SIMPLY RED – MONEY’S TOO TIGHT (TO MENTION)

Llançament: 20 de maig de 1985  

Llistes: EUA: #28  Regne Unit: #13  

“Money’s Too Tight (to Mention)” és una cançó de soul/funk escrita i gravada per John i Billy Valentine, sota el nom del grup The Valentine Brothers. La banda pop/soul Simply Red en va gravar una versió com a single de debut l’any 1985, assolint el lloc #13 al Regne Unit, inclosa al seu àlbum debut, “Picture Book”.  

La cançó tracta d'algú que lluita per sobreviure econòmicament i troba que, allà on es dirigeix, els altres o bé no poden o no volen ajudar. És crítica amb les polítiques del llavors president nord-americà Ronald Reagan, esmentant tant Reagan com la seva primera dama, Nancy, així com les "Reaganomics", les polítiques econòmiques impopulars de Reagan dels primers anys vuitanta.  

Simply Red és una banda de soul i pop de Manchester, centrada al voltant del carismàtic cantant pel-roig Mick Hucknall. Es van formar a partir de la dissolució de The Frantic Elevators, la banda punk que Hucknall liderava, l’any 1984. Després d’ajuntar músics locals de Manchester, el grup va passar per diversos noms com "World Service", "Red & the Dancing Dead" i "Just Red" abans de decidir-se per Simply Red. Tot i que “Money’s Too Tight (to Mention)” va ser un èxit al Regne Unit, diversos singles posteriors no van entrar a les llistes. Un d’aquests singles, “Holding Back the Years”, va ser reeditat a principis de 1986 i va tenir un gran èxit, assolint el lloc #2 al Regne Unit. Més tard, aquell mateix any, va aconseguir un lloc més alt als Estats Units.  

El seu segon àlbum, “Men and Women” de 1987, va evolucionar de la introspecció i el comentari social de “Picture Book” cap a un so més funk i jazz, amb el single “The Right Thing” entrant a les llistes de tot el món. Posteriorment, l’any 1989, “A New Flame” va reduir el funk, substituint-lo per un so més soulful. D’aquest àlbum, la seva versió de “If You Don’t Know Me by Now” de Harold Melvin va igualar els èxits anteriors arribant al primer lloc del Hot 100 i al segon al Regne Unit.  

Simply Red va assolir la màxima popularitat amb “Stars” de 1992, que va incloure els èxits del top ten “Something Got Me Started”, “Stars” i “For Your Babies”. Al Regne Unit, l’àlbum va vendre més de tres milions de còpies i va ser el més venut de l’any tant el 1992 com el 1993. “Life” de 1995 va seguir en la mateixa línia i va donar a la banda el seu únic número u al Regne Unit amb el tema orientat a la música dance, “Fairground”. La banda va durar fins al 2007, quan amb la publicació del seu desè àlbum, “Stay”, Hucknall va anunciar que retiraria el nom de la banda, i el 2010, després d’una gira de comiat, ho va fer.  

Això només va durar uns quants anys, ja que el 2014 Simply Red va tornar a la carretera per celebrar els trenta anys des de la seva formació. El tretzè àlbum de la banda, “Time”, es va publicar el 2023. Mick Hucknall, amb el seu inconfusible cabell roig, és l’epítom del soul britànic "blue-eyed" (de fet, el seu dotzè àlbum es va titular "Blue Eyed Soul"). Hucknall és una figura divisòria, amb els seus cabells roigs sovint objecte de burla per part dels mitjans, però el que és innegable és que la seva poderosa veu manté una sonoritat plena de soul i melodia. Tot i que ja no és l'estrella de les llistes d'èxits que va ser en el passat, continua tenint una gran base de fans al Regne Unit i no mostra signes de voler parar en cap moment.

