On three songs
I have liked Hall and Oates a lot lately. I think they deal with with many difficult issues like romantic failure, economic inequality, and palliative humor.
But their music is usually gentle and positive, and they have had a calmative influence for me. Other harder groups like NIN were appealing to me for a time when I was angrier and had more energy.
I have written about one of their other songs in a previous post, but here are comments on three others from the Hall and Oates “best of” collection:
” Kiss is on My List.” I have heard women say kissing is better than sex, and I think they are right (as long as the man has taken breath mints. Haha.). But this song seems like a very melodious ode to just kissing between a man and woman who are passionate with one another.
” Did it in a Minute.” This song seems to be about immediate romantic seduction. It can happen in a minute, “love at first sight,” as they say. Immediate attraction isn’t always a bad thing; what matters more eventually is what happens afterwards.
“Rich Girl.” This about the sometimes difficult combination of economic inequality and romantic attraction. The “spoiled brat” who is abusive to a poorer suitor. I grew up as an adolescent around families a lot wealthier than mine was, and it was hard not to think the wealth difference made long-term relationships impossible.