Tag: The Cars

On the 33rd Anniversary of Live Aid 7/13/1985: Benjamin Orr’s Voice

The Cars performed four songs at Live Aid. I’m showcasing each individually, partly because ABC didn’t cut to their performance until several seconds after they actually started playing. But really, I wanted to showcase Benjamin Orr’s performance first. Of course.

 

 

 

The crazy thing about ABC’s sloppy treatment of the Cars’ first song, “You Might Think” is that the song’s video had previously won MTV’s first Moonman awarded for Video of the Year (1984), in addition to having won five award at Billboard’s 1984 Video Music Awards. After you watch the Live Aid performance, you can see the award-winning video here.

Song Lyric Sunday: “Think It Over”

Helen Vahdahti’s Song Lyric Sunday prompt this week is “think.” Naturally my first thought is The Cars, which creates a dilemma. Do I go with “You Might Think,” winner of MTV’s inaugural Video of the Year Award in 1984, beating out (incredibly) Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” video? This is, after all, Song Lyric Sunday, and “You Might Think” is chock-full of Ric Ocasek’s more-pop-y-than-usual lyrics. Or do I go with the lesser-known “Think It Over?” Ocasek’s simple lyrics aren’t his best, but the music more than compensates, in my opinion.  There’s an understated yet driving mix of live instruments combined with original band-programmed synth. Then there’s Benjamin Orr’s Elvis-inflected vocals.

For me, part of the fun of Song Lyric Sunday is discovering either new singers, bands, and/or songwriters or deeper cuts from musicians I’m already familiar with. I hope you’ll enjoy discovering one of my favorite songs from The Cars “Shake It Up” album.

“Think It Over”
Every time I see you I got to jump and shout
I haven’t got a clue what it’s all about
Ooh I never had a dream that looked so much like you
I’ll do anything that you want me to

(Think it over, think it over)
There’s nothin’ you can do to make me wanna stop
(Think it over, think it over)
Ooh every time you run around it makes me want to pop

What’s it gonna take to make you change your line?
What’s it gonna take to get your valentine?
How can I be sure that you’re the one for me?
I only know that you wanted to be free

(Think it over, think it over)
There’s nothin’ you can do to make me wanna stop
(Think it over, think it over)
Every time you run around it makes me want to pop
Nothin’ you can do to make me wanna stop

Every time you run around makes me want to pop
Nothin’ you can do to make me wanna stop
Think it over
Pop…
Pop

Every time I see you I got to jump and shout
I haven’t got a clue what it’s all about
I never had a dream that looked so much like you
Well I’ll do anything that you want me to

(Think it over, think it over)
There’s nothin’ you can do to make me wanna stop
(Think it over, think it over)
Every time you run around it makes me want to pop
(Think it over, think it over)

Well nothin’ you can do to make me wanna stop
(Think it over, think it over)
E-every time you run around it makes me want to pop
There’s nothin’ you can do to make me wanna stop
Every time you run around it makes me want to pop
There’s nothin’ you can do to make me wanna stop
Think it over
Yeah

(Think it over)
(Think it over)
(Think it over)
Think it over
(Think it over)
Think it over
(Think it over)
(Think it over)
Think it over
(Think it over)
(Think it over)

Nothin’ you can do
Nothin’ you can do
(Think it over)
Nothin’ you can do
Nothin’ you can do
(Think it over)
Nothin’ you can do
Nothin’ you can do
(Think it over)
You gotta think it over

Nothin’ you can do
Nothin’ you can do
(Think it over)
Nothin’ you can do
Think it over
Nothin’ you can do
(Think it over)
Nothin’ you can do
Nothin’ you can do
(Think it over)
Nothin’ you can do but think it over

Nothin’ you can do
Nothin’ you can do
(Think it over)
Nothin’ you can do
Nothin’ you can do
(Think it over)
Nothin’ you can do, nothin’ you can do
Nothin’ you can do, nothin’ you can do
But think it over
(Think it over)
Nothin’ you can do
Nothin’ you can do

 

Song Lyric Sunday — “A Dream Away” — The Cars

I just can’t get this particular challenge and this past Sunday’s prompt, dream, out of my mind. Don’t get me wrong: I love ELP’s “I’ll Be Watching Over You” that I chose as my response. But I debated with myself for quite a while, weighing that one against The Cars’ “A Dream Away”. In the end, my choice was based on two factors. First, ELP’s song seemed “dreamier”, whereas The Cars’ contender seemed, well, not exactly nightmarish but like it would produce more of a restless night, belying its title. Second, I love Greg Lake’s voice; Ric Ocasek’s, not so much.

When it comes right down to it, though, it’s The Cars’ song that I haven’t been able to get out of my mind. Usually whether or not I like a Cars song depends almost entirely on whether or not Benjamin Orr’s rich, melodious voice is the one I’ll be hearing. Surprisingly, however, Ocasek’s vocals aren’t as brusque as usual. In fact, singing the thought-provoking lyrics he wrote, he has an almost Orr-like sensual delivery. Ocasek’s lyrics tend to be cryptic yet vivid, as many dreams are. Orr’s pulsing bass line kicks in at around 00:30 to generate a sense of urgency in this dreamworld. You may not get a restful night, but you won’t soon forget the dreamscape Ocasek paints.

“A Dream Away”
Five in the morning, all alone in your room
Door locked tight, private moon
No faces to face, no one to blame
Nonexistent inside this frame

You better
Take it on the run
Take it on the run
Yeah

There’s a cheetah walking high
Liquid whispers, dragonfly
Charleston booties, painted toes
Drop the knot, ivory soul

You better
Take it on the run
Take it on the run
Yeah

The good life is just a dream away
I said, The good life is just a dream away

Choke emotion, lose control
Chicken counters, fill your bowls
The lonely crowd, is decomposed
Lost obsession, future froze

Well, take it on the run
Take it on the run
Take it on the run
Take it on the run
Take it on the run

The good life is just a dream away
I said, the good life is just a dream away

Response #2 to Song Lyric Sunday - Dream
Response to FOWC - Nightmare