"Self Control" by Laura Branigan

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

There was the RIP thread for her but someone it's only taken a relistening of the song right this second for me to realize that it was Laura Branigan who sang the damn thing. I must have known and forgotten. So when will the post-electroclash/Electric Six world cough up a cover of this?

"I...I live among the creatures of the night!"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 27 February 2005 22:19 (8 years ago) Permalink

more or less the same song as "she's lost control" by joy division, only better. and scarier.

― chuck, Sunday, 27 February 2005 22:21 (8 years ago) Permalink

Ned, I guess you haven't heard the Marc Almond cover yet?

― Guitarthur and the Ecstasy Defecators (Arthur), Sunday, 27 February 2005 22:23 (8 years ago) Permalink

I still know the lyrics by heart, even though I've never even owned the song in any form. An absolute classic.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Sunday, 27 February 2005 22:25 (8 years ago) Permalink

*plotzes* How the HELL did I miss a Marc Almond cover of this! But now that I think about it I know he's done a few one-off singles recently I haven't caught, so that must be one of them. Came out last year? This is starting to ring a bell or two.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 27 February 2005 22:25 (8 years ago) Permalink

Anyway, it is good to see that my plea had already been addressed by one of the best people possible, woohoo!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 27 February 2005 22:26 (8 years ago) Permalink

You're making me sorry I didn't grab a copy of this last time I saw it.

You got reggaeton in my salsa

― RS £aRue (rockist_scientist), Sunday, 27 February 2005 22:31 (8 years ago) Permalink

it's a whopper, that's for sure. for the longest time, i never knew the title. i used to think of it as creatures of the night a la tuxedomoon. (they could have done a good cover too.)

― scott seward (scott seward), Sunday, 27 February 2005 22:31 (8 years ago) Permalink

who produced it? it's all about the production. what with those massive guitars and drums.

― scott seward (scott seward), Sunday, 27 February 2005 22:32 (8 years ago) Permalink

Ned, the Marc cover is with Replicant, some electro DJ. It's fine, not as perfect and menacing as the original, though. Actually, listening to it again now, it's kinda phoned in. And it could certainly use a few more power chords. You'd think they could come up with some huge fake ones, but no. Not nearly as good as his "Total Eclipse" cover, that's for sure!

― Guitarthur and the Ecstasy Defecators (Arthur), Sunday, 27 February 2005 22:36 (8 years ago) Permalink

According to google, somebody named Jack White produced it! No wonder "Danger! High Voltage!" always reminded me of "Self Control", ha ha.

― Guitarthur and the Ecstasy Defecators (Arthur), Sunday, 27 February 2005 22:40 (8 years ago) Permalink

a lot of her stuff had pretty spectacular production! everything was very distinct and popped right out at you, yet it all moved together.

― teeny (teeny), Sunday, 27 February 2005 22:44 (8 years ago) Permalink

So, this Jack White is German and his other production jobs include work with Engelbert Humperdink, Al Martino, Paul Anka, Vicky Leandros, Jermaine Jackson, Tony Christie and David Hasselhoff.

― Guitarthur and the Ecstasy Defecators (Arthur), Sunday, 27 February 2005 22:53 (8 years ago) Permalink

Sounds like the master of swank to me. We should do a taking sides of him vs. Frank Farian.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 27 February 2005 22:58 (8 years ago) Permalink

Jack White also produced the uber-classic "When the Rain Begins to Fall" by Jermaine Jackson & Pia Zadora.

Dan Selzer dropped "Self Control" when he spun at the Repellent party at Rothko in December. I immediately went over to give him the love that he deserved for playing it, and he pointed out that it's pretty much a straight Italo track (on the slow side, no doubt). It's all about that bobbing bass line and the melodrama, see.

― Rich (Rich), Sunday, 27 February 2005 23:09 (8 years ago) Permalink

I'd like to hear t.A.T.u. cover it.

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Monday, 28 February 2005 02:59 (8 years ago) Permalink

It actually originated as an Italo track, by RAF - Laura B's version is a cover. ("Gloria" was also an Italo cover, incidentally.)

― mike t-diva (mike t-diva), Monday, 28 February 2005 10:56 (8 years ago) Permalink

I seem to remember Jonathan King doing a cover of "Gloria" with different English lyrics a couple of years before LB's version. You are not missing anything, readers.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 28 February 2005 13:39 (8 years ago) Permalink

I was never a fan, but I'm always sort've impressed how this song has like three discernable choruses. Seems like she could've saved one or two of them for other songs, no?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 28 February 2005 16:36 (8 years ago) Permalink

i tried to think of an excuse to play this on my radio show every week when i used to have one. (not that i needed one besides "uhh it's totally great.")

