For October, the Mental Jukebox is dialing it way back to the eighties and going deep. Deep cuts have always been an important element of music listening to me because they’re often the songs that resonate with me most. Deep cuts are usually the ones that the true fans appreciate most. I like my singles and hits, but I love my deep cuts.
A cappella is the greatest test of how good a song is. It’s all about the voices, the lyrics and the melody. There’s nowhere else to hide. It can expose some songs as thin or forgettable – and it can also help us to recognize and appreciate the beauty and power of a song. On an album as iconic as Graceland, we’re treated to an a cappella track by Simon in collaboration with Ladysmith Black Mambazo called “Homeless”.
It is a delightful track and it always was since the day I bought my Graceland cassette. “Homeless” is a track that demonstrates an extra measure of thoughtfulness and creativity – going beyond the conventions of the day to deliver something that feels right at home with the rest of the album yet still has its own individual identity. The choice to go a cappella is highly appropriate as the lyrics talk about the simplicity of a moonlit night mirrors the stripped down approach to the music.
“Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake. Homeless, homeless.”