Gossip, Heavy Cross

Gossip are an American indie rock band created in 1999.
The actual members are Beth Ditto (vocals and piano), Nathan "Brace Paine" Howdeshell (guitar and bass) and Hannah Blilie (drums), the last one replacing Kathy Mendonça who left the band in 2003.

Gossip's sonority is a mix between indie rock and dance-punk. They are known for songs like Pop Goes The World, Listen Up and Love Long Distance.

The band released 4 EP's - The Gossip (1999), Arkansas Heat (1999), Real Damage (2005) and GSSP RMX (2006) and 4 studio albums - That's Not What I Heard (2001), Movement (2003), Standing In The Way Of Control (2006) and Music For Men (2009).

Music For Men was released on June 29, 2009 by Columbia Records.
The initial critical response was positive, but some criticized the "loud" sound quality of the album.

Heavy Cross is the first single taken from Music For Men and according to Ditto on an interview with NME this song is "I know so many amazing people who devote their lives to undoing things, and I feel that's the essence of punk now because punk's already been done, it's old. It's about recreation and my friends, who I feel like are the ultimate creative re-creators."
Released on April 28, 2009 the single was considered on September 2010 the "most successful internationally produced single" of all times.

"It's a funny way to make ends meet
When the lights are out on every street
It feels alright, but never complete
Without you"

Gossip - Listen Up

This is a song released in 2006 along with Gossip's third studio album Standing in the Way of Control.
Later, in 2007 this song was re-released (the version above). This version (the raio version too) has in its music video a  transgender woman and a transgender man walk around Portland, Oregon cruising during the day, then later in the evening at a club the two stare at each other from across the dancefloor and they start dancing together.

I really like these lyrics and they tell an important truth. There are some people that you can't trust. Maybe that's why I don't trust anybody too much. Besides the lyrics, the beat is really catchy.

Everybody knows someone like that
Who borrows money and won't pay you back
They'll talk about you at the drop of a hyde
lie about it to your face, when they're caught...
There's some people that you just can't trust
Some people just talk too much.
Take my advice, and Listen Up!
Don't be a fool like the rest of us.
Now listen UP!


A.