The Easybeats (Australian) - "Friday on My Mind" - 1966/67

[UTUSN]

Last edited Tue May 12, 2020, 08:22 PM - Edit history (3)

(This post in progress, adding commentary soon, which might ruin it!1)

Here goes. This illustrates my fixation that: MELODY is all, lyrics just something to hang a voice on if a voice is wanted for adding on as another instrument. Lord Chesterfield said, "When something is too stupid to be *said*, it is *SUNG* and Lenny BERNSTEIN demonstrated in a Young People's Concert that a melody with lyrics could have other lyrics substituted or nonsense words and the melody is what remains and matters. The "Ave Maria" or LENNON's "Imagine" can have the lyrics-substitution thing done and the music is what matters. To mitigate this, when there is a piece with a fantastic melody, if lyrics are going to be added, the lyricist is usually up against the wall to provide content worthy.

That said, while all music has melody, all melodies are not equal. Superior melodies are called "hits". Tastes vary, but hits rise above most tastes and are recognized as hits by most.

I had heard this song several times over the past few months on the erstwhile Art BELL show, which I leave on all night, with its signature bumper music of mostly outstanding songs ranging from the common to the sometimes hokey. The lateness of the night and accompanying stationary position force the listener to give more attention to some songs not otherwise indulged.

So whenever this song popped up, I strained to hear snatches of lyrics to Google and all I could make out was something "in the city." Finally last night I caught "tonight I'll lose my head, tonight" and that was enough to i.d. it - a group I'd never heard of, lyrics airheaded, and dating to the early Beatles but somehow pre-dating them as to be PROTO-beatles.

Last night just heard the version without video. This morning, seeing them was like wishing they were LETTING LOOSE PHYSICALLY even more than they did, POST-Jagger.

*AFTER* I'm hooked by a melody, I'm willing to look up lyrics and other accoutrements and let them have a place as *enhancements* to but not "above" melody.

***** Digressing, my few personal observations of Australians (besides the movies) impressed with their vitality, conviviality, sense of community, human bonding. In Vietnam, my ship carried supplies from Saigon down the river to our Army base for a couple or three days of unloading and we were given a few hours of "Liberty" (R&R time off), meaning drinking at the base's bar. Other transients were often there on our visits - Army, Marines coming in for some relief from their front lines, and a few times it was our allies the AUSTRALIANs, who somehow appeared to be almost all over 6 feet tall and always smiling, joking, and laughing. The unwritten rule of the club was that whichever group got there first got to set the environment, so when the Americans had control, all the tables were scattered with 2, 3, or 4 people to a table. But when the Australians were there, they would push all the tables into long banquet style arrangements, with no hushed/private conversations, everybody singing drinking songs and swinging their drinks in the air.

Now picture all the Australian movie stars, boisterous and dashing and full of life - Errol FLYNN, CROWE, yes GIBSON, Dame Edna, KIDMAN, BLANCHETT, and the new ones I don't know names of. The "boisterous"ness described does not equal approval of Errol FLYNN or GIBSON's (or whomever's) *other* behaviours.

[Midnight Writer]

1. The Easybeats were precursors of AC/DC. Guitarist George Young produced his brother's first albums.

His younger brothers were Malcom and Angus Young, the guitarists and songwriters for AC/DC.

[ailsagirl]

2. I've always loved this song!

Thanks for posting

[UTUSN]

3. My surprised pleasure to have been of service!1 Will post a couple of my other faves!1

[UTUSN]

4. Two others - is there a pattern?

[Harker]

5. Bowie covered it on "Pinups", 1973.

https://m.