Repetune - The Songs of our Heads

Usually, far too many songs have the same beat.  Then there are some songs with beats so different, they are catchy in their own way.  The first one that comes to my mind is White Horse by Laid Back.  But, I shall save them for another day.  This post is dedicated to a song I find equally catchy for the exact same reasons.

Reminiscient of a disco beat, Baby Wants to Ride takes me on a trip through Prince’s Erotic City, makes a quick stop at Laid Back’s White Horse, and drops me off at a brothel to finish it off. It goes back and forth between Frankie and Jamie, and the banter builds slowly. I am reminded of being with someone and knowing the inevitablity of the final act. In a strange way, it is the buildup that matters. This track is nothing but buildup.

That being said, it is a little gay. But, aside from that, a bass line and synths brood the background as Jamie speaks seductively.

Somewhere along the line, some percussion comes in as well as some political speak about discriminating against gay people. But that part never sticks in my head. Instead, it is the smooth, cool sounding riffs and breathy vocals. It sets a mood. It is the mood. Eye of the Tiger may make me want to beat the crap out of everything around me… Baby Wants to Ride makers me want to… ride everything around me.

Before I heard this song, I knew Radiohead for that song Creep and for making a video where people lie down for no good reason. Then I heard this song, and I had to know who was singing it. Lo and behold, it was Radiohead. And a minor love affair with Radiohead continued, until I realized the band was worshipped to the point where they could fart into a microphone and the fans would love it.
I was never into them that much, and did not want to be so into them that my judgement would be clouded. That being said, I think they make fantastic music, but Karma Police is where it all began.
Much like remembering firsts with a girlfriend, I distinctly remember the first time I heard Karma Police. I was in a dorm room and someone had his mp3 collection on shuffle. The opening chords hit, and the voice… oh, the voice. I don’t remember that much after it, but if I ran out and bought the album immediately after, it would not surprise me.