JOE JACKSON - IS SHE REALLY GOING OUT WITH HIM?

Estrena: octubre de 1978

Llistes: EUA: #21   Regne Unit: #13

"Is She Really Going Out with Him?" de Joe Jackson és una cançó notable que va servir com a single debut, llançat a l'octubre de 1978. També va trobar el seu lloc a l'àlbum debut de Jackson, "Look Sharp!" La pista va ser una de les primeres gravacions amb la nova banda de suport de Jackson, amb qui va col·laborar en els seus primers tres àlbums.

El single inicialment va enfrontar dificultats comercials després del seu llançament, no aconseguint entrar a les llistes de venda. De manera similar, altres singles com "Sunday Papers" i "One More Time" també van experimentar resultats decebedors a les llistes. De tota manera, en el seu rellançament el 1979, coincidint amb la creixent reputació de Joe Jackson i la popularitat creixent de la música new wave, "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" va guanyar impuls i va aconseguir l'èxit a les llistes. El segon llançament de la cançó la va fer arribar al top 20 al Regne Unit i al top 30 als Estats Units, marcant un dels singles de Joe Jackson que ha aconseguit millors posicions a les llistes a nivell mundial. Malgrat el seu èxit comercial i el reconeixement com a clàssic del gènere new wave, Jackson mateix no la considera la seva millor cançó.

"Is She Really Going Out with Him?" és una cançó minimalista de New Wave de Joe Jackson i la seva banda, que presenta els seus comentaris esprènics sobre el fenomen de les dones atractives que surten amb homes menys convencionalment atractius. La primera frase de la cançó, "Pretty women out walking with gorillas down my street", (noies guapes surten a passejar amb goriles pel meu carrer), marca el to de la seva exploració humorística de la dinàmica social i les relacions. En una entrevista, Joe Jackson va revelar que la gènesi de la cançó va sorgir del mateix títol, que va encendre la idea de crear un comentari humorístic sobre la juxtaposició de dones boniques i homes menys atractius. Jackson va intentar que la cançó fos lleugera i divertida, però va quedar sorprès quan alguns oients la van interpretar com a enuig.

"Is She Really Going Out with Him?" ha estat un element bàsic a les seves actuacions en viu des del seu llançament, mostrant la popularitat perdurable de la cançó i el compromís de Jackson a mantenir la seva música fresca i dinàmica. Com moltes de les seves cançons, Jackson ha reimaginat "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" en diverses actuacions en viu per alinear-se amb els seus interessos musicals i la evolució de la seva visió creativa. Aquestes reinterpretacions de la cançó han inclòs versions acústiques i versions acapella de doo-wop, les dues incloses a l'àlbum "Live 1980/86". A més, una versió acapella de la cançó va ser llançada com a single el 1988 en diferents països europeus. Joe Jackson atribueix la seva tendència a reconfigurar les seves cançons a la influència del músic de jazz Duke Ellington, a qui Jackson admira profundament.

JOE JACKSON - IS SHE REALLY GOING OUT WITH HIM?

Released: October 1978

Charted:  US: #21 UK: #13 

"Is She Really Going Out with Him?" by Joe Jackson is a notable song, serving as his debut single released in October 1978. It also found its place on Jackson's debut album, "Look Sharp!" The track marked one of the initial recordings with Jackson's new backing band, with whom he collaborated for his first three albums. 

The single initially faced commercial struggles upon its release, failing to chart. Similarly, subsequent singles like "Sunday Papers" and "One More Time" also experienced disappointing chart performances. However, upon its rerelease in 1979, coinciding with Joe Jackson's rising reputation and the growing popularity of new wave music, "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" gained traction and achieved chart success. The song's second release propelled it to the top 20 in the UK and the top 30 in the US, marking one of Joe Jackson's highest-charting singles worldwide. Despite its commercial success and recognition as a classic of the new wave genre, Jackson himself does not regard it as his best song.

"Is She Really Going Out with Him?" stands as a minimalist New Wave song by Joe Jackson and his band, featuring his witty commentary on the phenomenon of attractive women dating less conventionally attractive men. The song's opening line, "Pretty women out walking with gorillas down my street," sets the tone for its humorous exploration of social dynamics and relationships. In an interview, Joe Jackson revealed that the song's genesis came from the title itself, which sparked the idea of creating a humorous commentary on the juxtaposition of beautiful women and less attractive men. Jackson intended the song to be lighthearted and funny, but he was surprised when some listeners interpreted it as angry.

