Why am I crushing on The Motels?

[Indigo Al]

Is it the sad, mournful synth lines?

Is it Martha (Reeves?) voice?

Is it because "Celia" is not only a tight song and composition, but adarkly disturbing song?

Why why why?

[DDM]

I like "Only the Lonely," "Take the L," "Shame," & "Suddenly (Last Summer)."

The Motels were in the running to sing "Take My Breath Away" for Top Gun, but the movie producers chose Berlin instead.

[Indigo Al]

I like "Only the Lonely," "Take the L," "Shame," & "Suddenly (Last Summer)."

The Motels were in the running to sing "Take My Breath Away" for Top Gun, but the movie producers chose Berlin instead.

Interesting. I don't love the song, but I'm glad it went to Berlin. I think Suddenly is actually better than Only the Lonely.

[Ontir]

Why are you crushing on them?

Is it because since someone "took the 'L'," you know that "only the lonely can play?"

They were a great band. I can't imagine Take My Breath Away by the Motels, though. It would be an entirely different song, all togeher.

[scratchie]

I recently pulled their first album out of the 50c bin at a local record store. "Total Control" is one of the best songs of the 70s (Bogart, are you listening?), and one of the best examples I can think of where the structure of the song mirrors its content (is there a word for that?).

[howyadoin]

Is it Martha (Reeves?) voice?

Martha Davis.

And "Suddenly Last Summer" was flawless pop.

[the_coldest_sun]

I just recently discovered the Motels myself. I'm 24 so they were before my time. I work the graveyard shift at a 24-hr Walgreens and they play "Suddenly Last Summer" pretty regularly. When I first heard it, I thought "what an odd, interesting catchy tune". I couldn't stop singing it after learning the lyrics by hearing it over the course of a few days. I finally downloaded it and am thinking about doing a cover of it. Good stuff, that song.

They play "Only the Lonely" at work too, but I didnt even realize it was by them as well. Now that I think about it, I'm not surprised. Her voice is something.

[rick]

Martha Davis had such a great voice.

Not pretty in the traditional sense, but gritty and sad, with this great undertone.

I really liked the Motels and I'm glad to see them getting some love up here.

[DDM]

I just recently discovered the Motels myself. I'm 24 so they were before my time. I work the graveyard shift at a 24-hr Walgreens and they play "Suddenly Last Summer" pretty regularly. When I first heard it, I thought "what an odd, interesting catchy tune". I couldn't stop singing it after learning the lyrics by hearing it over the course of a few days. I finally downloaded it and am thinking about doing a cover of it. Good stuff, that song.

They play "Only the Lonely" at work too, but I didnt even realize it was by them as well. Now that I think about it, I'm not surprised. Her voice is something.

Here are the original videos:

"Suddenly Last Summer"

"Only the Lonely"

"Take The L"

"Shame"

"Total Control" (live)

[rick]

Here are the original videos:

"Suddenly Last Summer"

"Only the Lonely"

"Take The L"

"Shame"

"Total Control" (live)

Isn't youtube just the coolest thing.

[scratchie]

"Total Control" (live)

Feh. I think that's lip synched.

[Jessica Drew]

The Motels had some great hit singles, and Davis' sadly-sensual voice is one of pop-rock's most underrated. My favorite of theirs is "Suddenly, Last Summer" (and I don't remember if the comma is in this song's title or in the title of the Tennessee Williams play), and I think it's the synth tones that tips the scale over the bands other songs. Those synth tones--the ones that come after the chorus--capture the humidity of the Deep South (why the Deep South? 'Cause I live there) better than any sound in any other song I've ever heard.