Taking Sides: "Our Lips are Sealed" vs. "We Got the Beat"

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Just heard "We Got the Beat" on the new JACK fm for this first time in probably a year or two, and while it did immediately transport me back to my high school days....I realized it's kinda a lumpen, relatively beat-less song. I mean, yeah, there's a pulse, but it's pretty workmanlike.

"Our Lips Our Sealed," meanwhile, still sparkles and shines in the right places (if you ask me), especially when Jane W. keeps singing the middle-eight over the verses.

You may disagree.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 21:13 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't disagree.

In fact, "Head Over Heels" > "We Got The Beat" as well

― donut debonair (donut), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 21:17 (twenty-one years ago)

I'll take Our Lips Are Sealed. both fine songs though.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 21:18 (twenty-one years ago)

"Our Lips are Sealed" -- both versions -- is a pretty spectacular song and the first Go-Gos song I ever heard for that matter. But the ending of "We Got the Beat" -- when it breaks down to just vocals and drums, builds back and then slams into that final cut-off STOP -- is just breathtaking. Easily one of my favorite *moments* of music, now and then.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 21:19 (twenty-one years ago)

The Fun Boy Three's version of Our Lips Are Sealed is the definitive reading, I think; Terry Hall's morose whine was rarely put to better use.

― Palomino (Palomino), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 21:24 (twenty-one years ago)

The shimmery guitars of "Lips" have got it all over "We Got The Beat," which is a fine song if overplayed. And dig that middle eight!

Favorite Go-Go's song: "Turn To You."

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 21:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Ned, that's about the best shot anyone's going to get in, but "Our Lips Are Sealed" will (and should) take this one going away.

Lips > Heels > Vaca > Beat

― rogermexico (rogermexico), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 21:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Another vote for Lips.

― k/l (Ken L), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 21:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Lips definitely. "We Got The Beat" always sounded like a cheerleader routine to me, à la Toni Basil's "Mickey." "Our Lips Are Sealed" has more than one dimension and reveals itself in odd ways (though I'm mostly thinking of FB3's superior version).

― Dee Xtrovert (dee dee), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 21:43 (twenty-one years ago)

decided.

― The Sensational Sulk (sexyDancer), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 21:49 (twenty-one years ago)

But I'm still right. ;-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 21:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Lips wins.

― Davlo (Davlo), Thursday, 9 June 2005 00:56 (twenty-one years ago)

I can't stand "We Got The Beat," and I agree about "Head Over Heels" and even about "Vacation." How "Beat" ever became a hit is still beyond me.

― Hutlock (Hutlock), Thursday, 9 June 2005 01:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Ned Ragget, vox clamantis in deserto

― rogermexico (rogermexico), Thursday, 9 June 2005 01:06 (twenty-one years ago)

"Our Lips Are Sealed" by a mile.

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Thursday, 9 June 2005 01:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Lips all the way. The song just pulls me in immediately and the "hush my darling" ending is a nice touch.

― jim wentworth (wench), Thursday, 9 June 2005 01:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Lips for that bridge.

― Cunga (Cunga), Thursday, 9 June 2005 01:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Lips for those round-like backing vocals on the third verse.

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Thursday, 9 June 2005 01:27 (twenty-one years ago)

The FB3 version of Lips of course if only for the Talking Headsish guitar. I found it terribly exciting as a 9-10 year old to discover that some of the GoGos had actually deigned to hang around in Coventry (they did backing vocals on 'More Specials' as well I think?). Went looking for them with my big sister to no avail - however, earlier, roundabout when Ghost Town was number one, someone told us Terry Hall's address and we nipped round for his autograph. Door answered by spacey looking girlfriend who told us 'Terry isn't in' even though we could clearly see him in the mirror over her shoulder, skulking on a sofa. Had to content ourselves with getting 'SPECIALS' sewn in the back of our Harringtons, 10p a letter. Happy days of feeling stars in our midst - right now I own the actual pale lime telecaster the Specials always used and regularly say hello to Neville, Pauline Black (who lives down the road from me), John Shipley & Roddy Radiation. Don't meet your heroes. THey'll just try and cadge beers off you.

― Neil Kulkarni, Thursday, 9 June 2005 08:02 (twenty-one years ago)

love both songs but "our lips are sealed " draped in a spector - like wall of sound production and a shining example of girlie 60's girl group songs , then there's the sugar,candy floss,3 minute ecstacy rush of "we got the beat".
p.s. i liked the "vacation" video with girls on skis.

― celinda barlisle, Thursday, 9 June 2005 10:35 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.blackinbritain.co.uk/AZfiles/PaulineBlack.htm

― celinda barlisle, Thursday, 9 June 2005 10:37 (twenty-one years ago)

I like how "We Got The Beat" drops in a reference to the band's name ("Go-Go music really makes us dance"), but overall I'm partial to "Our Lips Are Sealed." (And I like "You Can't Walk In Your Sleep (If You Can't Sleep)" and "This Town" at least as much.)

