So…remember I was doing a countdown of the 100 Greatest Songs of the Eighties? Well, funny thing. I accidentally deleted the playlist from my iTunes, and that’s the only place I had it. Yes, I’m stupid. So, instead of reconstructing the entire list, I’ve decided to forgo it and make Infatueighties a regular column spotlighting some of the best songs, albums and artists of my favorite decade of music. By the way, the #1 song was “Billie Jean”. Just in case you were wondering.
Anyway, has anyone else been watching VH-1’s Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 80s show this week? I’ll admit, I’m a sucker for these kinds of lists, and seeing clips of these songs is giving me a serious nostalgia jones. Right at #100 was this little ditty, a duet that became the first and only solo hit from E Street Band Clarence Clemons.
After the “Born in the U.S.A” tour had made its’ rounds, Clemons decided to step into the studio and see if some of that leftover Bruce magic could rub off on him, and for one great song, it did. While “You’re a Friend of Mine” is a little more lightweight (and significantly more cheery) than the average E-Street fare, the sax sound and the song’s bounce were enough to make even casual fans recognize it as a Bruce offshoot.
Why do I like this song? Because I was 9 when it came out and still clung to romantic notions of what friendship was all about. Come to think of it, I still do. It’s a simple song of devotion between two men, and…OK, I’ll stop.
Clemons never had another hit, but considering his other gig, I don’t think he minded too much. I also (somewhat embarrassingly) admit that this is the only song featuring Jackson Browne (except for “Doctor My Eyes”, which I only know because the Jackson 5 covered it…oh, and “Somebody’s Baby”) that I could recognize within 30 seconds of it coming on.
And isn’t it nice that Daryl Hannah showed up to do background vocals and appear in the video?