― joseph (joseph), Monday, 28 February 2005 16:37 (8 years ago) Permalink

Chuck, so OTM!

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Monday, 28 February 2005 16:45 (8 years ago) Permalink

something i posted to my blog a few years ago:

Laura Branigan - Branigan (1982)

Obv. enough to me and everyone else that Laura Branigan was a sweet starry-eyed kid from the Hudson Valley, but the early '80s being what they were (i.e. that popcult upheaval sparking wild and unruly transitions-syncretisms between hard rock and momndad ballad schmaltz and the burgeoning Supermotivated Eighties Asshole sound and whatever savvy Italian producers could salvage of disco), her handlers still dressed her up for the photo shoot in rokkchikk tartwear: black leather pants, firetruck-red buttoned-down blouse, tousled unwashed hair. Same thing happened to Sheena Easton somewhere between "Morning Train" and "Sugar Walls." Same thing happened to a rash of girl singers in mid-late 2002, in the wake of the trash-rock revival, the critical mass of mash-ups' popularity (hip-hop and dance choons legitimized by RAWK -- rock is the imperialist USA to nonrock's "needy" third world), the impact of VH1 Classic's retrofitted "Rock Fest" on the lives of digital-cable subscribers.

Which proves that this stuff happens in 20-year cycles.

But thank goodness for industry pressures; otherwise the pop world would remain as myopic and boring as the uninformed constantly accuse it of being. Branigan sounds like it looks, and it looks like its release date, so even if Branigan herself wasn't actually the kind of pseudo-Italo-country-Meatloaf-Benatar she was modeled to be (and why would she be, come to think of it?) (oh and in addition to the above reference points, on the glam-boogie "Down Like a Rock" her voice has an odd '70s-Yoko echo treatment), at least the pitchmen weren't bullshitting us about what we could expect. If the front cover didn't tell you enough (white-on-red raised italic lettering, Ms. B posing rockstarishly with legs semi-splayed, against a smoky grey background), flip it 'round to the back liner notes for reassurance:

"Braniganwas produced in Los Angeles by Jack White with the help of Greg Mathieson. They employed top musicians, including Toto guitarist Steve Lukather, bassists Lee Sklar and Bob Glaub and synthesist Michael Boddicker. The leadoff single, "Gloria," is an Italian pop song with new English lyrics by the albums musical contractor, Trevor Veitch. The successful follow-up single, "All Night With Me," established a ballad style which has served Laura Branigan well."

― jbr (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 28 February 2005 16:49 (8 years ago) Permalink

(p.s. you might know michael boddicker as the composer of the buckaroo banzai score)

― jbr (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 28 February 2005 16:53 (8 years ago) Permalink

more or less the same song as "she's lost control" by joy division, only better. and scarier.

Todays it the day when I will set Chuck's facial hair on fire. My lunch break starts in about an hour, Chuck, so you've got a head start.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 28 February 2005 16:56 (8 years ago) Permalink

As mike t-diva points out above, "Self Control" was co-written by Giancarlo Biagzzi, Raffael Riefoli, and Steve Piccolo, the Italian songwriters who also co-wrote her first hit, "Gloria." I always preferred "Self Control" to "Gloria." The melodrama and the bombastic perfection of the production blew everything else on the charts at the time out of the water, and believe me, 1984 was not a year with any shortage of bombastic productions.

Another thing not often recalled is that the video for the song was banned from MTV because of a "suggestive orgy scene."

― ffirehorse (firehorse), Monday, 28 February 2005 19:38 (8 years ago) Permalink

Vh1 Classic plays it ALL THE DAMN TIME.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 28 February 2005 20:05 (8 years ago) Permalink

Hmm, didn't realize that. I can see "Self Control" all the time getting old.

― ffirehorse (firehorse), Monday, 28 February 2005 20:08 (8 years ago) Permalink

That makes me wish I got VH1 classic!

― Leon the Fatboy (Ex Leon), Monday, 28 February 2005 20:16 (8 years ago) Permalink

do they leave the "suggestive orgy scene" in?

― jbr (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 28 February 2005 20:17 (8 years ago) Permalink

How could it be any more or less suggestive than the "Wild Boys" video, say.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 28 February 2005 20:18 (8 years ago) Permalink

Dedicated Marc fan that I am, even I have to admit his version isn't a patch on Laura Branigan's. Or RAF's.