SIMPLY RED – MONEY’S TOO TIGHT (TO MENTION)

Released: May 20, 1985

Charts: US: #28  UK: #13

 “Money’s Too Tight (to Mention)” is a soul/funk song written and recorded by John and Billy Valentine, under the group name The Valentine Brothers. Pop/soul band Simply Red recorded a version of the song as their debut single in 1985, making #13 in the United Kingdom, and taken from their debut album, “Picture Book”.

The song is about someone who's struggling to survive financially, only to find that wherever he turns, others are either unable or unwilling to help. The song is critical of the policies of then US President Ronald Reagan, name checking both Reagan, and his First Lady Nancy, plus “Reaganomics”, the president's unpopular economic policy of the early eighties.

Simply Red are soul and pop band from Manchester, centred around flame-haired lead singer Mick Hucknall. They were formed from the dissolution of The Frantic Elevators, the punk band Hucknall fronted, in 1984. Gathering local Manchester musicians to back him, the ensemble went through several names: “World Service”, “Red & the Dancing Dead”, “Just Red”, before settling on Simply Red. Although “Money’s Too Tight (to Mention)” was a UK hit, several follow-ups failed to crack the charts. One of those singles, “Holding Back the Years” was reissued early 1986, and took off, making #2 in the UK. Later that year, it went one position higher in the United States.

Their second album, 1987’s “Men and Women” moved on from the introspection and social commentary of “Picture Book” into a funkier, jazzier sound, with the lead single, “The Right Thing” charting worldwide, before 1989’s “A New Flame” dialled the funk back, replacing it with a more soulful sound. From that album, their cover of Harold Melvin's “If You Don’t Know Me by Now” repeated previous successes by topping the Hot 100 and making UK #2.

Simply Red peaked in popularity with 1992’s “Stars”, featuring the top ten hits, “Something Got Me Started”, “Stars” and “For Your Babies”. In the UK, the album sold over three million copies, and was the top selling album of the year for both 1992 and 1993. 1995’s “Life” provided more of the same, and gave the band their only UK chart topper with the dance orientated track “Fairground”. The band lasted until 2007, when with the release of their tenth album, “Stay”, Hucknall announced that he would retire the band name, and in 2010, after a farewell tour, did just that.

That only lasted a few years, and by 2014, Simply Red were back on the road to celebrate thirty years sing they formed. The band’s thirteenth album, “Time” was released in 2023.  Mick Hucknall, with his instantly recognisable red hair is the epitome of British blue-eyed soul (so much so that their twelfth album was actually called “Blue Eyed Soul”). Hucknall is a divisive character, with his ginger locks often a cause for mockery by the media, but what cannot be denied is his powerful lungs hold a superbly soulful and melodic voice. Although he is no longer the hitmaker he once was, he still has a large, dedicated fanbase in the UK, and shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

 

HEART - EVEN IT UP

Released: January 1980

Charted:  US: #33 

"Even It Up" is an upbeat rock song by Heart, released in 1980 as the lead single from their fifth album, “Bebe le Strange”. The lyrics express a woman’s demand for equal effort in a relationship, urging her partner to "even it up" to match her commitment. The track reached No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The release of “Bebe le Strange” marks a period when Ann and Nancy Wilson took firm control over the band’s direction and songwriting, with contributions from their longtime friend Sue Ennis. By this point, the sisters were the band's visual and creative core, even being the sole members featured prominently on the album cover, with the remaining band members shown only on the back. 

Heart, led by sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson, broke barriers as one of the few female-fronted rock bands in the 1970s. At a time when women in rock were often limited to roles as backup singers or groupies, Ann and Nancy stood out not only for their powerful performances but also for writing their own songs. 

While "Even It Up" sounds like Ann Wilson is addressing a selfish lover, the song was actually inspired by the challenges she and her sister Nancy faced as women in rock. Written in 1979-1980, it reflects their frustration with systemic barriers and "glass walls" that obstructed their progress in a male-dominated industry. The lyrics reflect demands for equality, not only in relationships but also as women in the music world.

