Weekend Song – Sugar
July 21, 2007
Desperate and uplifting, pop and hard rock, melodic and monotonous, sensitive and angry – there’s a bag of contradiction in this blaster from Sugar. I once did something I’m not proud of to see this band, but they are great. Maybe another time.
The end of this song does something to me, and I wish I knew more about the mechanics of music to explain. It’s like the bass is different, or only one of the chords changes but everything else stays the same. It goes somewhere, but just enough anyway.
It’s a subtle thing, because the last verse just sounds resolved where the others sound open. It’s the middle ground between acceptance and resignation, where so much of adult life pitches up starts planting hedges.
And the song’s so simple. Sometimes you just need a punchy bassline and a tiny drumkit to get the point across. And no chorus. Or a guitar solo. Or fancy lyrics.
Tell me I’m your favorite thing.
You can tell me anything.
I wouldn’t mind.
Dream about you every night.
Something tells me that’s not right.
I wouldn’t mind, I wouldn’t mind.
Not at all.
Listen: Sugar – Your Favorite Thing
6 comments
The bass drops down a half-step on the second to last note, which makes the last chord change a slightly different move than usual.
Wait- this isn’t the Archies!@
Cliff, have you stolen my iPod or something? I love Sugar. Saw them live years ago and they were amazingly good.
I saw them live at Brixton and did something I really am not proud of in order to do it. ‘94, I’m guessing, possibly 5.
You’ve mentioned the not proud thing twice now. I’m guessing you want to tell us really, but you’re waiting for an invitation.
Cliff, what did you do in order to see Sugar at Brixton?
Wendy – I will do.
Also – Ed, I never thanked you for pointing out that the bass drops a half step. I was listening this morning and that’s totally it. Cheers.
Leave a comment. Play nice. I will turn this blog around.