Last week, Instapundit and Lileks reminisced about Animotion’s cheesy `80s single, “Obsession.” I am all for `80s music, and the concept of obsession is a rich vein to mine for song lyrics. But Animotion’s song is a bubble gum dance song. There’s no pathos or emotional depth. For my money, the’80s song that captures the nature of obsession – musically and lyrically – is “Ode to Boy” by Yaz (that’s “Yazoo” to any Brit readers).
When he moves I watch him from behind
He turns and laughter flickers in his eyes
Intent and direct when he speaks
I watch his lips
And when he drives I love to watch his hand
White and smooth almost feminine, almost American
I have to watch him.In his face age descends on youth, exaggeration on the truth
He caught me looking then but soon his eyes forgot
And everything he seems to do reflects just another shade of blue
I saw him searching into you and ached a whileI watch his lips caress the glass,
His fingers stroke its stem and pass
To lift a cigarette at last
he dries his eyes
From a shadow by the stair
I watch as he weeps unaware
That I’m in awe of his despair, but I am thereIn his face age descends on youth, exaggeration on the truth
He caught me looking then but soon his eyes forgot
And everything he seems to do reflects just another shade of blue
I saw him searching into you and ached a while
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