When you mention the group Slade to people, chances are they'll all instantly think of 'Merry Xmas Everybody'. If not that then probably they'll think of tracks like 'Cum On Feel The Noize', 'Mama Weer All Crazee Now', 'Coz I Luv You' or 'Skweeze Me Pleeze Me'. They'll think of images of Noddy Holder in his top hat, often bedecked with little glass mirrors, and his HUGE sideburns or Dave Hill with his daft haircuts and over the top outfits that almost made him appear like he was from another planet, all done with a daft wee grin on his face while he pranced about during their performances on Top Of The Pops. With all these thoughts in mind, you wouldn't have them pegged as a serious band and as the people who recorded, in my opinion, one of the greatest songs of all time....but, I think they did.
This week’s song is, in my opinion, the second greatest song ever recorded. I know opinion on such things is all about personal opinion and I'm sure many wouldn't agree with me so don't, dear reader, worry if you don't share this view of mine...but I hope it makes you think a little differently about Slade all the same.
I first heard this song in 1998. I had recently gotten into Slade having disregarded them as a youngster only to be introduced to them in a, perhaps, more easy to appreciate set of circumstances when they featured on the soundtrack to the Todd Haynes movie 'Velvet Goldmine'. This lead me to hunt out anything I could get featuring Slade and, on Sunday afternoon at a local car boot sale, I chanced upon the soundtrack to their movie 'Flame' (more commonly known as 'Slade In Flame' and really a 'must see' movie...dark, gritty and not what people expected from Slade...a reason why it may not have done so well at the box office).
When I got home and popped the vinyl onto the turntable and set the needle on it, I was greeted with just sheer magic coming at me through the speakers. Here was something that didn't sound anything like what I'd heard from Slade before. Starting with simple piano leading into Noddy Holder's vocals which, for all their gruffness, still brought out the poignancy of the lyrics. It then slowly builds into a passionate combination of powerful vocals, uplifting guitars, bass and drums and then soaring brass while all the time being underpinned by the piano.
Shockingly, to me at least, it was their worst performance on the UK singles chart in four years only reaching number 15 after a run of twelve tracks to chart in the top four, with the majority being number ones!!
I feel sad, in a way, that Slade are seen as a 'novelty' band by so many people as they are missing out on something as beautiful as this.
The video this week has footage of the band performing the song on the Russell Harty show but with the original recording dubbed over it as there was no clips of them performing the song in it's entirety...but I felt that it had to be heard in its entirety for you, the happy reader, to truly experience it (and I felt the stock footage was more entertaining to watch than a static image)
'Til next week, folks, enjoy!!
Slade - How Does It Feel?
How does it feel runnin' around round round?
How does it feel watchin' from upside down?
'Cos many years from now there will be new sensations
And new temptations
How does it feel?
How does it feel right at the start?
And how does it feel when you are thrown apart?
'Cos many years from now there will be new elations
And new frustrations
How does it feel?
Oh! Oh!
Do you know know know what it's like to be searchin' in your own time
All your attempting experimenting all on the climb
Do you know know know what it's like to be searchin' and suddenly find
All your illusion, all your confusion all left behind
How does it feel turnin' away?
And how does it feel facing another day?
'Cos many years from now there will be newer poisons
And new horizons
How does it feel?
Oh! Oh! Oh!
Do you know know know what it's like to be searchin' in your own time
All your attempting experimenting all on the climb
Do you know know know what it's like to be searchin' and suddenly find
All your illusion, all your confusion all left behind
'Cos many years from now there will be new tomorrows
And still some sorrows
How does it feel?
Oh! Oh! Oh!
Do you know know know what it's like to be searchin' in your own time
All your attempting experimenting all on the climb
Oh!
Do you know know know what it's like to be searchin' and suddenly find
All your illusion, all your confusion all left behind
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