To say that the Wilson Sisters (Nancy and Ann) who fronted the band Heart will forever be crushes would be an understatement. These ladies, for a growing teenager whose hormones were on overdrive, were a surprising find during the early years of MTV when they actually showed music videos. The sisters and their band had already made their bones during the 70’s but for most boys and girls of my era it would be the “Big Hair” Era of hard rock during the 1980’s that would introduce Nancy and Ann Wilson to a new generation of fans.
I was already on board the Wilson train (Nancy being my favorite) with their two power ballads from their 1985 self-titled album, “Alone” and “These Dreams”, but these ladies were not just about power ballads. They could rock out with the best of their male counterparts. The fact that both Ann and Nancy were accomplished singers in their own right put them heads and shoulders above most of the hard rock frontmen. Ann Wilson could belt out a tune, hold a note for ages and not lose any power behind those vocals. Nancy would do back-up duties, but no less impressive as a soprano, but it would be her work as lead guitarist that would mesmerize a certain young teenager.
It would be in the track “Never” that the band busts out their hard rock chops. They sure don’t make bands like these anymore. These ladies rocked then and they rock now. Rock on, ladies!
Never
Hey baby I’m talking to you
Stop yourself and listen
Some things you can never never choose
Even if you try, yeah
You’re bangin’ your head again
‘Cause somebody won’t let you in
One chance . . . one love
Your chance to let me know
We can’t go on
Just running away
If we stay any longer
We will surely never get away
Anything you want—we can make it happen
Stand up and turn around
Never let them shoot us down
Never—Never
Never—Never run away
Hey baby you know it’s true
Why you bother lying when you know
That you want it too
Don’t you dare deny me
Walk those legs right over here
Give me what I’m dying for
One chance . . . one love
Hold me down never let me go
We can’t go on
Just running away
If we wait any longer
We will surely never get away
Anything you want—we can make it happen
Stand up and turn around
Never let them shoot us down
Never—Never
Never—Never run away
Never—Never
Never—Never run away
Hey baby I’m talking to you
Stop yourself and listen
Some things you can never choose
Even if you try, yeah
You’re bangin’ your head again
‘Cause somebody won’t let you in
One chance . . . one love
Your chance to let me know
We can’t go on
Just running away
If we stay any longer
We will surely never get away
OO OO Never
OO OO Never
We can’t go on Never
We can’t go on Never
OO OO Never
OO OO Never
We can’t go on Never
We can’t go on Never
Song of the Day: 1980’s Edition
Through the Shattered Lens 