Random Musings

I was chatting with an (older) friend of mine over dinner last week and a Wilson Phillips song came on.

And I asked her if she knew the song (I can’t remember which song it was…”Release Me” was it?), and she said yes.

And she asked me how come I knew these songs, cos wasn’t I kinda young when the songs came out? (I was about late primary school, I think.)

So my answer was “Yeah, cos I matured at a young age real quickly.” =)

So anyway, Wilson Phillips was one of the best groups I came across in my growing up years.

Great songs, great lyrics, great voices, great harmonies.

Chynna, Carnie and Wendy…I was a huge fan.

No other group I knew of sounded like them. Their harmonies were just spot on.

So I bought their eponymous cassette debut album way back when I was still in primary school. (Yes, things came in cassettes back then!)

It still ranks today as one of the best albums that I have.

(Debut album “Wilson Phillips”)

And the great thing about cassettes is that you are forced to listen through the entire side A and side B…so I became familiar with every song in the album.

There are at least 5 songs which I ABSOLUTELY love in the album. Not to say the rest of the songs were no good.

It’s just that I think these 5 songs are EXCELLENT.

In order of appearance:

1) “Hold On”

This was their big hit single, I think.

I think this was the single that propelled them to fame.

It’s a great song. I think most people would have at least heard this song before.

2) “Release Me”

Their songs had a little bit of Country in them.

This song is, of course, a wonderful song too.

For some strange reason, I really love how the end of the first chorus leads into the lyrics in the 2nd verse, i.e. “I’m not going back to you anymore…”

That’s my favourite part of this track.

3) “Impulsive”

Another great song with a great melody.

I mean, I really don’t know how to describe these songs other than saying they’re “great”. But you really have to listen to them to know what I mean.

One of the three girls (I’m not sure who) has a really cute-sounding voice on this track.

(The one that sings “don’t wanna think clear…”)

4) “You’re In Love”

Oh, I love this song. The lyrics are so fantastic.

It’s a song about being happy that someone that you know has found love.

“You’re in love, and I know that you’re not in love with me
Ooh it’s enough for me to know that you’re in love
Now I’ll let you go, ’cause I know that you’re in love…”

Some some strange reason, I also like how it leads into the 2nd verse, i.e. “Sometimes it’s hard to believe…”

It’s an awesome, wistful song. Perfect for listening to when you know that someone that you like has already found another love.

5) “The Dream Is Still Alive”

Ah, the final track of the album.

I’m not sure how many people actually know about this song, but this is also one of my favourites in the album.

I dunno how to describe it, but the melody is just fantastic.

And I think it’s the perfect track to end off the album.

There’s just so much hope and optimism in this song. (“The dream is still alive, the one of you and I…”)

…

Ah, I’m telling you, they don’t make songs like these anymore.

It was a different era back in the early nineties…

Kinda harkens back to a time when life was a bit more simple.