From Al Green’s soul masterpiece, we move to the sensual creativity of singer Alison Goldfrapp and synth player Will Gregory, whose happiness is equally double-edged. Goldfrapp’s work always has a dark undercurrent, even in this upbeat number from their fourth album (Seventh Tree, 2008) which talks about the pursuit of contentment, but has no certainty in finding it in what seems to parody something of a happy-clappy community which doesn’t always ring true: “Join our group and you will find / Harmony and peace of mind /Make you better. We're here to welcome you. We're all on a journey to/ Finding the real inner you / Make you better (make you better) /We’re here to welcome you.”
Their music is almost always tinged with an ironic wistfulness, and the video to this song harks after a past of happy street community. Directed by Dougal Wilson, a young man, dressed in a white suit, jumps joyfully around Addington Square in Camberwell, South London and is a homage to the "Street Dance" sequence from the 1953 American musical film Small Town Girl. Goldfrapp appears as several cameo characters and In the final scene, two elderly people—Goldfrapp and Gregory—arrive to try to join the revelry. Those were the days then, or were they?
Goldfrapp are about to release their new album, Silver Eye, and are currently touring.
Want to suggest songs for Song of the Day or to say anything about it? Does this song make you think of something else? Then feel free to comment below, on the contact page, or on social media: Song Bar Twitter, Song Bar Facebook. Song Bar YouTube. Please subscribe, follow and share.
New to comment? It is quick and easy. You just need to login to Disqus once. All is explained in About/FAQs ...