FAWM: "Lip Reading"

Lip Reading

Liner Notes

David says: I seem to be doing one token #discorock song each year, and these cool lyrics from @crisp1 gave me an excuse to pull out the phaser and wah wah pedals, crank up the vintage synth strings, and get my #funk on. Not sure why I went all Marvin Gaye in the bridge - you just have to go where the music takes you I guess?! Once again, I had to chop the odd line out to make things work with the music - Doug was a perfect gentleman in that respect, thank you for being so accommodating! #collab

Doug: I wake up in California and David's already got 13 comments for this song -- a testament to his talent as a composer and musician. The song has an awesome "mouthfeel" for me -- I love the funkiness and the way David's voice wraps around the words, especially in the chorus. Great production, with all the extra layers giving it a beautiful, full sound. Super fun to listen to and one of my favorite collabs this year. Thank you, David!

Lyrics

Deserted side streets at midnight
Dark doorways before the dawn
Our passion took us places
Where we could get it on

I’d feel your heartbeat exploding
Your breathing would grow fast
Each night the fire was burning
I thought it would always last

(C1)
Now I put my mouth on your mouth
Something’s different in your kiss
But I’ve never
Been good
At reading lips

You’re still the woman I dream of
You promise I’m still the one
So tell me why it is
The fun’s never quite as fun?

(C2)
When I put my mouth on your mouth
Something’s different in your kiss
But I’ve never
Been good
At reading lips

(B)
The way you treat me
Is the same
You insist
Nothing’s changed
Yet I can’t help feeling
We’re losing at this game

(C2)
When I put my mouth on your mouth
Something’s different in your kiss
But I’ve never
Been good
At reading lips

(Outro)
No I’ve never
Been good
At reading lips

Comments

@greengrassgirl 1d

"But I've never been good at reading lips!" A line worth the price of admission! Great collab from two masters of the art.

@cts 3d

My process is to read the lyrics before pressing play. I re-read the chorus and kept thinking, "I really wish I had written this." This is a killin' write and that jealousy in a good way feeling crept up on me yet again. And of course I press play and the feeling intensifies. Brilliant arrangement and seriously, this has such a defined groove and feel to it that it isn't too much of a stretch that you found yourself channeling MG at the bridge. Nothing wrong with meeting MG at the bridge (musically speaking). Lyrics and music blend together like a fine drink. Aces, gents. Aces.

@shakedown_jesus 3d

That's an awesome chorus! The synth line that comes in when it hits is so great.

@jerrypettit 3d

As an "old guy" who literally lived through the Disco Days (and even took Disco Dance lessons with my girlfriend at the time--but don't tell anyone), I can't believe I haven't done much (if any?) disco myself. Gotta put that on my bucket list--although you seem to have conquered the genre with this one. Very nice collaboration! ❤️

@faders 4d

Disco rock!!? WTF I had to listen and glad I did. I love the expressiveness of the voice and great job of driving this groove ahead like this, it never gets stale. Super fun!

@jamesstaubes 4d

That's a pro chorus. The rasp/distortion in your voice is so fitting for this track. Did you play the bass or program it? Either way, the movement helps drive the momentum and groove. The guitar solo is tasty. Those BGVs on the bridge are great.

@anthonykapfer 5d

“never been good at reading lips” is a fun lyric.

that high squeal at the ends of some of the lines is a nice touch to an already impressive vocal.

you knocked it out of the park

@coolparadisoMod 5d

Ha ha I could see you dressed up to deliver this, that had me smiling! You do these so well, and Doug knows I love his lyrics! Crikey I even did one once! Classy stuff!

@eargoggle 5d

Well how could you not go all Marvin Gaye when "we could get it on" is there for you?? I mean really. This is great, I love the string synths and your vocals are strong and powerful, this is funky and cool and I want to hear this in a club (not that I go to a club much really, I just want to know it's playing there)

@bethdesombre 5d

This arrangement is so much fun! Love the lyrics (nice alliteration in "dark doorways before the dawn"). And the chorus is creative and catchy; love the "reading lips" in this context, though the bridge suggests that the narrator is perhaps better at it than he imagines.

@gwynjones 5d

Great and clever hook by @crisp1 and another top level production from @davidtaro ...funkin' brilliant collab!

@philnorman 5d

Groovy and sexy! The hook line is so clever and perfect for this funky-disco genre you set it free in. I think the most appropriate praise I can give is that I realized my head was bobbing side to side and enjoying the ride more than paying attention to specific details to comment about.

@sdcpaman 6d

How fun is this! You picked the perfect genre for the lyrics. I will be coming back to listen to this one for the rest of FAWM!

@nadine 6d

Uh you finally bring back the disco music. I like it! These guitars and bass are so groovy. I love that subtle wah! You dont have to be good at reading lips when you can write songs like that. I like the clarity of the lyrics.

David, I have to know that secret how to create such a buttery vastness on the arrangement. Maybe my arrangements are too full or I use the wrong reverb, no idea!

@richaaaay 6d

Superb. Love these lyrics. Just some fun word play. DT, bringing it to life, as he always does do well. The little breaks add some great suspense. I really feel your already fantastic solos are becoming more fantastic. You are squeezing out more expression when you play, which is just so satisfying to hear. Production and vox are excellent, per the usual.

@edwinb 6d

Disco is perfect for these lyrics - the lip reading line is a clever thing to build the song around. And I love that wah.

@oddbod 6d

Like a theme from of a 70s blaxploitation movie. You’ve got all the right elements in the mix here for the funky disco genre - strings, Latin percussion, wah, etc. I’m digging it dude.

@sbs 6d

Brilliant lyrics - that chorus! Is that relatable or what? And how could I resist disco rock or disco of any kind? Vocal delivery is fantastic, as always! This one will be on repeat!

@hanley 6d

Nicely done lads, so fresh, funky and fun!
Loving the gritty texture in your vocals, and the smooth, sexy backing vocals are spot on. Cracking instrumentation, the mix of guitar tones and phaser/wah wah give it all the spice needed to lift up a notch. Epic guitar solo too, giving me some Santana vibes.

@jibbidy34 6d

Wow these are some kickass good lyrics! Amazebo! Love the whole reading lips being linked with kissing. Smart smart smart. David’s blues treatment is spot on with all the musical elements in perfect balance with one another. I hope this gets many, many more listens!

@ayeahmur 6d

"I've never been good at reading lips" What a great line to neatly sum up that sense of not quite (yet) suspicion, just the hunch that something's changed. Brilliant.
Also, I always look forward to the Annual Taro #discorock Extravaganza, and this one does not disappoint. Love the Nile Rogers chop. Adored the rip into the guitar solo after Ch2. And vintage synth strings for the absolute win, I saw! Another cracker, guys.

@max 6d

Discorock extraordinaire! Fun track and an absolute stompin earworm.

@djtjb 6d

You had me at disco! And the blues delivery in the vocals just adds such a unique feel. Love the story of the lyrics, suspicion and some semi-salacious lines in there. DT the bandpassed vocal section was a perfect transition.

@billwhite51 6d

i love the combination of a burning rock vocal inside a curtis mayfield / marvin gaye musical setting. its the best of both worlds in one song. not to mention doug's piercing lyrics, which stir david's distinctive voice to the heights.