― John Fredland (jfredland), Thursday, 9 June 2005 11:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Ned, that's about the best shot anyone's going to get in, but "Our Lips Are Sealed" will (and should) take this one going away.
Lips > Heels > Vaca > Beat

Bingo.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Thursday, 9 June 2005 12:02 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd take "Heaven is a Place on Earth" over "Beat" as well.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Thursday, 9 June 2005 12:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes! Bill is correct! Because they say in heaven love comes first.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Thursday, 9 June 2005 12:28 (twenty-one years ago)

No no no.

It's Heels > Lips > Vaca > Beat.

Though I think "Beat" has some laudable Belinda moments, specifically the little growl in her voice on "everybody get on your feet" and "jump bAAAack" over the breakdown. Poor girl never got that soulful ever again (do not speak to me of solo Belinda). Unfortunately it's ruined by the WOOOOOOOOOOO!

But that piano intro to "Head Over Heels" gets me every time, and it cemented my still-unabated love for Charlotte Caffey.

Other points: the "hush my darling" bit in "Lips" ruleth the land.

― The Mad Puffin, Thursday, 9 June 2005 12:36 (twenty-one years ago)

My reintro to "Our Lips are Sealed" was via I.M.'s 1981 box. It's much more for the ages than "We Got The Beat," which is more self-referential and inconsequential in a "Hey Hey, We're The Monkees" way.

However, I'll take the Stiff "We Got The Beat" over the IRS version.

― mike a, Thursday, 9 June 2005 12:39 (twenty-one years ago)

VACATION RULES U R ALL GAY

― J (Jay), Thursday, 9 June 2005 12:41 (twenty-one years ago)

and george harrison played guitar solo in "leave a light on".
i've mentioned this before but we can sing bon jovi's "you give love a bad name" to the music of "heaven is a place on earth".

― celinda barlisle, Thursday, 9 June 2005 13:11 (twenty-one years ago)

George said around the same time that it was one of the best things he's ever done, and he's right – an unexpected touch of class.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Thursday, 9 June 2005 13:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Belinda Carlisle is lovely.

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Thursday, 9 June 2005 14:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Not anymore she's not. She refuses to age gracefully and now resembles that plastic surgery catwoman whose name escapes me.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 9 June 2005 14:26 (twenty-one years ago)

It's a Jane composition right? About some affair she had with a rock star, I think. I would say Terry Hall, but that would be too simple.

― k/l (Ken L), Thursday, 9 June 2005 14:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, okay, she WAS lovely.

Oh, and "Our Lips Are Sealed" rules all.

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Thursday, 9 June 2005 14:27 (twenty-one years ago)

I am referring of course to "Our Lips Are Sealed."

― k/l (Ken L), Thursday, 9 June 2005 14:31 (twenty-one years ago)

All those other songs have their charms, but "Our Lips Are Sealed" is timeless perfection. And it so easily could have been less great than it is, recording-wise or song-wise. Also a great video, by the way. What other band could basically shoot a home movie in a convertable and make it so offhand and beautiful?

― Pete Scholtes, Thursday, 9 June 2005 16:00 (twenty-one years ago)

I am 99% certain that Jane and Terry Hall actually wrote "Lips" together.

― Hutlock (Hutlock), Thursday, 9 June 2005 16:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Minor keys usually trample major keys in my own personal cranium, so "Our Lips Are Sealed" gets the decision. And Alex is right about the non-ending middle-eight, nice touch. And (of course) those two tremeloed guitar chords that punctuate each repetition of the title.

But really, both are terrific pop singles (in addition to being "historically important" blah blah.)

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Thursday, 9 June 2005 17:06 (twenty-one years ago)

(xpost)
Yeah, that's what I think. I suppose it would be easy enough to check the credits.

― k/l (Ken L), Thursday, 9 June 2005 17:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes, Hall and Wieldin did write it.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Thursday, 9 June 2005 17:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Anyone here ever hear the slightly punkier Stiff Records 45 of "We Got The Beat"? I don't think its ever been on CD.

― Marshall Stax (Marshall Stax), Thursday, 9 June 2005 17:44 (twenty-one years ago)

I do seem to remember a different version of "We Got the Beat," yes. (And didn't it also serve as the opening track during the opening credits in Fast Times at Ridgemont High?)

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 9 June 2005 19:23 (twenty-one years ago)

another vote for Lips...Lipps...it's a genius song.

― edd s hurt (ddduncan), Thursday, 9 June 2005 22:32 (twenty-one years ago)

It's a great film opening, but I don't remember if that was a different version or not...

