Current Song Obsession-early 90s edition

Anyone who has spent more than five minutes discussing music with me knows I have a softspot for 80s hair bands and early 90s pop schmaltz.  Want to spend an evening listening to Livin' on a Prayer and Kris Kross?  Look no further, I'm your gal.

This past weekend I was grabbing a drink with friends when my now current song obsession began playing in the bar.  I only heard it lightly and my first thought was "oh man I need to download this song."  I woke up the next morning and promptly downloaded.  I started to play it and OH MY GOSH HOW MUCH HAVE I MISSED THIS SONG?????  I can't begin to describe the happy feeling I got as I heard the first few chords.  The first verse kind of made me giddy, the chorus literally had me dancing around my apartment at 7:45 on a Sunday morning.  Six minutes later I'm happier than I've been forever (the dancing around the apartment helped).

I'm not trying to be coy about what song made me this happy.  I haven't mentioned it for a few reasons.  1).  It's by a guy whose had some slip ups in the past and I'm sure I've made a joke or two about.  2).  This song may have been entirely forgettable for most people I know.  3).  The video is both awesome and a little ridiculous.  and soooooo 90s.   4).  It's a song by George Michael. (Stop cringing)

Yeah, I'm talking about Freedom '90 by George Michael.  If you haven't taken a listen to this song in awhile, watch the video or download the song, I really don't think you will be sorry.  I've been listening to this a few times every day and I have to say, I'm super glad I put this song on my ipod and the new mix cd in my car 'cause I want to hear it all the time.  I love how it starts kinda low key with the piano and builds into this almost wall of sound chorus, dies down a bit, then comes back for more.  This song makes me want to choreograph some sort of amazing dance for the stage.  I love how I can listen to the lyrics and I totally get what George Michael is talking about (not that I'm a former teen pop idol dealing with being in the closet and trying a solo career while apparently liking public sex, but I see how it frustrates him).   

Someone (and definitely not me) should do an acoustic version of this, it's just ripe for being reworked.  But not copied.  There's rumor of a Robbie Williams remake and as much as I love Robbie Williams (who doesn't love brit pop on a rainy evening?) I don't want to hear his take on George Michael.  I want this song to stay pure, 'cause I'm pretty convinced it's pure pop genius.   

I honestly don't know how I stopped listening to this song.  How did I not buy the album?  Why don't I hear it on the radio ever?  I know that we aren't quite old enough for an oldies station composed of songs from our childhood, but when that day comes, I hope that amongst the Nirvana and Madonna and, yes, Bon Jovi that is played, the DJ finds some space for this gem.  I know I have.

Current Song Obsession

I'm not going to lie, I tend to obsess over music.  I find a song that hits my fancy at a given moment and I'm hooked.  Sometimes for a week, sometimes more.  I can't hear it enough and I play it over and over again.  I'm pretty sure my neighbor hates me.  

But I don't care!  Current Song Obsession: Valerie Plame by the Decemberists.  The song came out a few months ago, but I didn't download it until last week and now I can't listen enough.  It's peppy and jumpy, despite being about Valerie Plame's CIA work and her eventual exposure as an agent.  The Decemberists are pretty well known for this type of folky, almost medieval storytelling in their stories (current song obsession runner up right now is Crane Wife 3), so I love that they took on a modern story.  This isn't a downer tale of any of President Bush's actions over the past 8 years or a call for peace against the Vietnam War, it's just a plunky song about a girl who ended up kind of dicked over by people peeved at her husband.  There is sort of a oompah sound to the song, with a bass line that seems similar to a german polka and I adore the "Hey Jude" moment at the end.  I'm kinda convinced everyone should have a moment where they hear their name song at the end of a song by a chorus in multi-part harmony; Valerie Plame's moment sounds perfect.