No, this is not a
cover of the Sheryl Crow tune about “the sun going down over Santa Monica
Blvd.” or a version of the pop-country hit by Sugarland from a few years ago we’ve all heard
in supermarkets with the semi-annoying “ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh” chorus . This “All I Wanna Do” is by a new-ish band from Wales named
The School. But because the song’s sound and production
is so evocative of orchestral girl groups of the mid-‘60s (think any band from
that time which had a “-ette” suffix at the end of their name and you’ve got
the idea), the tune at times seems like a long lost gem from 45 years ago.
The School isn’t
exactly breaking new ground with their sound or lyrics, but in
re-creating a sweet, innocent mood that isn’t heard by wide audiences
anymore, this song seems quite fresh. But more important is simply
that this group has both an ear for a great melody as well as great production
choices that wring every last bit of adorableness they can out of this quick
and simple slice of vintage-sounding pop. (The School's other songs are pretty good as well; go here to check out their
website. Another song of theirs, "I Want You Back," made our "short list" of indie rock & pop favorites of 2009; go here to check out that post. And no, that song is not a cover of the Jackson 5 classic.)
Anyway, if you’re not the retro girl-group sound, “All I Wanna Do” might not be your thing. But
the whole point of these “off the beaten track” first dance song posts is to
bring you tunes for a first dance that you won’t find recommended anywhere
else, regardless of the genre. So if you’ve here and read this far, you’re probably
looking for something new – even if that new thing is a sound that harkens back
to the days of girl groups performing in beehive hairdos and matching outfits
on The Ed Sullivan Show.
So, why is “All I Wanna
Do” a great first dance song, and a outstanding song overall? Well, first, with
its innocent, teenager-in-love-like lyrics about needing to leave the world and
its troubles behind for a while and escape to be with your sweetheart, it
captures a sentiment that no doubt many couples who have a youthful spirit
about their relationship and/or a lot of mid-century modern retro furniture in their apartments
will love. Second, it’s,short and sweet - but not too short to be over just like that, and not too sweet to be cutesy.
But the best thing about
the song is the vocal melody; it gives wings to, and makes memorable, a song with a sound
and a subject done countless times before. If you’re at all into
vintage-sounding pop, it’s quite hard to resist the airy,
clean voice of singer Liz Hunt and the tune’s uplifting chorus, especially
since each time it repeats it becomes more orchestral and lush, as layers of
angelic vocal overdubs, gentle backing “aaahhs” and soaring strings are added in just
the right amounts to build things to a big, exhilarated-sounding
near-finale that will make couples feel like spinning each other around like goofy
teenagers.
Okay, so you might not actually go that far in front of a reception of your guests, but if you’re a couple that tends to wear your giddiness on your sleeves, it certainly is nice to have a song that gives you the option.
Being a DJ, and liking all kinds of musical genres, I see trends come and go all the time. But one that I never thought I would see at all, or see last as long as it has, is the transatlantic success of British female retro-soul singers like Amy Winehouse and Duffy. While some of these women put more of a tough, hip-hop attitude into their style, and others add a bit more sweetness, they all have a sound that’s a throwback to classic ‘60s female soul.
And while it’s been fun at events to mix these these new soul singers in with vintage classics by Aretha Franklin, The Supremes or Gloria Jones, it’s also allowed me to bring out a song from the early '90s I’ve always loved and have long thought has been sadly unknown in this country. It’s by the British trio Saint Etienne (pictured above), and the singer’s name is Sarah Cracknell. While the group and Cracknell (who are still playing together) more often release albums of either electronic ambient or dance tunes, once in a while they record a straightforward pop song. I think this one is their best - the subject a simple a pledge of support to a friend feeling bad, the sweet music and vocals sounding like they were recorded two generations ago.
This remix is a great example of how production tweaking in the right places can elevate a good song into a great one -- and therefore make me much more confident putting it out there to a crowd at an event.