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Cradle of Love

from Lavatory by Sam Pocker

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This was the last cassingle (cassette single) that I remember owning. At the time I don't think I liked the song very much and I didn't understand why people cared for Billy Idol's music. I'm sure I was easily sold on the music video which featured Andrew Dice Clay's "Ford Fairlane" movie clips along with the hot female dancer (portrayed by Betsy Lynn George - who has apparently done extensive interviews about her legacy in pop culture as a result of said video. She now manages a motel.)

When I started looking at songs for this project I rediscovered this one and was surprised at just how much I actually liked the melody of the song itself. I hate the bridge and a lot of the lyrics are garbage. The bizarre misogynistic and somewhat creepy references to "child bride" and satanic imagery seem additionally ridiculous as material for a multi-million dollar pop radio hit.

When I think about this period in popular music it feels like it had a thick layer of vaseline all over the lens. Nirvana broke so big because of songs like this which felt like they were pandering to a target audience that was kind of awash in fear of button-down denim shirts and khakis in the workplace while they were still digging themselves out of the stock market crash and Reaganomic policy. This really feels like hair metal's last death rattle in a way.

My favorite part in the song once again is the pre-chorus Am-F transition with "shake it up, whatever I do", it's the only lyric in the entire song that I can remotely relate to and I love how it has more emotional punch than the chorus itself. It's far far far too sexy of a song for me, and even in saying that I can hear that Spinal Tap line "What's wrong with being sexy?" "It's not sexy, it's sex-IST".

credits

from Lavatory, released March 2, 2018
By William Broad and David Werner
Copyright Emi April Music Inc., Chrysalis Music, Boneidol Music, And Tcf Music Pub Inc.

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Sam Pocker Los Angeles, California

Sam Pocker is an award-winning author, filmmaker, and musician. Pocker’s songwriting catalog covers over 8 albums worth of material, released by his bands The Pretty Colors, The Pregnant Vegans, and The Agoura Hills PTA. His most recent book “Where Do Incorrect Ideas Come From?” was released in January 2020. ... more

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