Italiano
Elton John ft. George Michael – Wrap Her Up
#quotefromthe80s
Is she foreign, legs eleven
Italian girls, take me to heaven
You pretty babies, from Paris, France
Crazy horses, love to dance
#EltonJohn #GeorgeMichael #WrapHerUp
In early December 1985, UK charts saw the entrance of a song released a few days before. This hit united two top stars of English music, though apparently very far away. About a month earlier, one of them, Elton John, an outstanding character and musician outside every classification, found a way to break through teens’ hearts with the release of his album “Ice on fire”, driven by a truly outstanding single, “Nikita”. A month later Elton, not yet “Sir”, launched this act of homage to the world of women and their beauty.
Aside from “Nikita”, and to some extent “Wrap her up”, the album was not considered among Elton John’s best. Indeed, his approach to the world of pop and electronics was considered a mistake and a failed attempt, despite his collaboration with the historical lyricist and author Bernie Taupin. It must be said that Elton John at that time began a descending path also from a personal point of view.
On the album “Ice on fire” Elton John was joined by many great stars for some outstanding duets, including Sister Sledge, Nik Kershaw, Roger Taylor and John Deacon of Queen. And of course, the guest star of this song, George Michael, absolute icon of those years.
If we read the lyrics today, many years later, we may find it a little sexist. Not vulgar or bad, but it’s interpreted from a male point of view, and basically today it might sound out of place. Elton John is absolutely enraptured by the femininity of women and would like to be able to wrapthem up and take them home. At that time, by the way, George Michael had not yet come out, nor had Elton John, who was still married to his wife Renate, although he had already touched on the subject of bisexuality.
The song hpwever was clearly very, very ironic, as the final part of the lyrics and video shows, when the two name a number of women from whom they were evidently fascinated. And quotes aren’t random, but they’re also fun.
Starting with icons Marlene Dietrich, Marylin Monroe and Brigitte Bardot, it is then up to George Michael to quote Doris Day, whom he also mentioned in “Wake me up before you go-go“. And on the next lap George Michael even quotes Samantha Fox, who had recently achieved success, and it is likely that the two had met several times, and so this was certainly a joking compliment between friends. And in fact, after Elton John mentioned Joan Collins, George Michael quotes Kiki Dee, an English singer who was a backup singer exactly for Elton John, and in fact she jokingly pops up among them at the time. Then there are some absolutely unlikely names like Nancy Reagan and Shirley Temple, just so we don’t miss anything.
“Wrap her up”, despite still reaching number three in the UK charts, was not very successful in the other countries. However, it remains a fun moment of collaboration between two great musicians.
Elton John and George Michael on Wikipedia
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