"Wouldn't Want To Be Like You"-Sheryl Crow
When I first eyed the title to this new Sheryl Crow single I immediately assumed it was a cover-version of that classic 1977 Alan Parson Project track of the same name.
It isn't.
But, I did notice one small similarity. Both "Wouldn't Want To Be Like You"s were written about those who somehow exist without a heart or a soul. Parsons drew inspiration from science fiction author Isaac Asimov and is about robots. Crow's subject matter is instead about something way more cold... the self-serving, ostentatiously opulent assholes currently at Wall Street and in the White House. (And some, I assume, are good people.)
Conceived in an era when our government throws out terms like "alternate facts" and "fake news," Sheryl's composition seems oh so relevant. She explained to Billboard, "Wouldn't Want To Be Like You" is "about the climate of truth not being important anymore."
In an administration where gaslighting is standard operating procedure and making shit up a daily occurrence, Crow's hook sounds like it could have originated as a rallying cry at a protest gathering for the resistance.
"You tell a lie, you tell a lie, you tell a lie, that don't make it true..."
"Wouldn't Want To Be Like You" begins with a Gorrilaz hip-hoppy styled drum beat and features Sheryl occasionally rap-singing utilizing an infectious staccato cadence.
"Money is the monkey giving you a back ache... Money is the grease in the palm of a handshake..."
This isn't the first time Crow has dabbled in politics. In fact, I was a big fan of her cleverly written meeting-in-the-middle themed single "Halfway There" from last year, obviously inspired by today's bitterly divided political climate.
For me, the highlight of "Wouldn't Want To Be Like You" is the distorted guitar contributions from Annie Clark. The St. Vincent guitarist can also be heard on harmony vocals. Apparently Clark -- currently enjoying the immense success of her critically acclaimed Masseduction -- is just one of the many guests that Sheryl has invited to join her in the studio, all part of a collection of songs tabled for release sometime next year. "My forthcoming album features collaborations with many of my heroes, people who have shaped the past, present and future of music. It’s a dream lineup really."
Coincidentally, today marks the 25th anniversary of Sheryl's breakthrough album Tuesday Night Music Club which was released on August 3, 1993 and featured those Crow classics "All I Wanna Do" and "Leaving Las Vegas," pop music I consider timeless. This time around we're talking timely.
