86: Me Looking At You, You Looking At Me

86. "That's All" by Genesis {#6; 11/83} [iTunes? Yes] {Video: That's All.}

I've said before that the HondoJoe "Cognitive Triad" of musical acts is: Electric Light Orchestra, Billy Joel, and They Might Be Giants. It wasn't always that way. Before I discovered They Might Be Giants in 1990, that third spot was up for grabs.

It was probably first occupied by Queen. Queen, obviously, has some very, very good songs, and they have always been in my Top 5 of musical acts. But, sometimes Queen could put out some stinkers, too. The aforementioned "Get Down Make Love" off the News of the World album and most of both the Jazz and Hot Space albums being good examples of badness. ("Body Language?" Really?)

So, that left an opening for someone, and in 1983 Phil Collins and Genesis made their push. Early in the year, Phil hit a chord with the solo hit "I Don't Care Anymore." And then later in the year Genesis struck with this song. Before long, Phil and Genesis were in that mythical "Cognitive Triad" spot.

(Yes, I know I've said I get annoyed when people don't separate a lead singer going solo (like Sting) and the group they are from (like The Police.) And, I still feel that way about Phil Collins and Genesis. But, I'll admit that it is difficult to differentiate the accomplishments of both entities, the solo singer and the group, in this specific case.)

Phil Collins and/or Genesis maintained that Top 3 status until the movie Buster came out. I'm not sure why I blame Buster. I never saw the movie. Maybe it's because the soundtrack was disappointing. Maybe it's because Phil started to seem a bit too smug all the time. Maybe it's because he followed Buster up by releasing crap like "Another Day In Paradise." (Really, is there a less fun song than "Another Day In Paradise?")

Anyway, "That's All" is an awesome song. The line "Why does it always seem to be me looking at you, you looking at me," reminds me of being in the band room, up on the top row with the rest of the tromboners, trying to sneak a look down at a particular girl in the woodwinds section. (Yes, the same girl I mentioned back at #95 with Dave Edmunds.) (No, I am not obsessed.) (Back in the day, maybe, but certainly not now.)

"I can't feel a thing from my head down to my toes."

COMING UP NEXT: Hay!

87: I've Just Never Been Tested

87. "The Impression That I Get" by Mighty Mighty Bosstones {#23; 12/97} [iTunes? Yes] {Video: The Impression That I Get. (Why is it these ska guys like the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Madness are always so well dressed? Does a suit and tie make you ska better?)}

Here we are with another song from the late 90s when I was trying to "stay" "hip" and "with-it." (I used a lot of "quotation marks" back then, too.) (And parenthesis.)

This is very much a happy/sad song. It's fun to sing along with, and it's got a nice tempo with some "happy" horns. But, it does make me think of a pretty sad time. Especially the line, "Have you ever been close to tragedy, or close to folks who have?"

Back around the time this song was popular, some friends of mine did indeed have a tragedy occur. That tragedy was compounded by some very serious legal problems. For over three years this family struggled through this tragedy and its aftereffects. They fought through heartache and separation. They dealt with in-laws and outlaws. It was very difficult, but they made it through.

This songs reminds me of them and how they were able to make it through the tragedy. It reminds me that my life has been pretty damn easy. I don't know if I could have gotten through something like that the way they did. I don't know many people who could have.

So, it's a happy/sad song. Happy that I haven't had to go through that kind of tragedy. Sad that my friends did. But, ultimately happy that they were able to make it through the tragedy and still be the damn good peoples that they are.

That's the impression that I get.

COMING UP NEXT: A word from Porky Pig.