INXS - DEVIL INSIDE

Publicació: 8 de febrer de 1988

Llistes: Regne Unit: #47  EUA: #2 

"Devil Inside" és una cançó del grup de rock australià INXS, escrita per Andrew Farriss i Michael Hutchence. Va ser el segon senzill del seu sisè àlbum d'estudi, "Kick", i va començar a sonar a les ràdios al febrer de 1988. La cançó va arribar al segon lloc de la llista Billboard Hot 100 dels Estats Units, mantenint-se en aquesta posició durant dues setmanes. A més, "Devil Inside" va assolir la sisena posició a Austràlia, la tercera al Canadà i la segona a Nova Zelanda.

"Devil Inside" explora els aspectes més foscos de la naturalesa humana, retractant persones que mostren els seus dimonis interiors de manera oberta. La lletra descriu una dona "criada en cuir amb carn a la ment", encarnant una persona provocadora i rebel. De manera similar, un home "alimentat només d'orgull" encarna el pecat de l'arrogància, un dels set pecats capitals. El líder d'INXS, Michael Hutchence, va atribuir l'exploració temàtica de la cançó a una fase de contemplació sobre la interacció entre el bé i el mal, el caos i l'ordre.

Andrew Farriss va confessar tenir sentiments contradictoris sobre "Devil Inside" perquè no va escriure la lletra, que va ser creada per Michael Hutchence. En una entrevista amb The Tennessean el 2022, Farriss va revelar que va tenir problemes amb la cançó inicialment a causa de les seves creences personals sobre la vida i la vida després de la mort. Malgrat les seves reserves, va reconèixer l'expressió artística darrere de la lletra.

El vídeo musical de "Devil Inside", dirigit per Joel Schumacher, conegut pel seu treball en pel·lícules com "St. Elmo's Fire" i "Falling Down", mostra una estètica elegant i cinematogràfica reminiscent de la seva filmografia. Filmada a Balboa, Califòrnia, una zona luxosa de Newport Beach, el vídeo mostra el grup actuant en un club, envoltat d'una àmplia gamma de persones glamuroses i enigmàtiques que es mouen entre ombres i llums. Aquest vídeo musical va marcar el debut de Schumacher en el món dels vídeos musicals, obrint el camí a futures col·laboracions, incloent-hi "Kiss From A Rose" de Seal lligat a la seva pel·lícula "Batman Forever".

INXS - DEVIL INSIDE

Released: February 8, 1988

Charted: UK: #47   US: #2 

"Devil Inside" is a track by the Australian rock group INXS, written by Andrew Farriss and Michael Hutchence. It served as the second single from their sixth studio album, "Kick," hitting the airwaves in February 1988. The song ascended to the second spot on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, maintaining its position for two weeks. Additionally, "Devil Inside" secured the sixth position in Australia, third in Canada, and second in New Zealand.

"Devil Inside" delves into the darker aspects of human nature, portraying individuals who outwardly exhibit their inner demons. The lyrics depict a woman "raised on leather with flesh on her mind," embodying a provocative and rebellious persona. Similarly, a man "fed on nothing but full of pride" epitomizes the sin of hubris, one of the seven deadly sins. INXS frontman Michael Hutchence attributed the song's thematic exploration to a phase of contemplation regarding the interplay between good and evil, chaos, and order. 

Andrew Farriss confessed to having mixed feelings about "Devil Inside" because he didn't write the lyrics, which were penned by Michael Hutchence. In an interview with The Tennessean in 2022, Farriss revealed that he struggled with the song initially due to his personal beliefs about life and the afterlife. Despite his reservations, he acknowledged the artistic expression behind the lyrics.

The "Devil Inside" music video, directed by Joel Schumacher, known for his work in films like "St. Elmo's Fire" and "Falling Down," showcases a stylish and cinematic aesthetic reminiscent of his filmography. Shot in Balboa, California, a luxurious area of Newport Beach, the video features the band performing at a club, surrounded by an array of glamorous and enigmatic individuals moving in and out of the shadows. This music video marked Schumacher's debut in the realm of music videos, paving the way for future collaborations, including Seal's "Kiss From A Rose" tied to his film "Batman Forever."

