For me Beautiful Girl is the most delicate, beautiful and tender song in their catalogue. I was unaware of the Bono connection until it was posted elsewhere on these forums but you can definitely hear his falsetto (which was prominent in U2's own work at this time) on the backing vocals. It's a surprise in a way as I never knew Bono and Andrew Farriss were friends. What's also surprising is how poorly this performed in the UK charts. Even more staggering is that a band who could sell out Wembley stadium only ever had one top 10 hit in the UK!
Yea that is all just plain weird to me. I guess the only thing that makes it understandable from my perspective, is that U2 had a big presence internationally from very early on. Whereas Inxs had seemingly very little international presence until Kick exploded.... I suppose with such a blinkered vision of the band, and with X being a sort of Kick pt2, most people didn't realise how diverse the band's approach had been across their career.... Sadly the deeper I look at this, the more it seems X was a stumbling block for the band, that from a commercial perspective they never recovered from, because it created a false impression in the majority of the public about who the band were. Not that it is a bad album, but I get the feeling it was the wrong album for the band's career at the time... Idk, just thoughts
Beautiful Girl is not a simple love song - there’s a sadness that permeates the lyrics. I love the way it builds from such a quiet beginning to the main rhythm. And yet again, Michael sings this perfectly. Another winner in a big way.
Beautiful Girl 4.5/5 - This is a GREAT song. I love it. It’s quite tender and flows really well without ever being corny. It came at the right time in my life as well - late teens, first big love and all that. Like others, I’m surprised that it didn’t do better. It got plenty of airplay I seem to remember but other bands had taken over somewhat by then -U2 with Achtung Baby, Depeche Mode with Songs of Faith and Devotion, even Duran Duran had just had a big comeback with Ordinary World and their Wedding Album (which has a dose of INXS influences in it. Drowning Man?). I didn’t know about Bono being on this but he, Michael and Simon Le Bon were all good drinking buddies (The Lead Singers Club), so I can see how some sounds have permeated in each other’s work.
My two cents: I think the selling of Michael as a sex symbol hurt their credibility and sold them short. Like you say, most people didn't know about their experimental earlier stuff, the image burned into their brains was the sexy lead singer singing about how he needed you tonight with a bunch of good looking guys behind him. (Let's face it, they were nearly a boy band in terms of handsomeness.) When tastes changed in the early '90s and 'artistry' became more important in rock, the jump was just too far for most people and INXS got left behind. U2 and R.E.M. didn't have this problem.
So “Beautiful Girl” is yet another fantastic song and another great example of how unjust the world is that this wasn’t a bigger hit. Whereas “Baby Don’t Cry” is a song all about going BIG, “Beautiful Girl” is all about going small and staying within itself. One of the secrets to it’s power is that it never goes over the top. Weird question: Does anyone know what that noise is in the first verse right after Michael sings “Running from a bad home”? It’s always bothered me!
Sounds like a hand clap .... Maybe it's supposed to be a slamming door - "running from a bad home " ??
Beautiful Girl: Easily one of my favorites! I remember this song getting some heavy airplay in my neck of the woods. However, looking at the charts, I am really disappointed that it didn't chart any higher. A shame really, 'cos it's a beautiful ballad. I love the simplistic arrangement of the song; The piano and guitar reminds me of a lullaby and with Micheal's soft delivery of his vocal, seals that for me. Like I said, the band can deliver a solid ballad and in this case, it's a classic, quintessential INXS track of the era.
The subject matter of Beautiful Girl contains a theme that many people probably expected INXS not to write about. Especially since, at the time, anorexia & bulimia were rarely discussed publicly. Regardless, the song has as all the right qualities in a ballad for it to be memorable and enjoyable. Musically, the keyboard/guitar arpeggiations and textural instrumental components throughout the minimalistic arrangement support the seriousness of the lyrical content accordingly. And once Kirk's saxophone lines emerge slowly before the outro, they seem to offer the musical equivalent of a sense of hope for anyone suffering from the illnesses in question. On occasion, INXS have showed us they have a sensitive side. But this time, it's accentuated and they aren't afraid to put it on full display. What a wonderfully heart-wrenching ballad and video. The Canadian music video station, MuchMusic, played this near daily in early 1993. And partly because of that, it was a top 10 hit here. In My Living Room is full of ideas that should've wound up on WTWYA in one way or another. But unfortunately, they're not fully-realized enough. Underneath The Colors' Chicken Mix contains some instrumentation not included in the original mix. But it tends to drag out and doesn't elevate the track's enjoyability much.
