Is there another song that is so melancholy and joyous at the same time?
There’s something special about oldies. And by “oldies” I mean the popular songs from the 50s and 60s that are played on oldies radio. I’m not nostalgic for them–since I was born five years after this single and I don’t think I heard this song until I was in college–but the best oldies seem to capture a sense of time and place and have a sound that, for better or worse, doesn’t exist in later records. They have a sweet innocence to them. The happy songs are joyous and the sad songs aren’t really sad. They just are slower and slightly less joyous. These songs have none of the angst or anger that would take over much of popular music later on (again, for better or worse). And while I do love 60s music, I’m not especially a fan of oldies per se, but some of my favorite songs of all time are oldies. I wouldn’t list this song as “one of my favorites,” but I have been enamored of it lately. And every time I hear it I immediately want to hear it again.
The song begins rather inauspiciously with an odd guitar riff that isn’t catchy and almost sounds dissonant against what soon follows. Then we hear a quick drum burst and a bellowing bass line that slowly switches between E and D. I can’t tell for sure but it sounds like there are voices joining the bass. Then of course comes the iconic shouts of “Hey!” Well, they’re not shouts exactly. More like doo-wop backing vocals, except they’re too short to be doo-wop vocals. And I on’t think they say “Hey!” as much as they say “Hep!” Already, thanks to that great oldies reverb, the record creates a gorgeous sense of space. (I just now noticed there are finger snaps.) The beat isn’t quite like any other song. At least for the verses. It has a kind of herky-jerky quality that is surprisingly danceable.
Aside from some of the more memorable and famous lines, I’d never paid much attention to the lyrics before today. I wouldn’t say they lyrics are particularly good. With Beatles songs, you remember the words after one or two listens. This one isn’t that catchy. And the lyrics for the chorus are particularly awkward and they change in ways you don’t expect. Having said that, the message is timeless and universal. And in the second verse the line “Livin’ on money that I ain’t made yet,” seems especially current.
Of course I haven’t even spoken about the most memorable and unique aspect of this song–the yodeling in the chorus. I don’t know who’s brilliant idea that was, but without the yodeling this would just be another obscure oldie. But the yodeling adds that perfect and weird touch that makes this a classic, not unlike the “Hoo hoos” in “Sympathy for the Devil.”
Other random touches that make this one a keeper: the “yeah yeah yeahs” that begin each chorus, the twinkling piano parts that help with the transition from the chorus back to the verse, and–my favorite part after the yodeling–the background singer who appears in the second verse saying “Yeah yeah!” and who comes back in the third saying “It slips away…” It’s so great that I always pay more attention to him than the lead singer.
One other random note: This song has no bridge. Not that you miss it, although at 2:04 the song is almost unbearably short. (Might be worth exploring other pop songs with no bridges.)
I never watched the Drew Carey Show, but this was used as the theme song for a few seasons, which is kind of a shame. While I admire their taste and it does seem to fit thematically, somehow it changes the song for me. Makes it seem less like “my” song.
Unfortunately that was the only link I could find that had the original version.
Scott
