I don't think this -- a minor hit in England -- can really touch the original, but good on Robinson for doing it anyway.
Monday, June 29, 2015
Thank You, Supreme Court -- I Just Went GAY All of a Sudden!
From 1984, Tom Robinson's cover of the Steely Dan classic "Rikki Don't Lose That Number." And yes, it was always a gay song, apparently we just never noticed.
I don't think this -- a minor hit in England -- can really touch the original, but good on Robinson for doing it anyway.
I don't think this -- a minor hit in England -- can really touch the original, but good on Robinson for doing it anyway.
Tom went on to work with Elton John on 1981's "The Fos," where he wrote the lyrics to "Elton's Song." Nope. No gay subtext here.
ReplyDeleteStaring all alone
And your grace and style
Cut me to the bone
With your razor blade smile
I watched you playing pool
It's all around the school that I love you
I love your gypsy hair
And dark brown eyes
Always unprepared
For your pointed replies
Cynical and lean
I lie awake and dream about you
If you only knew
What I'm going through
Time and again I get ashamed
To say your name
It's hard to grin and bear
When you're standing there
My lips are dry
I catch your eye and look away
Sitting in my room
I've got it bad
Crying for the moon
They think I'm mad
They say it isn't real
But I know what I feel and I love you
But I would give my life
For a single night beside you
They wrote this together in 1979. Elton on backing vocals. No pretense. Still Elton wasn't officially out of the closet yet...although everyone knew, of course.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2Vd9dR1Cts
We all should have known by "Philadelphia Freedom" (city of brotherly love), which predates "We Are the Champions" as a gay anthem by a few years at least.
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