Music Review: Thompson Twins "Lies"
Thompson Twins
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Lies
Album: Quick Step & Side Kick
Year: 1982
Tom Bailey distrusts his girlfriend in the imaginative "Lies."
The drums skim the notes to open the single, creating a controlled tone. Bailey queries his girlfriend about her broken promises and half-truths. Each word out of her mouth is exaggerated and twisted. Her whole life backstory is fiction. It's something she read from a book about Japan or a newspaper. However, he's caught her in plagirizing someone else's life and turning it into her own.
In the chorus, he says everything she's ever said is untrue.
He asks her if he has to hear from one of his friends or someone else how she is feeling. He remarks that Cleopatra undeservedly became a martyr. Her legend is mired with deception and infidelity. Her death was a vain act. His girlfriend's lies have been little ( what she had for breakfast) and big (cheating on him). She can't even track of them anymore. The way she twirls her thumb and avoids eye contact with him gives her away.
She beseeches him that she will tell the truth from now on. She won't hide things from him anymore. However, he tells her he's had enough. He's given her plenty of chances. He's been unhappy in the relationship for a while. He wants out. He mentions that their love itself was false.
The drum machine is the only accompiant during the bridge. The chorus is sung but Alannah Currie declares that her lies will come back to bite her one day. Bailey adds that they are both aware of her multiple indiscretions.
The chorus is sung twice to end the single.
In "Lies," the Thompson Twins make creative use of each instrument. The drums are exotic which matches the keyboard. The keyboard then provides the approriate sound effects at each country's reference. The synth stretches the words and hums along suspiciously. Bailey's biting, bitter vocals complete the puzzle. Each note is literal and well-thought out.
Album: Quick Step & Side Kick
Year: 1982
Tom Bailey distrusts his girlfriend in the imaginative "Lies."
The drums skim the notes to open the single, creating a controlled tone. Bailey queries his girlfriend about her broken promises and half-truths. Each word out of her mouth is exaggerated and twisted. Her whole life backstory is fiction. It's something she read from a book about Japan or a newspaper. However, he's caught her in plagirizing someone else's life and turning it into her own.
" You told me you loved me/So I don't understand/Why promises are snapped in two/And words are made to bend/The bigger, the better/Some stolen from Japan/Collected from around the world/They'll catch you if they can."
In the chorus, he says everything she's ever said is untrue.
"Lies lies lies yeah/
Lies lies lies yeah/Lies lies lies yeah."
He asks her if he has to hear from one of his friends or someone else how she is feeling. He remarks that Cleopatra undeservedly became a martyr. Her legend is mired with deception and infidelity. Her death was a vain act. His girlfriend's lies have been little ( what she had for breakfast) and big (cheating on him). She can't even track of them anymore. The way she twirls her thumb and avoids eye contact with him gives her away.
"Do I have to catch you out/To know what's on your mind/Well, Cleopatra died for Egypt/What a waste of time/White ones and red ones/And some you can't disguise/Twisted truth and half the news/Can't hide it in your eyes."
She beseeches him that she will tell the truth from now on. She won't hide things from him anymore. However, he tells her he's had enough. He's given her plenty of chances. He's been unhappy in the relationship for a while. He wants out. He mentions that their love itself was false.
"You say you'll try harder/But I think it's just too late/Well, the car is revving in the drive/And I'm not the sort to wait/The bigger, the better/Some nicked from old Saigon/Collected from around the world/Love lies on and an and on and on and on and."
The drum machine is the only accompiant during the bridge. The chorus is sung but Alannah Currie declares that her lies will come back to bite her one day. Bailey adds that they are both aware of her multiple indiscretions.
"Lies lies lies yeah (they're gonna get you)/Lies lies lies yeah (they won't forget you)/Lies lies lies yeah (they're gonna get you)/Lies lies lies yeah/Oh you know I know."
The chorus is sung twice to end the single.
In "Lies," the Thompson Twins make creative use of each instrument. The drums are exotic which matches the keyboard. The keyboard then provides the approriate sound effects at each country's reference. The synth stretches the words and hums along suspiciously. Bailey's biting, bitter vocals complete the puzzle. Each note is literal and well-thought out.