Belinda Carlisle Binge
So my previous Belinda post was inspired by the fact that i just finished Carlisle's autobiography, Lips Unsealed. It's a quick read and I guess I shouldn't be surprised that a huge amount of time wasn't spent on the music. Drug use is discussed at length and it's juicy stuff (how much did she do, you ask? A lot)...but the memoir really misses a more thorough discussion of her addiction and her talent. Most of her troubles are blamed on a lack of confidence. And while I don't discredit her reasons, you do wish she had the guts to go a bit deeper.
For some reason I've always been a fan of hers. So here's a good reason to chronicle a few more of my under-appreciated favorites.
Belinda had a massive success with Heaven on Earth with global hits "Heaven Is A Place on Earth" (that's a fail on the video, Diane Keaton), "Circle In The Sand" and my personal favorite (with a simmering pre-Madonna Tony Ward) "I Get Weak" all peaking in 1987/1988. She eked out another hit from her follow-up record Runaway Horses with "Leave A Light On For Me" but things dried up for her stateside after that. Also from RH, I think this was the album's shining moment...
"Summer Rain"
And there's this song too. Let's hear it for swoony/girly pop with big choruses.
"Valentine"
She returned in 1991 with Live Your Life Be Free and was completely ignored in the US. But it's one of my favorites. And speaking of big choruses, they don't get bigger than this.
"Live Your Life Be Free"
In the late 90s, the chorus was sampled in this groovy track that still gets me moving. Total euphoria. I remember hearing it out somewhere and excitedly saying that it was Belinda on vocals. I was mostly met with blank (ok, maybe drunk) stares.
Live Element - "Be Free"
And the album had a couple other gems, "Do You Feel Like I Feel" and the 60s inspired "Little Black Book," co-penned by Shakespear's Sisters' Marcella Detroit.
"Do You Feel Like I Feel?"
"Little Black Book"
1993's Real was a snooz. But I like this track, penned by New Radicals' ("You Get What You Give") Gregg Alexander.
"Here Comes My Baby"
And then if you zip to 1999 (you heard me!), there's "Feels Like I've Known You Forever." It's not known very well (and I discovered it a little late myself) but it has some special connotations and nice memories for me. Seek it out if you can.
I'll stop with Belinda now. :)
