from the LP Rebel Yell, Chrysalis Records, 1983You’ve got to imagine that Billy Idol took a lot of shit from his mates for this one---I mean, going from Generation X to this in 5 fast years must have seemed like pure treason to the punk faithful; frankly though, that core of purists never really took Mr. Idol seriously to begin with, and for good reason, because he wasn’t truly one of them. This album displays that dutifully, and it remains one of my guiltiest 80s pleasures; this song in particular really congeals everything that was right/wrong with that time period into four & a half minutes of pure unadulterated gratification. All the decade’s hallmarks are here: over-processed guitar, heavily echoed vocals, drum machine, synths, and the general aura of anal beads & uncut coke. Not a lot of substance to be found in the lyrics here, except for one glaring, existential truth; “…ain't it strange what we do to feel all right? Oh yeah…”
