1001 Songs Challenge #560: Our Lips Are Sealed (1981)

On 11 February 2019 I set myself the challenge of reading 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die by Robert Dimery (ed.) and following the book’s advice to the letter. I’ve previously read 1001 Films… and started 1001 Albums… but felt 1001 Songs… would be a sensible place to start for what I have in mind here.

My challenge is to read about one song per day and listen to it (YouTube and Spotify, I need you tonight!) before sharing my own thoughts. Some songs I will love, others I’ll hate, and I’m sure there will be those that leave me perplexed but listen to them I shall.

I’ll also try, and most likely fail, to pinpoint the best song from the 1001 on offer but I’m nothing if not foolhardy. Instead of one song, I’m predicting I’ll have about 100 favourites by the end and may have to resort to a Top 10 so far to maintain any semblance of sanity.

So long as I post every day (including Christmas) then this challenge should come to an end on Wednesday 8 November 2021. Staying with the Barney Stinson theme I am hoping that the whole experience will prove to be… legendary!

 

The Go-Go’s – Our Lips Are Sealed (1981)

We’re heading back to the US today, dear reader, and we find ourselves in the sunshine of California. Formed in 1978 The Go-Go’s gradually rose to prominence and in the 1980s became arguably the most successful all-female rock band in music history. When we join them in 1981 they have released their debut album, Beauty and the Beat, and 1001 Songs have gone with the group’s first big hit – Our Lips Are Sealed. 

Our Lips Are Sealed was written by Jane Wiedlin who played rhythm guitar with The Go-Go’s, as well as Terry Hall who was lead singer of UK group, The Specials, at this time. The story goes that The Go-Go’s were in England and supporting The Specials on tour. Hall and Wiedlin had a brief affair even though he was in a relationship with another woman. Hall then wrote lyrics dealing with infidelity and mailed them to Wiedlin when she was back in the US and thus a song about indiscretion but keeping tight-lipped about it was born. 

I have heard of The Go-Go’s but am not overly familiar with their songs, at least I don’t think so. I can’t recall hearing this particular track but I may have heard others in the past. The group was very successful in the early 1980s but by 1985 they had split up. Reunions have occurred since the 1990s but the story doesn’t end there. The lead singer in the band would go on to have a very successful solo career in the late 1980s and into the 1990s. Her name? Belinda Carlisle.

 

Favourite songs so far:

The Animals – House of the Rising Sun (1964)

Simon & Garfunkel – The Sounds of Silence (1965)

The Doors – The End (1967)

The Beatles – A Day in the Life (1967)

Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here (1975)

Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell (1977)

Queen – Don’t Stop Me Now (1978)

The Police – Message in a Bottle (1979)

Joy Division – Love Will Tear Us Apart (1980)

Ultravox – Vienna (1980)