twelve. [THEME: guilty pleasures from the 1980s]

[cabaretlights.livejournal.com]

New York's in Love
Artist: David Bowie
Album: Never Let Me Down
Year: 1987
♥: There is a period of David Bowie's career which, even among dorky uberfans such as myself, is generally swept under the rug and left undiscussed (even Bowie himself is embarrassed). "Are you sure he released an album after Labyrinth? Like ARE YOU SURE, because I don't think that EVER HAPPENED."

It did happen.

And it is glorious, magical, ridiculous, godawful 80s pop.

There is no trace of Aladdin Sane, Ziggy Stardust, or the cocaine-addled Thin White Duke on this album; no brilliant poetry or intelligent composition; no slow instrumentals or heartstopping brilliance. Yeah, no -- the only way you'd know this is Bowie is that unmistakable and undeniably gorgeous voice (honestly, about 1/3 of my heart is devoted to love of his voice). The timbre of his voice in the 80s is my favourite, and it comes out in full force on this album -- rich, vibrating, accented, wow.

So this album was one of the first I bought when I rediscovered my love for him in grade 11 and frantically sook out his entire discography (spring 2003; I'll never forget it -- without any exaggeration, that period of my Bowie obsession kickstarted the rest of my life). I was coming home from a karate symposium in London, ON, and my partner and I stopped in a secondhand CD shop before getting on the train. It's hard for me to consider the songs as separate entities because this entire album sounds pretty much the same, and I giddily listened to it for seven hours straight as we hurtled along the Windsor Corridor. There are two songs, however, which stick out like sore thumbs covered in hot pink bubblegum.

One is "Beat of Your Drum", and one is "New York's in Love", and it took until about five minutes ago to actually decide which one I was going to post. I probably prefer "Beat of Your Drum" -- it's got the kind of hook I love, and the lyrics are a bit less inane than the rest of the album (though...still pretty inane) -- but "New York's in Love" is pure springtime. BUT, since it's disgusting outside and I'm looking for something to remind me of summertime, and since I love the undeniable emotion at 0:49 ("New York's in loo-ve") ------

HERE WE GO.
It's pretty bad. The "koo-koo-koo-koo-koo-koo"s are especially ridiculous, and it's hard not to giggle at how terribly of its time it is, but something about it works. How he rolls his 'r's, how you can picture him dancing like a crazy person, how easily it makes you dance down the street to it (especially a city street: there have been many March/April struts down McGill College to this song, on my part, as sad as that may be to admit!). NEW YORK'S IN LOVE! You can see bad 80s fireworks (or maybe just cans of neon hairspray) exploding everywhere.

Plus: "Nothing left here but a raging blaze" is kinda keeping me going right now. Bowie has a habit of doing that -- 70s genius or not, hah.

Comments

[amethysting.livejournal.com]

Obviously, me = no shame (see post 12).

I kind of really like this song, dude. You are exactly right when you say it is so incredibly "of its time". Like, it totally is. It would be the perfect choice for an 80s time capsule. That charging, chugging guitar...I associate it with BIG--as in everything was big in the 80s (shoulder-span, hair, cars, etc.), also associate it with revving engines? Hahaha. I enjoy the hints of zydeco...they are like little zydeco afterthoughts.

It really is THE VOICE. That roll of the R, it gives me a little frisson. And it's like, objectively, I know the koo koo koos are a little silly, but, um, WHO SINGS ALONG WITH THEM? Me, that's who.

Sure the lyrics aren't that erudite, but they are kind of awesome. Hahaha, I love how he says "pretty as a picture" and the little hat tip to Liza/Frank "New York! New York!"

New York's in love. I love New York. And I love this song :)

[amethysting.livejournal.com]

Um, and how could I have neglected to mention that rocking electric guitar solo at the end?

[amethysting.livejournal.com]

Is that video you mentioned (DB at school dance) on youtube?

[cabaretlights.livejournal.com]

Oh.
Oh yes it is (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4ZZMbpUFMY).


Hahahahaha watching it again I just...I can't deal this is too hilarious



GOD, EDIT TO ADD, LOOK AT HIM DAAAAANCE HAHAHAHA OH WHITE BOY. ♥
Though I gotta admit, his little shoulder move at 1:44 kills me pretty dead.

[cabaretlights.livejournal.com]

LIKE AND THE PLOT OF THIS VIDEO MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE
WHAT
WHAT IS GOING ON

[cabaretlights.livejournal.com]

WHY ARE THERE NAVY PEOPLE???!