Joe Jackson's "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" has remained a staple in his live performances since its release, showcasing the song's enduring popularity and Jackson's commitment to keeping his music fresh and dynamic. As with many of his songs, Jackson has reimagined "Is She Really Going Out with Him?" in various live settings to align with his evolving musical interests and creative vision. These reinterpretations of the song have included acoustic renditions and acappella doo-wop versions, both of which were featured on the album "Live 1980/86." Additionally, an acappella rendition of the song was released as a single in 1988 in select European countries. Joe Jackson attributes his tendency to rework his songs to the influence of jazz musician Duke Ellington, whom Jackson deeply admires. 

CYNDI LAUPER - THE GOONIES ‘R’ GOOD ENOUGH

Released: June 6, 1985

Charted: US: #10 

"The Goonies 'R' Good Enough" holds a unique place in Cyndi Lauper's discography as a single from the soundtrack of the 1985 film "The Goonies". Despite its success, reaching the top 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100, the song did not feature on any of Lauper's studio albums until its inclusion in "The Essential Cyndi Lauper" in 2003.

Lauper's admission of her dislike for the song, as revealed in an interview with Matthew Rettenmund, adds an interesting layer to its history. Her decision not to include it on her first compilation album, "Twelve Deadly Cyns...and Then Some", suggests a personal choice to distance herself from the track despite its commercial success.

The inclusion of "The Goonies 'R' Good Enough" in the 1985 film "The Goonies" was a fitting collaboration between Cyndi Lauper and the movie's creators, given Lauper's quirky sound and unique style. Directed by Richard Donner and produced by Steven Spielberg, the film featured a cast of young actors including Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, and Corey Feldman. In the movie, the song appears as a video the characters watch on a TV screen, with Lauper herself featured in the frame. While the lyrics of the song may seem ambiguous and only hint at the movie's plot with mentions of old-fashioned superstitions, its catchy chorus and Lauper's striking voice add a nice element to the film's soundtrack.

The involvement of Cyndi Lauper in professional wrestling was partly influenced by her boyfriend/manager, who believed it would help boost her career. As a result, a two-part music video was produced for the track featuring numerous popular professional wrestlers of the time, such as Andre the Giant, Captain Lou Albano, and the Iron Sheik.

In addition to the wrestlers, the videos also included appearances by Steven Spielberg and members of The Goonies cast, aligning with the theme of the film. Interestingly, the music videos also featured the Bangles, who at the time were relatively unknown outside of the Los Angeles Paisley Underground scene. Despite their limited fame, the Bangles had served as Lauper's opening act, and she recommended them for the soundtrack of The Goonies.

 

 

CYNDI LAUPER - YOU DON’T KNOW

Released: January 20, 1997 (UK)  April 15, 1997 (US)

Charted:  UK: #27 

"You Don't Know" is a track which served as the lead single from Cyndi’s album "Sisters of Avalon" released in 1997. One notable aspect of the track is its inclusion of the word "bullshit", which was not edited out of the UK singles despite being a profanity. This departure from typical editing practices reflects Lauper's commitment to authenticity and artistic expression. However, during live performances on UK shows Lauper chose to skip over the word. The song achieved moderate success, peaking at number 27 in the UK and reaching number 16 on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. 

"You Don't Know" delves into themes of conformity, politics, and the disillusionment that arises from blindly following societal norms and ideologies. The song marks a departure from Lauper's typical pop sound, embracing a more alternative rock style that complements the song's rebellious undertones.

Through lyrics like "You don’t know where you belong" and "You just need to belong somehow," Lauper critiques the tendency of individuals to conform to societal expectations without questioning or critically evaluating their beliefs. The repeated mention of "bullshit" underscores the frustration and disillusionment felt by those who see through the superficiality and hypocrisy prevalent in society. Lauper's message encourages listeners to think for themselves, to challenge the status quo, and to resist the pressure to conform blindly. 

