Music Review: Don Henley "Dirty Laundry"
Don Henley
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Dirty Laundry
Album: I Can’t Stand Still
Year: 1982
Don Henley criticizes the local news media in the sardonic “Dirty Laundry.”
Questioning keyboards and alarming synths open the single, setting a In the first verse, he says that some people make being on television every night a career. They have to have exciting news stories to tell and look for the angle that will draw people in to watch. He speaks from a point of view from a television anchor. He says that he’s good-looking and slim. He would’ve made it in Hollywood. However, he decided to become a celebrity the rational way: be a local news anchor. He says he can leave out details of stories and is eager to check his mail for a tip of gossip that he could score him a national gig. It is scandals and sensationalism that are news.
In the chorus, he says the media will fawn over the next best thing (celebrity, food, health trend) and then tear it down once it’s no longer fashionable. The news exploits people and things for profit.
In the second verse, he says the pretty, flaky beauty appears regularly for the 5 p.m. newscast. She will talk about a tragic plane crash, her voice solemn and sympathetic. She will say one of the victims was a baby only a couple months old. It was a young life that went too soon However, she is also thinking how her coverage of it will likely give her a promotion. She notes one survivor is in critical condition. Another newscaster is shown outside the hospital, describing the person. Meanwhile, the other reporters have an office pool going. Half of them think the man will die and they will have to cover a “courage in tragedy” story. The other half think he will die and the station will run “the tragedy from the young widow’s point of view” story. The latter half win, as the anchor calls the widow, asking her for an on-set interview.
A scathing electric guitar solo follows.
In the third verse, he says people aren’t aware of the bureaucracy involved in getting news on the air. It has to go through several editors before being aired, it’s highly edited for content, and involves a friendly rappaport with a reporter. If they knew, they wouldn’t watch the news anymore and take in the gossip that fills it.
In the second chorus, he says even the dead aren’t left alone. Their stories will come up if someone they knew for even a millisecond wants to be on television.
In the bridge, the background singers sing the second chorus as a phone rings in the background.
In the fourth verse, the news reporters have people will tip them off if they hear something juicy. He adds the media exists to humiliate and exploit people. Then, the reporters chat back and forth, to make the viewer feel at home. They will go to the nearest dance studio, take a tap lesson and use it for a story about exercise. They will sing into a microphone to talk about a state talent contest. It is fluff but it sells advertising time for the station.
Another scathing electric guitar solo follows.
The bridge is sung twice to close the single.
Henley believes the media has become entertainment-oriented rather than news-oriented. Local news piles on the human interest stories, looking for the most tearful person who will give them the best quote and murders in the city. But once a tragedy happens, the causes of it are pushed aside in order to talk to the victim’s families. They don’t provide any new information, just a retread of the story which had high ratings last year at about the same time.
His commanding, matter-of-fact vocals are derisive. To him, news anchors are wannabe celebrities with a degree. He doesn’t take the media seriously at all. He expresses his opinion in an articulate and intelligent manner, giving him credibility.
The cutting arrangement slits the media a bloody gash. The criticism is well-put and precise.
The relevant “Dirty Laundry” remains true today.
Album: I Can’t Stand Still
Year: 1982
Don Henley criticizes the local news media in the sardonic “Dirty Laundry.”
Questioning keyboards and alarming synths open the single, setting a In the first verse, he says that some people make being on television every night a career. They have to have exciting news stories to tell and look for the angle that will draw people in to watch. He speaks from a point of view from a television anchor. He says that he’s good-looking and slim. He would’ve made it in Hollywood. However, he decided to become a celebrity the rational way: be a local news anchor. He says he can leave out details of stories and is eager to check his mail for a tip of gossip that he could score him a national gig. It is scandals and sensationalism that are news.
“I make my living off the evening news/Just give me something/Something I can use/People love it when you lose/They love dirty laundry/Well, I coulda been an actor/But I wound up here/I just have to look good/I don't have to be clear/Come and whisper in my ear/Give us dirty laundry.”
In the chorus, he says the media will fawn over the next best thing (celebrity, food, health trend) and then tear it down once it’s no longer fashionable. The news exploits people and things for profit.
“Kick 'em when they're up/Kick 'em when they're down/Kick 'em when they're up/Kick 'em when they're down/Kick 'em when they're up/Kick 'em when they're down/Kick 'em when they're up/Kick 'em all around.”
In the second verse, he says the pretty, flaky beauty appears regularly for the 5 p.m. newscast. She will talk about a tragic plane crash, her voice solemn and sympathetic. She will say one of the victims was a baby only a couple months old. It was a young life that went too soon However, she is also thinking how her coverage of it will likely give her a promotion. She notes one survivor is in critical condition. Another newscaster is shown outside the hospital, describing the person. Meanwhile, the other reporters have an office pool going. Half of them think the man will die and they will have to cover a “courage in tragedy” story. The other half think he will die and the station will run “the tragedy from the young widow’s point of view” story. The latter half win, as the anchor calls the widow, asking her for an on-set interview.
“We got the bubbleheaded/Bleached blonde/Comes on at five/She can tell you 'bout the plane crash/With a gleam in her eye/It's interesting when people die/Give us dirty laundry/Can we film the operation/Is the head dead yet/You know the boys in the newsroom/Got a running bet/Get the widow on the set/We need dirty laundry.”
A scathing electric guitar solo follows.
In the third verse, he says people aren’t aware of the bureaucracy involved in getting news on the air. It has to go through several editors before being aired, it’s highly edited for content, and involves a friendly rappaport with a reporter. If they knew, they wouldn’t watch the news anymore and take in the gossip that fills it.
“You don't really need to find out/What's going on/You don't really want to know/
Just how far it's gone/Just leave well enough alone/Eat your dirty laundry.”
In the second chorus, he says even the dead aren’t left alone. Their stories will come up if someone they knew for even a millisecond wants to be on television.
“Kick 'em when they're up/Kick 'em when they're down/Kick 'em when they're up/Kick 'em when they're down/Kick 'em when they're up/Kick 'em when they're down/Kick 'em when they're stiff/Kick 'em all around.”
In the bridge, the background singers sing the second chorus as a phone rings in the background.
In the fourth verse, the news reporters have people will tip them off if they hear something juicy. He adds the media exists to humiliate and exploit people. Then, the reporters chat back and forth, to make the viewer feel at home. They will go to the nearest dance studio, take a tap lesson and use it for a story about exercise. They will sing into a microphone to talk about a state talent contest. It is fluff but it sells advertising time for the station.
“Dirty little secrets/Dirty little lies/We got our dirty little fingers/In everybody's pie/We love to cut you down to size/We love dirty laundry/We can do the innuendo/We can dance and sing/When it's said and done/We haven't told you a thing/We all know that crap is king/Give us dirty laundry.”
Another scathing electric guitar solo follows.
The bridge is sung twice to close the single.
Henley believes the media has become entertainment-oriented rather than news-oriented. Local news piles on the human interest stories, looking for the most tearful person who will give them the best quote and murders in the city. But once a tragedy happens, the causes of it are pushed aside in order to talk to the victim’s families. They don’t provide any new information, just a retread of the story which had high ratings last year at about the same time.
His commanding, matter-of-fact vocals are derisive. To him, news anchors are wannabe celebrities with a degree. He doesn’t take the media seriously at all. He expresses his opinion in an articulate and intelligent manner, giving him credibility.
The cutting arrangement slits the media a bloody gash. The criticism is well-put and precise.
The relevant “Dirty Laundry” remains true today.