"All of This and Nothing" is a series of weekly posts, each about one song I really love, by an artist I haven't featured in the previous This Year, Portions For Foxes, or Better Things series. It alternates between Obscure and Famous songs; feel free to argue either way if you're so inclined. See the introduction for more.
We swing back to "famous" this week, with a song you'll recognize, at least if you're of my generation: Chris Isaak's Wicked Game.
I'm embedding the full-length version below; the video - which I saw on MTV at the time; yes, I am old - is for the single edit, which I don't like as much. But that's out there as well, for anyone looking for classy black-and-white people canoodling without too many clothes on.
One thing that surprised me, looking at the lyrics now: I always thought it was "this world is only gonna break your heart," but it seems to be "girl," which seems smaller and less important. Sure, any particular person could break your heart, but I prefer the version of the song in my head.
And we can all do that, if we want. No one's going to stop you from having your own version of a song in your head. (Or rotating a cow, if you want something visual that's not too abysmal.)
I usually prefer my bad-love songs to be "I am full of woe" rather than "look what you did to me," but this is of the latter type, and Isaak's mournful tone and quiet confidence sells it. This is a quintessentially sad song, something to put on late at night while you're having too much of whatever intoxicant you prefer, and just wallow.
The lyrics could easily come off as "this is all your fault, you evil witch you" in lesser hands; it's a tribute to Isaak that they don't - this is all about his pain and what-might-have-been.
What a wicked game you played to make me feel this way
What a wicked thing to do to let me dream of you
What a wicked thing to say you never felt this way
What a wicked thing to do to make me dream of you
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