Woke up this mornin’ feelin’ fine, there’s somethin’ special on my mind…
It’s Monday, which isn’t special, but we have music, which is, in fact, special!
Last week, as I was wrapping up my Music Monday article about catching your heart is like catching a falling star, sung by a couple who you only hoped would “make it” in this crazy world, I shared a gif of an even greater love…
The kind where this happens.
Admit it, you’ve been wanting to do this for over 30 years.
I first heard today’s song in a movie I saw when I was seven years old, but didn’t know it was a re-made version of a 1960s song until years later, probably because of one of those Time Life compilations. It was always a song I more closely associated with the movie, and less with the 1960s.
If you recognize the gif, you know what movie I’m talking about, and what song was remade for the movie.
“I’m Into Something Good” is a 1964 single made famous by Herman’s Hermits. Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King, the song was originally recorded in 1964 by Cookies member Earl-Jean. It peaked at #38 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964. A little over a month after this recording, newly-formed British group Herman’ Hermits, headed up by a teenager named Peter Noone (the “Herman” of the group), recorded this single as their debut, and released it in September 1964, just two months after Earl-Jean’s version. It was this version that would prove to be more successful, and go on to be featured in several movies, including 1988’s The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad, updated with an 80s sound, and featuring Peter Noone going solo.
The Herman’s Hermits version found success on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching #13, with the remake also entering the charts upon its release in 1988. Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys also covered this song with Carole King, who said she was inspired by Brian Wilson while writing this song.
In The Naked Gun, the song plays under a depiction of the perfect date, complete with cotton candy making, tattoos, hot dogs, clotheslining people running on the beach, seeing a lighthearted movie with lots of laughs…
Wait, what?
Anyway, it depicts a romance in its early stages, and apparently, all happened in the course of a day.
Whirlwind indeed.
The song did get its own music video, featuring clips from the infamous montage, as well as other clips from the movie, with Leslie Nielsen and the Lestones “performing” the song with Peter Noone.
I’ve always liked this song, especially the 1980s version, because of The Naked Gun, but the original version, doesn’t sound much different. It is a cute song of young love and happiness, and even when set to the tune of an older detective and his new girlfriend (who isn’t a spring chicken either), it feels like young love.
So, in the spirit of celebrating multiple versions, here’s the 1988 version of the song:
And the 1964 version. My mom thinks Peter Noone is cute, and tried to get me to agree with her.
I guess he was cute. I don’t know, I’ve seen cuter…
And, of course, the greatest first date ever…complete with the full body condom scene I didn’t understand until a few years later.
Isn’t love great?
Have a great Monday, and enjoy the music!