The music video provides a visually compelling accompaniment to the song's themes of non-conformity and disillusionment. Filmed in Washington Square, New York City, in September 1996, the video reflects Lauper's alternative sensibilities and directorial vision. Lauper's decision to direct the video herself underscores her artistic autonomy and creative vision. The video's mostly monochromatic color scheme contributes to its alternative feel,  also live shots captured throughout the video add authenticity and immediacy to the visual narrative. The inclusion of Grayson, the 6-year-old Japanese boy hand-picked by Lauper, adds a poignant touch to the video's storyline.

 

CYNDI LAUPER - SISTERS OF AVALON

Released: January 29, 1997

"Sisters of Avalon" is a single from Cyndi Lauper's 1997 album of the same name. Interestingly, the single was exclusively released in Japan, while a promotional sampler CD was distributed in the United States. Cyndi's inspiration for the song originated during her tour for the album "Hat Full of Stars". The title of the song draws from her reading of Marion Zimmer Bradley's novel "The Mists of Avalon", reflecting Lauper's interest in literature and mythology as sources of creative inspiration.

"Sisters of Avalon" has a celebratory vibe thanks to its mix of '90s pop and electronic elements intertwined with folk and alternative instrumentation. It is often highlighted as one of Cyndi Lauper's strongest lyrical songs, utilizing themes of sisterhood, drawing on the strength, support and guidance from women past and present. The vivid and emotional composition paints a picture of how the collective power of women can be used to face challenges and find help from each other.

The music video for "Sisters of Avalon" captures the essence of the song's themes of female empowerment and connection to nature. Cyndi Lauper's intention to depict the rites of passage of women and showcase symbols of feminine strength and energy is evident throughout the video. Despite the video effects may not have aged perfectly, Lauper's electric performance and her embodiment of the song's message make the video compelling and engaging. 

 

THE ROMANTICS - TALKING IN YOUR SLEEP

Estrena: 9 de setembre de 1983

Llistes: EUA: #3

"Talking in Your Sleep" dels Romantics va gaudir d'un considerable èxit als Estats Units, arribant al número 3 a la llista Billboard Hot 100 el 1984. No obstant això, la seva recepció a altres països, especialment Austràlia, Nova Zelanda, el Japó i el Regne Unit, no va ser tan favorable, ja que no va aconseguir entrar a les llistes d'èxit malgrat els esforços promocionals fets en el seu llançament.

La cançó captura el fenomen del somniloqui, on les persones vocalitzen els seus pensaments i somnis sense saber-ho durant el son. En el context de la cançó, el cantant descobreix les expressions subconscients d'afecte de la seva parella mentre parla en el seu son, revelant secrets íntims i sentiments.

La història entre bastidors de "Talking in Your Sleep" afegeix una capa interessant a la seva creació. És fascinant veure que la cançó es va completar relativament ràpid després que es gravés la pista instrumental, destacant l'esforç col·laboratiu de la banda i l'energia creativa.

El videoclip va tenir un paper crucial en l'èxit de la cançó, especialment durant l'època daurada de MTV. Dirigit per Bob Dyke, el vídeo mostra els Romantics actuant enmig d'un grup de dones vestides amb diversos vestits de dormir, incloent llenceria i pijames. L'ambient poc convencional, gravant a les 8 del matí a Detroit, va afegir l’encant buscat al vídeo, capturant l'essència del tema de la cançó mentre proporcionava l’interès visual desitjat.

THE ROMANTICS - TALKING IN YOUR SLEEP

Released: September 9, 1983

Charted:  US: #3 

"Talking in Your Sleep" by the Romantics enjoyed considerable success in the US, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1984. However, its reception in other countries, particularly Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and the UK, was not as favorable, as it failed to chart in these regions despite its release efforts. 

The song captures the intriguing phenomenon of somniloquy, where individuals unknowingly vocalize their thoughts and dreams during sleep. In the context of the song, the singer discovers his lover's subconscious expressions of affection while she talks in her sleep, revealing intimate secrets and sentiments.

The behind-the-scenes story of "Talking in Your Sleep" adds an interesting layer to its creation. It's fascinating to learn that the song was completed relatively quickly after the instrumental track was laid down, highlighting the band's collaborative effort and creative energy. 

The music video played a crucial role in the song's success, especially during the heyday of MTV. Directed by Bob Dyke, the video features the Romantics performing amidst a backdrop of standing women dressed in various sleepwear attire, including lingerie and pajamas. The unconventional setting, filmed at 8:00 in the morning in Detroit, added a unique charm to the video, capturing the essence of the song's theme while providing visual interest.