I have loved The Pretenders from the first moment I saw Pete Farndon. Only after that did I see Chrissie Hynde who in time would be not only my girl crush but the bar that all female performers must reach to gain my respect. I (of course) first noticed Pete in a video for "Tattooed Love Boys" Holy hell that boy was on fire and apparently fired up as well.At the time I was going through a heavy duty retro 50's look thing–he fit that mold and then some. Seeing it now saddens me, Honeyman- Scott too, all hip thrust and smile. We lost so many greats.
I have chosen to do The Singles from 2004 because it best represents the diversity of a band that I adore. I have seen Chrissie live just once and can never see her again. With idols you let it happen and save that memory. She was flawless that night, I cant risk her becoming human. Just as I will never step foot in a Morrissey concert ever again. You keep things pure, plain and simple.
"Stop Your Sobbing"- when Chrissie gets soft she loses her power. Though I do love this song its not her voice that I am fond of. Shes over harmonized and the echo is too harsh. I will say lyrically its boss. Shes so maternal in such a bad ass way that you cant help admire her. I like the sort of 'get the fuck over it' implication here as well. Soon to be boyfriend Ray Davies wrote it.
"Day After Day", This song played full blast at so many times in my life, 'while the dolphins swim in the sea, you're going grey my baby'. What a beautiful thought. The Honeyman Scott/Farndon magic is a perfect wrap around Chrissie's amazing pipes. I adore this woman, 'hotel hotel hotel, open a blind and dream in a moonbeam'.
"Don't Get Me Wrong", if you have ever been in love, you have lived this song. when you are in love there is a certain ridiculous dazzle to you. "once in awhile two people meet seemingly for no reason, they just pass on the street." or 'thinking about the fireworks that go off when you smile' are some of the most heartfelt and accurate words. Although Chrissie is a toughy, shes a woman and this is an absolute tribute to love right down to the hop skip tempo.
"Message of Love" sucks. It was a big hit so 'hurrray' for that but it is the most lame ass Pretender song of all time. 'when love walks in the room everybody stand up' shut the hell up. Martin Chambers got some sassy drum beats though.
"Talk of The Town" I only began to love recently. "such a drag to want something sometime', I really love when Chrissie drops her voice and it gets gruff. There is a slight congested quality to the vocal as well. "back in my room I wonder than I sit on the bed and look at the sky'. "maybe tomorrow, maybe someday' Again Martin Chambers beating that cymbal like the dining hall drinkware and its awesome.
"Show Me", lets face it- someone Chrissie was told to be vulnerable and this is what she offered us. 'Welcome to the human race with its wars disease and brutality' I do love the line 'you found yourself a hopeless case'. The common thread in Pretenders songs is that you can always find a hook to relate too. 'you with the angel face'
'Brass In Pocket'. Pass and the video sucked too
"Middle of The Road" the opening is brilliant and the counting bit is fun. Here Chrissie gets all low voiced. I remember thinking she was saying I'm standing in the middle of the road with my pants behind me. I could listen to this one with my friends cuz it has mass appeal. So poppy so sing along and still with some pretty good one liners 'when you own a big chunk of hte bloody third world the babies just come with the scenery'
"Thin Line Between Love and Hate" Chrissie tells us a story of a woman done wrong. Five o' clock in the morning…. The song being sung as narrator makes it lame. Great song but if it were told in the first person she could have gotten some better punches. 'the sweetest woman in the world can be the meanest in the world'. The meaning gets lost in the harmonies but its still a winner for girl power.
"2000 Miles" every fucking Christmas the first time I hear this I freakin bawl. So much better than 'Il Be Home For Christmas"/ The voice the music and the imagery create the most magical and real song of the holidays 'sometime in a dream you appear' even hearing it at this time in October and its still glorious "Ill think of you wherever you go'
"My Baby", you make this dive seem sublime.THIS this song is IT. If I could have a theme this would be it. "if I could show you some happiness then I would feel like a real princess, that to me, would be success'. I cant even express to you how Chrissie absolutely crawled into my brain and ripped out my chemistry ' you really get to the hear to the music, you're the poetry of time'. "you write the beautiful songs, baby' I can literally get chills and blasting this is the antidote for all that is wrong with the world. "can this really happen at this day in age?" Oh and hte music just adds to the perfection. The audience cheer at the end is fantastic
"I Go To Sleep" its hard to imagine Chrissie as the woman in waiting. She doesn't seem quite mushy enough but in this song she portrays the role well. "Although you are far away, I know that you'll always be near to me', Chrissie would most likely go yank whomever this song is about out of their bed or push them over. She wouldn't just sulk. But she can connect with those that will. Shes the sweet and sour and tough and weak in every girl.
"Kid" I think I know some things you never out grow' Vocally this song has that great warble, drums spot on. "You turn your head you drop my hand" I don't believe she even had a kid at this point, did she? "Shut the light, go away, full of grace you cover your face'. A solemn song with a happy beat.
'Back On The Chain Gang", sucks worse than "Brass in Pocket" skip.
Here is the video that started my adoration