— Ian Birch
"I Could Be Happy" is the last Single of the Fortnight of 1981. It was reviewed in the penultimate issue of the year, the singles page — and, indeed, all reviews — getting the boot from the finale in favour of the first annual poll winners issue. The cover stars of that Christmas Eve, stocking filler issue? None other than Altered Images. (Well, it's actually a close up Clare Grogan's cheery visage but I'm sure that the other four weren't too far out of shot, it was their band too...)
No, the Ims didn't carry home a packing crate filled to the brim with awards. They were nowhere to be found in the running for Best Group, Best Single or Best Album, though Grogan did all right for herself in the Best Female Singer and Most Fanciable Female categories finishing fifth and third respectively. But they did manage to snare the prize for Most Promising Act for 1982. A kind-of, sort-of best newcomer award — though, as the short write-up points out, U2's fifth place was exactly where they came in a year earlier and that "isn't it about time they came up with a really hot single and fulfilled some of that potential?" — it would alter over the years, eventually evolving into separate trophies for Best New Group and Best Solo Artist. One thing that would never change about it was its status as a prize for dashed expectations.
Rewind a fortnight and the Ims are headlining the singles review page and Ian Birch is beside himself with how much he loves their latest record, though I can hardly blame him considering what dull pickings he had to choose from. Still, I can't help but feel that he's overstating things a bit. I suppose the vocals are subdued, even if they're undermined by the far too joyous video, but "surging guitar sound and sizzling bass"? I'd opt for well played musicianship which suits the material, though I will cop to my assessment being not quite as punchy. He also praises the "chemistry" and "magic" at play between the band and their producer. Yeah, I guess they worked well in the studio with a professional crew, good for them.
I don't wish to bash on Grogan and co. I really wanted to enjoy this single but I couldn't manage to get up the requisite enthusiasm that everyone else seems to have for it. The lyrics don't help matters. If the first verse doesn't strike the listener as twee ("I would like to climb high in a tree", "Maybe swim a mile down the Nile") then minds could very well be altered upon hearing them a second and then a third time. "All of these things I do," Grogan repeats throughout, a sentiment diminished considerably by her disinclination to list off a few more activities that might get her away from the unhappy situation she's in.
A silly video featuring five very smiley young Scots, those supremely repetitive lyrics and some musical gumdrop perkiness all adds up to giving "I Could Be Happy" the taint of a novelty song. And as we all know, novelties eventually wear off. Hope that Most Promising Act award won't be your millstone.
~~~~~
"I Could Be Happy" is the last Single of the Fortnight of 1981. It was reviewed in the penultimate issue of the year, the singles page — and, indeed, all reviews — getting the boot from the finale in favour of the first annual poll winners issue. The cover stars of that Christmas Eve, stocking filler issue? None other than Altered Images. (Well, it's actually a close up Clare Grogan's cheery visage but I'm sure that the other four weren't too far out of shot, it was their band too...)
No, the Ims didn't carry home a packing crate filled to the brim with awards. They were nowhere to be found in the running for Best Group, Best Single or Best Album, though Grogan did all right for herself in the Best Female Singer and Most Fanciable Female categories finishing fifth and third respectively. But they did manage to snare the prize for Most Promising Act for 1982. A kind-of, sort-of best newcomer award — though, as the short write-up points out, U2's fifth place was exactly where they came in a year earlier and that "isn't it about time they came up with a really hot single and fulfilled some of that potential?" — it would alter over the years, eventually evolving into separate trophies for Best New Group and Best Solo Artist. One thing that would never change about it was its status as a prize for dashed expectations.
Rewind a fortnight and the Ims are headlining the singles review page and Ian Birch is beside himself with how much he loves their latest record, though I can hardly blame him considering what dull pickings he had to choose from. Still, I can't help but feel that he's overstating things a bit. I suppose the vocals are subdued, even if they're undermined by the far too joyous video, but "surging guitar sound and sizzling bass"? I'd opt for well played musicianship which suits the material, though I will cop to my assessment being not quite as punchy. He also praises the "chemistry" and "magic" at play between the band and their producer. Yeah, I guess they worked well in the studio with a professional crew, good for them.
I don't wish to bash on Grogan and co. I really wanted to enjoy this single but I couldn't manage to get up the requisite enthusiasm that everyone else seems to have for it. The lyrics don't help matters. If the first verse doesn't strike the listener as twee ("I would like to climb high in a tree", "Maybe swim a mile down the Nile") then minds could very well be altered upon hearing them a second and then a third time. "All of these things I do," Grogan repeats throughout, a sentiment diminished considerably by her disinclination to list off a few more activities that might get her away from the unhappy situation she's in.
A silly video featuring five very smiley young Scots, those supremely repetitive lyrics and some musical gumdrop perkiness all adds up to giving "I Could Be Happy" the taint of a novelty song. And as we all know, novelties eventually wear off. Hope that Most Promising Act award won't be your millstone.
~~~~~
Also Reviewed This Fortnight
The Clash: "This Is Radio Clash"
Some confusion going on here. Birch seems to have actually reviewed "Radio Clash", the B-side. Not that it matters a whole lot: both tunes are the same tune, running at the same length, with just a few extras and some added dub going on. And Birch is right to have reviewed the wrong side: "Radio Clash" is much more in keeping with what the only band that matters to people who demand that bands matter to them were up to in '81. Following on the heels of the much misunderstood, near career suicide of Sandinista!, this is The Clash at their boldest and bravest, even if as actual singles go it can't possibly hold up to their best work. It could only have meant that they had further tricks up their sleeves for the year ahead. Speaking of dashed expectations...
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