#401 Take My Breath Away- Berlin

If only for today/
I am unafraid.

Some songs are probably just better to be enjoyed than analyzed: “Great Balls On Fire”, “I am the Walrus”, Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away”, etc. Can you imagine saying to someone in any circumstances (non-sarcastically) “take my breath away”? That is what Terri Nunn is saying, she sees someone who she is interested in and says “take my breath away.” It is absurd, yet it works because that is not what we think the song is saying. We think she is asking the universe to help her find a love to take her breath away. It works better like that. That is how she sings it.

Take My Breathe Away Meaning
Terri Nunn

“Take my Breath Away” was a huge hit in the 80s and it has aged well. It has the synthesizer, which many songs with synthesizers don’t age well. However, the four-note bass beat is so distinctive that you hear it and it fits so perfectly with this song. The other reason the song has aged well is Nunn’s vocals: they are amazing. She is loud and powerful and then soft and delicate. Some female singers would belt this out powerfully the whole song, but that is not the correct interpretation.

Interestingly this song was offered to The Motels first, and they passed. Had they recorded something like this, The Motels would be a strong candidate for Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. If you have two songs in the Top 500 songs, you are a shoo-in in my book.

Take My Breath Away Lyrics

Watching every motion
In my foolish lover’s game.
On this endless ocean
Finally lovers know no shame.
Turning and returning
To some secret place inside.
Watching in slow motion
As you turn around and say…

Take my breath away,
Take my breath away.

Watching I keep waiting,
Still anticipating love.
Never hesitating to become the fated ones.
Turning and returning
To some secret place to hide.
Watching in slow motion
As you turn to me and say…

Take my breath away.

Through the hourglass I saw you,
In time you slipped away.
When the mirror crashed I called you,
And turned to hear you say.
“If only for today,
I am unafraid.”

Take my breath away,
Take my breath away.

Watching every motion
In this foolish lover’s game.
Haunted by the notion
Somewhere there’s a love in flames.
Turning and returning
To some secret place inside.
Watching in slow motion
As you turn my way and say…

Take my breath away,
Take my breath away.
Take my breath away,
Take my breath away.

Songwriters: Giorgio Moroder / Tom Whitlock

#399 Same Girl- Randy Newman

You’re still the same girl you always were.

For younger readers or readers who are parents, Randy Newman might be the songwriter you’ve heard most often on this list. He writes a lot of the soundtracks for the Disney & Pixar Movies. Of course, you don’t realize it is him writing them.

Before he did that, he wrote this beautiful song about two drug addicts who are in love with each other. A bit of a contrast. The narrator is a man who looks past the years of experience his lover has accrued and says that he still sees the same girl he first met. So, she has a few more holes from needles and years on the street: her eyes are still as blue as the day he met her. The lyric is lacking great detail, but it is supposed to be words spoken from one junkie to another. Perhaps the couple aren’t the verbal type.

Same Girl Meaning
Randy Newman

What I really like about this song is how the minimalist recording shows off how great of a melody this is. Also, the piano notes played are about as minimalist as you can go. It is just such an interesting decision that makes this sound like a tender song.  I wonder if this is the definitive version of the song. I think this is a great candidate for an updated cover with a singer who is more capable. Glen Frey tried. Frey’s voice is preferable to Newman’s, but his version is not as good. This is a sad song. Frey’s version attempts to make it into more of a straight sentimental love song.

Same Girl Lyrics

You’re still the same girl you always were
You’re still the same girl you always were

A few more nights on the street that’s all
A few more holes in your arm
A few more years with me, that’s all

You’re still the same girl
With the same sweet smile that you always had
And the same blue eyes like the sun
And the same clear voice that I always

You’re still the same girl
That I love

Songwriters: Randy Newman

#398 Perfect Day- Lou Reed

Oh, such a perfect day/
You just keep me hanging on

Lou Reed’s “Perfect Day” is one of the best songs about the simple pleasures of love: walking in a park, enjoying the weekend, checking out the zoo or a movie. There is something to be said for sharing simple pleasures with someone you love. There are some darker undertones to the song, such as the above lyric when he says “you just keep me hangin on”. It sounds like he is struggling mentally or emotionally.

Perfect Day Meaning
Lou Reed

At the end he promises the girl that she will reap what she sows. Meaning, that he appreciates the time she is putting in with him while he is struggling; he will make it up to her when he feels better. So, in a sense it isn’t a perfect day. It is a perfect day given the circumstances.

“Perfect Day” starts out with two haunting chords. The mood is slightly lighter throughout the verse—but it is still hesitant and slightly tense. By the time we get to the chorus we do feel as if the music and his mood is one of elation. The release is a nice feeling.

Perfect Day
Reed

The song has a very nice piano arrangement that is original sounding. Reed has one of those voices like Dylan or Cohen, that is unspectacular, but good—if you allow yourself to take it in. This is one of his better vocals because he delivers it with a lot of emotion. This is probably his best vocal—either solo or in Velvet Underground.

Perfect Day Lyrics

Just a perfect day,
Drink Sangria in the park.
And then later
When it gets dark, we go home.

Just a perfect day,
Feed animals in the zoo.
Then later
A movie, too, and then home.

Oh, it’s such a perfect day,
I’m glad I spent it with you.
Oh, such a perfect day,
You just keep me hanging on.
You just keep me hanging on.

Just a perfect day,
Problems all left alone.
Weekenders on our own,
It’s such fun.

Just a perfect day,
You made me forget myself.
I thought I was
Someone else, someone good.

Oh, it’s such a perfect day,
I’m glad I spent it with you.
Oh, such a perfect day,
You just keep me hanging on,
You just keep me hanging on.

You’re going to reap just what you sow,
You’re going to reap just what you sow.
You’re going to reap just what you sow,
You’re going to reap just what you sow.

Songwriters: Lou Reed