Heart made a straightforward performance video for “Even It Up,” but its release was just before MTV's launch, which limited its impact. When MTV debuted in 1981, the network prioritized concept-driven videos and newer songs, leaving Heart’s early videos largely overlooked. It wasn’t until the mid-1980s, with more stylized videos for hits like “What About Love” and “Never,” that Heart began making a significant impact on MTV.

 

HEART - WHAT ABOUT LOVE?

Released: May 1985

Charted:  US: #10    UK: #14 

"What About Love" was originally recorded by the Canadian band Toronto in 1982 before Heart re-recorded it in 1985 as the lead single from their self-titled album, marking a major comeback. Released on their new label, Capitol Records, the track featured background vocals by Grace Slick and Mickey Thomas of Starship. In this song Ann Wilson sings to a man who isn’t reciprocating her feelings, urging him to open his heart to her. She warns that while he might dismiss her love now, there could come a time when he’ll need it. 

Heart's single "What About Love" marked a pivotal comeback under their new Capitol Records contract. After struggling in the early '80s with dwindling sales and limited radio or MTV exposure, Capitol helped reorient Heart's sound by pairing them with producer Ron Nevison and encouraging the use of outside writers. "What About Love," written by Brian Allen and Sheron Alton of the band Toronto, along with Jim Vallance (known for hits with Bryan Adams), was initially intended for Toronto but ultimately transformed into Heart's first Top 40 hit in three years and their first Top 10 hit in five, also reaching #14 in the UK as their first charting single there. This success launched a new era for the band, with subsequent singles "Never" and "These Dreams" charting even higher at #4 and #1, respectively, reigniting Heart's commercial success.

In "What About Love," Ann Wilson’s vocal performance shifts dramatically between the verses and chorus, showcasing a more dynamic style than in Heart's earlier work. Under producer Ron Nevison’s guidance, she holds back her powerful voice in the verses, creating a sense of restraint that builds tension. This controlled approach makes her explosive delivery in the chorus even more impactful.

The music video, directed by David Mallet, features Heart performing in a gritty foundry setting, dressed in leather and lace. The video’s edgy aesthetic helped it stand out, becoming the band’s first to gain substantial airplay on MTV, which played a key role in boosting the song’s popularity.

 

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - BORN IN THE U.S.A.

Llançada: 14 d’octubre de 1984  

Llistes: EUA: #9, Regne Unit: #5  

“Born in the U.S.A.” és el tercer single extret de l'àlbum del mateix nom. Amb un ritme enèrgic, va aconseguir entrar al top 10 de les llistes de tot el món, convertint-se en el tercer senzill de l'àlbum que va assolir aquest èxit als EUA. L'àlbum va produir set singles consecutius dins del top ten, igualant el rècord d’un sol àlbum establert per “Thriller” de Michael Jackson.

Aquesta és una de les cançons més representatives de Springsteen, sovint utilitzada com a himne patriòtic per persones que desconeixen o ignoren el seu veritable significat. En la seva gravació, el Boss va estar acompanyat pels membres clàssics de l’E-Street Band: “Little” Steven Van Zandt (guitarra), Roy Bittan (teclats), Danny Federici (piano/glockenspiel), Garry Tallent (baix), Max Weinberg (bateria) i Clarence Clemons (saxofon/percussió).

Tot i el seu ús habitual com a celebració enèrgica de tot allò americà, la cançó tracta una història tràgica sobre com els veterans de Vietnam van ser marginats i abandonats en tornar a casa. El protagonista, nascut en la pobresa, explica com lluitava per sobreviure des del naixement “The first kick I took was when I hit the ground” (La primera bufetada que vaig rebre va ser quan vaig tocar el terra) i com va ser enrolat a l'exèrcit després de tenir problemes al seu poble:

 “Got in a little hometown jam  

So, they put a rifle in my hands.  

