Melody Maker Lyrics Review

Melody Maker Magazine

Famouslastwords

The Week's Most Intriguing Lyrics Go Under The Maker Microscope

AIR "PLAYGROUND LOVE"

I'M A HIGH SCHOOL LOVER
AND YOU'RE MY FAVOURITE FLAVOUR
LOVE IS ALL, ALL MY SOUL
YOU'RE MY PLAYGROUND LOVE
YET MY HANDS ARE SHAKING
I FIND MY BODY REELING
TIME'S NO MATTER
I'M ON FIRE
ON THE PLAYGROUND LOVE
YOU'RE THE PIECE OF GOLD
THAT FLUSHES ON MY SOUL
EXTRA TIME ON THE GROUND
YOU'RE MY PLAYGROUND LOVE
ANYTIME ANYWHERE
YOU'RE MY PLAYGROUND LOVE

"I'M A HIGH SCHOOL LOVER" The greatest ever high school film is "Grease", which drew on Fifties nostalgia, yet aimed it at a generation far too young to recognise any reference points. Gave the world John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John; furthered the Bee Gees' career; spawned a godawful sequel ("Grease 2", logic fans) starring Michelle Pfeiffer.

"YOU'RE MY PLAYGROUND LOVE" Allusion to love in times gone by has long been part of pop lyricism (cf. "Puppy Love", Paul Anka, 1960). Air man Nicolas Godin's playground memories involve "playing in the sea - a big wave came and took me". Bandmate Jean-Benoit Dunckel recalls being born. Lordy!

"I FIND MY BODY REELING" "Reeling" is a term often used in angling, as in "Screaming Reels" on Channel 4 - amusingly hosted by ex-agony uncle Nick Fisher (he has the word "fish" in his name).

"I'M ON FIRE" Spontaneous human combustion is the supposed process of a human body catching fire due to heat generated by internal chemical action. SHC has never been witnessed, but several deaths have been attributed to it by investigators. A 17-th century german apparently self-ignited after drinking brandy in excess. If his house were on fire, Jean-Benoit would rescue "my piano, except it's impossible to carry".

"YET MY HANDS ARE SHAKING" Shaking of the hands can be a symptom of many things - Parkinson's disease, "wanking standing up", nervousness, hangovers and nicotine withdrawal. Of these, nervousness (cf "My hands are shaking" - Pet Shop Boys, 1991) is the most common, followed by fear: "I'm most afraid of running out of milk," Nicolas reveals. "If I have nothing for my cornflakes, I know the day is finished."

"YOU'RE THE PIECE OF GOLD" Gold is an expensive metal. It has been written about in songs such as "Gold" (Spandau Ballet, 1983), and "Gold" (East 17, 1992), though the best song about gold is "Gold" (Prince, 1995); Iron pyrities - a common iron ore chemically classified as FeS2 - is a brassy yellow colour and is often known as "fool's gold" (cf "Fool's Gold", The Stone Roses, 1992).

"THAT FLUSHES ON MY SOUL" Toilet behaviour is often thought to be featured in pop songs - though not often in relation to cosmic things like souls (see also: Lulu).

"ANYTIME ANYMWHERE" The tagline "Anytime, anyplace, anywhere" was first promoted in ads for Martini vermouth starring Leonard Rossiter (who died in the Dunnings Mill squash club, East Grinstead) and Lorraine Chase. The phrase inspired nicknames based on sexual promiscuity - hence Margi Clarke (see: "Blonde Fist", 1991; Pet Shop Boys' "Rent" video, 1987) being known at college as "Martini". Ho-not-very-ho.