Music Review: Blondie "Island Of Lost Souls"
Blondie
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Island Of Lost Souls
Album: The Hunter
Year: 1982
Deborah Harry plans her escape from the real world in the stagnant “Island Of Lost Souls.”
Genial steel drums open the single, setting a In the first verse, she says that there’s an island she’s heard of in Babylon where people go to overcome their angst. Her self-esteem is low and she feels she has nothing to offer. She asks someone who can direct her and possibly, drive her to the end of the world. She thinks a long talk with a stranger will heal her.
She says the island is the dream destination for those who want to leave the stress of their worlds behind and start over. There are no distractions, only the slight breeze from the trees. People will re-learn how to survive the turmoils of life by existing on what they have.
In the bridge, he has abandoned and she wonders if she did something wrong. She whines he shouldn’t have left her.
In the secnd verse, she says the weather is always beautiful. People return refreshed and enlightened. People can bring their friends and hang out on the sand. They can be themselves and not worry about social politics.
A tranquil series of monkey sounds (made by synth) follows.
The bridge is sung again.
The first verse is sung again.
The second half of the chorus is sung again.
Harry praises the island with some “aya aya’s”
The island is supposed to be a mythical, unknown place. However, due to the lack of imagination on Blondie’s part, it’s reduced to a mere beach resort with a Jamaican motif.
Harry’s worshipful vocals swear on the island’s beauty to cleanse the soul. However, she comes across as a flaky, spa junkie whose continous mud baths have vaporized her brain cells.
The tacky Jamaican arrangement seems to be in a predictable, made-up setting. It’s as though it’s decoration for a hotel’s party.
“Island Of Lost Souls” is a poorly written brochure for the faraway, dream vacations.
Album: The Hunter
Year: 1982
Deborah Harry plans her escape from the real world in the stagnant “Island Of Lost Souls.”
Genial steel drums open the single, setting a In the first verse, she says that there’s an island she’s heard of in Babylon where people go to overcome their angst. Her self-esteem is low and she feels she has nothing to offer. She asks someone who can direct her and possibly, drive her to the end of the world. She thinks a long talk with a stranger will heal her.
“In Babylon/On the boulevard of broken dreams/My willpower at the lowest ebb/Oh what can I do?/Oh buccaneer/Can ya help me put my truck in gear?/Can ya take me far away from here?/Save my soul from sin?”
She says the island is the dream destination for those who want to leave the stress of their worlds behind and start over. There are no distractions, only the slight breeze from the trees. People will re-learn how to survive the turmoils of life by existing on what they have.
“You wanna get away you've had it man/Nothing's going right/So come sit on the sands of the island/Island of lost souls/No luxuries, no no amenities/Too dull your senses/Oh oh only primitive/"Hey hey really get away," is what he said.”
In the bridge, he has abandoned and she wonders if she did something wrong. She whines he shouldn’t have left her.
“Where did he go?/I'm tired of waiting here for him/Where can he be?/He's not with me/Where did he go?/What will I do alone?/Why did he run, run away from me?”
In the secnd verse, she says the weather is always beautiful. People return refreshed and enlightened. People can bring their friends and hang out on the sand. They can be themselves and not worry about social politics.
“The sky is blue the sea is warm and clear/And golden sands are calling out to you inviting/Make a new man outa you/You can come for a while come with a friend/Forget about work start all over again/Let the real you through, here's what we do.”
A tranquil series of monkey sounds (made by synth) follows.
The bridge is sung again.
The first verse is sung again.
The second half of the chorus is sung again.
“No luxuries, no no amenities…/Island of lost Souls.”
Harry praises the island with some “aya aya’s”
The island is supposed to be a mythical, unknown place. However, due to the lack of imagination on Blondie’s part, it’s reduced to a mere beach resort with a Jamaican motif.
Harry’s worshipful vocals swear on the island’s beauty to cleanse the soul. However, she comes across as a flaky, spa junkie whose continous mud baths have vaporized her brain cells.
The tacky Jamaican arrangement seems to be in a predictable, made-up setting. It’s as though it’s decoration for a hotel’s party.
“Island Of Lost Souls” is a poorly written brochure for the faraway, dream vacations.