It is midnight on a Monday, and I really should be using what time I have left in the day to work on an upcoming film study I’m doing for Stacking The Inbox. I’m trying to watch the 2023 Ravens defense to see what kind of insights I can gain into what we can expect from Dennard Wilson’s defense for the 2024 Tennessee Titans. I’m burning through a random Spotify playlist, and Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” pops up. Now, I can’t get the song out of my head. It’s been a favorite of mine since the moment I heard it. I mean, it’s one of those rare immediate impact pieces that the first time you hear it, you just feel it to your core.
The first note of the song sounds exotic, as if you’re traveling to a faraway place. It’s a similar feeling to being on vacation, miles and hours from home, where you can do whatever you want with no consequence. You know…the old vacation fling. There’s a steamy drawl to the way the notes of that signature riff curl in the air as they dissipate into the aether. Immediately, you feel your soul rising above the strife of everyday life. Along with Isaak’s smooth and starry voice, the melody is intoxicating…entrancing…it feels like the very essence of what it means to fall in love unwillingly itself.
The lyrics are deeply effective as well, telling the story of one helplessly falling in love. “Strange what desire will make foolish people do.” Amen, fam. The torture we hear from Isaak’s voice, crying out “no I don’t want to fall in love.” It’s all so deep and raw…much like the love we’ve all made listening to this song. It captures perfectly the feeling we have when we know something isn’t going to end well, and yet we still fall. Not to mention, the song inspired some badass covers from the likes of H.I.M. (my personal favorite), Stone Sour, and even Tenacious D.
I know this shit’s all subjective, and that headline was at least partly tongue in cheek because I never listen to music and should hardly be considered an expert. But, man…this song is fucking inspiring. If it doesn’t get the blood flowing in all kinds of parts of your body, I don’t know what to tell you. This song makes me want to write. It makes me feel. I think it’s at least in part witchcraft. And, it’s making me think I need to go see a doctor because I have been rock hard the entire time I’ve been writing this piece.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.
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