― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Monday, 28 February 2005 02:59 (nineteen years ago) link
― mike t-diva (mike t-diva), Monday, 28 February 2005 10:56 (nineteen years ago) link
― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 28 February 2005 13:39 (nineteen years ago) link
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 28 February 2005 16:36 (nineteen years ago) link
― joseph (joseph), Monday, 28 February 2005 16:37 (nineteen years ago) link
― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Monday, 28 February 2005 16:45 (nineteen years ago) link
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 (nineteen years ago) link
― jbr (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 28 February 2005 16:53 (nineteen years ago) link
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 (nineteen years ago) link
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 (nineteen years ago) link
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 28 February 2005 20:05 (nineteen years ago) link
― ffirehorse (firehorse), Monday, 28 February 2005 20:08 (nineteen years ago) link
― Leon the Fatboy (Ex Leon), Monday, 28 February 2005 20:16 (nineteen years ago) link
― jbr (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 28 February 2005 20:17 (nineteen years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 28 February 2005 20:18 (nineteen years ago) link
― davidsim (davidsim), Monday, 28 February 2005 20:28 (nineteen years ago) link
It makes Rick Springfield's video for "Human Touch" look like Stanley Kubrick.
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 28 February 2005 21:07 (nineteen years ago) link
― teeny (teeny), Monday, 28 February 2005 21:10 (nineteen years ago) link
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 28 February 2005 21:11 (nineteen years ago) link
― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 28 February 2005 21:21 (nineteen years ago) link
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 28 February 2005 21:23 (nineteen years ago) link
― jbr (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 28 February 2005 21:24 (nineteen years ago) link
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 28 February 2005 21:27 (nineteen years ago) link
they're about equal.
― jbr (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 28 February 2005 21:44 (nineteen years ago) link
― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 28 February 2005 21:44 (nineteen years ago) link
― jbr (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 28 February 2005 21:45 (nineteen years ago) link
― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 28 February 2005 21:51 (nineteen years ago) link
If memory serves she was a "Page 3" girl.
― Mark (MarkR), Monday, 28 February 2005 21:51 (nineteen years ago) link
"NO MORE FUN AND GAMES OF THE MOIND!"
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 28 February 2005 21:57 (nineteen years ago) link
― ken taylrr (ken taylrr), Monday, 28 February 2005 22:04 (nineteen years ago) link
― ken taylrr (ken taylrr), Monday, 28 February 2005 22:05 (nineteen years ago) link
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 1 March 2005 00:10 (nineteen years ago) link
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 (nineteen years ago) link
All this talk and no video?
― Eazy, Thursday, 3 April 2008 04:39 (sixteen years ago) link
Pre-YouTube days.
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 3 April 2008 04:42 (sixteen years ago) link
Original Italo version.
― Eazy, Thursday, 3 April 2008 04:43 (sixteen years ago) link
Kind of middling until the bass solo four minutes in.
― Eazy, Thursday, 3 April 2008 04:44 (sixteen years ago) link
I only knew the two singles from childhood (was totally into them). Now I have both records and need to play them...
― Nate Carson, Thursday, 3 April 2008 08:00 (sixteen years ago) link
Whats the story with the two versions coming out practically at the same time?
― baaderonixx, Friday, 4 April 2008 15:57 (sixteen years ago) link
The Raf one was released in 1984 and was only an underground hit. Then Laura Branigan came along and recorded an inferior cover version. Which became a worldwide hit because she was American and not Italian.
― Geir Hongro, Friday, 4 April 2008 23:38 (sixteen years ago) link
i'd forgotten just how freaky the video for this song was -- mid 80s AIDS paranoia in full bloom?!?
― Eisbaer, Sunday, 6 April 2008 21:07 (sixteen years ago) link
Then Laura Branigan came along and recorded an inferior cover version...
Look, I'm as big a champion of Italo Disco as anyone, but sometimes the more popular version of a song is the better one.
― Johnny Fever, Sunday, 6 April 2008 21:13 (sixteen years ago) link
The Raf one was released in 1984 and was only an underground hit.
Hardly "underground", Geir: the Raf version entered the German singles charts at the same time as the Laura Branigan version, and sat at #2 while Laura was at #1. ("Self Control" was the biggest selling single in Germany that year, incidentally.) The Raf version did well in Italy, as well.
