Kirsty MacColl had a lot of great music. The world has missed out on a lot of potential the day she died 18+ years ago.
The songs she wrote were clever and not radio claptrap. While technically not the best vocalist, no one covered her songs better than her (other than maybe Tracey Ullman that one time).
There really is not an album of hers I don't like overall and oddly, I don't think I have a fave - though Kite and Electric Landlady are my go-to ones.
She could pull off songs about sex in high heels or soccer. And my favourite title, "There's a Guy Who Works Down at the Chip Shop Who Swears He's Elvis".
Starting on Landlady, she dabbled with Latin influences in her music and it progressed over her next few disks.
MacColl could go total pop - but not in a bad way. More in a Brit way. I'm not sure she ever portrayed that better than in a song from Landlady: "He Never Mentioned Love".
First off - the wood block that some percussionist is playing always comes to the forefront for me - even though it's not overtly out there. My ears just tune into it. But it's her wordplay and phrasing that make the song. The back and forth between 'heard' and 'hurt'. Like the two actors named John.
You'll never tap your toe to a song about missed connections more than you will with this song.
2 comments:
I always liked her. I was shocked when she was killed.
JP
This one is another who? for me. I decided to look her up. I never heard of any of her songs until I got to In These Shoes. I only know of this song because I enjoy watching the movie Kinky Boots and it is part of the soundtrack. I think I was in a musical cave for quite a few years :)
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