The Go-Gos - Head Over Heels

If the year 1984 was a music video, it would be The Go-Gos’ “Head Over Heels.” The Benetton colors, the extremely moussed hair, the over the shoulder-cut shirts, and Belinda Carlisle’s swaying dance moves. All that’s missing is a Swatch (though maybe a member is wearing one I just didn’t spot). If you lived through it — this video is a time machine. If you’re too young… well, you missed out. But enough of the video, let’s talk about the song

This is going to sound weird, but we have a real Radiohead situation going on with this song. Back in the 90s it wasn’t uncommon for people (well, me and Zack, at least) to debate which was the better album between Radiohead’s The Bends and OK Computer. For me, personally, I recognized OK Computer as the better album but The Bends was my favorite (and still is, I think). “Head Over Heels” isn’t The Go-Go’s biggest hit — that would be “We Got the Beat” (though “Our Lips are Sealed” has had a long tail of success). And “Head Over Heels” isn’t their best song, which, in my mind, is “Can’t Stop the World.” But “Head Over Heels” is my favorite Go-Gos song.

Maybe it’s the unabashed pop, or the complete singalongability of the melody or the groovy bass breakdown in the middle. Or maybe it’s the hand claps that punctuate the song and are totally rad and fun to do on your own when listening. Or maybe it’s that The Go-Gos are a good life lesson because if I recall correctly from that documentary about the band, like two members wrote all the hits and made the lion’s share of the money and everyone else got all mad and they broke up. Whatever the reason, this song is a gem and you should listen to it while driving. Preferably to the mall. To buy an outfit from Benetton.

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