Friday, October 20, 2006
Songs In The Key Of Unrequited
While going through one’s unrequited funk, one must have the proper soundtrack. Yes, I agree that when one is head-over-heels in love or heartbroken to pieces, every single song seems to have special meaning to one’s current state of love/loveless-ness. But in times of unrequited-ness one should take control of one’s daily playlist, lest one stumbles upon a tune special to the ex-couple-that-never-was, a song most commonly referred to as “oh-that-song-reminds-me-of-him!”
So here are some suggestions. Faithful McVie Show viewers are invited to add their own recommended songs as well, because as you read on it’ll become quite obvious that I grew up in the 80s.
In no particular order:
[1] “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” by Tina Turner
Why this song? This was Ms. Turner’s great comeback in the 80s, after her disastrous relationship with Ike ended. This captures the hard-earned wisdom of a woman who went through hell and back because love blinded her. Yes, it does sound cynical at times but it really is more about taking those cautious first steps after a romantic crash-and-burn.
Repeat after Tina:
It’s physical, only logical,
You must try to ignore
That it means more than that.
Oh, what’s love got to do, got to do with it?
What’s love but a second-hand emotion?
What’s love got to do, got to do with it?
Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?
[2] “Tainted Love” by Soft Cell
Why this song? The original by Soft Cell is waaay better than the remake by the Pussycat Dolls. Marc Almond’s singing deftly captures the pain and anger of love gone wrong.
Repeat after Marc:
Don’t touch me please,
I cannot stand the way you tease.
I love you though you hurt me so—
Now I’m going to pack my things and go!
Tainted love.
[3] “Say Hello Wave Goodbye” by Soft Cell
Why this song? Soft Cell has kitchen-sink drama down pat, that’s why they have two songs on this list. With the opening line going, Standing at the door of the Pink Flamingo, crying in the rain, this letting go song is so over-the-top, drama queens will surely have a field day imagining this song playing in the background as they slash their wrists.
Repeat after Marc:
Take your hands off me,
I don’t belong to you, you see.
Take them off my face, for the last time.
I never knew you, you never knew me—
Say hello, goodbye.
[4] “So Lonely” and “Can’t Stand Losing You” by The Police
Why these songs? Think of these as like a one-two punch. Start with feeling sorry for your lonesome, loveless self then you proceed to ending it all.
Repeat after Sting:
Now no-one’s knocked upon my door
For a thousand years, or more.
All made up and nowhere to go—
Welcome to this one-man show!
…
In this theatre that I call my soul,
I always play the starring role.
So lonely!
(and)
I guess this is our last goodbye,
And you don’t care, so I won’t cry.
But you’ll be sorry when I’m dead—
And all this guilt will be on your head.
I guess you’d call it suicide;
But I’m too full to swallow my pride.
I can’t, I can’t, I can’t stand losing,
I can’t, I can’t, I can’t stand losing you….
[5] “Victim Of Love” by Erasure
Why this song? One needs to learn from all these unrequited shit. Personally I think this song’s sentiment is a little too much. But when we hit rock bottom in romance, sometimes the only way to recover is to swing the other way and go the cynical route. Sometimes we really need to swing towards both excessive ends of the pendulum before we can settle down to the calm middle.
Repeat after Andy:
I don’t wanna look
Like some kind of fool.
I don’t wanna break
My heart over you.
I’m building a wall,
Everyday it’s getting higher.
This time I won’t end up
Another victim of love.
Any songs you guys want to add?
So here are some suggestions. Faithful McVie Show viewers are invited to add their own recommended songs as well, because as you read on it’ll become quite obvious that I grew up in the 80s.
In no particular order:
[1] “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” by Tina Turner
Why this song? This was Ms. Turner’s great comeback in the 80s, after her disastrous relationship with Ike ended. This captures the hard-earned wisdom of a woman who went through hell and back because love blinded her. Yes, it does sound cynical at times but it really is more about taking those cautious first steps after a romantic crash-and-burn.
Repeat after Tina:
It’s physical, only logical,
You must try to ignore
That it means more than that.
