Joe Jackson IS the man.
Travel with me to “79 when I’m The Man one of the most fun pop albums of all time hit the shelves. I’m falling back in love with the simplicity of this offering by none other than the elfish Joe Jackson.
Lyrically sound it stuns me to this day how catchy and relevant these songs are. Although ‘Beat Crazy’ appealed more to the masses “I’m the Man” appealed more to me.
Released in October 1979 when the worlds music sucked so bad it made dogs howl, the New Wave brit boys stepped up for a proper notice
laced with poor boy reggae and what some consider a continuation of the “Look Sharp” release, “I’m the Man” gave us songs like Geraldine and John, and Friday.
Friday being a song I sing to this day 31 years later and I don’t even get paid on “Friday” but the plucky thump of bass is contagious and a great gym song now that I think of it.
“Different for Girls” was a song I thought I could relate to, but I don’t. But I bet some sappy ass teen aged girlys in Uggs could. I’m not that whiny. But the song is awesome as a 1 man duet, he said/she said… so cool.
“The Band Wore Blue Shirts” was a man of mines pick. Through his eyes I do see the big band swagger of an era gone by. At first hear it was filler but with someone elses perspective or now infamous ‘mental imaging’ it certainly takes on a melancholy sway.
But all in all nothing beats the ‘got you pegged’ sass of “I’m The Man”s title song.
Love it and its so true. Figure out your angle and be the huckster to sell it. And the masses will love it, just cuz you told them too. Couldn’t be more relevant than it is today.
Give it another go- timely, fun, thought provoking, upbeat, and if you’re gonna rehash a sound at least go for the originals.