― mike t-diva, Monday, 7 April 2008 11:13 (sixteen years ago) link
Whereas the Branigan version ("Good single that" - D Winton) was all we got.
Although Jonathan King had a UK hit with "Gloria" three years before LB.
― Dingbod Kesterson, Monday, 7 April 2008 12:43 (sixteen years ago) link
In 99 out of 100 cases, the original is always better than any cover version. Braningan's version sounded less European, more American, and it would have been better if the world hit was the Raf version instead.
Italo Disco was quite huge in those two markets, but struggled to crack the UK and US market in particular.
― Geir Hongro, Monday, 7 April 2008 13:59 (sixteen years ago) link
"I!"
― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 9 November 2008 01:13 (fifteen years ago) link
I loved this song as a kid but since this thread earlier this year, I started Djing this song in Portland constantly and it always gets a great reaction. There are some pretty young metal kids here in town that now have this as their profile song on Myspace. Branigan lives!
― Nate Carson, Sunday, 9 November 2008 01:40 (fifteen years ago) link
GOOD GOD, this song is immortal. It has taken up residence in my skull permanently, it would seem.
― Clarke B., Tuesday, 9 August 2011 15:11 (twelve years ago) link
Love this song.
― leave me alone, i was only zinging (rip van wanko), Tuesday, 9 August 2011 15:20 (twelve years ago) link
Tell It To My Heart?
― Siegbran, Thursday, 18 July 2019 10:39 (four years ago) link
"Gloria," there seem to be a lot of aerobic '80s songs that fit that vibe. "Self Control" is darker and more mysterious. So vibe-wise, along with the usual Italo disco suspects, there's stuff like, I dunno, "Send Me an Angel," by Real Life, maybe?
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 18 July 2019 12:11 (four years ago) link
I don’t know the usual Italo suspects!
― L'assie (Euler), Thursday, 18 July 2019 12:21 (four years ago) link
Stuff like this, I guess:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcwYp0musC8
Also, this one (not Italo) is very "Self Control:"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMPR6Ujop4k
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 18 July 2019 12:31 (four years ago) link
You can also look for stuff by Scotch and Kano, I guess, among other Italian disco suspects. Other people here know that stuff better than I do.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 18 July 2019 12:34 (four years ago) link
I think 'Don't Pretend to Know' by Tapps kind of fits?
― Gavin, Leeds, Thursday, 18 July 2019 12:35 (four years ago) link
hmm, I dont really agree with most of these suggestions. What I dig about Self Control is the hard rock/quasi-goth sound spruced up by 80s electro. There's a relentlessness to it that makes it super badass. I dont think Visage or Taylor Dayne have that hard sinister vibe.
― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Thursday, 18 July 2019 12:43 (four years ago) link
Hazel O'Connor, Eighth Day?
― The Pingularity (ledge), Thursday, 18 July 2019 13:13 (four years ago) link
(a bit less rock, a bit more goth - see also Drowning in Berlin)
― The Pingularity (ledge), Thursday, 18 July 2019 13:18 (four years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGVZOLV9SPo
― Funky Isolations (jed_), Thursday, 18 July 2019 13:18 (four years ago) link
Bette Davis Eyes - Kim CarnesSunglasses at Night - Corey Hart
― enochroot, Thursday, 18 July 2019 13:19 (four years ago) link
Sandra - In The Heat Of The Night
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4kHR5SNB5Q
― Br. Des Shadows (NickB), Thursday, 18 July 2019 13:49 (four years ago) link
How about Matia Bazar’s *Ti-Sento*?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4JwenFloWk
― Chewshabadoo, Thursday, 18 July 2019 14:02 (four years ago) link
Sandra is a good suggestion (although clearly not as great as Self Control).
― licorice oratorio (baaderonixx), Thursday, 18 July 2019 14:09 (four years ago) link
How about Caroline Loeb "C'est la ouate"...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Oyrsite2Ck
...and perhaps Gina X "No GDM"...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUUlaXETebI
...Off "Electrica Salsa"...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LK6wglhklKg
...Propaganda "P.Machinery"...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=660ZCEhvbnw
...and Eighth Wonder "I'm Not Scared":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-PYqUHfTMA
― mike t-diva, Thursday, 18 July 2019 14:42 (four years ago) link
Pulp certainly did rip off a Laura Branigan song for "Disco 2000" - but it was "Gloria", not "Self Control".