INXS - SUICIDE BLONDE

Publicació: 22 d'agost de 1990

Llistes: Regne Unit: #11   EUA: #9

"Suicide Blonde" és el primer senzill del setè àlbum d'estudi de la banda de rock australiana INXS, "X" (1990). La cançó va tenir un gran èxit comercial arribant a posicions altes a diverses llistes de països com Austràlia, els Estats Units, el Regne Unit, el Canadà i Nova Zelanda. La cançó va guanyar el premi a la "Most Performed Australian Work Overseas" (Cançó australiana més interpretada a l'estranger).

L'arranjament ajustat i rítmic de la cançó, caracteritzat per una línia de baix contundent, riffs de guitarra aguts i un ritme pulsant, convida els oients a moure's, ballar i submergir-se en l'energia contagiosa de la música. La interpretació de la lletra per part de Michael Hutchence afavoreix l'atractiu de la cançó, oferint una exploració divertida i provocadora de la naturalesa captivadora però perillosa d'una dona misteriosa i seductora.

"Suicide Blonde" va mostrar una combinació d'influències noves i antigues en INXS. La percussió de Jon Farriss incorporava elements de la música de ball, especialment els sons d'àcid house presents al Regne Unit durant aquell temps, afegint un toc contemporani al so de la banda. A més, la introducció de l'harmonica blues, interpretada per Charlie Musselwhite, es va utilitzar com a sampler en lloc de gravar-se en directe.

Els origens de "Suicide Blonde" mostren una visió curiosa de la relació de Michael Hutchence amb Kylie Minogue i la seva tendència a desafiar les normes socials. Inspirat en la decisió de Minogue de tenyir-se el cabell de ross rubí, Hutchence i Andrew Farriss van crear el títol i la lletra de la cançó, capturant l'esperit rebel i arriscat associat amb la persona de la "suicide blonde". La fascinació de Hutchence amb la transformació de Minogue reflecteix la seva naturalesa divertida i trapella, ja que gaudia desafiar els límits i subvertir les expectatives.

Aquesta va ser l'última cançó que Michael Hutchence va interpretar en directe. "Suicide Blonde" va ser el número de tancament en l'últim concert d'INXS abans de la seva mort, un concert a Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, el 27 de setembre de 1997. Malgrat la incomoditat que el títol podria evocar, la cançó no parla de suïcidi, i la banda va continuar interpretant-la fins i tot després de la tràgica mort de Hutchence per suïcidi el 1997.

INXS - SUICIDE BLONDE

Released: August 22, 1990

Charted: UK: #11  US: #9 

"Suicide Blonde" is the first single from Australian rock band INXS's seventh studio album, “X” (1990). The song was a significant commercial success reaching high chart positions in multiple countries including Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and New Zealand." The song won the award Most Performed Australian Work Overseas.

The song's tight, rhythmic arrangement, characterized by a driving bassline, sharp guitar riffs, and a pulsing beat, invites listeners to move, dance, and immerse themselves in the music's infectious energy. Michael Hutchence's delivery of the lyrics adds to the song's allure, offering a playful and provocative exploration of the captivating yet perilous nature of a mysterious and seductive woman.

"Suicide Blonde" showcased a blend of new and older influences on INXS. Jon Farriss's drumming incorporated elements of dance music, particularly the acid house sounds prevalent in the UK during that time, adding a contemporary edge to the band's sound. Additionally, the blues harp intro, performed by Charlie Musselwhite, was sampled rather than recorded live.

The origins of "Suicide Blonde" show a curious take on Michael Hutchence's relationship with Kylie Minogue and his penchant for defying social norms. Inspired by Minogue's decision to dye her hair blonde, Hutchence and Andrew Farriss crafted the song's title and lyrics, capturing the rebellious and daring spirit associated with the "suicide blonde" persona. Hutchence's fascination with Minogue's transformation reflects his playful and mischievous nature, as he enjoyed pushing boundaries and subverting expectations. 

This was the last song Michael Hutchence performed live. "Suicide Blonde" was the closing number at the last INXS show before his death, a concert in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, on September 27, 1997. Despite the discomfort the title might evoke, the song is not about suicide, and the band continued to perform it even after Hutchence's tragic death by suïcide in 1997.

