What would you do the first time you met the most beautiful woman in the world? In my case, and being the shy guy I am, I just smiled and then looked at my shoes. I know what you’re thinking, he’s just like Rico Suave. Well, first things first. You might be asking yourself where Heath, from small town Kansas, would ever have a chance to meet the most beautiful female to walk the earth. And if your self is as smart as you think he or she is, he or she would answer: at college. Duh. Let me just say at this point that the hottest gal to ever go to OU wasn’t the most recent Miss America, but was a marketing major in the early to mid 90’s. Since we were fellow business majors (all the beautiful girls are business majors) I had the privilege of taking several classes with her and actually mustered the courage to talk to her on several occasions. Still, the greatest moment in my life. I wasn’t the only man on campus that was tongue tied when it came to the girl from Edmond. Even the most popular athletes on campus could only muster a, psst, as she walked through Dale Hall. (Let me stop some of you right here, I didn’t stalk this girl to get all this information about her, one of my roommates went to high school with her, I had classes with her, and every guy on campus knew who she was and we would have weekly discussions about her. So it wasn’t stalking but rather, well I don’t know what it was, but if it was stalking, then every guy on campus was stalking her) I can take solace in the fact that my actions regarding this female are not just my awkward self, but rather a male trait. Just such a beauty inspired Chris Isaak’s song “Let Me Down Easy”.
Don't you
hear my heart is calling
You don't know how hard I've fallen for you
Another day, you're passing by
Today's the day I'm gonna try
You don't know how much I'm hoping, how I'm hoping
Please. Oh, please let me down easy
If star athletes and rock stars like Chris and Van are turned to mush around these beautiful ladies, what chance do us hacks have at impressing them? Is there any hope for us west Kansas plow boys? Guess we’ll just get by, one day at a time…. one day at a time.
That’s just one song on Chris Isaak’s new Best of CD/DVD. Couple of cool things about this collection, he writes a little blurb about each of the songs on the CD. Also, on the DVD, he has commentary on each of the videos. (Some of which are PG-13 in rating, the videos, not the commentary) Some of the songs from the CD overlap on the DVD, but there are some songs that are only on the CD or DVD. The genius of his song writing is that he writes songs for those of us that are struggling through life. The genius of his band is that they can play the most beautiful music. Many times the heavenly music is in stark contrast to the heart breaking lyrics. Nowhere is this more evident than in “Wicked Game.” I’d call it a hauntingly beautiful song. It’s a song that almost breaks your heart just listening to it.
What a
wicked game to play, to make me feel this way.
What a wicked thing to do, to let me dream of you.
What a wicked thing to say, you never felt this way.
What a wicked thing to do, to make me dream of you and,
I want to fall in love. (This world is only gonna break your heart)
No, I want to fall in love. (This world is only gonna break your heart)
With you.
Chris is lucky that he has an extra instrument in his band, his own vocal chords. Anyone that’s heard “Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing,” will agree with this statement. He goes from a gravelly voice to a high falsetto on the same song that enhances the listening experience. (How’s that for reviewer jargon?) I love his commentary on the DVD’s. He injects some humor into the commentary, in much the same way he did on his TV show. (I miss that show. One of the best shows ever on TV, right behind the Muppets, Andy Griffith and King of the Hill) He has two covers on the CD, “Only the Lonely,” and “I Want You to Want Me,” that fit in well with the rest of the play list. Other highlights include the girl from the “Wicked Game” video (not quite as hot as the girl mentioned earlier, but still smokin’), “San Francisco Nights” Video, “Blue Spanish Sky,” “Forever Blue,” and the commentaries from “Blue Hotel,” “Washington Square,” (inspired by servicemen after doing USO shows) and “Think of Tomorrow.”
So what have we learned today:
- even rock stars and athletes get nervous around beautiful women
- ECON class is a great place to meet the beautiful co-eds
- the Chris Isaak show comes in at four in the All-Time Heath Kirk TV Shows
- and Chris Isaak is a great song writer.
I’ll give this CD/DVD 4 out of 5 psst’s.
I’ll leave you with a few quotes from Chris. Words to live by:
There’s nothing tougher than having the blues under a perfect sunny sky. At least when it rains you got a reason.
You usually don’t see dancing like that unless it’s related to a bee sting.
He can’t where a hat because ideas keep falling out of his head.
Get your clothes; we’re going to the fair.
A beautiful girl can be wonderful but frightening… don’t you think?