― davidsim (davidsim), Monday, 28 February 2005 20:28 (8 years ago) Permalink

I don't remember so much a "suggestive orgy scene" as a "suggestive lez-up" scene while Laura is dancing (and it looks rather forced and decidedly non-sexy, but y'know...)

It makes Rick Springfield's video for "Human Touch" look like Stanley Kubrick.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 28 February 2005 21:07 (8 years ago) Permalink

man this takes me right back to the roller rink.

― teeny (teeny), Monday, 28 February 2005 21:10 (8 years ago) Permalink

Actually, it looks an awful lot like "Eyes Wide Shut," complete with horny strangers wearing masks. I'm not even joking.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 28 February 2005 21:11 (8 years ago) Permalink

I have fond memories of this song because the first time I got to see Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Rockstar showed me this tape of film and TV clips (lots of Miami Vice, Scarface, etc...) that inspired the game set to "Self Control"

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 28 February 2005 21:21 (8 years ago) Permalink

It saddens me that she didn't write this tune herself.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 28 February 2005 21:23 (8 years ago) Permalink

another song this reminds me of is "touch me" by samantha fox.

― jbr (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 28 February 2005 21:24 (8 years ago) Permalink

Even I'll suggest that it's better than that, Jody.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 28 February 2005 21:27 (8 years ago) Permalink

Didn't Branigan also do a cover of "Der Kommisar"? Or did i dream that?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 28 February 2005 21:27 (8 years ago) Permalink

Even I'll suggest that it's better than that, Jody.

they're about equal.

― jbr (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 28 February 2005 21:44 (8 years ago) Permalink

"Touch Me" is shamelessly brilliant.

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 28 February 2005 21:44 (8 years ago) Permalink

"i was BEGGING for you!"

― jbr (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 28 February 2005 21:45 (8 years ago) Permalink

did Samatha Foxx have song called "Hurt Me Hurt Me (But The Pants Stay On)"? That maketh me giggle.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 28 February 2005 21:51 (8 years ago) Permalink

Is it the "Touch Me" video where a rapper guy steps out of nowhere to do a two-finger point into the camera and bellow, "Sa-man-tha FOX!!!!!"

If memory serves she was a "Page 3" girl.

― Mark (MarkR), Monday, 28 February 2005 21:51 (8 years ago) Permalink

That video would be "Naughty Girls Need Love Too," which contains donut debonair's all time fave lyric by anyone:

"NO MORE FUN AND GAMES OF THE MOIND!"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 28 February 2005 21:57 (8 years ago) Permalink

actually mark, i think the rapper is on "I Wanna Have Some Fun". but you're OTM with the Page 3 point

― ken taylrr (ken taylrr), Monday, 28 February 2005 22:04 (8 years ago) Permalink

oh, is it? shit sorry

― ken taylrr (ken taylrr), Monday, 28 February 2005 22:05 (8 years ago) Permalink

I don't give a fuck about Laura Branigan, but compared to Samantha Fox, she's practically Kate Bush.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 1 March 2005 00:10 (8 years ago) Permalink

After that RIP thread, I listened to this song again and surprisingly it didn't do much for me. Maybe I was confusing it with another one of hers that came earlier than that. Still haven't heard her cover of The Who's Squeeze Box. Really should seek that out.

Eyes Wide Shut was such a disappointing film.

Samantha Fox!? Ha ha. Puhleez.

I've been having these random thoughts about Pat Benatar lately, though. Have no idea why. Man I used to really love the Precious Time album. Haven't heard that in eons. Her husband was such a fabulous guitarist. Can't remember his name just now. Whoops sorry, this is a Branigan thread. Continue...

― Bimble... (Bimble...), Tuesday, 1 March 2005 02:20 (8 years ago) Permalink

3 years pass...

All this talk and no video?

― Eazy, Thursday, 3 April 2008 04:39 (5 years ago) Permalink

Skipping 15 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

rules

― ladies love draculas like children love stray dogs (ENBB), Tuesday, 9 August 2011 15:21 (1 year ago) Permalink

Classic

― If Assholes Could Fly This Place Would Be An Airport, Tuesday, 9 August 2011 15:21 (1 year ago) Permalink

yes.

― dell (del), Tuesday, 9 August 2011 15:25 (1 year ago) Permalink

"Gloria" also rules btw.