Beautiful Girl Those piano notes are a “thing” all by themselves. Beautifully recorded and crystal clear, especially after the raucous cacophony of “Baby Don’t Cry”. Not a huge hit, but it has stood the test of time as noted by its continued popularity on streaming platforms. Also of note, again, is the solid bass work. As noted earlier, it is the restraint that helps make it such a good song. By not “going for it”, the song feels understated and elegant.
For the life of me I thought ‘Beautiful Girl’ was a top 10 hit here in the states until this thread. Absolutely criminal. I clearly recall playing it and hearing it on the radio constantly back then. Had no idea
Wishing Well We open with this nice high pitched synth sound and then move into this almost Peter Gunn type bass line, that has overtones of blues in it. This has a nice jazz/blues type organ throwing in the chords with a certain staccato feel that is very effective. A little stab of rhythm guitar and then Michael comes in. If you ever want to taste it Go down to the wishing well Poison in the well won't make it Keep yourself as strong as can be All men I'll take you Take you down and tell you why I said woman gonna take you Take you down a well that's wide If you ever want to taste it Go down to the wishing well Poison in the well won't make it Keep yourself as strong as can be Take it to the river Take it to the world I say loving heart Gonna show the way Gonna show the way Gonna show the way Gonna show the way Gonna show the way If you ever want to taste it Go down to the wishing well Poison in the well won't make it Keep yourself as strong as can be All men Watch ya seeing Living it all for the life Say all men what ya seeing Gonna change your ways Gonna change your ways Gonna change your mind If you ever want to taste it Go down to the wishing well Poison in the well won't make it Keep yourself As strong as can be If you ever gonna taste it Never look right or left look ahead I'm the healer You're believing Gonna carry ya to the end Gonna carry ya to the end If you ever want to taste it Go down to the wishing well Poison in the well Won't make it Gotta keep yourself As strong as can be I'm a healer I'm a healer Songwriters: Michael Hutchence / Andrew Farriss Wishing Well lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc, Universal Music Publishing Group This track is really smooth, and has a really cool flow. Michael is delivering this really nice laid back kind of vocal and it adds to this really nice feel. Even when the guitar comes in, even though it has a bit of bite to the tone, it is still in the laid back smooth groove part of the musical spectrum. Around the middle we get a chorus where the bass has slid up the neck and the bottom end drops out from a bit, but it works as a really effective dynamic change up. There's a lot to like about this track, but the main thing that gets me in, is the very cool vibe that the track has. A really nice understated groove.
