Post by gremashlo on May 10, 2011 19:52:36 GMT -5
Sometimes, success and fame is a nasty bitch. Take, for instance, Steam's "(Na Na Hey Hey) Kiss Him Goodbye". Paul Leka, the songwriter/producer, was producing a studio band featuring lead singer Garrett Scott. The plan was to produce a single with him as the lead singer, and to hopefully use it to propel him to solo stardom.
So, Scott and Leka recorded "It's the Magic In You Girl" as just such a platform.
The song's production is standard sub-Sixties white soul more suited for a Fifth Dimension album track or flip side, though Scott is working hard, he seems to be fighting a losing production battle against the echo and what sounds like an early synthesizer droning on. Odd, concerning that this was supposed to make him a star.
However, they still needed a "B" side, so Leka and Scott used a leftover drumtrack and slapped together a makeshift song using lyrics from a song Leka had never bothered to finish--Leka suggested that they just throw in 'nonsense' lyrics to fill in the unfinished areas--so they started off with "na-na-nahh-na, na-na-nahh-na, hey hey hey..." as Scott romped through the lyric free of any echo or music tricks. They were embarrassed by the song's hodgepodge production, and Scott in particular hated his singing. But, hey--it was a "B" side! Who would ever hear?
Well, fate has a NAASTY sense of humor. DJ's ignored the Fontana label release--until someone started play the flip side...and Steam had a #1 hit--the last for Fontana Records. Seems that the "Springtime for Hitler" approach to song production struck pure freak gold. The synthesizer that droned in "Music" purred in "Na Na", and the xylophone that plinked in the "hit" rolled smoothly for the supposed flop. Despite their best intentions, Scott and Leka had their hit.
Problem was, Scott refused to tour and perform the hit, as he hated it and his performance. Leka fully supported Scott, as he was just as embarrassed by the fluke as Scott was.
"Na NA' was soon re-released as "Steam Featuring Garrett Scott", but that didn't help. Scott still disowned the song, and all surviving video clips feature faceless studio players lip-synching to Scott's vocal.
The moral, children? Beware of what you ask for--you might get it.
So, Scott and Leka recorded "It's the Magic In You Girl" as just such a platform.
The song's production is standard sub-Sixties white soul more suited for a Fifth Dimension album track or flip side, though Scott is working hard, he seems to be fighting a losing production battle against the echo and what sounds like an early synthesizer droning on. Odd, concerning that this was supposed to make him a star.
However, they still needed a "B" side, so Leka and Scott used a leftover drumtrack and slapped together a makeshift song using lyrics from a song Leka had never bothered to finish--Leka suggested that they just throw in 'nonsense' lyrics to fill in the unfinished areas--so they started off with "na-na-nahh-na, na-na-nahh-na, hey hey hey..." as Scott romped through the lyric free of any echo or music tricks. They were embarrassed by the song's hodgepodge production, and Scott in particular hated his singing. But, hey--it was a "B" side! Who would ever hear?
Well, fate has a NAASTY sense of humor. DJ's ignored the Fontana label release--until someone started play the flip side...and Steam had a #1 hit--the last for Fontana Records. Seems that the "Springtime for Hitler" approach to song production struck pure freak gold. The synthesizer that droned in "Music" purred in "Na Na", and the xylophone that plinked in the "hit" rolled smoothly for the supposed flop. Despite their best intentions, Scott and Leka had their hit.
Problem was, Scott refused to tour and perform the hit, as he hated it and his performance. Leka fully supported Scott, as he was just as embarrassed by the fluke as Scott was.
"Na NA' was soon re-released as "Steam Featuring Garrett Scott", but that didn't help. Scott still disowned the song, and all surviving video clips feature faceless studio players lip-synching to Scott's vocal.
The moral, children? Beware of what you ask for--you might get it.