THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER

616-Lloyd Cole and the Commotions-Perfect Skin.

1984-Number 26 single.

Best Bit-At 2.05.’Nivea’ missed a wonderful advertising opportunity, and Lloyd Cole missed out on loads of potential royalties.

Lloyd Cole and the Commotions were formed in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1982, by Lloyd Cole (vocals,) Blair Cowan (keyboards,) Lawrence Donegan (bass,) Neil Clark (guitar,) and Stephen Irvine (drums.) They were active until 1989, releasing three studio Albums, and achieving six UK top 40 singles, with ‘Lost Weekend in 1985 being their most successful, when reaching Number 17.

Lloyd Cole was born on January 31st, 1961, in Buxton, Derbyshire, England, as a youngster he moved with his family to Glasgow, and later attended the University of Glasgow.He was 23 years old when he wrote all of the lyrics, and the majority of the music for the bands critically acclaimed debut Album ‘Rattlesnakes,’ in 1984. He wrote the Album in the basement of Glasgow Golf Club where his parents lived, and worked, and he has said that the impact of studying ‘English,’ and ‘Philosophy,’ at University were influences on his lyrics. Musically Cole was inspired by Bob Dylan, and Booker T & the MGs, he has said,’If I hadn’t listened to ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues'(see also best songs 792) I could never have written ‘Perfect Skin.’I was totally drunk on Dylan at the time I wrote that song, and all the imagery is deliberately Dylanesque. I thought,’why not be blatant,? The only difference is, Dylan would have written a song like ‘Perfect Skin’ in an hour, it took me a week!’

‘Strikes me the moral of this song must be there never has been one.’