Reference guide The band's origins May 1980 Simple Simon / We Are The Vegetables Aug 1980 Live Paris Theatre, Sydney Oct 1980 Inxs (debut album) On A Bus Doctor Just Keep Walking - On TV Learn To Smile Jumping In Vain - live - interview Roller Skating - live Body Language Newsreel Babies Wishy Washy - live Just Keep Walking b-side Scratch Mar 1981 The Loved One/The Unloved One Sept 1981 Stay Young/Lacavocal Oct 1981 Underneath The Colours Stay Young Horizons Big Go Go Underneath The Colours Fair Weather Ahead Night Of Rebellion Follow Barbarian What Would You Do? Just To Learn Again Prehistoria - bside 1982 INXSive Live 8/12/1982 -Sydney Four Corners - Flavour Of The Month After Dark Interview Oct 1982 Shabooh Shoobah - Ad The One Thing - 12" - live - countdown To Look At You - 12" - live 84 Spy Of Love - live Soul Mistake - live Here Comes - live Black And White - live Golden Playpen - live Jan's Song - live Old World New World - live Don't Change - Countdown b-sides Space Shuttle Phantim Of The Opera Sax Thing You Never Used To Cry Here Comes II Go West Long In Tooth 1982 Freedom Soundtrack - with Don Walker Speed Kills Forest Theme Stop The Drop - live Feb 83 Inxs at LA Zoo Mar 1983 Live At Perkins Palace May 1983 US Festival Sept 1983 Dekadance US Black And White 12" To Look At You 12" The One Thing 12" Here Come II new version Apr 1984 The Swing Original Sin - single - video Melting In The Sun - video I Send A Message - single - live - live - live Dancing On The Jetty - video The Swing - live Johnson's Aeroplane Love Is (What I Say) - video - videos Face The Change - live Burn For You - single mix - live All The Voices - video B-sides Jans Song/To Look At You (live) Mechanical The Harbour Johnson's Aeroplane alt. April 1984 Dekadance Original Sin - Dance Mix I Send A Message - ext Burn for You - ext Dancing On The Jetty - remix Melting In The Sun - remix Love Is ( What I Say) - remix Jackson 1985 The Swing And Other Stories (video) The video Merry Christmas (fan club) Oct 1985 Listen Like Thieves What You Need - 12" Listen Like thieves - 12" - video Kiss The Dirt - video - 12" Shine Like It Does - live Good + Bad Times Biting Bullets This Time Three Sisters Same Direction One X One Red Red Sun b-sides Sweet As Sin I'm Over You Different World Begotten Six Knots 1985 The Living Inxs 1985 Oz For Africa Feb 1986 Do What You Do - Pretty In Pink Dec 1986 Dogs In Space Dogs In Space Golf Course The Green Dragon Rooms For The Memory - movie version Jul 1987 Laying Down The Law - Lost Boys 1987 Australian Made 1987 Inxs and Jimmy Barnes Good Times - live Oct 1987 Kick Guns In The Sky - Kookaburra mix - Kick Ass Mix New Sensation - Nick's 12" mix Devil Inside - video - radio edit - 12" mix Need You Tonight - full video - Mendelsohn Mix - Ben Liebrand Mix - Andrew Farris Mediate The Loved One Wild Life Never Tear Us Apart - video - alt. Mystify - video - Chicago demo Kick Calling all Nations - Alt. mix Tiny Daggers b-sides On The Rocks I'm Coming (Home) Move On Aug 6th 1988 Toronto Live 1988 Kick The Video Flick 1989 In Search Of Excellence Sep 1989 Max Q Sometimes - video/straight rock mix -Rock House ext. - dub The Way Of The World - 12" Ghost Of The Year Everything Concrete Zero-2-0 - Terry Todd Remix Soul Engine Buckethead Monday Night By Satellite Tight Ot-Ven-Rot b-sides Love Man Zero 2 0 Sept 1990 X Suicide Blonde - earth - devastation - milk - demolition - 7" nik - performance - video Disappear - 12" - live - Morales Mix The Stairs Faith In Each Other By My Side - demo Lately Who Pays The Price Know The Difference Bitter Tears - 12" -instr On My Way Hear That Sound b-sides Everybody Wants You Tonight Middle Beast What You Need Cold Cut Force The Other Side Soothe Me Nov 1991 Live Baby Live part 1 part 2 part 3 part 4 part 5 Shining Star Documentary Aug 1992 Welcome To Wherever You Are Questions - Instrumental Heaven Sent - Gliding Version - video Communication - live Taste It - video - 12" - live Not Enough Time - remix - video All Around Baby Don't Cry - video - orchestra mix Beautiful Girl - alt video - live Wishing Well The Indian Song It Ain't Easy 11th Revolution Deepest Red Light The Planet Firma Terror In My Living Room Underneath The Colours Chicken Mix
Wishing Well Great track. It has interestingly mysterious eerie synth sounds, a chunky bass line, and by the time we get to the horn lines in the chorus I’m totally sold. Is there something sleazy about this song the same way there is in “Taste It”? Maybe, and I like it.
The “Courier extended mix” of Wishing Well is a nice alternate version of the track: This was a Bside on the 1994 “The Strangest Party” single, and its apparently remixed by Andrew Farris himself - not a 3rd party remixer.
