God Bless The 80s, Part IV: Rick Springfield
4 Comments Ryan Welton on Tuesday, September 11, 2007 at 11:32 PM.
It's hard to believe Richard Lewis Springthorpe is 58 years old.
Those of us over 30 know him as Rick Springfield, but most who are younger don't know him at all. Heck, they might only know him as that guy on General Hospital, playing Dr. Noah Drake, a role that he made famous from 1981 to 1983 but reprised in 2005.
So far, in my God Bless the 80s posts, I haven't exactly gone in order. I haven't established a pattern. Heck, I've just picked who I felt like listening to at the time, but after a couple of weeks to ruminate on the matter, I understand the significance of each pick to this point.
Olivia Newton-John was a heartthrob, but her music was always big and fat on the hooks. Lyrically, she could have been singing about deep-sea fishing, but structurally, there was no better pop music for a period of a couple years in the 80s.
Donald Fagen is smart 80s music, jazz fusion way beyond his years, way beyond my years, way beyond his era. In fact, the hit IGY really is probably the only evidence of that scientific phenomenon anybody under 50 remembers.
Billy Joel was a singer-songwriter pioneer who, frankly, erred a bit in the 1980s. While I liked "Tell Her About It," "Leave A Tender Moment Alone," and "Keeping The Faith," I could have done without the 50s concept album. When paired with Joel's work in the 1970s, it's clear that he was on a downward spiral.
So, where does that leave Rick Springfield?
Springfield was a musical and pop culture anomaly in that his pop work pleased pop fans, and his rock 'n roll was legitimately respected by fans and peers alike. There was always the story that while Sammy Hagar wrote "I've Done Everything For You," he always acknowledged that the Aussie really owned the song.
There's no doubt that Springfield was pop, but his early work in the 1980s (his music career spans back to the 1960s) actually carried an edge.
His career has been topped and forever will be by one song: "Jessie's Girl."
The 1981 No. 1 hit is really great for two reasons. First, the guitar riff at the beginning. It's unmistakable, and it was the first thing many male guitar-playing teens learned in the 1980s.
Second, the opening verse of "Jessie's Girl" is -- in my opinion -- pretty much unmatched lyrically in modern pop writing.
Jessie is a friend,
yeah, I know he's been
a good friend of mine
But lately something's changed
that ain't hard to define
Jessie's got himself a girl
and I want to make her mine
If I had to catalog 100 songs I wished I had written, that I think are truly brilliant, this would be one of them. Enjoy ...
Oh yes! One of the best songs of all times. :) But certainly not his only great song. I've been a life-long fan of his....and wow. That man has a huge, intelligent, rocking collection of tunes to listen to. I own all of his works, and I can say from experience, Rick is so much more than Jessie's Girl, like so many people think. That song IS a killer hit though...and the song and video are the very things that brought me into Rick fandom. (and it's never went away! lol And I don't want it to).
The best thing of all is seeing him LIVE. He puts on the most rockin' & energetic show of anyone I've seen in concert. And to think...he just turned 58. He has way more energy than other artists half his age.
Thanks Ryan for the kudos on Rick Springfield's music. Rick is highly underrated. The man is a lyrical genius!
Kelley
PS...Oh, and I must agree with you about Olivia. She's incredible! She's another of my favorite entertainers. That woman has a voice that just won't quit!!! Rick and Olivia...2 huge Aussie talents.
God Bless you! Rick Springfield is one of the most underrated musicians. I also love hearing when others get him. Jessie's Girl is a great song, but his later work is a lot deeper which I appreaciate.
It is amazing to me that he is 58. He seems way younger than that if you meet him in person. His live show is so awesome with so much energy.
Appreciate Rick Springfield's supreme talent right along with you. I agree that "jessie's girl' is one of the great songs of all time, though it's actually not my favorite RLS song. I adore "Don't Talk to Strangers", "Love Somebody" and "Beautiful You" (from his 2004 release entitled Shock/Denial/Anger/Acceptance).
Also know him as Dr. (handsome) Noah Drake and was thrilled to see/hear him sing a new song last month on the show. It rocks - I got it on itunes - "Who Killed Rock n Roll" - an edgy rockin' tune. Olivia Newton John surely has one sweet beautiful voice too. I remember seeing them both on a talk show in the 80s (Merv I think) and that was so fun - an Aussie invasion.
I have always enjoyed Springfields's music. I may be the only person who remembers his 1972 cartoon series, Mission Magic.
I saw him on television last week. he certainly is a testament to good plastic surgery. I would never have guessed he was 58.