Computer Age - Neil Young

Artist: Neil Young
Song: Computer Age
Year: 1982
Album: Trans

Experimental Neil Young is always worth a listen. I have a lot of respect for this album considering that it was made as a way for Neil to communicate with his son who was born with cerebral palsy and could not speak.

Sonic Youth covered this song in the late eighties.

Lyrics:
Cars and trucks
Fly by me on the corner
But I'm all right
Standin' proud
before the signal
When I see the light
I know I'm more
than just a number.
And I stand before you
Or else we
just don't see the other
Computer age computer age
Computer age.

Bikes and vans
Fly by me on the desert
But I'm all right
Standing out here
in the hot sun
When I see the light
I feel like
more than just a number
And I stand before you
Or else we
just don't see the other
Computer age computer age
Computer age.

Precious metal lines
Molded into highways
Running through me
So microscopically
Days and nights
Weeks and months and seasons
Rolling through me
So chronologically.
Computer age computer age
Computer age.

I need you
To let me know
that there's a heartbeat
Let it pound and pound
And I'll be
flying like a free bird
And you need me
Like ugly needs a mirror
And day by day
This horizon's getting clearer
Computer age computer age
Computer age.

Cheatin' In The Next Room - ZZ Hill

Artist: ZZ Hill
Song: Cheatin' In The Next Room
Year: 1982
Album: Down Home Blues

ISP issues have delayed this song, but no longer. I can't remember when I first heard this song, but I can remember knowing it when I stumbled upon it earlier this year. I was listening to the blues station on Music Choice, when this came on.

I instantly recognized it, but couldn't for the life of me know why. It hit into the top 20, when it was released. I suppose that it was on the radio at that point. I'm sure that I heard it riding in the car somewhere.

From a very young age, I always could pick out music wherever I heard it. It didn't matter if it was soft or if there was other noise surrounding it. My ears picked up on the music. That's probably why I have so many memories associated with music.

When I did a little research into Z.Z. Hill, I found out that he died of a heart attack after a serious car accident in 1984. I love the sound of his voice. It's like the blues met soul music and made it funky. I'm sure that if Z.Z. had lived past the age of 48, he would have made it bigger than he did. He is only a footnote now, but even footnotes deserve the spotlight occasionally.

Lyrics:
Cheatin’ in the next room
Making plans to meet him soon
Talking softly on the telephone
Making plans to meet him somewhere alone

The love is no longer there
The woman of his heart no longer cares
It’s best to call it quits and go your separate ways
Playing that cheating game only leads to hurt and pain
And cause each other unhappy days

Cheatin’ in the next room (Cheatin’ in the next room)
Making plans to meet him soon
Talking softly on the telephone
Making plans to go out and do wrong

Cheatin’ in the next room
Making plans to meet him soon
Plotting on the telephone
Making plans to go out and do wrong

Your kisses and your love making
You’ve been faking, you’ve been faking
I’ve been going along with you hoping you could still make it
Even though it might hurt me, I just can’t be a fool
I’d rather step on my own heart and break it than to be used

(Cheatin’ in the next room) Cheatin’ in the next room
Making plans to meet him soon
Talking softly on the telephone
Making plans to be alone

Cheatin’ in the next room
Making plans to be with him soon
Talking softly on the telephone
That’s alright, I’ll soon be gone

I know you’re cheatin’ in the next room
Making plans to be with him soon
Talking softly on the telephone
That’s alright, I’ll soon be gone

The Metro - Berlin

Artist: Berlin
Song: The Metro
Year: 1982
Album: Pleasure Victim

I'll admit that I don't remember this song when it came out. I suppose that this song was buried by the success of "Take My Breath Away" from Top Gun. I'm sure that I had heard this in the eighties. I had MTV on in the background practically every day. In fact, I know that I would have heard it then. The thing is, I don't remember it.

What made me rediscover this song was a show on VH1 called Bands Reunite, or something like that. I used to watch that show every time that it came on. I found the dynamic of old wounds and new prospects to be interesting, especially surrounding older bands.

When Berlin reunited on the show, they played "The Metro" over and over again. There was even footage of the newly reunited band playing the song at their reunion show. From there, I was hooked on the song.

I'm not sure why this escaped me back in the eighties. I'm glad I rediscovered this little gem of a song. It's bouncy and poppy without being bubblegum. It's a great example of eighties music.

Lyrics:
I'm alone
sitting with my empty glass
my four walls
follow me through my past
I was on a Paris train
I emerged in London rain
and you were waiting there
swimming through apologies

I remember searching for the perfect words
I was hoping you might change your mind
I remember a soldier sleeping next to me
riding on the Metro

You wore white
smiling as you took my hand
so removed
we spoke of wintertime in France
minutes passed with shallow words
years have passed and still the hurt
I can see you now
smiling as I pulled away

I remember the letter wrinkled in my hand
"I'll love you always" filled my eyes
I remember a night we walked along the Seine
riding on the Metro

I remember a feeling coming over me
the soldier turned, then looked away
I remember hating you for loving me
riding on the Metro