Friday Night Jukebox, Vol. LXXXIV--Joe Jackson: Is She Really Going Out With Him?

Ever had a secret crush on someone and then seen his or her spouse/significant other and thought to yourself, "What the fuck?"

Well, Joe Jackson has written the song for you.  And not only does it question why everyone isn't walking arm in arm with a beautiful woman/handsome hunk it's catchy as all hell, too.

Fascinating (or not) fact:  Actually born David Jackson, Jackson acquired the name Joe because it was said when he played the piano he looked like Joe Piano, the Snoopy/Peanuts character in the guise of Joe Cool...

Joe Jackson was born in England and his introduction to music was the violin.  Eventually he moved on to the piano and won a scholarship to London's Royal Academy of Music.  At 16 he began playing in clubs, and in 1978 got his first record deal with A & M records which resulted in his debut album with the aptly named Joe Jackson Band, Look Sharp (and the source LP for this week's single).  It would earn Jackson comparisons to Graham Parker  and Elvis Costello (a bit overstated--he really wasn't in either of their leagues).  Jackson would eventually foray into jazz in the early 80's, where he had his biggest hit album with Night and Day, which won him legions of new fans (alas, I was not among them and pretty much stopped following Jackson there).  He's also composed classical pieces, and his career, as with so many other Jukebox artists, continues to this day.

Originally released to little fanfare in September of 1978, "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" was reissued in May of 1979 and became a surprise hit, reaching #21 (with a bullet!) on the Billboard Hot 100.  As noted above, the song is basically a bemused man noting the myriad of "...pretty girls walking with gorillas down my street...."  Jackson has noted that while many heard much anger in the song, he always thought the song was more humorous than angry (I personally always heard humorous bewilderment).

A couple of notes:  1) The song features a killer bass line as Jackson weaves his tale, and it goes hand in hand with the acid tongued protagonist, 2) Jackson does sarcastic humor very well ("they say that looks don't count for much, if so there goes your proof" "if looks could kill there's a man there who's more down as dead"), 3) It has one of those "magic moments" that just make a great song so much better when Jackson sings "Look over there" and on cue the band screams in the background "Where?" and 4) The tune's true genius comes because Jackson takes a topic that often becomes sappy (lack of love) and turns it into a wry commentary on the dysfunctional relationship between the head and the heart.

Rap sheet:  "Tonight's the night I go to all the parties down my street/I wash my hair and kid myself I look real smooth...."

Enjoy:

Peace,
emaycee