For My Sunday Song #249 and the site’s 1,500th post, we are talking about the song “Listen Like Thieves” by INXS. The song is the title track to the album ‘Listen Like Thieves which was released on October 14, 1985. The album went to #11 in the U.S. and sold over 2 million thanks to songs like this one. This song was the final single off the album and went to #54 on the Billboard Hot 100 just missing the Top 40 in large part due to a lack of a video which I am not sure why one wasn’t done as these guys were quite a hit with the ladies and a video would’ve helped immensely.
The song was written by the whole band…or at least they whole band got credit for this one. The lyrics were written by Michael Hutchence as he was learning quickly how the press were shaping his and the band’s image. He new what the media was good for, but he also didn’t trust them. It doesn’t look like he mistrusted them for the band’s image, but it was more along the lines of how the media interpreted the world events. He saw that they shaped a certain narrative and this was back in 1985. Imagine what he would think about the media today. The song is basically a warning that we need to “really” listen to the media don’t trust everything you hear. Question everything. If you listen like thieves then you are stealing what the media is telling you and making that what you actually believe without doing your own research and coming to the conclusion for yourself. It is basically a call to people to stop being sheep. Stop following other people, stealing their thoughts as your own. Be your own self. Your future is yours and that it is all in your hands. No one is going to do it for you. You are all you need to make things happen. Get off your ass and do it for yourself.
Musically, the song is pop/new wave perfection. Opening with a quick guitar riff from Tim Farriss and then Jon Farris does a barrage of drum hits and then song immediately kicks in to gear. It is happy, uplifting tempo and sound that gets you moving with a driving beat throughout. The keyboards from Andrew Farriss are used sparingly for added effect and impact. Michael Hutchence on vocals, sings with a charm and swagger that will make the ladies swoon and the guys jealous. The song is an example of a band that was up and coming and finding their voice both literally and figuratively.
Give the song a listen and let me know what you think. Is it a band on the rise? Their next album is ‘Kick’ where they explode and hit superstardom. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful and Happy Sunday!!
“Listen Like Thieves”
On the talk back show
On the radio
At the local bar
In the hot traffic
By the red tail lights
Everybody’s down on their knees
Listen like thieves
But who needs that
When it’s all in your hands
And we take it down
To the end of town
Where they have control
But they’re loosing touch
When the lights go out
You are all you need
You are all you need
So don’t hesitate
There’s no time to waste
You just do it for yourself
Written by Michael Hutchence, Andrew Farriss, Jon Farriss, Tim Farriss, Kirk Pengilly and Garry Gary Beers
Congrats on 1500.
Great song for it and a cool funky bass groove
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Thanks. I can’t believe it has been that many. I didn’t think I could come up with that many ideas.
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Wasn’t there that Mad Max type video for this?
LIsten like thieves hooked me on Inxs. Bought the cassette.
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I don’t remember. I might have to go look it up…but not this second. I got to write another post this morning.
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One of the first songs of theirs I heard but i didn’t know what it was called. I bought Kick thinking it would be on it and it wasn’t. But that was a great album so I didn’t mind.
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If you had to make a mistake on an album, Kick is a good one to do it.
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One of their best songs. Hutchence’s vocal is brilliant on here, too.
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I’ve grown to like their earlier stuff. A lot of great songs.
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They were a pretty great band before they were a huge band, I guess.
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Great back story on this tune John. Congrats on 1500 posts dude. Your a stellar writer.
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Thank you sir. That means a lot.
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I agree! Looking forward to your posts. Favorites being the friday releases lists, album reviews, ranking lists and these Sunday songs. Relistened to lot of stuff I had forgot I have liked in the past. Thanks for those!
At the moment I’m playing Dylan since he’s 80th is coming up tomorrow. Was looking for Desire and realized it has gone missing!!! So listening to unplugged instead.
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80…crazy. All these guys have to stop aging. They need to take lessons from Keith Richards.
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Congrats! Good choice of song too! wish these guys were still around.
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Yeah, I miss these guys. I even liked their album with JD Fortune.
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This is when I came on board. Really like this tune and this record.
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