Last Song Syndrome: Care - "Whatever Possessed You" (1983)

Now I stand corrected. You know, all this time as a New Wave enthusiast and a radio professional in the Philippines, I've always referred to the duo of Ian Broudie and Paul Simpson as "The Care", when in fact it's really just "Care".

So Care it is. Not a great deal of listeners even know about Care. But if you're into the whole 80's Alternative/New Wave scene, then you've probably heard of them.

Their more famous songs? "Whatever Possessed You" would definitely be their defining sound with that awesome trademark guitar intro. Of course there's "Flaming Sword", "My Boyish Days" and "Chandeliers".

Formed in 1983, Care never released an album, only singles really- until 1997 (way after the band broke up) with the "Diamonds and Emeralds" compilation CD. And yes, I remember grabbing my own copy from CD Warehouse.

Here's a classic New Wave track I was able to catch on YouTube, courtesy of parkhill62. Check out this old video of "Whatever Possessed You". Enjoy!

Care
"Whatever Possessed You" (1984)

Goodbye my love
Heaven has been wronged
Now our young bent arms don't seem quite so strong
November and all the frost bites
Deep as the snow flowers plowed
This bed is colder than blood or bone

Never knock on my door- whatever possessed you, oh
Somewhere there's an emptiness
Hold me, tie me, I wouldn't dream of it

Beware my love
This tongue is a dying flame
My lies may fall like an acid rain
Maybe the sleet was in silently above the roads
You loving angel, you're skin and bones

Never knock on my door- whatever possessed you, oh
Somewhere there's an emptiness
Hold me, tie me, I wouldn't dream of it

November and all the frost bites... deeper than the snow flowers plowed
This bed is colder than blood or bone

Never knock on my door- whatever possessed you, oh
Somewhere there's an emptiness
Hold me, tie me, I wouldn't dream of it

Check out Care's very own entry on Wikipedia, and the respective official websites of Ian Broudie and Paul Simpson.

Can't get that song out of your head? Then check out more of Renzie's Last Song Syndrome Project, the only blog service dedicated to getting that persistent tune out of your system- by giving you lots more of it!

Cheers, everyone!

Last Song Syndrome: Blue Nile - Stay (1984)

While I was DJ'ing back at 99.5 RT in Metro Manila, I felt really fortunate to have been able to soak up on some really good music. I was already in my early 20's then- and having grown up in the 80's, I tried to play as much new wave as I could for 24K Friday.

I remember the first time I was browsing through the old CD warehouse's selection of hard-to-find CDs, and virtually got bowled over when I saw this one compilation (which was worth php850 back then! well played, CD warehouse, well played...). Among other great new wave stuff, it had this lesser-known new wave tune. "Stay" has been revived quite a number of times, but the original version remains as one of my favorites to this day.

Enjoy, everyone.

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Blue Nile
"Stay" (1984)

I'm taking off this party hat
The white situation is over
A new situation begins

Red guitar is broken
To beat the drum of youth again
Take too long to say

Stay, stay, stay
And I will understand you
Stay, I will understand you



I write a new book every day
The love theme for the wilderness
I fit the words together

Candy girls want candy boxes
She loves the music box forever
She's crying on my shoulder

Stay, stay, stay and I will understand you
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I will understand you

Summer girls in disarray
Can be so free and easy now
Well, we'll be free and easy

Stay, stay, stay and I will understand you
Stay, I will understand you

I write a new book everyday
A love theme for the wilderness
A love theme

Nouvelle Vague: New Wave Revived in Style.

Such a joy these guys are. See, I've recently picked up a CD from a pile sitting for quite some time on top of my desk. I was auditioning through some material for work. This one particular album from Nouvelle Vague was slid into the CD player. And being the 30-something child-of-the-80's that I am, I instantly fell in love with them.

This French Bossa Nova music act, whose name incidentally also translates to "New Wave", covers some of your favorite Punk and New Wave songs of the 80's. The band is basically run by two arrangers, Marc Collin and Olivier Libaux, but they have with them a troupe of chanteuses- eight of them, in fact (all French, except one from Brazil and another from New York)- so don't expect to hear the same voice for all the tracks.

Which gives the album a delightful element of variety and diversity. But why so many singers, you might ask. Surely, they could have gone with just one or two, perhaps. According to Wikipedia:

The various female singers on Nouvelle Vague only performed songs they were not previously familiar with, to ensure that each cover would have a unique quality.

Cool huh? I'm all for this- since it gives your favorite new wave faves a refreshing new twist. Not just a rearrangement with some vocals aping the original.

They've had three albums so far: The self-titled debut album in 2004, the more recent Bande A Part in 2006, and Late Night Tales that just came out this year.

My recommendations: Their cover of Billy Idol's Dancing With Myself- I think it got featured on Grey's Anatomy or something. Also their versions of Wishing (If I Had A Photograph), Killing Moon, Let Me Go and Making Plans For Nigel.


Discography: Nouvelle Vague

Nouvelle Vague (2004)

1. Love Will Tear Us Apart. Original by Joy Division.
2. Just Can't Get Enough. Everyone's favorite pop-dance track from Depeche Mode.
3. In a Matter of Speaking. Originally by Tuxedomoon.
4. Guns of Brixton. The Clash.
5. This Is Not A Love Song. Public Image Ltd.
6. Too Drunk To Fuck. The Dead Kennedys.
7. Marian. The Sisters of Mercy.
8. Making Plans For Nigel. This one was from XTC.
9. A Forest. The Cure.
10. I Melt With You. The definitive new wave single from Modern English.
11. Teenage Kicks. The Undertones.
12. Psyche. Killing Joke.
13. Friday Night Saturday Morning. The Specials.

Bande A Part (2006)

1. Killing Moon. Original by Echo & The Bunnymen.
2. Ever Fallen In Love. Covered from The Buzzcocks.
3. Dance With Me. Done originally by The Lords of the New Church.
4. Don't Go. The Pop-dance Anthem from Yazoo.
5. Dancing With Myself. Inspired by Billy Idol's Pop-dance hit.
6. Pride (In The Name of Love). U2.
7. O Pamela. The Wake.
8. Heart of Glass. Blondie.
9. Confusion. New Order.
10. Human Fly. The Cramps.
11. Bela Lugosi's Dead. Bauhaus.
12. Escape Myself. The Sound.
13. Shack Up. A Certain Ratio.
14. Let Me Go. Heaven 17.
15. Fade To Grey. Visage.
16. Waves. Blancmange.
17. Sweet and Tender Hooligan. One of The Smiths' lesser-known tracks.
18. Shack Up. A Certain Ratio.
19. Israel. Siouxsie & The Banshees.
20. Eisbar. Grauzone.
21. Moody. ESG.
22. Blue Monday. The club favorite from New Order.