INXS – Mystify
#quotefromthe80s
I need perfection
Some twisted selection
That tangles me
To keep me alive
#INXS #Mystify
Mystify is a term that applies to some albums, that really transcend the idea of time. It’s an appropriate term because these album skyrocket into history, and thus, even after many decades, they are always fantastic and modern. But also because it is true that albums hit the market on a particular day, but they include so many great hits and videos, that they stay in the charts for more than one year, sometimes. In fact, after some months a new video is released, and the whole album flourishes again.
This is certainly the case with Kick, the masterpiece album of INXS, all in capital letters as always. INXS released this album in September 1987, but the fantastic success of Need you tonight, Devil inside, New sensation, and Never tear us apart, made it always new every day for more than one year. And it happened again in mid March 1989, when INXS released the fifth single and video, Mystify.
The song is one of the most particular of the album: in fact, it does not have a common structure made up of verses and choruses, with the voice entering after the classic instrumental introduction. It begins directly with a vocal attack, supported only by the piano and a snap of the fingers in time. Then, at the beginning of the second verse, all the instruments enter. It seems that the production house was not at all convinced of this song, they sort of hated it, and tried to make INXS change their mind in all ways. But of course, stubborn people recognize each other, and this only served to make the group even more determined to record this song.
Even the video, although relatively simple, in my opinion is a real gem. The opening part with Hutchence and Andrew Farriss playing it on the piano is just fantastic. In fact, the songs were born just like that: of the three Farriss brothers, Andrew was the one who contributed most to the writing of the songs, because he was able to play almost all instruments. And indeed there had been discussions within the group about who should be named among the songwriters. And so, the video shows us Andrew playing the basic piano melody, while Michael Hutchence refines the vocals.
The rest of the video is a crescendo: first the rest of the group joins what appears to be a rehearsal session or studio recording, and then culminates in the last part with the live performance. As if to say: the initial idea comes mainly from two people, then the others join, and then we get to record it and be able to present it on tours.
In short, Mystify is one of the most particular songs of one of the albums that have certainly left an important mark in the 80s. This album and all its songs, has contributed in a fundamental way to make history the fame of INXS, all caps.
INXS on Wikipedia
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