Song of the Week: We Got The Beat
December 11, 2024
This one is all my sister’s fault. She was the one who got the Go-Go’s first album, Beauty and the Beat. I have come to learn that my favourite musical genre is power pop, and most of the songs I can and will listen to on repeat have some aspect of power pop to them.
“We Got The Beat” is pretty much an encapsulation of power pop. It’s fast, its melodic, it’s light, and it does—indeed—have the beat.
As I developed my musical taste, I veered more and more towards power pop, and I think the early 80s post-punk period had a lot of it. For me, the Go-Go’s and the Bangles are the key movers for power pop in the 80s, and “We Got The Beat” is kind of the herald for so much of what came later.
Honourable mention to “Our Lips Are Sealed,” another absolute gem with a very interesting version recorded by the co-composer of the song—Terry Hall of the Specials who recorded his version with his post-Specials band, Fun Boy Three.
Definitely been a Go-Gos fan since they came out. Enjoyed Belinda Carlisle when she went solo as well. “Vacation” was always a solid hit for me. Its funny how as you age a song might have different meanings as you mature.