Oh christ, I'm going senile. Yes, you're right.
― does it look like i'm here (jon123), Thursday, 18 July 2019 16:53 (four years ago) link
Ginny - “Can’t Be Serious”, maybe?
― brimstead, Thursday, 18 July 2019 17:18 (four years ago) link
What a track that is
― Chewshabadoo, Thursday, 18 July 2019 18:34 (four years ago) link
What other songs get this vibe?
Sheryl Lee Ralph - In The Evening
That drop into the chorus...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfoKoF4o6tU
There's a video but it's too jolly and belies the vibe.
― Noel Emits, Monday, 12 July 2021 13:52 (two years ago) link
FWIW, the break in "In The Evening" synchs very effectively with the rap intro to Chaka's "I Feel For You".
― mike t-diva, Monday, 12 July 2021 15:20 (two years ago) link
Pulp certainly did rip off a Laura Branigan song for "Disco 2000" - but it was "Gloria", not "Self Control".Oh christ, I'm going senile. Yes, you're right.
It's an Umberto Tozzi song, originally.
― AlXTC from Paris, Monday, 12 July 2021 16:42 (two years ago) link
the Insane Clown Posse cover is worth checking out too
― ten man poland chasing this means hamsik feasts (breastcrawl), Monday, 12 July 2021 17:38 (two years ago) link
The Cheryl Lee Ralph video is so insane.
― Heavy Messages (jed_), Monday, 12 July 2021 21:12 (two years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Bgv54jROII
― Linda and Jodie Rocco (map), Tuesday, 13 July 2021 01:15 (two years ago) link
can't believe nobody has mentioned that one group from Detroit yet.
wanna say they wore makeup and had stage names and a devoted group of fans.
and they did this song?
― not up to Aerosmith standards (Neanderthal), Tuesday, 13 July 2021 01:27 (two years ago) link
Intersting takes - and two absolute favourites. I took the question to mean musically, but I like this interpretation of lyrically sharing the subject of the culture of the club.
― Chewshabadoo, Tuesday, 13 July 2021 11:40 (two years ago) link
they play a prominent role in the video as well!xp
― ten man poland chasing this means hamsik feasts (breastcrawl), Tuesday, 13 July 2021 12:52 (two years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf17bkp5EL0
the 1996 remix of "In The Evening" is the sound of every bottle of poppers ever being opened
― boxedjoy, Tuesday, 13 July 2021 22:11 (two years ago) link
I must have heard “In The Evening” every time I went to a gay club for at least a year (roughly late 84 to late 85), and it got to the point where I thought I never wanted to hear it again. But then Horse Meat Disco started reviving it in the mid 00s, and it sort of unexpectedly renewed itself; if I heard it out now, I’d be thrilled. (A similar thing happened with “Finally”, although it’s usually me who’s playing it out.)
― mike t-diva, Tuesday, 13 July 2021 22:17 (two years ago) link
I'd love to hear it out now too, it's taken on a real urgency over lockdown
― boxedjoy, Tuesday, 13 July 2021 22:22 (two years ago) link
I'm surprised Valerie Dore didn't get a look in in this thread!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80ssUKt76-c
― chinavision!, Tuesday, 13 July 2021 22:58 (two years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHrsv0NVa6k
Marianne Faithfull - Broken English
at the darker cruising through the city at night end of the vibe
― karl...arlk...rlka...lkar..., Wednesday, 28 July 2021 16:12 (two years ago) link
good one
― Linda and Jodie Rocco (map), Wednesday, 28 July 2021 21:55 (two years ago) link
TIL Laura Branigan covered Falco's "Der Kommissar" with different lyrics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=823aeo0WU_k
― Elvis Telecom, Tuesday, 12 September 2023 00:36 (seven months ago) link
"I...I live among the creatures of the night!"
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Tuesday, 12 September 2023 00:38 (seven months ago) link