RESCUED FROM OBSCURITY
"And I don't know which end to burn..."
I won't comment on any real world shit going on, because fuck it. We all know 2020 sucks. We all know everything sucks.
So take a break from the bullshit and escape with me to 1985, a comparatively innocent, COVID-free time when Julian Lennon's debut album Valotte was riding high on the music charts in the US and UK and the first two singles, the title track and Too Late For Goodbyes, were in heavy rotation on MTV with videos directed by.....Sam Peckinpah. (Seriously!)
But the Julian Lennon track I'm most fond of is the less remembered and woefully underrated third single, "Say You're Wrong." It's not groundbreaking or anything, but it's a fun little song and video (this one directed by Tim Pope). The thing I love about this tune is that while Julian's vocals are of course very reminiscent of his father's, the song's melody is quite McCartney-esque, an observation duly noted by someone in the YouTube comments. Incidentally, another commentator remarked on Julian's "nice figure," like he's a contestant in a Star Search spokesmodel competition (hee!), but I kinda know what they mean. Julian is adorable in this and I'm digging the '80s northern English vibe with the hat, boots, and long black coat. What can I say? It's definitely working for him.
Aw hell, let's just stay in the mid-80s. Pretend like 2020 never happened. Sound good? Cool.
Here's "Valotte," my second fave and also a damn fine song.
And also, there's this:
Smash Hits could always be counted on to stick John Taylor on the cover.
Julian was a bonus.