INXS - LISTEN LIKE THIEVES / THE ONE THING

LISTEN LIKE THIEVES 

Released: June 1986

Charted: UK: #46  US: #54 

"Listen Like Thieves" serves as the title track and fourth single from INXS's fifth album of the same name. The song was penned collectively by the band members: Michael Hutchence, Kirk Pengilly, Garry Gary Beers, Andrew Farriss, Tim Farriss, and Jon Farriss. The B-side to the single was "Different World," featured on the soundtrack for the film "Crocodile Dundee."

"Listen Like Thieves" carries a message urging listeners to be discerning about the information they consume. Michael Hutchence cautions against blindly believing everything presented by the media. He encourages a vigilant approach to discerning truth, emphasizing personal responsibility in understanding the complexities of news and politics.

Andrew Farriss reflected on the phrase "listen like thieves" and the deeper meaning behind the lyrics in a 2020 interview. He noted that Michael Hutchence crafted this unique string of words, which may evoke the style of a British poet from the 19th century but is not commonly used in modern language. Farriss highlighted the cleverness of incorporating this phrase into a song, suggesting that it taps into a timeless theme of societal struggle for autonomy and truth. He interpreted Hutchence's lyrics as addressing the importance of individuals taking control of their own destinies within the framework of government and media scrutiny. 

Was (Not Was) covered "Listen Like Thieves" and released it as a single in 1992 as part of their promotion for the album "Hello Dad ... I'm in Jail." The cover version achieved moderate success, reaching number 58 on the UK Singles Chart.

THE ONE THING

Released: July 1982

Charted: US: #30 

"The One Thing" was released as the lead single from their third 1982 studio album, "Shabooh Shoobah”. Penned by guitarist Andy Farriss and lead vocalist Michael Hutchence, the song explores the allure of a confident and desirable woman who attracts attention from many suitors. This track marked INXS's breakthrough in the United States, becoming their first song to gain traction in the country. This success laid the foundation for their burgeoning international career throughout the mid-1980s and beyond. 

"The One Thing" not only marked INXS's breakthrough in the United States but also coincided with their first tour of America, where they gained exposure to a broader audience. Initially opening for Adam and the Ants, then later supporting The Go-Go's, the band's dynamic performances helped generate buzz around the single. As their tour progressed, so did the popularity of "The One Thing." This momentum culminated in a memorable performance at the US Festival in California on May 28, 1983. 

The music video directed by Soren Jensen, showcased INXS members enjoying a lavish banquet alongside beautiful models, including Michael Hutchence's then-girlfriend Michele Bennett, interwoven with scenes of the band performing. At the time, MTV was known for its eclectic and unconventional content, and "The One Thing" fit right in with its quirky and attention-grabbing visuals. In hindsight, INXS bassist Tim Farriss reflected humorously on the video's creation, highlighting the absurdity of the process. Despite the unconventional approach, the video's exposure on MTV played a significant role in boosting the single's popularity, particularly in the United States.

ULTRAVOX - VIENNA

Publicació: 9 de gener de 1981

Llistes: Regne Unit: #2

"Viena" és una cançó de la banda britànica Ultravox del seu àlbum de 1980 amb el mateix nom. Es va llançar com el tercer senzill de l'àlbum i compta amb Midge Ure cantant la veu principal. La cançó va ser escrita per tota la banda i produïda per Conny Plank, una productora de l’electrònica alemanya responsable del nom "The Neue Deutsche Welle (NDW)" per a bandes alemanyes de new wave. "Viena" és considerada un referent del gènere techno-pop que va ser popularitzada a principis dels anys 80.

"Viena" és una reflexió nostàlgica sobre la sensació d'amor i abandonament. Parla d'estar en un lloc de solitud, mirant enrere en un moment dolç i llunya passat amb un ésser estimat. La lletra al·ludeix al dolor de la separació, però expressa una acceptació estoica a la tornada: "This means nothing to me / Oh, Vienna." (Això no significa res per a mi / Oh, Viena). La cançó en última instància serveix com un recordatori de la naturalesa efímera de l'amor i de la vida, i una garantia que tots els moments han d'acabar en última instància.

Va assolir el segon lloc al Regne Unit, ja que "Shaddap You Face" de Joe Dolce infamement l'impedí arribar al primer lloc. El baixista Chris Cross va comentar a la revista Mojo al febrer de 2009 sobre aquesta cançó aturada al segon lloc darrere de "Shaddap You Face": "Això molestava Midge Ure en aquell moment. Això sonarà terrible, però m'agradava força aquella cançó, crec que era divertida."

