Pure Punk Picks
China Girl – Iggy Pop
With so many truly, great, classic punk songs by Iggy I don’t blame you thinking, “Hey, Slimedog! Couldn’t you have come up with a better choice?”
But I’m guessing- you’re thinking of Bowie’s lame hit song version of this song. (Don’t blame Bowie, it gave Iggy some royalties when he really needed it.) And I’m also guessing, you’re probably right!
But I do love this song, and I feel strongly, that you should give this version a shot. Whilst I take one, myself.
No intro on this version, no quaint, catchy, eighties British pop hook of “Oh, oh, oh- little China Girl,” sung oh, oh, oh so pleasantly and fey.
“I could escape this feeling with my China Girl. I’m just a wreck without my little China Girl.” This song plunges in during the first moments with a feeling of desire, desperation and depression but also, hope.
“I feel her heart beating loud as thunder, saw the stars crashing.”
There’s vibes playing along with the gutsy, blues lick- vibes being the jazz version of a kids xylophone. A little lacking in muscle but creating a surreal sheen over the festivities, that is ultimately worthy.
“I’m a mess without my little China girl,” as the vibes and guitar play along in a hazy verse.
Then a galloping, phased out guitar lick sprays out notes upon a cool, glacier mountain echoing a midnight, Nordic night suggesting madness and darkness.
“I feel tragic like I was Marlon Brando, when I look at my China girl. I could pretend nothing really meant too much.” (Like there aren’t any real consequences to our actions!)” When I look at my China girl.”
A militaristic, machine like lick follows, very industrial-(Trent Reznor was very influenced by Bowie’s work), leading us onto the next phrase-
“I stumble into town, just like a sacred cow. Visions of swastikas in my head and plans for everyone. It’s in the whites of my eyes.” As the vocals and music increase in volume and swell, while the saxophones leer in at us, as through an open window.
Then there’s a cautionary tale that’s spinned- “My little China Girl you shouldn’t mess with me. I’ll ruin everything you are. I’ll give you television. I’ll give you eyes of blue. I’ll give you men who want to rule the world.”
“And when I get excited.” (Meaning- too involved in the day to day affairs, the news of the world.) “My little China Girl says, “Oh, Jimmy- just you shut your mouth. She says…shhhh.”
Meaning- there’s lot of wisdom in the East and even more so in women, everywhere- and the woman knows what should really be of concern, of worth- what is truly, meaningful while the man laggers far behind.
And as the icy, glacier, cocaine glow of the synthesizers move along as the exacting, frigid strings descend upon us with the wailing, blues guitar lick and sax shining out hot and warmly against this songs soon demise.
This is the perfect mix of passion and precision, emotion and intellect, of really- hot and cold.
There’s no other song really like this and I’d say any other song, that doesn’t sound like this, but inhabits the same worthy attributes of this song-
Is a masterpiece. Which is what this song, I believe is.
(Slimedog)