collecting records again.

I blame Talk Talk and Rustin Man... in March there were three brand spanking new Talk Talk records at the record store my husband accidentally took me to (it happened to be beside the restaurant he took me to) in March. But no record player.

Then the appeal of having a signed print from Paul Webb was too much for me to resist. My husband listened to me whine about how nice it would be to have it and how I didn't want to spend any money because it cuts into my ice cream budget and he succumbed and paid for my Drift Code album. But I still didn't have a record player.
 
Finally, Spirit of Eden got delivered, unexpectedly, at my work on my weekend shift (I've taken on a few extra hours lately). I posted excitedly about it yesterday. Still... no record player....

When I got home last night and my husband dragged me out to purchase a kettle (ours broke) and in the department store he declared he was purchasing me a record player because he wanted to.

I almost cried. 

Yesterday happened to be five years since the first time I'd taken my husband to Roy Thompson Hall to hear Daniil Trifonov play Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini by Rachmaninoff and then the Toronto Symphony after intermission played Beethoven's 9th Symphony. I remember him being utterly amazed at the performance. He'd never been to such a concert before. And then he had to deal with emotional me after. Why emotional me? Well...

 

There are so many feels here. Three of the most important men in my life have something to do with this photo.

First. Beethoven was my dad’s favourite composer and piece. 

Second. The Beethoven record pictured here had been purchased by my brother (mom asked him to go out and buy this record) for me when I was younger and just learning how to play the piano so I could hear it in all it's majesty. 

Third. The player, just purchased yesterday by my husband on impulse just to make me happy so I could finally listen to all my records, after he saw the post of my Spirit of Eden purchase yesterday, and the Rustin Man and Talk Talk Records which husband helped purchase these last few months.

I usually cry during Ode to Joy because of my dad. I’m crying now writing this because it reminds me of my dad. Pity my husband who at Roy Thomson Hall five years ago had to deal with me ugly crying during the Ode to Joy part. I was laughing at my own ugly crying too, because it was so ridiculously out of character for me. 

So aside from the test run last night to make sure the player was working, it was befitting it would be this piece which means so much to me and relates to three of the most important men in my life, that would break in my brand new record player.

Stuff I'm Listening To #60 - Rustin Man

Artist: Rustin Man

Title: Light the Light

Favourite Lyrics:
Light the light when the load ain't easy, light up, don't fade it
There's much to endure, so much to cast away
How, how, how long can you leave it? 
There's a grand highway out here, waiting for you to let go

Why?: 
I've hit some kind of milestone here. I've managed to commit myself to posting a song on average once a week for the past year on Facebook anyway. That's like 'Life Event' worthy. Some songs dripping with nostalgia for many, some songs clearly greeted with a giant "WTF?", even from my beloved husband who sat confused as to why I thought a lyric about "All the dishes rattle in the cupboards when the elephants arrive" was an appropriate love song from me to him. *insert mad giggling from me*.

But if you've followed anything I've written before you know I'm wordy and weird. But dammit, I have phenomenal taste in music. Which is why for this milestone thing I've decided to post this song. I've likely said it before and I'll say it again; the whole Drift Code album is good and definitely worth a listen. Outside of Vanishing Heart and Judgement Train, as per my usual pattern, i.e. If it has a video, I probably like it (hence, Our Tomorrows also liked by yours truly) Light the Light, was the one that popped out from the rest on my first listen to this album. 

I can't tell you why it popped. It just did. Something (my subconscious mind, no doubt) was screaming 'You need to go out for a long bike ride and appreciate this. There's many levels here. You'll see!' My subconscious mind knows me best. When I'm riding, I get into this zen state and suddenly the asphalt smells sweet, the sky is a sharper shade of blue, the clouds are a softer, welcoming texture. Even the roar of my motor backs off from the aggressive city barking it does, into a lulling purr. 

And it was on the first long ride this year, I managed to queue up my playlist in such a way that this song came up just in time for a long, uninterrupted stretch of highway. I think I must have Instagrammed Rustin Man immediately once we'd stopped for a break. He needed to know how perfect this song was on a motorbike! (And he, being a gentleman, replied and made my day!) The song was this playful romp across a piano, backed by this subtle jazzy drumming that permanently pasted an image of a smoke-filled speakeasy from the 1920s wherein these guys would have been the house band. The lyrics perfectly match my feeling of being out on an open highway, the strife and troubles left behind, for a little while anyway. You can tell I'm listening to this song as I start to do these full lane sweeps in time with the song. It's akin to me dancing on my bike. I am still listening to this song and the rest of the album and there is still more to be discovered. 

