There’s A Weapon That We Must Use

This is not exactly a re-post, more a re-write, as I’ve posted this song before in two variations and typed these words (or some very similar) before too. I posted Fuxa’s cover version of Our Lips Are Sealed recently, as song I get obsessed with every so often. The song, as everyone must know, was co-written by Terry Hall and Jane Wiedlin while their respective bands (him The Specials, her The Go Go’s) were on tour together and apparently describes their secret relationship. Both The Go Go’s and Fun Boy Three released their own versions, the latter being produced by Talking Heads mainman David Byrne. The two videos are worth a compare and contrast exercise-

The Go Go’s video is all summer in California, irresistible it is too…

Fun Boy Three’s version is all UK, 80s shades of grey and big hair, altogether darker…

And from the 12″ single…

Our Lips Are Sealed (Urdu Version)

Electric Sound Of Summer

I pointed you in the direction of Fuxa back in the Spring, who recorded this beautiful, blissed out version of the Fun Boy Three/Go Go’s Our Lips Are Sealed. Whispered vox, analogue keys, primitive percussion, effects.

Something reminded me of it the other day and I realised I hadn’t gone looking for the album, which came out in May. It’s called Electric Sound Of Summer, and that title describes it pretty well. It’s got wooziness all over it, the aural equivalent of the sun going down over a beer garden when you’ve had exactly the right amount to drink and everything feels good. On the other hand there’s a sadness about it too. The sun will soon disappear behind the trees, a chill in the air, Autumn’s just around the corner. Lovely stuff.

As well as the aforementioned cover there’s a ten minute version of Suicide’s Cheree, a cover of a Daniel Johnston song (below) and guest spots from Dean and Britta (from Luna and Dean and Britta), Seefeel’s Sarah Peacock, and members of Spiritualized, Spectrum and Spacemen 3.

Some Things Last A Long Time

Can You Hear Them Talking ‘Bout Us Telling Lies?

One of the best records I’ve heard recently, courtesy of one of Mr Weatherall’s many radio shows, is Fuxa’s cover version of Our Lips Are Sealed, utterly blissed out and very beautiful. It’s out soon on limited edition 7″ vinyl with a lp to follow in May. Watch it on Youtube here, but be prepared to have to re-play it several times. Gorgeous.

Our Lips Are Sealed is surely in any respectable list of tip-top pop songs of all time/the 1980s. As everyone knows it was co-written by Terry Hall and Jane Wiedlin (of Fun Boy Three and The Go Go’s respectively), and released by both bands in different versions. The Go Go’s was released first (I think, correct me if I’m wrong) and is down below. You could fill a tape with all the great versions and covers of this song.

Our Lips Are Sealed