Song of the Day: December 5, 2005

I’m riding on a pure geek high tonight, kids. I’ve just returned from an Arrested Development function on campus, and have therefore in the past few hours met Steve Holt (STEVE HOLT!), watched what will probably be one of the very last episodes of one of the best shows in television history, and seen practically everyone I know who resides on the West Coast. I’m just happy, and that’s why tonight’s “Song of the Day” is. . .

David Bowie’s “Modern Love.”

Now, if you’re anything like me, you’ve often contemplated what songs would be on the soundtrack if your life was a movie. Well, I’ve given this idea a lot of thought over the many hours I’ve spent neglecting my studies, and I believe that this song is the only possible opening-credits music I could possibly have. Actually, I’d love to have it play during my everyday life; there’s very little else in pop music which is as propulsive as the opening guitar scrapes of this number. Bowie, like our previous “Song of the Day” subject Elvis Costello, is a music chameleon, seemingly adapting different styles just to see if he can. “Modern Love,” as well as its accompanying album Let’s Dance, is Bowie’s stab at a pure power-pop sensibility, but rather than indulging in the brainlessness which generally accompanied the songs produced by those in the same business (wither latter-day Queen?), the Thin White Duke put a detailed, sophisticated spin on the whole genre, expanding on the basic rules and creating a richly detailed sound to the song. The execution veers from trio rock to Spectoresque Wall-of-Sound production in the nearly five minutes the track runs, adding instruments and harmonies so cunningly that it may take you quite a many listens to weed them all out. Of course, to do that you’d actually have to stop dancing, and that’s probably not going to happen unless to force yourself.

So just take a listen. If your night was anywhere near as fun as mine was, it’ll be a great coda.