The Great Debate

Him + Answering Machine - Rupert Holmes (Blast from the Past Sunday)

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Every family has their traditions. Whether that be having a nice dinner together on Sundays, getting ice cream on Fridays, or going fishing every once in a while, these activities are usually a sweet and wholesome time for family fun. Well, I’d like to counter that by introducing one of my family traditions; debating about whether “Him” or “Answering Machine” take the title of Rupert Holmes’ greatest song. (No, the Pina Colada song is not and will never be in the running. Sorry to all of its many fans.)

The sides are simple — my parents insist that “Him” is superior, while my sister is willing to defend “Answering Machine” with her life. I’ve never gotten into this debate, but it’s not because I’m scared to. My opinion changes quite often, and so I wouldn’t want one of the songs to become my signature argument only for the other to be the one I like more.

For example, a few weeks ago, all that I could think about was “Him”. All the errands I ran were soundtracked by the song, and the obsession went so far that I wore my earbuds in the grocery store just so I could hear it non-stop. It’s a laid back style for such a dramatic song, soft chords strummed on an acoustic guitar to soundtrack a man confronting his wife about her affair. A big part of what I love about this song are Holmes’ vocals themselves, as they build in volume and intensity as the lyrics become more serious, climaxing on moments such as “she’ll say ‘aw, he’s just a friend’/and i’ll say ‘oh, i’m not blind’”. The track follows a narrator who is both defeated and motivated due to his situation, making it one of the most engaging story-driven songs I’ve ever heard. Extra points issued for a slow-scatting section in the middle and a great string arrangement for the chorus.

While “Answering Machine” has not been one of my latest obsessions, it’s a song that certainly has the ability to pull me in every time I hear it. It has a punctuating beat that’s perfect for nodding your head to, and a smoothly staccato electric guitar rhythm that’s really cool to hear. Holmes has an intimate vocal style throughout the song, reciting the lyrics with a sly smile and perfect inflection. The best part of “Answering Machine” has to be the beeps that play right before and after each “message” is given. Little details like this go a long way for my taste, and so the dialing noises and robotic synths that take over every once in a while make “Answering Machine” a pretty strong contender. Extra points issued for the female voice that doubles Holmes on the woman’s message and the telephone-quality fade out that closes the song.

As you can see, I’m not lying when I say that I can’t choose. They’re both stellar songs in their own right, ones that sit back-to-back on the same album if you can believe it. However, just because I’m indecisive doesn’t mean everyone has to be. So, for the very first interactive Ear Bites review, I’d like to open up a poll/the comment section for the readers below. “Answering Machine” or “Him”? The choice is yours.

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