― ladies love draculas like children love stray dogs (ENBB), Tuesday, 9 August 2011 15:31 (1 year ago) Permalink

Love both versions, but the Branigan wins for her better vocals and the 808/synth swell intro — and having the "ohohoh"s enter in the middle of the song makes it seem more epic

― corey, Tuesday, 9 August 2011 15:31 (1 year ago) Permalink

in the day
nothing matters
it's the night... time that matters

― CLUB PISCOPO (DJP), Tuesday, 9 August 2011 15:37 (1 year ago) Permalink

Inspired by this thread, I wanted to hear this song, so I went to Youtube and watched the video, which I'd never seen, and damn it's as unclassifiably eerie and sexy as the song.

― If Assholes Could Fly This Place Would Be An Airport, Tuesday, 9 August 2011 15:44 (1 year ago) Permalink

Yeah-- impossible not to play Townshend-windmill-air-guitar when the WHOA OH OH (BWANNNGGGG) WHOA OH OH (BWANNNGGGG) part comes in.

Song never fails to make me feel completely insane in a good way.

― Axolotl with an Atlatl (Jon Lewis), Tuesday, 9 August 2011 16:15 (1 year ago) Permalink

I like the line that goes "I!"

― saint dominic's p4k review (Eazy), Tuesday, 9 August 2011 16:50 (1 year ago) Permalink

I am going to have this song in my head all gd day now.

AHHHHHHHHHH.

― ladies love draculas like children love stray dogs (ENBB), Tuesday, 9 August 2011 16:52 (1 year ago) Permalink

I like the line that goes "I!"

yes!

― dell (del), Tuesday, 9 August 2011 16:59 (1 year ago) Permalink

"I!"

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, November 8, 2008 7:13 PM (2 years ago) Bookmark

― leave me alone, i was only zinging (rip van wanko), Tuesday, 9 August 2011 18:59 (1 year ago) Permalink

Quite so.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 9 August 2011 19:58 (1 year ago) Permalink

― dell (del), Tuesday, 9 August 2011 20:00 (1 year ago) Permalink

There is an episode of Miami Vice (1st season?) where a band at a party does a cover of this (along with "some guys have all the luck")

― lol is not enough (blank), Tuesday, 9 August 2011 20:48 (1 year ago) Permalink

I love this song. I'm quite gratified to see that I'm not on my own.

― Death To False Camp (Doran), Tuesday, 9 August 2011 23:31 (1 year ago) Permalink

"I!"

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, November 8, 2008 7:13 PM (2 years ago) Bookmark

― leave me alone, i was only zinging (rip van wanko), Tuesday, August 9, 2011 2:59 PM (4 hours ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

^^^

Killing me.

― ladies love draculas like children love stray dogs (ENBB), Tuesday, 9 August 2011 23:41 (1 year ago) Permalink

Assholes otm btw - this video is kinda wild.

― ladies love draculas like children love stray dogs (ENBB), Tuesday, 9 August 2011 23:42 (1 year ago) Permalink

Oh damn I think I just got to the part where they introduce the creatures of the night! O_O

― ladies love draculas like children love stray dogs (ENBB), Tuesday, 9 August 2011 23:43 (1 year ago) Permalink

ok I must hear this:

The song has become one of the defining pop songs of the 1980s, with a number of remakes recorded each year. Notable covers include Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin in 1993,

― livin in my own private Biden hole (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 9 August 2011 23:49 (1 year ago) Permalink

Huh, I can actually see that working out ok.

― lol is not enough (blank), Tuesday, 9 August 2011 23:59 (1 year ago) Permalink

Some bright horn blasts wouldn't hurt

― lol is not enough (blank), Tuesday, 9 August 2011 23:59 (1 year ago) Permalink

Well, that's what Ricky Martin finally realized last year.

― livin in my own private Biden hole (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 10 August 2011 00:00 (1 year ago) Permalink

8 months pass...

you're making me forget to play my role

― does Red Stripe work like poppers? (Abbbottt), Monday, 23 April 2012 01:10 (1 year ago) Permalink

I think about that line
all the time

― does Red Stripe work like poppers? (Abbbottt), Monday, 23 April 2012 01:13 (1 year ago) Permalink

like, it's sexy...BUT SHOULD IT BE???

