The challenge this week is to select a song that is classified as new wave. I always like to try to find a song that I really like to share and today is no different.
The song “Suicide Blonde” was released in 1990 by Australian band INXS. The blues harmonica intro by Charles Musselwhite in immediately recognizable. It is one of the reasons I like this song so much. The harp intro was not recorded live but came from a sampler program Andrew Farriss was using.
The song was written by band front-man Michael Hutchence and keyboardist Andrew Farriss. The song has nothing at all to do with suicide, but sadly would be the last song Hutchence would perform live before he committed suicide in 1977.
The song is about a woman who “dyes” her hair blonde. The idea for the title of the song came from Hutchence’s then-girlfriend Kylie Minogue. Her movie “The Delinquents” had just premiered and she told Hutchence the color of the blonde wig she wore was referred to as ‘suicide blonde’.
“Suicide Blonde” was the first single released from the band’s album “X”. The song reached #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Suicide Blonde
Lyrics from Songfacts.com
Don’t you know what you’re doing
You’ve got a death wish
Suicide blonde
Suicide blonde
Suicide blonde
Suicide blonde
Suicide blonde was the color of her hair
Like a cheap distraction for a new affair
She knew it would finish before it began
Wow baby I think you lost the plan
You want to make her suicide blonde
Love devastation, suicide blonde
You want to make her suicide blonde
Love devastation, suicide blonde
She stripped to the beat but her clothes stay on
White light everywhere but you can’t see a thing
Such a squeeze
A mad sad moment
Glory to you
Glory to you
Take me there
Take me there
Got some revelation
Put into your hands
Save you from your misery like rain across the land
Don’t you see the color of deception
Turning your world around again
You want to make her suicide blonde
Love devastation, suicide blonde
You want to make her suicide blonde
Love devastation, suicide blonde
You want to make
You want to make
You want to make her suicide blonde
You want to make
Aww
That’s the story
You want to make her suicide blonde
Love devastation, suicide blonde
You want to make her suicide blonde
Love devastation, suicide blonde
Love devastation
You want to make her suicide blonde
Love devastation, suicide blonde
Song Lyric Sunday is hosted every Sunday by Jim Adams. If you would like to join in the fun, check out his blog for the rules and to take in all the other music posted by other bloggers.
Great choice, great song Michael Hutchence died too young 💜
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He did, Willow. He was definitely one of the ‘bad boys’, though. Such talent gone too soon.
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Yes such a shame 💜
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Good song! Can’t remember hearing it before, though I’ve liked lots of their songs. 🙂
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This one was always one of my strange favorites.
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I did buy an INXS record once. (Actually a CD single) It was ‘Need You Tonight’, and I still like to hear it occasionally. I knew of this song too, and the Kylie connection.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I liked a few of their songs, too, Pete, but the harmonica in this song seemed to really pull me in.
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Nice music Maggie. I did not know this INSX song, but it is really cool. Thanks for joining in again.
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Thank you for hosting, Jim. Always fun when I can make time to join in.
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Oh, I remember. Thanks for this Maggie! 😉
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😊
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I remember this song well from my college days. But I love the info on the band and song you provided. Thanks for a rockin start to my Sunday morning, Maggie!
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It is a fun song to kick off an upbeat day. It’s rather catchy, too, I think. Have a great Sunday!
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Ultra lively for a quiet Sunday. Great choice Maggie.
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Thanks, Peter. I am glad you enjoyed it.
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Good choice.
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Thanks, John.
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Always liked INXS. Great pick!
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Thanks. I like them, too.
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I ❤ INXS, great pick today
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Thank you. I loved unearthing that song again.
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I must live in a bubble. I’ve never heard this before. I liked it though.
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Do you know any INXS songs?
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Probably not
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Great song choice. I did not know the backstory to this song as you noted here. A shame Michael wasn’t around longer to produce more great music.
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It is such a great song.
His death is such a shame. So many chose this sad path.
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Loved Michael Hutchence and INXS. Its very sad what happened to him so young.
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I loved them, too. So many talented people lose their way. It is sad to me.
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Yes with everything at their feet for the taking. Very sad indeed. Men are rarely at their peak at 27 so it is even more sad.
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