VOL. 1, TRACK 2: NAKED EYES, “ALWAYS SOMETHING THERE TO REMIND ME”
I swear, you guys… “Living in Oblivion” really IS a New Wave compilation. Again, it’s just that the first couple tracks just happened to be extremely commercial (worldwide smash hits with tons of radio play). Personally, I don’t think something or someone can TRULY be considered New Wave if it becomes totally mainstream. But that’s just my opinion. Perhaps the process of completing a critical analysis of the “Living in Oblivion” playlist will open my eyes and enlighten me otherwise.
And besides, let’s not be too hard on Naked Eyes. Pete Byrne (vocals) and Rob Fisher (keyboards) put out one of the best New Wave albums of the decade in 1983 with Burning Bridges, which is where you can find “Always Something There to Remind Me.” But honestly, that track just kind of seems like bushy-tailed pop filler next to the other standouts on the album. You’ll be blown away by “Voices in My Head,” “Emotion in Motion,” and “I Could Show You How,” which are all deep tracks I associate with the guy I was involved with around 2018, which was when I was listening to Burning Bridges obsessively. Another story for another time, people.
Indeed, there is something dark and romantic about Naked Eyes’ music, as well as something mysterious about the band’s persona. Apparently, they were like Steely Dan in that they didn’t tour or perform live, because they thought it would be hard to recreate their sound outside of the studio. Which is fine with me — I mean, I would have missed the shows anyway (being, like, three years old at the time Naked Eyes was popular). But I also enjoy cultivating a kind of romantic story in my imagination about Naked Eyes, absent much footage of the band from that era. For all their commercial success, I imagine Byrne and Fisher to be extremely serious musicians (like the music equivalent of bookworms who hole up in the library every day). The kind who didn’t let fame go to their head, because they were so immersed in their music-creating process.
But speaking of romantic stories, let’s turn our attention to the music video for “Always Something There to Remind Me,” which must have been played in super-heavy rotation on MTV in ‘83. All I can say is… I hate it. That’s one part due to being overplayed, but equally due to the video just having a lame concept. I know it’s supposed to be romantic, what with all the pretty women in 1940s dresses/hats being chased by tabloid photographers and reporters around London, while a pensive Pete Byrne looks on wistfully. But it just comes off as confusing and contrived. What’s the plot, here? And why would he be so enthralled by a woman who doesn’t apparently do much but get whisked away in limos all day long?
I give the video a 5/10 for trying too hard. But I say that with a grain of salt, because maybe I’m looking at these videos too critically. I hope I’ll loosen up a little, as the playlist goes on. Because isn’t that the whole point of New Wave music? To let go of criticism and convention, and just have fun?
💘