Music Review: INXS "Suicide Blonde"

INXS

Suicide Blonde

Album:  X

Year:  1990

           Michael Hutchence has his eye on an untouchable woman known for her distinctive haircolor in the covetous  “Suicide Blonde.”

            A knowing harmonica opens the single, setting a roguish tone.In the intro,  one of his friends has told her about his latest crush. When he describes her, Hutchence knows exactly who he’s talking about. He tells him good luck but he doesn’t have a prayer in landing her. (“Don't you know what you're doing?/You got a death wish.”)

        The knowing harmonica gets a solo.

        Her haircolor is a pale, white shade of blonde which he dubs as “suicide blonde.” He repeats the color several times over pining synths. (“Suicide blonde/Suicide blonde/Suicide blonde/Suicide blonde.”)

          She’s makes the rules and trends. Her style, like her hair, is all her own.. She loathes pick-up lines and usually glares at the men who dare to hit on her. She’s the one who will make the first move. (“Suicide blonde was the color of her hair/Like a cheap distraction for a new affair/She knew it would finish before it began/Something tells me you lost the plan.”)

          In the chorus, he says every guy wants her but she’s difficult to get. (“You wanna make her, suicide blonde/Love devastation, suicide blonde/You wanna make her, suicide blonde/Love devastation, suicide blonde.”)

           She is able to be sensual while wearing a pantsuit. Her beauty is blinding and one must experience for himself. He wishes he could have the awe-inspiring moment again. (“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/Ooh, take me there”)

    The knowing harmonica gets another solo.

      In her presence, the pain of life becomes bearable. Guys are able to see through the illusions they once were thought to be true. She causes to think about the world in a different way. (“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.”)

         The chorus is sung again.

       In the bridge, the chorus is abbreviated while the synts stutter. (“You wanna make/
You wanna make/You wanna make her, suicide blonde/You wanna make.”)

      A woman lets out a coy laugh, which pleases him, causing him to let out an excited “Ow!”

      Hutchence says it’s all he has to tell. (“That's the story/Everything you wanna be/
Everything you are, are.”)

       A preying guitar solo follows.

    The chorus is sung again. This time, he adds a “love devastation” at the end of it.

   A shortened version of the chorus closes the single. (“You wanna make her, suicide blonde/Love devastation, suicide blonde/You wanna make her.”)

     Hutchence’s  enarmored, lustful vocals worship her every movement, creating a god-like human who survives on charisma and sex. For those who have been able to stammer a sentence around her and failed wear it as a badge of honor. Receiving a smile from her would make a guy a legend.

    The desirable “Suicide Blonde.” much like the woman in their single, carries itself on its own raucous charm.