21 April 2021 - The Go-Go's - Our Lips Are Sealed

In 1981, there were not many all-woman rock groups playing their instruments and making music like this.  Los Angeles had two prominent ones.  This was one of them.  

So when these five women burst onto the scene with a song one of them (guitarist and backup vocalist Jane Wiedlin) co-wrote with Terry Hall from The Specials, it was something of a big deal.  Despite their short tenure (they officially broke up in 1985, after only forming in 1978), they remain one of the most successful female rock bands of all time (the Rock and Roll Hall of Fall calls them "the most successful" but I'm not sure that's true), and they still reform and play together from time to time.  

This song is a tour de force, a phenomenon in its own right.  It was a top 20 hit in 1981 in the US, and a top 5 hit around the world. 

Remember what I said about them reforming?  Here they are in 2001. I always loved that Jane Wiedlin sang that bridge, and here, she absolutely BELTS the end of it.  

Incidentally, that verse you don't recognize in the middle that Belinda Carlisle shoves in was part of the original composition.  This is the full version.