1001 Songs Challenge #846: Crash into Me (1996)

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!

Dave Matthews Band – Crash into Me (1996)

We’re continuing in the US, dear reader, but saying goodbye to New York and making our way over to Virginia. Formed in 1991 Dave Matthews Band are led by…Dave Matthews…and dabble in rock music, as well as having a reputation for jamming on stage and for performing their songs differently from one show to the next. Makes you wonder why they bother with albums. We join the group in 1996 with the release of their second album, Crash, and 1001 Songs have gone with the track – Crash into Me. 

Crash into Me initially comes across as less a song about love but more about lust. The narrator here is singing of the beauty and complexity of a woman they strongly desire, someone they dream of and imagine themselves with. The song title of “crash into me” describes how they want this woman to join with them. You start to think this is unusual but passionate. However, later in the song the narrator starts talking of watching a woman through her window, undressed in her bedroom, and the song becomes much more sinister. The group have confirmed in interviews that this isn’t romance but the idolising of a woman to the point of obsession, stalking and even being a Peeping Tom, always watching her. 

The name Dave Matthews Band sounded vaguely familiar when I put on my headphones to sample this track, but I don’t recall any of the group’s songs. Crash into Me is guitar driven and both fascinating and creepy in equal measure. I had perceived this as a song of lust on first listen but delving into the lyrics you do unearth something quite eerie here. The group are still together and regularly top the charts with their albums, while boasting impressive profits from their ever popular tours.

Favourite songs so far:

The Animals – House of the Rising Sun (1964)

Simon & Garfunkel – The Sounds of Silence (1965)

The Beatles – A Day in the Life (1967)

The Doors – The End (1967)

Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here (1975)

Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell (1977)

Ultravox – Vienna (1980)

Tracy Chapman – Fast Car (1988)

U2 – One (1991)

Jeff Buckley – Hallelujah (1994)