― Pete Scholtes, Friday, 10 June 2005 00:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Lips is great (the last verse particularly) but Vacation is better. But I vote for Beat above both. Favorite moment is the way the bridge SLAMS back into the main riff for the last verse.

― Rick Massimo (Rick Massimo), Friday, 10 June 2005 00:21 (twenty-one years ago)

"Our Lips" is one of the uniquely perfect choruses. I can't think of another song that pulls that weird minor key change.

― Jetlag Willy (noodle vague), Friday, 10 June 2005 00:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Now I'm going to plsy it on a loop til 6am whilst I finish off the wine rack.

― Jetlag Willy (noodle vague), Friday, 10 June 2005 00:37 (twenty-one years ago)

My friend the Go-Gophile, who has pictures of himself backstage with them when he was in high school, sez "Lips" by a hundred miles.

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Friday, 10 June 2005 00:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Favorite moment is the way the bridge SLAMS back into the main riff for the last verse.

Rah! Someone else knows what I'm talking about!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 10 June 2005 00:49 (twenty-one years ago)

It doesn't matter, anyway.

― Jetlag Willy (noodle vague), Friday, 10 June 2005 00:51 (twenty-one years ago)

The Go-Gos covered Buddy Holly?

― k/l (Ken L), Friday, 10 June 2005 00:54 (twenty-one years ago)

another vote for vacation. they're all such great trax tho.

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Friday, 10 June 2005 01:00 (twenty-one years ago)

x post

Nah, that's "It doesn't matter any more". Ironically, a hit after he was dead.

― Jetlag Willy (noodle vague), Friday, 10 June 2005 01:01 (twenty-one years ago)

"Our Lips Are Sealed" in a walk. It starts with the euphoric "Can you hear THEM!?!" and never lets up. Pure ponytailed glory.

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Friday, 10 June 2005 01:05 (twenty-one years ago)

It's the Go-Gos' "Wu Tang Clan Ain't Nothin' to Fuck With."

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Friday, 10 June 2005 01:09 (twenty-one years ago)

That is so OTM. (Currently on the 20-oddth play of the night. It just gets better and better and better. In a "makes me want to cry with its melancholy perfection" kinda way.)

― Jetlag Willy (noodle vague), Friday, 10 June 2005 01:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Our Lips Are Sealed has better teenage lyrics.

― Orbit (Orbit), Friday, 10 June 2005 02:16 (twenty-one years ago)

I hope our neighbours like the Go-Gos.

― Jetlag Willy (noodle vague), Friday, 10 June 2005 02:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Our Lips Are Sealed has the better melody.

― The Silent Disco of Glastonbury (Bimble...), Friday, 10 June 2005 02:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Are you Geir in disguise?

― Jetlag Willy (noodle vague), Friday, 10 June 2005 02:43 (twenty-one years ago)

n.b. That was a rhetorical question.

― Jetlag Willy (noodle vague), Friday, 10 June 2005 02:43 (twenty-one years ago)

n.b. I've forgotten how to spell rhetorical.

― Jetlag Willy (noodle vague), Friday, 10 June 2005 02:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Vacation over all.

― Jimmy Mod Is Great At Getting Us Into Trouble (ModJ), Friday, 10 June 2005 02:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Holy Jesus. Is there, like, a mercy rule up in this biznitch?

xpost
what I wouldn't give to have pictures of me with the Go-Gos in high school

or now, really, for that matter

― rogermexico (rogermexico), Friday, 10 June 2005 03:32 (twenty-one years ago)

["Our Lips Are Sealed" is] the Go-Gos' "Wu Tang Clan Ain't Nothin' to Fuck With."
-- gypsy mothra (meetm...), June 10th, 2005.

This may be my favorite post ever on ILM.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Friday, 10 June 2005 08:21 (twenty-one years ago)

George said around the same time that it was one of the best things he's ever done, and he's right – an unexpected touch of class.
-- Alfred Soto (sotoal...), June 9th, 2005.
it's close to "devil's radio"

― gebbie dibson, Friday, 10 June 2005 10:02 (twenty-one years ago)

The FB3 version of Our Lips Are Sealed is my favourite song ever.

― Ian Edmond (ianedmond), Friday, 10 June 2005 10:43 (twenty-one years ago)

nineteen years pass...

There's a weapon
That we must use
In our defense:
Silence

― Mrs. Ippei (Steve Shasta), Thursday, 19 September 2024 15:13 (one year ago)

otm

― the talented mr pimply (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 19 September 2024 15:16 (one year ago)

Misheard lyric

Can you hear them? They talk about us
Tearing my ass way back of the bus

Knew that couldn't be it, but I never bothered to look the correct ones up until right now

― peace, man, Thursday, 19 September 2024 15:27 (one year ago)

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