2. MacArthur Park - Richard Harris
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WHx0B90FUc Spring was never waiting for us girl It ran one step ahead As we followed in his dance Between the parted pages We were pressed in Love's hot fevered iron Like a striped pair of pants. MacArthur Park is melting in the dark All that sweet green icing flowing down Someone left the cake out in the rain I don't think that I can take it Cause it took so long to bake it And I'll never have that recipe again... The Richard Harris version of his song is THE definitive version. Forget Waylon Jennings or Donna Summer. I was introduced to this song by a friend when I was an undergraduate and I shared it with my other friends and they creamed themselves laughing. Every time someone came to my room they would be like 'Put the cake song on Clare!' The song was inspired by the relationship and break up of Jimmy Webb (the song's writer) and Linda Ronstadt. MacArthur Park was where they met for lunch and shared many good times. Harris' version is an epic piece of cheesy balladry replete with harpsichord and horn sections. It was voted The Worst Recorded Song Ever in a poll held by humorist Dave Barry in 1992. This was a travesty. It topped the chart in Britain and was number two in the US.
Clare Simpson
Contributor
My first film watched was Carrie aged 2 on my dad's knee. Educated at The University of St Andrews and Trinity College Dublin. Fan of Arthouse, Exploitation, Horror, Euro Trash, Giallo, New French Extremism. Weaned at the bosom of a Russ Meyer starlet. The bleaker, artier or sleazier the better!
See more from
Clare