― does Red Stripe work like poppers? (Abbbottt), Monday, 23 April 2012 01:14 (1 year ago) Permalink

I HAVEN'T GOT THE WILL TO STAND AND

fight

― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 23 April 2012 01:15 (1 year ago) Permalink

I want to do this at karaoke but I know it would be a DISASTER

― does Red Stripe work like poppers? (Abbbottt), Monday, 23 April 2012 01:17 (1 year ago) Permalink

I want to do a karaoke reenactment of the video

― aluminum rivets must not be proud of their plastic bosses (Jon Lewis), Monday, 23 April 2012 01:22 (1 year ago) Permalink

suggested Italian orgy karaoke night

― does Red Stripe work like poppers? (Abbbottt), Monday, 23 April 2012 01:23 (1 year ago) Permalink

This is one of these songs that I heard maybe once or twice as a little kid and then walked around with it stuck in my head for years after. I only learnt who it was by a couple of years ago, but what a cracker!

― Scary Move 4 (dog latin), Monday, 23 April 2012 11:39 (1 year ago) Permalink

just listened to the raf version... wtf there's some eurobros rappin' on this thing!!

― these pretzels are makeing me horney (Hungry4Ass), Monday, 23 April 2012 11:50 (1 year ago) Permalink

go to :30

― these pretzels are makeing me horney (Hungry4Ass), Monday, 23 April 2012 11:53 (1 year ago) Permalink

Clipse reinterpreted the song in their 'Counseling':

― kokokeho, Monday, 23 April 2012 14:24 (1 year ago) Permalink

Wow, that hockey thing!

― aluminum rivets must not be proud of their plastic bosses (Jon Lewis), Monday, 23 April 2012 15:11 (1 year ago) Permalink

SC rules as I see I stated during the last revive.

What was it with LB covering Ialian pop songs? A couple weeks ago I couldn't stop listening to the original Gloria:

― wolf kabob (ENBB), Monday, 23 April 2012 15:41 (1 year ago) Permalink

Wow his performance posture is really something! It's like ectomorphic joe cocker or something!

― aluminum rivets must not be proud of their plastic bosses (Jon Lewis), Monday, 23 April 2012 15:53 (1 year ago) Permalink

I can't even tell you how much I love everything about that dude. His spiffy little outfit, the jewlery, his moves - perfect.

― wolf kabob (ENBB), Monday, 23 April 2012 16:02 (1 year ago) Permalink

What was it with LB covering Ialian pop songs? A couple weeks ago I couldn't stop listening to the original Gloria:

IIRC the same guy who wrote Gloria also wrote Self Control, which would explain why Branigan recorded it, as she'd already had one hit with the guy's song.

― Tuomas, Monday, 23 April 2012 17:25 (1 year ago) Permalink

Whoever that guy is, I think I love him.

― wolf kabob (ENBB), Monday, 23 April 2012 17:29 (1 year ago) Permalink

According to Wikipedia he's called Giancarlo Bigazzi, though he's only a co-writer of both "Gloria" and "Self Control". But I assume he's the reason Branigan chose to record the latter song.

― Tuomas, Monday, 23 April 2012 17:34 (1 year ago) Permalink

Oh, looks like he died this January... :( RIP, mister songwriter.

― Tuomas, Monday, 23 April 2012 17:36 (1 year ago) Permalink

Aw, man. RIP.

― wolf kabob (ENBB), Monday, 23 April 2012 17:39 (1 year ago) Permalink

I want to do this at karaoke but I know it would be a DISASTER

hah this is one of my karaoke standards

― y'tulip, y'pea-brained earwig (donna rouge), Monday, 23 April 2012 17:41 (1 year ago) Permalink

Apparently he also wrote Boney M's "Take the Heat Off Me", which is a cool song as well:

― Tuomas, Monday, 23 April 2012 17:44 (1 year ago) Permalink

I wish I could've celebrated this guy's life more while he was actually alive.

― Johnny Fever, Monday, 23 April 2012 18:06 (1 year ago) Permalink

fucklaura branigan singing the word "self" is like the 8th wonder of the world.

― windjammer voyage (blank), Tuesday, 24 April 2012 04:51 (1 year ago) Permalink

"I!"

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, November 8, 2008 7:13 PM (2 years ago) Bookmark

― leave me alone, i was only zinging (rip van wanko), Tuesday, August 9, 2011 2:59 PM (4 hours ago)

― the Dandy Club (Abbbottt), Tuesday, 24 April 2012 04:53 (1 year ago) Permalink

Harold Faltermeyer worked on the Branigan version.

― timellison, Tuesday, 24 April 2012 05:24 (1 year ago) Permalink

i just got clocked by a couple of snare drums from this song, motherfuckers beware

― windjammer voyage (blank), Tuesday, 24 April 2012 05:35 (1 year ago) Permalink

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.