SSML-20, 17 June 1996
Newsflash: I Can Drive has debuted at no. 30 on the UK
singles chart:
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The Original UK Top 40 Singles Chart - Week ending 16/06/96
Positions obtained from BBC Radio One - The Official CIN Chart
Charts compiled by David Nattriss WC|HP|LW|Ch.|TW 1|30|NE|***|30|
Shakespear's Sister - I Can Drive London
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Here's my version (which therefore may not be totally accurate)
of the lyrics to I Can Drive, and some brief thoughts as to
possible interpretations:
Hey boys, it's a steal You're hanging on by your fingernails As
usual... The king is dead, LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!
[Dave Stewart(King) isn't "controlling her" anymore, Queen
Siobhan is in charge now. A bit dodgy perhaps. But it's
acknowledged Dave had more to do with first album that at first
openly discussed. Or it could be a reference to the overbearing
Pete Waterman from the Bananarama days?]
Hey girls, no big deal Your 15 minutes stopped right here So baby
let's go, LET'S GO!
[Hmmmm. Girls/15 minutes could definitely be a Narna
reference]
Chorus:
I'm watching the world, taking my time
I've waited my turn, I'm gonna shine.
[This refers to time
spent with a psychologist? Shut inside, watching the world,
assessing life. It's looking to the future though, after an
apparent reassessment]
Heroes take their toll Hog your dreams and crush your soul And
take you out, out to dinner
[Dave? I think he could be considered to be her hero, she
has enormous respect for him musically, but they've had a rocky
relationship. And, they're married and together, hence "take you
out to dinner". So it's describing a love/hate relationship.
Sarah suggests this could simply be another reference to Robert
De Niro! (cf. the Narna's "Robert De Niro's Waiting")]
Roll on the original
Highly strung out, spaced out, individual
Terminal sinner
[Self reference here. She think's she a true
original. Spaced out, a bit strange. Catholicism is haunting her
again: terminal sinner.]
I'm watching the world,
taking my time I'm waiting my turn,
I'm gonna shine And all the pretty people
that I used to see
Have died or moved away Or they're in recovery And all the
buildings where the faithless used to play Have crumbled into
clay And I don't know what to say I just don't know what to
say...
[Sarah says: friends who have died: Vaughan Toulouse - he
started the band - buildings (holbourn block tower...)]
I'm watching the world, taking my time I can drive, I can drive
etc.
Final part:
I declare my innocence I'm worth more than 60 pence
[60p: Price of a tacky newspaper trying to invade her
privacy? (most newspapers are cheaper than this, but could refer
to a "supermarket" tabloid]
Look I've got this shiny car I can drive, I can drive Yes baby,
I'm for real That's just the way I feel I can take you anywhere
Anytime, anytime
[I've overcome my mental problems/insecurities, I'm in
control now. Look out world!]
Everything I pass is old Everything I touch is gold
[The Narnas and Marcy are has-beens, but look at ME now!
I'm still around and successful]
Now I see the world unfold
I can drive, I can drive Fade: Yes, it's a steal Nothing that
you see is real
[Previously she said "yes baby, I'm for real",
but here's she revealing she's still putting on a bit of a brave
face to face the harsh pop world again and media spotlight.]
Get yourself a pair of wheels Get to drive, go and drive Come on,
come on...
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Peter reported (in a message I foolishly lost) that the full
video for "I Can Drive" was shown in a New York club this past
weekend.
And also the following:
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Date: Sun, 16 Jun 1996 19:12:42 -0400 (EDT)
From: binkyq@interport.net (Peter Eatroff/Jeff Bankoff)
Subject: I Can Drive remixes
Hey guys, I just got the UK promo 12" [LOXDJ
383] for it with 3 remixes. I think they pretty much suck. One
(Roger Weed Mix by Richard Fearless) is very trip-hop and slow,
and it just uses the sample of "I'm wasting my time/I'm gonna
shine." The other 2 mixes (Pull Down Your Pants Mix and Dub by
Rachel Auburn) are just generic club-y music. Basically these two
just sample "I can drive" and "Long live the queens." I'm just
not very thrilled with them..
More later... Peter
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Quote of the issue:
CIN: "...I CAN DRIVE HAS DEBUTED AT NO. 30..."
(
geocities.com/sunsetstrip/pavilion/3545) (
geocities.com/sunsetstrip/pavilion) (
geocities.com/sunsetstrip)