Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Video of the Week - DEL AMITRI, Driving With The Brakes On

Del Amitri are/were a hugely underrated group. Dismissed by many for girlie appeal, their sideboards and some pop tweeness but only by those who have never given them a serious listen which, sadly, is a majority. Whether it's rock, love, pop, ballad or strings, they've more than had their moments.

They have left a legacy of some fantastic tunes and lyrics which are often bittersweet, often to the ignorance of the casual listener. Little wonder that their most successful album - featuring their biggest hit Roll To Me - was called twisted. Take it form me, they were also one mighty fine live group too.

Form that album came the stunning Driving With The Brakes On which is a fantastic tune. If I wasn't a rock or punk singer - as if I was - I'd love to able to sing a song like this a quarter as good as Justin Currie.

It's also a classic example of their bittersweetness. The casual observer will think this is a song about someone contemplating their relationship with the memorable hookline "It's hard to say you love someone and it's hard to say you don't". However those in the know about Del Amitri will tell you it's a song about the complexities of abortion.

Universal Music have embedded the promo video where you can hear this tune at its best. I can't reproduce it here but you can view/listen here > http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=KYwNrd9293k

However here's a great rendition by Justin solo in Sheffield in 2007.


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