“Underrated” is a
word constantly associated with Glaswegian heroes The Blue Nile. A band who
have never been appreciated as much as they should have been. In recent years,
since their unofficial split, the band’s popularity and influence has resurfaced
and have maintained a cult but dedicated following. Amongst their eclectic back
catalogue, they hold a true gem which comes in the form of ‘The Downtown
Lights’.
Released as the lead single to their critically-acclaimed
second record ‘Hats’ in 1989, the record has had a massive influence on modern
pop music (subconsciously or otherwise). Despite only reaching number
sixty-seven in the UK Singles Chart upon release, it has retrospectively gained
acclaim from music fans and critics alike. The 1975, arguably the biggest band
in the UK at present, are certainly fans. Frontman Matt Healy has acknowledged
the band’s influence on them, calling The Blue Nile his favourite band of
all-time. Their single ‘Love It If We Made It’ certainly borrows elements of
the melody, and Healy referred to the track as “like Blue Nile on steroids”. Fellow Scots Annie Lennox and
Chvrches also have covered the song on record and live respectively.
The subtle, throb of Paul Moore’s synths pulsate from the
off as frontman Paul Buchanan delivers a characteristically warm vocal – all
the factors which make The Blue Nile so special. The track only appears heavy
at points lyrically but sonically, it almost has a soothing effect. It wasn’t
all plain-sailing getting there, and there was tension and the three-piece were
in a fraught state during the writing and recording. Full albums were scrapped,
Buchanan suffered writer’s block and the band were pressured by their label to
have a quick follow-up to their debut. All these factors pointed towards the
classic ‘disappointing second album’ cliché, but what transpired was anything
but, and the band delivered nothing short of a masterpiece. This only adds to
the accomplishment of the three-piece managing to make something so beautiful.
In Paul Buchanan, The Blue Nile have a frontman who is
unarguably a Scottish national treasure. On ‘The Downtown Lights’, lyrics as
plaintively beautiful as “there is just
one thing I can say, nobody loves you this way” exemplify just how well he is
able to capture intensely raw emotion. Always seen as a reluctant frontman of
sorts, Buchanan exudes confidence as the track grows. The main refrain of “How do I know you feel it? How do I know it’s
true?” which Buchanan calls out at numerous points is a display of a
uniquely humane insecurity. As the track reaches its climax, he delivers a
frantic verse which ends on a desperate howl of “I’m tired of crying on the stairs!” – which to this day remains
one of the most passionate deliveries of any lyric on any piece of music.
‘Hats’ is very much seen as a late-night record, and ‘The
Downtown Lights’ very much fits into this sonically. It is one of those
melancholy masterpieces that is best listened to when your mood is all over the
place. It’s a song to listen to on repeat after a bad night out walking home in
the rain. It’s the song that makes sense of everything when nothing else does. Despite
being something of a latecomer to The Blue Nile, in a relatively short space of
time, ‘The Downtown Lights’ has had an enormous effect on the way I view pop
music and has sound tracked a myriad of moods and situations. There are few
songs which can pack as much of a punch as this one.
As a long time Blue Nile fan this is one of my favourite tracks. But then again, you could throw a dart at their discography and another if my favourite tracks would appear!
ReplyDeleteDownlight Lights is glorious....but Headlights on the Parade I swear is actually about Alexandra Parade, that long street just heading out of the city....used to drive home that way home after working nights in a Glasgow bar, still gives me a shiver...
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