Comforting
Bee Gees Disco Hits – and There are Others, Too.
by
Kristin Battestella
You
may immediately notice “Stayin' Alive” is notably absent from
this list of famed feel good dance music from The Bee Gees. Although
it is the song I like the least, maybe now in retrospect, I can say
it isn't that
bad. As an ardent Brothers Gibb fan, however, I object at its
ubiquitous nature as the one Bee Gees song everyone knows – and
it's often a mocking reference or at least not always favorable. They
have a thousand songs, people! The already much beloved “Too Much
Heaven” is also set aside here in favor of a few pre-disco grooves
and more post-treats proving The Bee Gees were much, much more than
disco.
Run
to Me
–
The
guitar cum heartstrings and vocal harmonies here are simply
marvelous. Tender verses and a pleading chorus alternate whispers and
swells while the lovelorn lyrics offer musical consolation. “Run to
me, whenever you’re lonely”...That, after all is why we're here.
Please
Don't Turn Out the Lights
– This brief, two minute ditty also from
To
Whom It May Concern
only
has one problem: it's impeccable harmonizing is too
damn short. I just repeat it three times in a row to make up the
difference.
Mr.
Natural
– The
Mr.
Natural
album
and its eponymous track should definitely not be dismissed as it has
been. The easy beats and ear worm refrains here are surprisingly
upbeat, contrasting the hidden sadness in the lyrical story while
mirroring the titular casual cool. Yeah, I'm dying inside, but I look
like I'm feeling great!
Barry's
strong lines provide the macho front while Robin's wailing high notes
represent that love lost lump in the throat.
Nights
on Broadway
– Before Fever,
it was Main
Course
and this excellently arranged hit that changed
Barry, Robin, and Maurice from brokenhearted to falsetto grooves. The
pouting lyrics capture the bitter romance of the moment while the
bridge and chorus refrains run the gauntlet in range. No need for
auto tune – those notes are real, and they're spectacular!
Fanny
Be Tender with My Love
– You can hear all three brothers in the lofty, chorale harmonies
here, yet each refrain remains tight, carefully crafted down to every
echo with subtle changes on each chorus. We're hooked by the
bittersweet mood while listening for the next uptick showcasing
the bellowing mastery. Is it over the top? Yes. Do I care? No.
Listening to this never sounds the same way twice.
Baby
as You Turn Away
– The last song on Main
Course is
my favorite for it's effortless breezy and catchy
melodies once again cleverly
disguising what is really a sorrowful song. Maurice's down contrasts
Barry's high notes for a different, unique melancholy compared to the
group's previous pathos.
You
Should Be Dancing
– How
many movies have spoofed that white suit routine? More than a mere
dance song, the full throttle here is embedded in the cultural
lexicon thanks to rousing beats and get up and groove proclamations.
Live arrangements and longer remixes elevate the complex rhythms, yet
the simple, titular push remains hip moving essential. It's still a
good dance song. Always has been, always will be.
Love
Me
–
My mother hates this Children
of the World
power
ballad, but I simply adore the croaking,
lovelorn lyrics. It's moody, it's depressing, it's expertly handled
by Robin. This is a great song to cry to, and that's perfectly okay.
Night
Fever
–
This
recognizable boogie is back in style! Cruising seventies lyrics
capture the suave of the time. It's sexy and everyone can get down or
cut a rug. Nostalgic fans can reminisce on the good old days in song
and young listeners can immerse themselves in the not so innocent
innocence with almost whimsical interludes and verses that vibe.
After decades of gun shy, it's fascinating how this song came full
circle, appearing in commercials and films whenever we need a pick me
up bop.
How
Deep is Your Love
– Back then, it was unheard of for Robert Stigwood to release the
Saturday
Night Fever soundtrack
before the film, but thanks to this excellent,
most excellent Gibb staple, that's pretty much standard practice
today. This sounds as good now as it did then – a penultimate love
song with delivery from the soul. The emotion and artistry remain
vital and fresh as the refrains tug on your heartstrings.
More
Than a Woman
– Even setting aside it's huge place in the Fever
mythos,
this swaying bliss provides musical genius with every verse. You can
cha cha to the marvelous beat or indulge with the harmonious,
pleasant lyrics.
If
I Can't Have You –
While
Yvonne Elliman's powerful version brimming with female heartache
showcases The Brothers versatile potential in writing for others,
their flip side collected on Greatest
highlights
Barry's range. Three grown men screaming about love shouldn't be so
catchy, but I'll be dang it is.
Love
You Inside and Out
– I love the naughtiness of this feel good keeper – my favorite
from Spirits
Having Flown.
You can dance, nudge, nudge, wink, wink, and sing along to this
softer falsetto capturing the carefree in words, music, and mood. The
Bee Gees actually have a lot of kinky tunes, but that's a whole
'nother topic!
Tragedy
–
This heyday hit doesn't feel 1979 dated thanks to progressive beats,
synthesizers, and pulsing notes emphasizing the mellow rage lyrics
and explosions. Yes, explosions. Live this one is also a lot of fun,
an entire production rousing the crowd to sing along to such bitter
lyrics with a smile on their faces.
Bonuses:
I've
Gotta Get a Message to You Here at Last...Bee Gees Live
– If
I had to tell my utmost favorite Bee Gees song, this version has to
be it. Is it perfect? No. There are certainly tighter tunes compared
to the live mix here. However, the original's melancholy somber and
Robin's quivering sadness escalate to a Barry ad-libbed rock out.
It's sets the entire tone for the big brass concert session, and you
can hear someone in the crowd shouting, “You rock, Barry!”
Oh,
Darling
– This Robin led cover from the bemusingly dreadful and deliciously
so, so wrong Sgt.
Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band film
actually charted n 1978 thanks to the soulful delivery and edgy
throwback. The movie is pretty infamous, but it does have a few gems
like this.
I
Just Want to Be Your Everything
–
I don't know how
anybody can not like this lead off single from Andy Gibb's Flowing
Rivers. Granted
the vocals are a bit ‘Barryfied‘, and the rest of the album is a
much more Andy country true to himself, but the extra Gibb
orchestration is what makes this sound so good.
Shadow
Dancing
– This Andy Gibb hit is
a great sing along song for the car. It's the only recorded song
credited to all four brothers, and sometimes I fancy you can hear all
of them, too. If this is what the entire family would have sounded
like all together, wow.
One
of the reasons I hated The Bee Gees growing up was because my ballet
dancer sister made me practice the moves from Saturday
Night Fever with
her over and over again – at least until I broke the record. I much
preferred Andy Gibb! Today, however, rather than dated like several
infamous “Disco Duck” type extremes, the transformative dance
music here takes you to another time and place to move your hips –
no matter how bad you're feeling.
Please
visit our Bee
Gees
tag
or our Music
label for more analysis, but do excuse any empty codes, broken links,
format errors, and beloved bias in our decades old Bee Gees reviews!
