Music Review: Tom Tom Club "Under The Boardwalk"
Tom Tom Club
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Under The Boardwalk
Album: Tom Tom Club
Year: 1982
In 1964 , the Drifters first released "Under The Boardwalk." According to the alllmusicguide, by that time the doo-wop group had gone through a series of lineup changes. It was mostly due to a business deal made by former Drifters lead singer Clyde McPhatter and the group's manager, George Treadwell. After McPhatter left, the business deal was left unchanged. New lead singers were provided without any incentives to stay, causing members to leave nearly after every album. By 1964, Johnny Moore had returned to the group after a ten year absence.
Moore hangs out with his girlfriend near the ocean in the balmy "Under The Boardwalk."
A light piano and pleasant percussion open the single, setting a mirthful tone. He describes a typical, hot August afternoon. The heat from the sun seems to be like fire, as its rays ravages the houses' roofs and people's feet. He and his girlfriend get away from the heat with a corner under the boardwalk.
In the chorus, he says its cool and private. They can hear the shuffling of people's feet as they walk. They also will be discover that they are in love with each other.
In the second verse, he says children can be heard laughing as they ride on the carousel. The faint smell of French fries and hot dogs spreads throughout the section of the beach town.
A brief romantic string solo follows.
The latter half of the verses are sung twice.
Another string solo follows.
The chorus then ends the single.
The Drifters evoke feelings of young love. "Under The Boardwalk" is like a series of endless perfect moments for the couple, enjoying the waves crashing to the ocean and refuge from the fiery sun.
The lovely single is reminiscent of lazy summer afternoons and innocent times.
Tina Weymouth has sex with her boyfriend "Under the Boardwalk" in the Tom Tom Club's steamy 1982 cover.
A reckless dance beat opens the single, setting a rowdy tone. Weymouth's vocals are giggly and whimsical as she tells her friend where she hangs out with her boyfriend.
In the chorus, she says knowingly that although they are in public, they can still get away with having sex. It's noisy as people chatter and no one even knows they are there.
Thoroughout the years, Weymouth has had too much of those French fries and hot dogs. She's indifferent to the smell. The carousel used to be fun. However, now she's gotten too old for it and thinks she would look like a dork if she went on it.
A festive keyboard and piano arrangement follow.
Like the original, the latter half of the verses are repeated. However, it's only once.
The chorus is sung once.
Frantz says "boardwalk" twice over a bouncy keyboard solo.
About a minute later, the chorus is sung again.
Another bouncy keyboard solo follows to end the single.
The Tom Tom Club are a creative band. Given that, "Under The Boardwalk" is the last song to be expected to be covered by them. However, in their efforts to be subversive and inventive fail.
The groovy instrumentation is out of place for such a traditional sounding song. It feels like another half of a song entirely. But that's mostly due to extending the song an extra two minutes. It's great, but it doesn't belong in the cover. Nonetheless, the tacked-on solo at the end causes the single to be bloated. The single's total length is 5 minutes, 46 seconds. It runs on too long.
The subversiveness comes across as smug. However, changing an otherwise innocent song into something sexual is hardly new. In fact, it's rather common.
Album: Tom Tom Club
Year: 1982
In 1964 , the Drifters first released "Under The Boardwalk." According to the alllmusicguide, by that time the doo-wop group had gone through a series of lineup changes. It was mostly due to a business deal made by former Drifters lead singer Clyde McPhatter and the group's manager, George Treadwell. After McPhatter left, the business deal was left unchanged. New lead singers were provided without any incentives to stay, causing members to leave nearly after every album. By 1964, Johnny Moore had returned to the group after a ten year absence.
Moore hangs out with his girlfriend near the ocean in the balmy "Under The Boardwalk."
A light piano and pleasant percussion open the single, setting a mirthful tone. He describes a typical, hot August afternoon. The heat from the sun seems to be like fire, as its rays ravages the houses' roofs and people's feet. He and his girlfriend get away from the heat with a corner under the boardwalk.
" Oh when the sun beats down and burns the tar up on the roof/And your shoes get so hot, you wish your tired feet were fire-proof/Under the boardwalk, down by the sea/On a blanket with my baby, is where I'll be."
In the chorus, he says its cool and private. They can hear the shuffling of people's feet as they walk. They also will be discover that they are in love with each other.
"(Under the boardwalk)/Out of the sun/(Under the boardwalk)/Man, we'll be having some fun/(Under the boardwalk)/
People walkin' above/(Under the boardwalk)/We'll be falling in love under the boardwalk (boardwalk)."
In the second verse, he says children can be heard laughing as they ride on the carousel. The faint smell of French fries and hot dogs spreads throughout the section of the beach town.
"From the park you can hear the happy sounds of the carousel/And you can almost taste the hot-dogs and french fries they sell/Under the boardwalk, down by the sea/On a blanket with my baby, is where I'll be."
A brief romantic string solo follows.
The latter half of the verses are sung twice.
"Under the boardwalk, down by the sea/On a blanket with my baby, is where I'll be/Under the boardwalk, down by the sea/On a blanket with my baby, is where I'll be."
Another string solo follows.
The chorus then ends the single.
The Drifters evoke feelings of young love. "Under The Boardwalk" is like a series of endless perfect moments for the couple, enjoying the waves crashing to the ocean and refuge from the fiery sun.
The lovely single is reminiscent of lazy summer afternoons and innocent times.
Tina Weymouth has sex with her boyfriend "Under the Boardwalk" in the Tom Tom Club's steamy 1982 cover.
A reckless dance beat opens the single, setting a rowdy tone. Weymouth's vocals are giggly and whimsical as she tells her friend where she hangs out with her boyfriend.
"Oh when the sun beats down...under the boardwalk/Down by the sea/On a blanket with my boyfriend's where I'll be."
In the chorus, she says knowingly that although they are in public, they can still get away with having sex. It's noisy as people chatter and no one even knows they are there.
"Under the boardwalk, out of the sun/Under the boardwalk, we'll be having some fun/Under the boardwalk, people walking above/Under the boardwalk, we'll be making love/Under the boardwalk (boardwalk)."
Thoroughout the years, Weymouth has had too much of those French fries and hot dogs. She's indifferent to the smell. The carousel used to be fun. However, now she's gotten too old for it and thinks she would look like a dork if she went on it.
"From the park you hear the happy sound...on a blanket with my boyfriend's where I'll be."
A festive keyboard and piano arrangement follow.
Like the original, the latter half of the verses are repeated. However, it's only once.
"Under the boardwalk/Down by the sea/On a blanket with my boyfriend's where I'll be."
The chorus is sung once.
Frantz says "boardwalk" twice over a bouncy keyboard solo.
About a minute later, the chorus is sung again.
Another bouncy keyboard solo follows to end the single.
The Tom Tom Club are a creative band. Given that, "Under The Boardwalk" is the last song to be expected to be covered by them. However, in their efforts to be subversive and inventive fail.
The groovy instrumentation is out of place for such a traditional sounding song. It feels like another half of a song entirely. But that's mostly due to extending the song an extra two minutes. It's great, but it doesn't belong in the cover. Nonetheless, the tacked-on solo at the end causes the single to be bloated. The single's total length is 5 minutes, 46 seconds. It runs on too long.
The subversiveness comes across as smug. However, changing an otherwise innocent song into something sexual is hardly new. In fact, it's rather common.