The return of Swing Out Sister

Next to Roy Orbison’s Pretty Woman, the music of Swing Out Sister is what I like to play inside my head when I am trying to be cool and trendy. The beat is smooth and buoyant, the arrangement sparkles, the total effect, intriguingly infectious. Try out Am I the Same Girl while shopping and I am sure that you too will get this adrenaline surge that makes you hold your back straight and your shoulders wide. Hello World you feel like shouting, "I am ready for anything." If Jobim’s The Girl from Ipanema makes you think of bikinis in sun-kissed beaches, Am I the Same Girl is the little black dress, dangling earrings and high heels in a chrome and glass mall with loaded shopping bags as props.

Way back in 1987 Swing Out Sister was not only playing in some people’s heads, it was part of the soundtrack of the moment. I am sure that many of you do remember grooving to the tune of Breakout, Surrender, Twilight World, Where in the World, The Kaleidoscope Affair, Waiting Game, Get in Touch with Yourself, You on My Mind, and other songs. The sound masterminded by Andy Connell was synthesizer pop but it was also classy, impeccably put together and had Corrine Drewery’s soulful vocals.

I honestly thought that Swing Out Sister went kaput some years ago. But it turned out that the group has been continuously active. The reason for the "disappearance" was they were not making hits hereabouts. Truth to tell though, Swing Out Sister was making hits elsewhere, most notably Japan where it has a strong following among the ultra trendy young, and winning raves for its more mature but still very hip sounds. So it was really only a matter of time before Swing Out Sister finds its way back to the ears and of course, the hearts of Pinoy listeners. I am glad to say that this has finally happened.

The new album is titled Where Our Love Grows and it has a more sophisticated sound than I remember. Must be because of the acoustic vibe from the use of real instruments and the clever way familiar rhythms were combined, twisted, played up or down or whatever to produce the unique style. The effect is jazzy, danceable loungy music one can strut to, just like we did to Am I the Same Girl, but with a newer feel. Best bets from this one are the title track which comes in two different arrangements, one is an a cappella showcase for Corrine’s vocals, the hook-filled Love Won’t Let You Down, When the Laughter is Over, Certain Shades of Limelight and something in search of the closing credits of a feel good romantic comedy Happy Ending.

After more than 15 years, the group is still made up of Corrine and Andy who also share the songwriting chores. Playing a big part as producer and programmer of the latest album is Paul Staveley O’Duffy. Drewery though is the one most people are familiar with. She is not only the voice of Swing Out Sister. Her look ideally suits the music and provides the definitive image of the group. It is a chic blend of the ’20s flapper and an English country dame. Andy is on keyboards, synthesizers and other instruments. Unlike Corrine though, he is hardly seen at all. He always seems to be there but mostly in half light or out of focus. No matter, the result of their combination spells out Swing Out Sister. I cannot imagine one without the other and it feels nice to have them back again.

Billboard’s hit lists

Meanwhile the hits from the US of A as per the Billboard Magazine hit lists. The top 10 from the Hot 100 singles and tracks are: Goodies by Ciara featuring Petey Pablo; Lean Back by Terror Squad; Sunshine by Lil’ Flip featuring Lea; My Place by Nelly featuring Jaheim; My Boo by Usher featuring Alicia Keys; She Will Be Loved by Maroon5; Pieces of Me by Ashlee Simpson; Diary by Alicia Keys featuring Tony! Toni! Tone!; My Happy Ending by Avril Lavigne; and Locked Up by Akon featuring Styles P.

The top-selling albums are Suit by Nelly; Sweat also by Nelly; Live Like You Were Dying by Tim McGraw; Genius Loves Company by Ray Charles; Now 16 by Various Artists; Autobiography by Ashlee Simpson; What I Do by Alan Jackson; Songs About Jane by Maroon5; My Everything by Anita Baker; and Confessions by Usher.