Es va filmar un vídeo innovador (el primer vídeo de "mini pel·lícula") per a aquesta cançó. En part en blanc i negre, el vídeo va ser dirigit per Russell Mulcahy, un dels directors més grans dels primers anys 80. Es va rodar principalment a Londres, amb escenes al Teatre Gaumont State i a Searcy's. Les escenes gravades a Viena es van fer sobre la marxa, amb la banda i l'equip visitant la ciutat durant un dia i explorant-la en taxi amb l'ajuda d'una guia turística. En una escena memorable, una taràntula es desplaça per la cara d'un home. Aquest ànima valenta és Julien Temple, que com Mulcahy era un director de vídeos musicals molt popular en els primers anys del format. La cançó i el vídeo van ser inspirats en part per la pel·lícula de Carol Reed de 1949 "The Third Man", que té lloc a Viena.

“Vienna” va ser nomenada el millor single que va fer el topall al #2 al Regne Unit en una enquesta realitzada per la BBC Radio 2 i l'Oficina de Charts Oficials a finals de 2012. "Estem extremadament contents i molt humils d'haver rebut aquest honorari número 1, especialment sabent les cançons excepcionals que també es van considerar, com 'Strawberry fields forever', 'Houd dog' i 'Wonderwall', per citar-ne només algunes", va dir Midge Ure.

ULTRAVOX - VIENNA

Released: January 9, 1981

Charted: UK: #2 

"Vienna” is a song by British band Ultravox from their 1980 album of the same name. It was released as the album's third single and features Midge Ure singing the lead vocal. The song was written by the entire band and produced by Conny Plank, a German Electro wizard responsible for the name “The Neue Deutsche Welle (NDW)” for German new wave bands. “Vienna” is regarded as a staple of the synth-pop genre that was popularised in the early 1980s.

"Vienna" is a nostalgic reflection on the feeling of love and abandonment. It speaks of being in a place of solitude, looking back on a sweet, distant moment spent with a loved one. The lyrics allude to the pain of the parting, but express a stoic acceptance in the chorus: "This means nothing to me / Oh, Vienna." The song ultimately serves as a reminder of the fleeting nature of love and life, and a reassurance that all moments must eventually end.

It topped out at #2 in the UK, as "Shaddap You Face" by Joe Dolce infamously kept it from the top spot. Bassist Chris Cross commented to Mojo magazine February 2009 on this song stalling at #2 behind "Shaddap You Face": "It annoyed Midge Ure at the time. This is going to sound terrible, but I quite like that song, I think it's funny."

An innovative video (the first "mini movie" video), was filmed for this song. Partly in black and white, the clip was directed by Russell Mulcahy, one of the biggest directors of the early '80s. The video was mostly shot around London, with scenes at the Gaumont State Theatre and Searcy's. The scenes shot in Vienna were done on the fly, with the band and crew visiting the city for a day and exploring by taxi with the help of a guide book. In one memorable scene, a tarantula crawls across the face of a man. This brave soul is Julien Temple, who like Mulcahy was a very popular music video director in the early years of the form. The song and video were party inspired by Carol Reed's 1949 film “The Third Man”, which takes place in Vienna.

The song was named the greatest ever single to peak at #2 in the UK in a poll carried out by BBC Radio 2 and the Official Charts Company in late 2012. "We are extremely pleased and very humbled to have been given this honorary #1, especially knowing the outstanding records which were also in the running ‘Strawberry fields forever’, ‘Houd dog and ‘Wonderwall’ to name just a few", said Midge Ure.

ANIMOTION - OBSESSION

Publicació: octubre de 1984

Llistes: Regne Unit: #5 EUA: #6

Aquesta cançó va ser escrita per Holly Knight i Michael Des Barres, qui la van gravar com a duet el 1983. La versió original presenta estrofes parlades per Des Barres, donant-li una sensació molt més sinistra. Llançada com a single independent, no va aconseguir gaire reconeixement. La banda de synthpop amb base a Los Angeles Animotion va gravar una versió de la melodia pel seu àlbum de debut, llançat el 1984. Aquesta versió es va convertir en un èxit i continua sent la gran cançó d'Animotion.

La cançó parla d'un assetjador que sembla estar més obsessionat a mesura que la lletra avança. Al principi, sembla que té una important fixació amb la noia, però més endavant es torna més perillós i té la intenció de "capturar-la".

Pel que fa als autors: Des Barres és un actor que també va estar en les bandes Silverhead i Detective. Knight és una compositora talentosa amb crèdits com "The Best" de Tina Turner i "Love is a battlefield" de Pat Benatar. Ella va explicar: "Vaig escriure moltes cançons per a Michael Des Barres, però aquesta va ser l'única que vam intentar portar a una versió enregistrada. Vaig crear un riff de seqüència, i Michael va aportar algunes frases, i va ser el matrimoni perfecte. Va ser molt senzill".

Michael Des Barres havia superat recentment una mala addicció a l'heroïna quan va escriure aquesta cançó amb Knight. "En aquells dies estava deixant les drogues, així que la paraula obsessió girava molt al meu voltant. Com pots fer front a una obsessió? Això em va donar la idea per a aquesta lletra. Però sabia que no podia escriure només sobre drogues, perquè volia escriure alguna cosa que arribés a un públic més ampli que només els drogoaddictes".