Sent me off to a foreign land  

To go and kill the yellow man”.

La resta de la cançó parla del seu retorn de la guerra. Incapaç de trobar feina, visita el representant de Veterans, qui li diu que així és la vida ara. La tercera estrofa parla d'un "germà" (no queda clar si de sang o d'armes) que va morir en combat, i com ell encara porta una foto del seu germà amb la seva promesa.

La cançó acaba amb el veterà, deu anys després, encara perseguit pel seu passat i sense futur:

 “I’m ten years burning down the road  

Nowhere to run, ain’t got nowhere to go”.

“Born in the U.S.A.” s'allunya molt del crit nacionalista que sovint se li atribueix, tant que és un autèntic error que alguns polítics la facin servir amb aquest sentit. El mateix Springsteen ha criticat aquells que utilitzen la cançó com un himne patriòtic.

Bruce Springsteen és una llegenda, un dels compositors nord-americans més destacats. El Boss ha llançat un total de 21 àlbums, des de “Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ” de 1972 fins a “Only the Strong Survive” de 2022. És un pioner del Heartland Rock, un estil que parla de la vida quotidiana de les classes treballadores. Bruce Springsteen és membre del Rock & Roll Hall of Fame i ha rebut vint premis Grammy i un Oscar per la cançó “Streets of Philadelphia,” de la pel·lícula “Philadelphia” amb Tom Hanks.

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - BORN IN THE U.S.A.

Released: October 14, 1984

Charts: US: #9  UK: #5 

 “Born in the U.S.A.” is a song by Bruce Springsteen, the third single lifted from the album of the same name. An up-tempo rocker, the song made the top 10 of charts worldwide, becoming the third single from “Born in the U.S.A.” to make the US top ten. The album went on to produce seven top ten singles in a row, tying the record from a single album set by Michael Jackson's “Thriller”.

The song is one of Springsteen's signature songs, and is often used as a patriotic anthem by individuals either unaware or unconcerned by it’s true meaning. On the recording of the song, the Boss was backed by the classic line-up of his E-Street Band: “Little” Steven Van Zandt (guitar), Roy Bittan (keyboards), Danny Federici (piano/glockenspiel), Garry Tallent (bass), Max Weinberg (drums) and the big man, Clarence Clemonds (Saxophone/percussion).

Despite its constant use as a bombastic celebration of all things American, the song is a rather tragic story of how Vietnam veterans were vilified and abandoned after their return from service. The protagonist of the song cuts a tragic figure. Born into poverty, he states how he was fighting to survive since birth (“The first kick I took was when I hit the ground”), and was subscripted into the army after getting into trouble in his home town:

 “Got in a little hometown jam

So, they put a rifle in my hands.

Sent me off to a foreign land

To go and kill the yellow man”.

The rest of the song deals with his return from the war. Unable to get a job, he goes to his Veteran's Association representative who tells him that’s just how it now is. The third verse tells of a “brother” (whether a blood brother or a brother in arms, it isn’t said) who fell in battle, and how he still carries a photo of his brother with his fiancé.

The song ends with the veteran, ten years later on, still haunted by his past and with no future to look forward to:

 “I’m ten years burning down the road

Nowhere to run, ain’t got nowhere to go”.

The song is so far away from the raucous call-to-arms that it’s so often used as, that it’s truly an embarrassment to any politician using it as a backdrop. Springsteen himself has been known to criticise those using the song as a nationalistic anthem.

Bruce Springsteen is a legend, and one of America's finest all-time songwriters. The Boss has released a total of 21 albums in his lifetime, from 1972’s “Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ”, through to 2022’s “Only the Strong Survive”. He is a pioneer of Heartland Rock, which talks of everyday life of the working classes. Bruce Springsteen is a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the recipient of twenty Grammy Awards and an Oscar for the song “The Streets of Philadelphia”, from the Tom Hanks film, “Philadelphia”.