While it was INXSÁ¢€â„¢s third album, Á¢€Å“Shabooh ShoobahÁ¢€ was the first to be released in the States, and their worldwide breakthrough, thanks to the single Á¢€Å“The One ThingÁ¢€. But it was the albumÁ¢€â„¢s third single that was my favorite Á¢€” Á¢€Å“To Look At YouÁ¢€.
Hutchence is in full Bryan Ferry mode here, slinking around the verses, crooning and mumbling lines like:
What is the name to call
For a different kind of girl
Who knows the feelings
But never the words
IÁ¢€â„¢ve listened to this song for more than two decades, but until I typed that out just now, I never realized this girl who canÁ¢€â„¢t describe her feelings (Á¢€Å“Happy? Sad? Bloated?Á¢€) might be borderline slow. But then you get to the final chorus:
What is the name to call
For a different kind of girl
Who knows the feelings
But never the words
To this . . . real life documentary
Á¢€Å“Real life documentaryÁ¢€?? As opposed to a fake mockumentary? Oh, Michael. Maybe sheÁ¢€â„¢s not the slow one. Good song, though.
From there, some territories got Á¢€Å“Spy Of LoveÁ¢€ as a fourth single, which I never understood. Not a bad song, just the very definition of Á¢€Å“album trackÁ¢€ to me. Me, I was more about Á¢€Å“JanÁ¢€â„¢s SongÁ¢€ Á¢€” I love the faux reggae beat, the overall bouncy nature of the song and the weird lyrics aboutÁ¢€¦what? A hot political activist? A socialist fashionista (Á¢€Å“she puts her hat on / looks in the mirror / says to herself / Á¢€Ëœnothing to fearÁ¢€â„¢Á¢€)? HereÁ¢€â„¢s the band performing the song live on whatÁ¢€â„¢s billed as their Á¢€Å“U.S. television debutÁ¢€ (I have no supporting documentation for that, so weÁ¢€â„¢ll have to trust the person who uploaded it):
“Shabooh Shoobah” is a strong album, an early 80s classic that needs re-issuing, along with “The Swing” and “Listen Like Thieves” while you’re at it, Rhino, thankyouveddymuch. And hey, throw on that U.S. promo only extended version of “To Look At You” that I can’t find anywhere, cool? (Ask and ye shall receive.) And a poster-sized foldout of the original inner sleeve?
Grrrrowwwwwlllll.
Of course, you know the INXS story ended in tragedy. ThatÁ¢€â„¢s right, they went on a reality show to choose their new lead singer. Oh yeah, and Hutchence hung himself. Buuuuut seriously folks, this ainÁ¢€â„¢t the last time weÁ¢€â„¢ll see INXS around these parts. Stay tuned.
“To Look At You” did not chart.
“Jan’s Song” was not a single.
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