Brand New Thing

Click: Brand New Thing

 

Posting a 30 year old song called Brand New Thing seems like an odd thing to do. This one has been around since the early ’80s and that hardly qualifies it as brand-new. But time is a funny thing. When I sing this song, which had been on a long hiatus (I hate us), it still feels fresh. When you enjoy singing a song—and I must say I think I sing it much better nowadays—it actually renews itself as you perform it. A rote reading would kill it, I’m sorry to say and I thank the gods of music every day that I didn’t wind up singing a hit I can’t bear to hear at every gig. Yeah, thank you gods of music for not giving me a hit! This version is an outtake from the R&B Cadets only recording, Top Happy, which was on Twin-Tone Records, original home of the Replacements. I wonder whatever happened to them? This song and one called She’s Waiting, also on Top Happy always got people dancing and the thrill of seeing a crowd rush out to the floor to dance to something you have created is something special I’ll always remember about that time. It sort of spoiled me for future performances. As much fun as it is to sing my songs solo to smaller and more attentive crowds, it can’t compare. I’m wired that way.

© 2011 John Sieger