Friday Night Jukebox, Vol. CDLXIV--Thompson Twins: Hold Me Now

Should just start calling it A Week Late Friday Night Jukebox...

If last week's tune was a fine slice of seventies pop pie, then this week's tune is a fine slice of eighties pop pie.  Honestly, the eighties are not my favorite decade of music, but it certainly had its moments--like this week's featured song....

The Thompson Twins originally formed as a quartet in Sheffield, England in 1977 before settling in London.  They went through a number of incarnations (at one time the band sported seven members), but by 1982 they began performing as a trio.  They had a number of hits in the U.S. and their native U.K. until 1989 (they became a duo in 1986), but commercial success eluded them after that.  In a twist, they changed their musical style (dub-influenced chill out) and their name (Babble) in 1993, but by 1996 they had called it a career.  The Thompson Twins released eight studio albums (with three top ten, including a #1, in the U.K. and one top ten in America), and thirty-five singles (five of which hit the top ten in Great Britain and three in the U.S.).  The band also made an appearance at Live Aid in 1985.  Unlike many bands, they have chosen not to reform for the obligatory reunion tours--and have let their body of work speak for itself.

"Hold Me Now" was the first single from their 1984 album Into the Gap.  The single reached #4 in the U.K. and #3 (with a bullet!) here in the States.  The album was their only #1 in their homeland, and their highest charting here in America at #10.

(Not so) Fun Fact:  In the aftermath of the international success of this week's tune, the Thompson Twins were under immense pressure from their management and their record company to record another hit like "Hold Me Now."  The band admitted that it was much easier said than done and hinted that it wasn't really what they wanted for the band--both of which may help to explain their early demise.

One of the things that really impressed me this week as I listened to "Hold Me Now" for my half-assed research is how well the song is written.  Band members Alannah Currie and Tom Bailey were a couple at the time (they'd eventually marry, have two children, and, sadly, divorce), and the song chronicles an argument they'd had and the resulting reconciliation.  It well captures the desire and relief--I especially like the "I'll apologize even though I don't know what for" line.  Bailey delivers impassioned vocals, there's a nice variety of percussion, and the chorus--emaycee fave!--is as catchy as all get out.  Special shout out to Jon Leeway for the killer backing vocals at the song's closing.  I've noted a time or two (or three) about band's that have that one moment of greatness, and "Hold Me Now" was that moment for the Thompson Twins.

Lyric Sheet:  "You say I'm a dreamer/We're two of a kind/Both of us searching/For some perfect world/We know we'll never find..."

Enjoy:

Republicans = Nazis

Peace,

emaycee

Friday Night Jukebox, Vol. CCXLII--The Polyphonic Spree: Hold Me Now

Getting a wee bit behind here again...

I discovered this week's tune as I have a few others here on Friday Night Jukebox as I flipped channels and came across an episode of Austin City Limits in which The Polyphonic Spree was the weekly featured artist.  While I haven't explored much of their catalog, I like to think that if I live to a hundred and win a million dollars I might find the time and cash to check them out further....

The Polyphonic Spree (gotta admit, it's a great name) were formed in Dallas, Texas, in 2000, though it's beginning is of a sad nature:  the catalysts behind The Polyphonic Spree were originally in a band called Tripping Daisy (they had a minor MTV hit with "I Got a Girl" which I vaguely remembered after a couple of listens) which disbanded and formed their new group in the wake of the death from a drug overdose of Tripping Daisy guitarist Wes Berggren.  Tim DeLaughter became the de facto leader of the band, and over the past nearly twenty years the Polyphonic Spree have released six studio albums, none of which have cracked the top 100 of the Billboard 200 (though two did chart, hitting #113 and #121), and three EPs.  The band is known for a) having numerous members--the current lineup features 23 band members, and past members would push the number close to a hundred, and b) for wearing colorful robes--a la a choir--in their live peformances.  While commercial success may have eluded them, the band has had a hand in a number of songs for soundtrack albums, continues to tour, and released their latest LP in 2014.  As I've noted numerous times before, beats the hell out of  slaving away in a grocery store....

"Hold Me Now" (not to be confused with the Thompson Twins single "Hold Me Now" which was a not particularly good single released in the 80's new wave frenzy) was released in 2004 on their album Together We're Heavy.  While "Hold Me Now" was not released as a single here in the States, it did reach #87 in Scotland, and #72 in the U.K.--there's just so many cool kids in the U.K., isn't there?

While I was lying in bed, unable to sleep, and trying desperately to think of who The Polyphonic Spree reminded me of--and, yes, I do need to get more of a life--I could have saved myself the trouble by doing my half-assed research a bit earlier.  It was the Electric Light Orchestra, with a little Queen, the Beatles, and the Beach Boys mixed in.  "Hold Me Now" features lush orchestration, with--surprise!--choir-like vocals, and a hell of a hook in the chorus.  There's definitely an anthemic vibe to the song--numerous instruments (my best guess is somewhere around fourteen different instruments) are featured as well as a theme of reminding us that no one is alone in this world (or that getting old isn't a death sentence...so to speak).  There's also a grandiose instrumental break which reminded me (blasphemy alert!) of the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album.  All in all, it's a song just a bit off the beaten path, and in a just world, would have been a top ten single that we all run around humming to ourselves every time we hear it on the radio...which pretty much describes my week after several listens....

Lyric Sheet:  "He's walking along with his soul in his lungs/Ya stare at him long you can find a new song/Everyone thinks they've got a new phrase/But you're still miles away..."

Enjoy:

Fuck Donald Trump,
emaycee