This week, I’ve had “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” by Looking Glass #OnRepeat. As I mentioned in a previous post, I have been anxiously awaiting the release of the second Guardians of the Galaxy movie, and I’ve been using the sound track to tide me over until then.
Looking Glass is a music group from New Jersey that was semi-popular during the early 1970s, and was a strong part of the Jersey Shore sound. Their music mixed Rock’n’Roll, R&B, Country, Soft Rock, Pop, and Doo-Wop music, and some of their most well-known songs are “Golden Rainbow” and “Jimmy Loves Mary-Anne.”
“Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” was written and composed by the band’s lead guitarist and vocalist, Elliot Lurie. The song became the most popular song for the band, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for a week and staying on the chart for four months. The song talks about Brandy, a barmaid in a port town who falls in love with a sailor who doesn’t want to be tied down and barely ever comes home. The music almost betrays the words of the song; while lyrics are sad and full of longing, the melody and arrangement is light and playful. I always loved listening to this song as a girl because it reminds me of old children songs and folk music–lyrics that have a bittersweet or subtly tragic meaning set to a light-hearted arrangement. This type of song is the kind that gets stuck in your head, but also tugs at your heartstrings, as you think about the barmaid’s lonely life. Music just isn’t written like this anymore.
Take a listen below:
Are there any songs you can’t stop listening to? Leave a comment below!