Downright Plain
I Can See It in Your Eyes - Men at Work (Blast from the Past Tuesday)
A few years ago, I got into a Men at Work phase. I had listened to “Who Can It Be Now” and of course, “Down Under”, but upon hearing “Overkill” for the first time, I was totally hooked. I loved the way they could create a sound that really swallowed you up, and I was particularly enamored with Colin Hay’s vocals. This meant I was ecstatic to receive a 19 track Definitive Collection, so excited to dive deeper into their discography. I loved everything I heard, from the more silly side that emerged with songs like “Dr. Heckyll & Mr. Jive” and “People Just Love to Play With Words” to the catchy steadiness of tunes like “Blue for You” and “It’s a Mistake”. However, the more I kept going back to the collection, the more I found myself particularly obsessed with one song, “I Can See It in Your Eyes”.
It’s not loud or soft, doesn’t have particularly tough vocals or a strange time signature. In fact, I’d venture to say that the song is downright plain, holding a low profile that makes it more overlooked than I personally think it should be. “I Can See It in Your Eyes” is a classic look-back song, but one that saves a pretty devastating twist until the end. What seems to be sweetly nostalgic is proved to be naive desperation, a lyrical tour of what the protagonist thinks was beautiful, yet wasn’t seen that way by another. The music underscores this perfectly, bouncing and bright on the happier moments and spreading out longways for the tougher parts. I’ve always loved the pre-chorus section of the song, and I think there’s a couple reasons why. For one, they hold the lyrics that allow Hay to portray the most conflicting emotions, something he does extremely well. But it’s also the part of the song where the backing first reflects that something is wrong, the addition of a gentle electric guitar guiding the protagonist towards their devastating realization. In terms of small details, I also have a fondness for the drum rolls that break out for only a few seconds at a time, a real manifestation of the charged emotions this song deals with. Plus, a song that features the type of keyboard sparkle that is featured in the intro of this one will always be a great one to me!!
“I Can See It in Your Eyes” is a beautifully vulnerable song, one that is simple but doesn’t hold back on making an impact. It really lends itself to any situation, but I find it is particularly good as a song that you can really think to, one that is comforting and willing to stick with you no matter what.
Got something I should hear? Let me know here!
Follow Ear Bites on Instagram here!
Follow Ear Bites on Spotify here!