GUEST SPOT # 13 - Joy Division - 'She's Lost Control'
This week's Guest Spot is from Grace, writing like this at 16! Could she be the next big music journalist??
Joy Division - 'She's Lost Control' (1979/80)
It's clear that human beings have a fascination and perhaps even a need for fear. Whether it's the original Japanese version of 'The Ring' or 'SAW: The Ride' at Thorpe Park, we all have something that frightens us, but we still love it and return to it repeatedly. I discovered my "horror vice" when I watched 'Control', the biopic about the life and death of Joy Division's tragic front man Ian Curtis. I never understood their popularity until I saw that very film and heard 'She's Lost Control'. The droning bass line, paired with Curtis' signature robotic, mono tonal vocals, creates a beautifully frightening piece of music which has inspired many modern bands - including Editors, Interpol and Franz Ferdinand. However, the lyrics are even creepier than the music: the song tells the story of a woman that Ian Curtis knew who had died during an epileptic seizure (often referred to as "losing control"), a condition that he also had, hence the frightened, somewhat paranoid sound in his voice throughout. Not only was it an audio marvel, it was visually spectacular too - Curtis was famous for his "epilepsy dance" during intense performances, where fans couldn't tell whether he was dancing or having a seizure. Sadly, Ian Curtis committed suicide on 18th May 1980, shortly after a nearly fatal epileptic seizure; this creates an even spookier, ironic meaningfulness to the song.
Joy Division are undoubtedly a depressing band, but they certainly do it well! This song sends shivers running down my spine every time I hear it, but I always want to hear it again after it fades out. 'She's Lost Control' is 3 minutes and 40 seconds of bewitching, yet beautiful, horror and I don't think there is any song that will ever move me to the extent that this does.
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