May contain a heavy dose of Jim Kerr
It’s that little riff at the beginning. So basic, but so right for the song. And that little jangly keyboard. Jim writes “traditional” verse and chorus lyrics. I find the lyrics intriguing. And there is some…sexual ambiguity going on within “but I’ve got something on my mind / I want you here, I want you…
God…that opening synth! It could go on for minutes! I’d be very happy if it did. What a FAB drum and bass groove come in! Then…wow, such screeching awesome guitar from Charlie. Quite a nod to hero Mick Ronson, actually. Lyric wise, it’s all Kerr ambiguity and abstraction. The lines denote ANYTHING BUT a “Love…
The first Simple Minds song I remember hearing was Promised You A Miracle. I clearly remember seeing the video on this Saturday morning music video program we had on in Oz called Sounds. And I remember loving that X-Ray scanning equipment in the video. The first Simple Minds song I really remember liking was Waterfront….
Just right from the off it’s FUNK (not just with a capital F) There’s no fade up…we’re just – BANG! – in! Everything is funky…even the keyboards. Charlie has a short, shrift riff. Derek’s bass is funky as all hell. That keyboard funk though…and then Jim’s amazingly fragmented lyrics. The way he writes on Sons…
It’s the beginning. A rare use of keyboards for the period for SM, and percussive cross-stick snare beat. I find it a mysterious song. Is it already a “Criminal World” and we’re seeking escape? Or is the world “criminal” because we desire answers, light, love? And the trouble you seek from wanting these creates that…
That opening percussive beat. Such a a hook! A drum machine, I’m assuming? A “motorik” beat. Some hear elements of Kraftwerk’s Autobahn within it…but I hear more of Neu’s Wave Mother and La Dusseldorf’s Rheinita. Because I find elements of their music more…emotional. Kraftwerk certainly have an emotional element to their music they never get…
I haven’t written one of these in SUCH a long time, but here goes… I have probably been aware of this track since at least 1984, if not since its release in 1982. It has been a long favourite. That unmistakable guitar riff of Charlie’s, and those amazingly picturesque and romantic lyrics of Jim’s, combined…
Read full post “Why I Love…Someone Somewhere In Summertime” »
I have just not been able to tackle this until now. This idea first took form just over a year ago, these “why I love” pieces. They are for my Top 50 Simple Minds songs, and I was going to write one a day for 50 days. I quickly realised that was a bit much,…
Starting with that cross-stick snare beat from Brian and killer Dan bass line – it has a groove! Possibly one of my most favourite Mick synth pieces. There’s a level of maturity to it. Then those sharp little wails from Charlie’s guitar while that fantastic little riff plays just under those wails. Then Jim…not afraid…
Firstly that little playful synth at the beginning. Almost like a little jingle. Then, just such GRINDING ax work from Charlie. One long grinding chord. I always think it sounds like an angry cow mooing loudly. Lol. I know! And each time it grinds, I join in “MOOOOOOO!!”. And after each guitar grind, a thwacking…
Read full post “Why I Love…70 Cities As Love Brings The Fall” »