THE B-52's - GIVE ME BACK MY MAN (Jun 14, 1980)

 

THE B-52's were guests on the Dutch TV Show ToPPop, performing GIVE ME BACK MY MAN (Jun 14, 1980)

Driven by Keith Strickland’s frenetic drums, Ricky Wilson’s jagged guitar riffs, and Cindy Wilson’s impassioned lead vocal, this concert favorite exemplifies The B-52s' spirit often overlooked amidst their kitschy dance-pop reputation.

Cindy's raw vocal performance on "Give Me Back My Man" reveals surprising emotional depth behind the band's ironic exterior. Her expressive delivery grounds the absurdist lyrics in genuine feeling as she pleads:

"I'll give you fish

I'll give you candy

I'll give you everything I have in my hand

Give me, give back my man"

Rumored to be about a boyfriend eaten by a shark, Cindy later said her man may have been flushed by the Ty-D-Bol man. Beyond the cheeky subject matter, Cindy’s voice achingly conveys a sense of loss. She hasn’t sounded this genuinely mournful since.
As one of the few early B-52s songs with a sole lead vocalist, "Give Me Back My Man" showcases Cindy Wilson’s talents in the group’s vocal trio with Fred Schneider and Kate Pierson. The women’s harmonies and traded lines made The B-52s’ sound so distinctive. But Cindy’s voice on this track demonstrates her ability to drive a song herself with power and pathos.
Beyond Cindy’s affecting performance, "Give Me Back My Man" reveals The B-52s' ability to move past sheer novelty. Between the surf guitars and sci-fi motifs, they crafted songs with genuine feeling. Four decades later, 'Wild Planet' still enthralls listeners with its kinetic energy. But a track like “Give Me Back My Man” in particular shows The B-52s could be compelling as well as amusing

Well seeing as how we are back up and running proper (and thanks to my neighbours for allowing me to leapfrog their w-fi with out who etc etc) e need something fun and joyous to start the day . . . who better than the B52s!?