The Special Two

I like songs sung with passion. As if the singer’s life is at stake. Like they feel deeply for what they’re singing, be it pain, love, or hopeless abandonment. Even in poems and stories, the discharge of outburst grabs your attention, makes you read that same stuff time and again.

Speeches are another thing. Imagine some old fart rumbling on and on, about a distance past which no one has any idea. You’re guaranteed a yawn. Seats will start to be vacated. Soon, the whole stadium might turn empty.

Would an audience dare do the same thing if a speech, fiery or emotional, strikes code with them? No way.

For last two months, I’ve listened to a song called ‘The Special Two’ by Missy Higgins almost 200 times. Even at work, when I'm inside the loo, I switch it on and listen. I’ve got the song in my mobile phone. The more I listen the more I like. The reason: it’s filled with passion.

She’s a little known Australian singer. One of my friends who returned from ‘down under’ had recommended me. I had reservations. Since when has an Australian singer interested me? Kylie Minogue bored me to death. She’s no different from the usual garbage: Madonna, Britney Spears.

Natalie Imbruglia was the only one I liked, even though, at alarming rate her standards have dipped. Her last album was rubbish. But oh, there is off course AC/DC. One of my favourite band. An exception then.

Some of the songs in Missy Higgin's album are really good. I was impressed with her, first time round. I checked her website and found Scar was her first hit single. It’s a good song. That was followed by ‘The special two’. It had remained in the charts for donkeys months in Australia. That fact made me more aware of the song's reputation. And ever since then, as I listened again and again, I’ve become pretty much hooked to it.

It’s about a song of lost. She wants to get back with her lover. She sings about the lies she told, the cheating she did, and even suggests bleeding together, if faced with separation again. It’s confessional. It’s about honesty. It’s intense. The ardour of the lyrics, her style and her voice makes you glued to the song.

And it does strike code with me. Wonder why.