"Self Control" by Laura Branigan

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."

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.

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

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

they're about equal.

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

"NO MORE FUN AND GAMES OF THE MOIND!"

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...

All this talk and no video?

Pre-YouTube days.

Original Italo version.

Kind of middling until the bass solo four minutes in.

I only knew the two singles from childhood (was totally into them). Now I have both records and need to play them...

Whats the story with the two versions coming out practically at the same time?

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.

i'd forgotten just how freaky the video for this song was -- mid 80s AIDS paranoia in full bloom?!?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Italo Disco was quite huge in those two markets, but struggled to crack the UK and US market in particular.

"I!"

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!

GOOD GOD, this song is immortal. It has taken up residence in my skull permanently, it would seem.

Love this song.

rules

Classic

yes.

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

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.

I think 'Don't Pretend to Know' by Tapps kind of fits?

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.

Hazel O'Connor, Eighth Day?

(a bit less rock, a bit more goth - see also Drowning in Berlin)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGVZOLV9SPo

Bette Davis Eyes - Kim Carnes
Sunglasses at Night - Corey Hart

Sandra - In The Heat Of The Night

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4kHR5SNB5Q

How about Matia Bazar’s *Ti-Sento*?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4JwenFloWk

Sandra is a good suggestion (although clearly not as great as Self Control).

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

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.

Ginny - “Can’t Be Serious”, maybe?

What a track that is

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.

FWIW, the break in "In The Evening" synchs very effectively with the rap intro to Chaka's "I Feel For You".

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.

the Insane Clown Posse cover is worth checking out too

The Cheryl Lee Ralph video is so insane.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Bgv54jROII

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?

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.

they play a prominent role in the video as well!

xp

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

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.)

I'd love to hear it out now too, it's taken on a real urgency over lockdown

I'm surprised Valerie Dore didn't get a look in in this thread!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80ssUKt76-c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHrsv0NVa6k

Marianne Faithfull - Broken English

at the darker cruising through the city at night end of the vibe

good one

TIL Laura Branigan covered Falco's "Der Kommissar" with different lyrics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=823aeo0WU_k

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