Oh, what’s love got to do, got to do with it?
What’s love but a second-hand emotion?
What’s love got to do, got to do with it?
Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?
[2] “Tainted Love” by Soft Cell
Why this song? The original by Soft Cell is waaay better than the remake by the Pussycat Dolls. Marc Almond’s singing deftly captures the pain and anger of love gone wrong.
Repeat after Marc:
Don’t touch me please,
I cannot stand the way you tease.
I love you though you hurt me so—
Now I’m going to pack my things and go!
Tainted love.
[3] “Say Hello Wave Goodbye” by Soft Cell
Why this song? Soft Cell has kitchen-sink drama down pat, that’s why they have two songs on this list. With the opening line going, Standing at the door of the Pink Flamingo, crying in the rain, this letting go song is so over-the-top, drama queens will surely have a field day imagining this song playing in the background as they slash their wrists.
Repeat after Marc:
Take your hands off me,
I don’t belong to you, you see.
Take them off my face, for the last time.
I never knew you, you never knew me—
Say hello, goodbye.
[4] “So Lonely” and “Can’t Stand Losing You” by The Police
Why these songs? Think of these as like a one-two punch. Start with feeling sorry for your lonesome, loveless self then you proceed to ending it all.
Repeat after Sting:
Now no-one’s knocked upon my door
For a thousand years, or more.
All made up and nowhere to go—
Welcome to this one-man show!
…
In this theatre that I call my soul,
I always play the starring role.
So lonely!
(and)
I guess this is our last goodbye,
And you don’t care, so I won’t cry.
But you’ll be sorry when I’m dead—
And all this guilt will be on your head.
I guess you’d call it suicide;
But I’m too full to swallow my pride.
I can’t, I can’t, I can’t stand losing,
I can’t, I can’t, I can’t stand losing you….
[5] “Victim Of Love” by Erasure
Why this song? One needs to learn from all these unrequited shit. Personally I think this song’s sentiment is a little too much. But when we hit rock bottom in romance, sometimes the only way to recover is to swing the other way and go the cynical route. Sometimes we really need to swing towards both excessive ends of the pendulum before we can settle down to the calm middle.
Repeat after Andy:
I don’t wanna look
Like some kind of fool.
I don’t wanna break
My heart over you.
I’m building a wall,
Everyday it’s getting higher.
This time I won’t end up
Another victim of love.
Any songs you guys want to add?
# posted by joelmcvie : 6:29 PM
Comments:
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Two Broadway songs come to mind:
"On My Own," from Les Miserables (awit ng mga sawi)
"You Must Love Me," from Evita (awit ng mga medyo desperado)
I'll think about it some more he he
"On My Own," from Les Miserables (awit ng mga sawi)
"You Must Love Me," from Evita (awit ng mga medyo desperado)
I'll think about it some more he he
LAMBDALEVEL: My best guess is this: at that time it wasn't the easiest thing in the world to choose to be out while trying to be a big commercial act. Notice how in the early to late 80s, bands like Erasure, Pet Shop Boys and even Culture Club would sing songs that were often non-gender specific ("you" instead of "he" or "she"). They leave the choosing to the audience ("Is he singing about a girl or a boy?")
Or they'd really just choose to sing about a girl, para siguro wala nang gulo. I would like to think that "Say Hello Wave Goodbye" was like that.
Then again, words like "little girl" and "a nice little housewife" may just be gay codes.
Or they'd really just choose to sing about a girl, para siguro wala nang gulo. I would like to think that "Say Hello Wave Goodbye" was like that.
Then again, words like "little girl" and "a nice little housewife" may just be gay codes.
Since I'm not really well-versed in Soft Cell lore, I checked out "Marc Almond" in Wikipedia and got this: "Almond is considered to be a gay icon, though he has stated that he wishes not to be seen as a gay artist, whose work is solely intended for other gay men. Nevertheless, his music is ambiguous and not necessarily homo- or heterosexual, and he can generally be taken any way the listener wishes."
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