As for why it took so long for me to post anything off Drift Code... Simply put, I was a little embarrassed. I'm not great at articulating why I like certain music without some motorcycle or childhood/teenage anecdote attached to it. And I'm good at completely missing the point of songs at times (so apologies if I've done that here). This album deserves a far better review than I'm likely able to give. Also, me grunting "Good album, go buy", while perfect for the current attention span of people like me, just wasn't going to cut it.

Stuff I’m listening to #55 - Beth Gibbons and Rustin Man

Artist: Beth Gibbons and Rustin Man Title: Mysteries 

Favourite Lyrics:  
Mysteries of love
Where war is no more
I'll be there anytime

Why?: Rustin Man decided to share his memories about the album this gorgeous song came from. I am just discovering it now because as you all are aware I got stuck in the 80s and haven’t come out yet. It was a keyboard smashing moment of “OMG! It’s a beautiful song!” (Actually... the exact keyboard smashing result was "adfkls;nvb/bm hj!")

Then there was immediate self-anger because I’m so slow to the game. Like “Damnit! You should have known about this sooner!!!” I’ve shared his Facebook link below because I thought it was interesting and because he has a new album out that you might like and there’s more info on his page about that too. 

Stuff I'm Listening To #2 - Talk Talk

Artist: Talk Talk

Title: It’s My Life

Favourite Lyrics: 
Funny how I find myself in love with you. 
If I could buy my reasoning, I'd pay to lose.

Why?: Mark Hollis’ deeply emotive voice. The lyrics speak of a tumultuous relationship. Love, drama, and so much emotion. I think of my own love life and the song makes me nostalgic. Quintessential 80’s new wave. A little alternative, a little pop, a little weird (watch both versions of the video, but also animal documentary footage! It was as if they crafted a perfect video for my nine year old self. I want to know who do I write to to get my digital cable provider to give me the option of watching any animal documentary with the choice of David Attenborough, Lorne Greene or David Suzuki narrating and the choice to have the original soundtrack or Talk Talk... sorry I digress). Also, Mark Hollis is super cute in the second version of the video. Nobody said I needed deep valid reasons for enjoying music, okay? Jesus... I could go on for pages about this, but I'm not here to scare anyone off. ... k. I'll stop gushing.

Honestly, I’m saddened that it took me this long to start seeking Talk Talk’s extended library of music. I love their music and they’ve broken up. Also, this song is no longer a song about a human relationship in my life. I sing it to my Precious motorcycle often. I'll be sure to explain someday.

Edit update: December 31, 2018: So… when I posted this video, I basically dove headfirst into this band. Like… dove in… In my head, I’ve gone and married all the core band members several times, written their last names after mine… you know… going through my mid-life crisis by being a teenaged girl. It was Duran Duran the first time round. 

Pity my husband who had to put up with me listening to Talk Talk non-stop for about a month (and counting) and visibly cringes if I mention the name Mark (eeeeeee. OMG…. I love this man so much… eeee!) Hollis, Paul (automatically I had the hawts for him because he's the bass player! Plus have you seen him lately with his Rustin Man stuffs? Still adorable.) Webb and Lee (OMG... he's like, not wearing a shirt... and he's hawt! And why are drummers shy? Roger Taylor from Duran Duran... hawt... shy... gah!) Harris and anymore. I think the whole Talk Talk library, and beyond (I’m talking, Mark Hollis’ solo stuff, O.Rang, Rustin Man) is very much worth a listen. It’s really great stuff.

Edit update 2: March 1, 2019: So of course, you understand that this was written months before February 25th, 2019. The day the news broke I was beside myself. Like, seriously? I just got into you and you go and die on me?! But as a Firefly fan, I know what it is to be disappointed by things cut short and what heartbreak is. *Yes, that was a terrible joke. This is why I have kept my day job. Shut up.* Needless to say, it’s a great song still. RIP Mark Hollis. Thanks for making me feel 14 again. *sniffle*. 

Edit update 3: May 7, 2019: First... apologies to the band for instantly objectifying them. I blame unbalanced hormones (But... daaaaamn! Super talented and hawt... Sorry! It's Scotch this time you can blame. Hehe). And hey! I can post multiple links in my blog! Here is the second video: 

     
Note: This was originally published with video link and lyric choice only.