The rhythm of Wishing Well is stunning, perfect for the song’s voodoo lyrics. It’s yet another track which I love.
Yep, Wishing Well (and most of Side 2) is great because they're not swinging for the fences, just being loose and funky.
Wishing Well has this unusual blend of mid-tempo funk / blues rock and lounge lizard-ish jazz grooves. Whether it's Andrew's unique high / low pitched keyboard sounds, the clear tone / distorted guitar riffs in the verses and choruses, Jon's higher pitched (piccolo?) snare drum tone, or even Michael's positive & affirmational lyrics, this is a very cool track. Contrast has almost always worked well for INXS. And considering the unique textures this song has to offer, they are exceptionally good at presenting contrasting elements here. Despite not necessarily being strong enough to have been a single, WW is a very solid album track. The instrumental mix includes rawer instrumental mixes and fleshes out some of the parts and differing snare drums sounds/fills not included and/or buried in the original mix. I could listen to this all day! The Courier extended mix is somewhat boring in comparison but has a semi-cool hip hop groove embedded into it. But I like it.
"Wishing Well" starts off the last third of the album, coming in as the last notes of "Beautiful Girl" fade away. It starts off with a nice shuffle groove on the organ along with a steady bassline. Song plays with some tasty mellow vibes throughout while showing off great horn and organ arrangements. It plays really well as a lounge-like song you have on in the background while having a drink. Very relaxing.
Back On Line We start off with this kind of hesitation, and then drop into this cool groove ... who'd of thought lol ... These guys were really good at dropping into a cool groove. Then we get this keyboard melody .... and although it is nothing like a sixties sound, the way it is set up kind of reminds me of a sixties thing .... not a song in particular ... but the keyboard melody almost sounds like it should be a sitar or something. I can't really explain it... but it feels like a late sixties vibe for some reason.... anyway. Maybe there's something in me Trying to hitch another ride Have you ever felt this moment When you're looking out of control All the ways I could have taken Just add up to indecision I'm gonna get this back on line To me there's no reason why All my troubles soon be leaving Wash away the pain of mine Get me to the place I'm standing There's a reason down below Maybe there's something in me Trying to take another ride Have you ever felt the moment When you're losing all control I'm gonna get this back on line To me there's no reason why All my troubles soon be leaving Wash away the pain of mine All my troubles soon be leaving All my troubles soon be leaving All my troubles soon be leaving All my troubles soon be leaving (Mine) (Mine) All my troubles soon be leaving (Mine) All my troubles soon be leaving (Mine) All my troubles soon be leaving (Mine) (Mine) (Mine) (Mine) (Mine) (Mine) (Mine) Jon Farriss and Gary Beers are just really winning on this. These two guys have probably been the revelation of the thread to me. they connect so well, and groove so easily. Beers seems to always put down just the right bassline and here we have that again. The whole song seems to rest on that vibe they create and everything else is just colouring in This isn't a very long song, and to some degree there isn't really that much to it, but it does just what it needs to in the time it has been allocated. Lyrically we are looking at having gone slightly astray, and just getting our groove back and not just wallowing in the fact that we went slightly left when we should have gone straight. Another thing about this track is the different textures of the keys and guitar that sit on top of the groove just keep it interesting and rolling along... Again another really good arrangement from the guys. Not my favourite track on the album, but a very cool song that holds the album in the zone and keeps us moving in the right direction. Solid album track.
Back On Line I can never remember this song’s melody or chorus, but then when I do hear it I always find I like it. Last week one day I had it in my head though, and I couldn’t figure out what song I was humming. Go figure. This would have fit well on X, especially with this keyboard sound. The guitar break is pretty good too - nice sound, laid back. The sudden ending feeds right into the next track. It’s not that songs like Back On Line, Strange Desire, Wishing Well and All Around are the best-ever, but I like all of them in the context of the album because these tracks sit in amongst the tall trees like Beautiful Girl & Not Enough Time and keep the flow going. If every song was a potential single then they’d be calling too much attention to themselves and it would probably spoil the general vibe,
