By magicman
I’m not sure if I’ve ever been followed. Is that a relief or have I missed out? Maybe I’m just slightly deaf, or totally unaware of my surroundings. Or maybe no one’s really that interested. I have been stalked, gently. But I’ve had a life free from uncertain attention on the whole, and I am grateful for that. I think I wouldn’t take well to it.
Following can be an entirely innocent pleasure, of course. Take Mary’s little lamb for example, following her around in all innocence. Not Macca but Stevie Ray Vaughan plays an unlikely blues to these nursery rhyme lyrics. And a declaration that “I will follow you” can just be a declaration of pure devotion, a pledge of passionate love by Carole King. All she’s dreaming of is to “live completely in your love’” Nothing wrong with that ! Al Campbell is just as romantic, following devotedly behind his woman although – wait – is that his woman? Almost at the finish of his declaration Mr Campbell adds that, like Diana Ross, “I’m gonna make you love me”.
So as things turn slightly shadier we enjoy the sprightly pop giddiness of Mindy Gledhill who pronounces herself cheerfully as “the definition of obsessive-compulsive crazy love”. You’re hiding up a tree woman! Or the southern soul of Lorraine Ellison, a woman you wouldn’t want to cross as she declares over a simmering soul backbeat: “if you don’t know what I’m talking about – you don’t know nothing about love.” Her definition of love though is bruised and wounded, she prays on her knees that her man doesn’t leave, and in the bridge pledges that wherever and whenever he does leave she’ll be following close behind. Gulp.
Annette Hanshaw – the biggest-selling pop artist in America in the 1930s – is quite clear in her melodic palm-court song that “don’t think you’ll ever get rid of me”, indeed she goes further and spells it out: “I want you to know that wherever you go, whatever you do, I’ll be following you.” It’s like a romantic threat.
The rather wonderful Candi Staton is also quite clear. It’s not her fault of course – that would be those Nights On Broadway to blame – but she is standing there in the dark, secretly following Barry Gibb or John Travolta though “you did not want me to, but that won’t stop me loving you, I just can’t stay away”. It’s starting to sound like stalking. She’s almost proud of it, but feels a little tragic too.
Which brings us to pure stalking. Sting, with The Police, never sounded more sinister. We all know the verses and the chorus but the key line is the bridge : “Since you’ve gone I’ve been lost without a trace, I dream at night I can only see your face.” He’s been ditched but he’s not letting go. Sting is quoted as calling it an evil little song about ownership and surveillance.
Albert King doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with describing his – and this is in quotes folks – “wooing” of the lady as hunting, and he has a “love gun” which is “loaded” and “pointing her way”.
Pretty funny really but Jung would link us to Little Red Riding Hood no doubt.
Way less funny are AC/DC who got into huge trouble with their creepy night stalker blues which got picked up by a genuine night stalker who ended up raping and killing multiple victims in LA in the 1970s. Oh dear.
Nobody wants to go to bed after reading that so to finish the playlist on a more neutral and lighter note perhaps we have two fantastic instrumentals representing the car chase, the first from Chilean band Los Jaivas, the second from Argentinian composer Lalo Schifrin. Finally – no apologies but forgive me – but a baker’s dozen this week to include another children’s story to round things up from Sam The Sham and The Pharaohs with a slightly less innocent fairy story.
The Stalk This Way A-List Playlist:
Mary Had A Little Lamb - Stevie Ray Vaughan
Where You Lead - Carole King
I Will Follow You - Al Campbell
Crazy Love - Mindy Gledhill
You Don’t Know Nothing About Love - Lorraine Ellison
I’m Following You - Annette Hanshaw
Nights On Broadway - Candi Staton
Every Breath You Take - The Police
The Hunter - Albert King
Night Prowler - AC/DC
Corre Que Te Pillo (Run, I’ll Catch You) - Los Jaivas
Shifting Gears - Lalo Schifrin
Lil’ Red Riding Hood - Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs
The Break Into A Run B-List Playlist
Strange & Beautiful - Aqualung
Gonna Get Close To You - Dalbello
Follow Me Down - UNKLE
Stan - Eminem & Dido
Neighbour - Walter TV
Following - The Bangles
Crazy Baldhead - Bob Marley
I’m Shadowing You - Blossom Dearie
Spitting Games - Snow Patrol
Reynardine - Fairport Convention
No Reply - The Beatles
Nadine - Chuck Berry
Guru’s Wildcard Picks:
Footsteps Following Me – Frances Nero (1991)
“Love without trust can’t win”
Don’t Follow Me – Cody ChesnuTT (2012)
‘Because I didn’t know what I know now”
But my favourite, which was outside the brief was:
Kacey Musgraves’ Follow Your Arrow
These playlists were inspired by readers' song nominations from last week's topic: Halloween? What comes after? Songs about stalking, following and chasing. The next topic will launch on Thursday at 1pm UK time.
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