My Gen X Playlist: Pretty in Pink – The Psychedelic Furs

High school tends to be cliquish. It’s natural for kids to be at that age. We don’t have kids so I haven’t seen up close what it’s like these days, but I’m guessing it’s still relatively similar. Kids are kids.

Early on in high school, I fell into this mode. As a freshman, I was trying to find my way, searching for acceptance. But as the years progressed, I began making friends across different social circles. Because of this, I adopted a basic philosophy.

If you’re cool to me, I’ll be cool to you.

Nothing ground breaking or earth shattering. Some things don’t have to be overly complicated. This made high school life more enjoyable and easier to navigate. I still have maintained this philosophy till today. Who doesn’t need a few more friends?

Pretty in Pink is a classic 80’s film about social cliques in high school life. I didn’t know the Psychedelic Furs’ title song wasn’t written specifically for the film. It was initially released years before this John Hughes movie was created. Molly Ringwald introduced it to Hughes who eventually wrote a movie based upon it. The only thing, he misinterpreted the lyrics.

“The song is about a girl who sleeps around a lot and thinks that she’s popular because of it. It makes her feel empowered somehow and popular, and in fact, the people that she’s sleeping with are laughing about her behind her back and talking about her.”

“A few years later, Molly Ringwald took it to John Hughes and said, ‘I love this song, we should use it for a movie.’ He took it away, listened to it, and wrote “Pretty In Pink”, which totally got the whole thing wrong. It was nothing like the spirit of the song at all. It’s really hard to say whether it was damaging for us. I suppose we got tied in with the story of the film, and if that’s what people thought the story was about, and didn’t look much further than that, they were getting a very false impression.”

– Songfacts

I always assumed the song was made for the movie and fell into Hughes incorrect trap about the song meaning. After reading the lyrics again, I see it now, the Furs’ original intent. I know I enjoy trying to understand the exact interpretation and in this case, it’s been given to me without any grey wiggle room. I think I’ll keep the Hugh’s interpretation, though. I know it’s wrong, but it’s what I’ve always known. Music is also about feeling and I like the feeling of nostalgia, especially when it’s aged for forty years. Sorry about that, Furs. I hope you understand. Please don’t kick me out of your fan club.

–

For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

Caroline laughs and it's raining all day
She loves to be one of the girls
She lives in the place in the side of our lives
Where nothing is ever put straight
She turns herself 'round and she smiles and she says
"This is it, that's the end of the joke"
And loses herself in her dreaming and sleep
And her lovers walk through in their coats

She's pretty in pink
Isn't she?
Pretty in pink
Isn't she?

All of her lovers all talk of her notes
And the flowers that they never sent
And wasn't she easy?
Isn't she pretty in pink?
The one who insists he was first in the line
Is the last to remember her name
He's walking around in this dress that she wore
She is gone but the joke's the same

Pretty in pink
Isn't she?
Pretty in pink
Isn't she?

Caroline talks to you softly sometimes
She says, "I love you" and too much
She doesn't have anything you want to steal
Well, nothing you can touch
She waves, she buttons your shirt
The traffic is waiting outside
She hands you this coat
She gives you her clothes, these cars collide

Pretty in pink
Isn't she?
Pretty in pink
Isn't she?