A terrific soulful vocal from Ben E., and a perfectly fine arrangement, but it just doesn't work, and solely because of the gender switch. When Ben E. sings it, he's actually saying "will you still love me, tomorrow, in the romantic sense?", a perfectly conventional sentiment. Unfortunately, the clear point of the song -- as Goffin and King wrote it -- is a teenage gal asking her swain "Will you dump me if I let you boink me tonight, like most of the other early 60s male chauvinist pigs I've let into my pants so far?"
Which was an unprecedented sentiment in a popular song at the time The Shirelles recorded it, and the reason their version was such a smash.
Know what I'm saying, girls?
I agree totally, excellently observed.
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ReplyDeleteTonight you're mine completely
You give your love so sweetly
Tonight the light of love is in your eyes
But will you love me tomorrow?
Is this a lasting treasure
Or just a moment's pleasure?
Can I believe the magic of your sighs?
Will you still love me tomorrow?
Tonight with words unspoken
You say that I'm the only one
But will my heart be broken
When the night meets the morning sun?
I'd like to know that your love
Is love I can be sure of
So tell me now, and I won't ask again
Will you still love me tomorrow?
Will you still love me tomorrow?
No question about it.
Hello all...no, please remain seated,
ReplyDeleteYes, exactly! And while we're at it, you could also illustrate the point with Rod Stewart's unforgivable "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Man". Dreadful...just dreadful.
Regards,
RichD
To be fair, by say the early 70s, the cultural context had changed enough that a guy could credibly sing it.
ReplyDeleteAs a traditional romantic ballad, and a gorgeous one at that.
Which doesn't excuse Bryan Ferry's rancid cover. But nothing excuses most of Bryan Ferry's rancid covers.
:-)
Then there's "Do Right Woman", written by Dan Penn and sung by both Aretha and Gram.
ReplyDeleteGoffin also penned the lyrics to "He Hit Me (And It Felt Like a Kiss).":-) For a gender bender version check out Grizzly Bear.
ReplyDeleteVR
That's a truly demented song. I'd like to thing somebody was being ironic, but I just don't think so.
ReplyDeleteI hear it's about Little Eva. Demented? I dunno. I've slapped a few guys in my time and often it was true love. In the relative sense, of course. Rough can be a major turn-on. But, make no mistake, I'm not condoning abusive relationships. In the song, a girl just comes to the realization that her guy loved her enough to slap her for steppin' out on him. Followed by a passionate kiss. It's kinda sexy.
ReplyDeleteWith regard to slapping women around, don't you just love the classic movies in which the lead actress becomes hysterical with fear or sadness and the male lead slaps her hard across the face and tells her to "Get a hold of yourself!" Amazing.
VR
Cher slapped Nicholas Cage in "Moonstruck" --- but hitting is not the same as slapping, and anyone who confuses hitting with kissing is in trouble.
ReplyDeleteA slap is a type of hit or strike. Lyrically, "hit" works. "He slapped me and it felt like a kiss" doesn't work, nor does "he struck me...." It felt like a kiss because the girl realizes the love behind the passionate discipline. Especially when followed by embraces, kisses and lots of implied sex. "He made me his." The song is of its time and, as such, there is a certain innocence about it. A loving bit of violence can be sweet as sugar.
ReplyDeleteI don't like my men emasculated. I like 'em potent and savage. That doesn't mean I want them to beat the shit out of me. Just love me like a man and don't be afraid of roughing up the merchandise. Sometimes a girl needs a good conquering. I like to be plundered and made to like it. It's all part of the game. Long as it's consensual.
VR
Nobody needs any lectures from you on whether or not something working lyrically is a justification for writing a song about a man hitting a woman and her liking it.
ReplyDeleteYou should consider yourself lucky that nobody has beaten the crap out of you. Since when is a man who doesn't want to hit women "emasculated"? A playful spanking is one thing. But I'd like to know what women who have been abused would say to you if they could. And what makes you think YOU are the one who is in control?
Really, your smug narcissism is beyond tiresome. I really wish I could block you permanently.
As usual, you completely misunderstand. And abuse.
ReplyDeleteVR