Holly Knight cita aquesta cançó com una que es va fer realitat per an ella més endavant a la vida. Ella diu: "Suposo que ve amb el territori, tens una imaginació molt creativa, per tant, la teva vida pot ser meravellosa, o un infern viu. Perquè la teva ment és tan creativa, va a llocs que no són necessàriament realistes. Sents les coses molt. No puc imaginar que algú en la seva vida mai tingui un moment en què no estigui obsessionat amb algú o alguna cosa".

ANIMOTION - OBSESSION

Released: October 1984

Charted:  UK: #5  US: #6 

This was written by Holly Knight and Michael Des Barres, who recorded the song as a duet in 1983. This original version features spoken-word verses by Des Barres, giving the song a far more sinister feel. Released as a standalone single, it went nowhere. The Los Angeles-based synthpop band Animotion recorded a version of the tune for their self-titled debut album, released in 1984. This version became a success, and it remains Animotion's biggest hit.

This song is about a stalker who seems to get more obsessed as the song progresses. At first, it appears he has a serious crush on the girl, but he later becomes more dangerous and intent on "capturing" her.

About the songwriters: Des Barres is an actor who was also in the bands Silverhead and Detective. Knight is an accomplished songwriter whose credits include “The Best" by Tina Turner and "Love is a battlefield" by Pat Benatar. She explained: "I wrote many songs for Michael Des Barres, but that's the only one we ever went and tried to get a cover on. I came up with a sequence riff, and Michael came up with some lyrics, and it was the perfect marriage. It's very simple."

Michael Des Barres had recently kicked a nasty heroin habit when he wrote this song with Knight. "In those days I was getting off narcotics, so the word obsession was being thrown about a lot in my life. How do you deal with an obsession? Which gave me the idea for this lyric. But I knew I couldn't just write about drugs, because I wanted to write something that would reach a wider audience than just junkies".

Holly Knight cites this as a song that came true for her later in life. She says, "I guess it comes with the territory, you have a very creative imagination, therefore your life can be wonderful, or a living hell. Because your mind is so creative it goes to places that aren't necessarily realistic. You feel things a lot. I can't imagine anyone in their life never having a moment where they're not obsessed with somebody or something".

 

VAN MORRISON / DEXYS MIDNIGHT RUNNERS - JACKIE WILSON SAID (I’M IN HEAVEN WHEN YOU SMILE)

Van Morrison version Released: July 14, 1972

Charted: US: #61 

Dexys Midnight Runners version Released: August 1982

Charted:  UK: #5 

"Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)" is a song written and sung by Van Morrison, serving as the opening track on his sixth studio album, “Saint Dominic's Preview”. Warner Bros. released it in July 1972 as the album's lead single. The track, drawing inspiration from rhythm and blues artist Jackie Wilson. Although it peaked at number sixty-one on the US Billboard Hot 100, it remains a beloved piece among Morrison's repertoire. The song was covered by Dexys Midnight Runners for their album "Too-Rye-Ay" in 1982. Morrison's original version reached #1 on the Ireland radio airplay chart in 2021.

Van Morrison cited a specific line from Jackie Wilson's track "Reet Petite" as a significant inspiration for "Jackie Wilson Said". Additionally, Morrison acknowledged the influence of Wilson's vocal style on his own singing, particularly during his early career. He recognized Wilson's string of hits as instrumental in shaping his own vocal approach and style.

Dexys Midnight Runners first performed "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)" live at the Old Vic Theatre, London in November 1981. They recorded it for their album Too-Rye-Ay, released in August 1982. Frontman Kevin Rowland admitted he "had a soft spot for the song," which influenced the band's decision to cover it. The song was released as the follow-up single to their number-one hit "Come On Eileen" and reached number five on the UK Singles Chart. The band's record label, Mercury Records, originally wanted "Jackie Wilson Said" to be the first single from Too-Rye-Ay, but "Come On Eileen" was considered a better choice. Initially, Van Morrison was intended to contribute to the track, but instead, he provided comments for fans in a monologue as an album coda, which was eventually cut.

“Too-Rye-Ay” marked the band's second album, and initially, lead singer Kevin Rowland declined interviews to promote it due to his disillusionment with the music press. After the first single from the album failed to meet expectations, he resumed granting interviews. The single, "Come On Eileen," subsequently became the #1 UK hit of 1982.

Regarding "Jackie Wilson Said," Rowland expressed frustration with comparisons to Van Morrison and clarified his influences in soul music. He stated to The Face, "I'm really pissed off with all these Van Morrison comparisons. I am part Irish but it isn't real Celtic music and it's definitely not folk... we still use a brass section you know! We've just mixed a lot of different influences, including jazz and blues, to create an original sound. It was a very gradual process, I didn't suddenly start listening to Irish records like I did the soul ones before... and there's nothing Irish about our dungarees."