 

METALLICA - NOTHING ELSE MATTERS

Released : April 20, 1992

Charted:  UK: #6   US: #34 

"Nothing Else Matters" is a ballad by American band Metallica, released in 1992 as the third single from their self-titled fifth studio album. Lead singer and rhythm guitarist James Hetfield wrote the song (credited to Hetfield/Ulrich) in 1990 while on tour, expressing his feelings of homesickness and longing.

Hetfield explained the meaning of "Nothing Else Matters" to Mojo magazine in December 2008, describing it as a song about being on the road and missing someone at home. However, he noted that the song's emotional resonance extended beyond romantic relationships, connecting with themes of spirituality and brotherhood. Hetfield recalled a poignant moment when the Hells Angels showed him a film tribute to a fallen member, set to the song, highlighting its power to evoke brotherhood.

According to Metallica bass player Jason Newsted, the song's relative softness made it more accessible for popular audiences compared to the band's other material, leading to new opportunities for Metallica. "Nothing Else Matters" served as a breakthrough hit in countries where the band hadn't previously toured, expanding their fan base beyond the heavy metal genre and opening doors to new markets.

The music video premiered on MTV on February 26, 1992. Directed by Adam Dubin and edited by Sean Fullan, it features footage from the “A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica” documentary, shot during the recording of “Metallica”. Due to its inclusion of nudity in the form of pin-up posters and Playboy centerfolds, as well as a picture of Winger's Kip Winger being targeted by Ulrich with darts, MTV no longer airs the video during daytime hours. The posters are censored on the band's 2006 music video compilation DVD.

Metallica released Miley Cyrus' interpretation on June 22, 2021, as a promotional single from the Metallica Blacklist. Cyrus had previously covered "Nothing Else Matters" during her 2019 set at Glastonbury. Her rendition also features Elton John on piano, Metallica's Robert Trujillo on bass, Red Hot Chili Peppers' Chad Smith on drums, and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Andrew Watt produced the track and asked Elton to play piano on it. Originally starting with guitar, Watt decided it should begin and end with piano, so he reached out to Elton, who contributed remotely from London via Zoom.

 

SIMON & GARFUNKEL - I AM A ROCK

Released: May 1966

Charted:  US: #3   UK: #17 

"I Am a Rock" is a song written by Paul Simon. Initially performed by Simon alone as the opening track on his album "The Paul Simon Songbook" released in August 1965 exclusively in the United Kingdom, it gained further recognition when Simon and Art Garfunkel, as the duo Simon & Garfunkel, re-recorded it on December 14, 1965. The duo included it as the final track on their album "Sounds of Silence," released on January 17, 1966. While it was released as a single in 1966, it gained additional prominence when included as the B-side of the 1971 reissue of "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)."

The song "I Am a Rock" has a complex history of recordings and releases. Written by Paul Simon before his rise to fame as a musician, the song was first offered to the duo Chad and Jeremy, who declined it. Simon then recorded it for his UK solo album "The Paul Simon Songbook”. Despite a single release in September and a performance by Simon on the show "Ready, Steady, Go!", the song failed to chart.

Simon pursued a solo career as the duo Simon & Garfunkel had split after their debut album "Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M." flopped. However, after the producer Tom Wilson overdubbed and remixed their track "The Sound Of Silence," it became a massive hit. The success of "The Sound of Silence" prompted Paul Simon to return to the United States from Denmark, where he was touring as a solo folk singer. Upon his return, Simon and Art Garfunkel hastily recorded new versions of several songs, including "I Am a Rock," to match the electric sound created by Wilson. These recording sessions took place in December 1965, with Bob Johnston producing at Columbia Recording Studios in New York. The result was the album "Sounds of Silence," released in January of the following year, with "I Am a Rock" serving as the fifth and closing track on Side 2, becoming a hit for the duo released as a single in may 1966.

In the UK, "I Am a Rock" had a peculiar release history, appearing three times within a year. Initially released as a single by Paul Simon in 1965, it was reissued in the summer of 1966 as part of an EP and again as a single. While the song garnered popularity in 1966, its chart position was impacted by the diluted sales resulting from multiple releases.