DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES - I CAN’T GO FOR THAT (NO CAN DO)

Estrena: novembre de 1981

Llistes: EUA: #1 (1 setmana)  Regne Unit: #8

"I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" va ser llançada com a segon single de l'àlbum “Private Eyes” de 1981. Coescrita amb Sara Allen, la cançó es va convertir en el quart número u del duo al Billboard Hot 100. Notablement, també va aconseguir una gesta rara per a un grup de músics blancs, en encapçalar tant les llistes de pop com de R&B.

"I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" va debutar al número 59 del Billboard Hot 100 el 14 de novembre de 1981, com la debutant més alta de la setmana. Després d'11 setmanes, va assolir el cim de la llista el 30 de gener de 1982, on s'hi va mantenir durant una setmana. La cançó va posar fi a la rècord de 10 setmanes de l'Olivia Newton-John al número u amb "Physical", que prèviament havia destronat "Private Eyes" de Hall & Oates del primer lloc.

"I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" es va inspirar en una frase que Daryl Hall feia servir quan es negava a sotmetre's a la pressió. La cançó va ser improvisada durant una sessió de gravació per a l'àlbum a Electric Lady Studios. Hall va començar tocant una línia de baix en un orgue Korg, acompanyat per un ritme preestablert d'una caixa de ritmes Roland CompuRhythm. L'enginyer de so va capturar el moment, i en menys de 10 minuts, els acords i el riff de guitarra, tocat per John Oates, es van materialitzar. L'endemà, Hall i la seva parella, Sara Allen, van col·laborar en la lletra.

Michael Jackson va admetre que "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" va tenir una influència important en el seu èxit "Billie Jean". Daryl Hall va explicar que durant la gravació de "We Are the World", Jackson li va dir que havia pres prestat el groove de la seva cançó. Hall, impressionat per com Jackson l'havia adaptat, li va respondre que ni tan sols havia notat la similitud.

John Oates va explicar que, mentre molts interpreten "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" com una cançó sobre relacions, en realitat tracta de resistir la pressió de la indústria musical. La lletra expressa la determinació del duo de no deixar-se influenciar per les discogràfiques, els mànagers i els agents, i de mantenir-se fidels a la seva visió creativa. Oates va esmentar que aquest missatge era intencionat, ja que volien que els oients poguessin relacionar la cançó amb les seves pròpies vides i experiències.

Oates també va comentar que "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" és una de les cançons més samplejades del seu catàleg. Artistes com Simply Red, Puff Daddy i De La Soul l'han utilitzat en els seus propis temes. Per exemple, "Sunrise" de Simply Red no va ser només un sample, sinó que va fer servir tota la melodia de la cançó amb noves estrofes afegides. Oates va expressar que aprecia quan la seva música és samplejada, ja que ho considera un compliment i gaudeix de les diferents interpretacions que altres artistes aporten al seu treball.

DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES - I CAN’T GO FOR THAT (NO CAN DO)

Released: November 1981

Charts: US: #1 (1 week)  UK: #8

"I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" was released as the second single from the 1981 album “Private Eyes”. Co-written with Sara Allen, the song became the duo's fourth number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Notably, it also achieved a rare feat for a white act by topping both the pop and R&B charts.

"I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" debuted at number 59 on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 14, 1981, as the highest debut of the week. After 11 weeks, it reached the top of the chart on January 30, 1982, where it stayed for one week. The song ended Olivia Newton-John's 10-week run at number one with "Physical," which had previously knocked Hall & Oates' "Private Eyes" from the top spot.

"I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" was inspired by a phrase Daryl Hall used when he refused to conform to pressure. The song was improvised during a recording session for the album at Electric Lady Studios. Hall began by playing a bass line on a Korg organ, accompanied by a preset rhythm from a Roland CompuRhythm drum machine. The session engineer captured the moment, and within 10 minutes, the chords and guitar riff, played by John Oates, came together. The next day, Hall and his girlfriend, Sara Allen, collaborated on the lyrics. 

Michael Jackson admitted that Hall & Oates' "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" had a significant influence on his hit song "Billie Jean." Daryl Hall recounted that during the recording of "We Are the World," Jackson told him he had borrowed the groove from their song. Hall, impressed with how well Jackson had adapted it, replied that he hadn't even noticed the similarity. 

John Oates explained that while many interpret "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" as a relationship song, it is actually about resisting pressure from the music industry. The lyrics express the duo's determination not to be pushed around by record labels, managers, and agents, and to stay true to their creative vision. Oates mentioned that this broader message was intentional, as they wanted listeners to relate the song to their own lives and experiences.

John Oates mentioned that "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" is one of the most sampled songs from their catalog. He noted that artists like Simply Red, Puff Daddy, and De La Soul have used it in their own tracks. Simply Red's "Sunrise," for example, wasn't just a sample but used the entire track, with new verses added. Oates expressed that he appreciates when their music is sampled, considering it a compliment and enjoying the different interpretations that other artists bring to their work.