Quintessential to ‘80s pop culture and music, INXS changed the landscape of alternative music. Their sound is unrivaled and unique, never fitting into a single category. Their earlier work is filled with synth and similar to many pop artists’, yet there’s plenty filled with rock and new wave sounds all blended together to make INXS what they are known for today. A highlight of their earlier work comes off of their 1982 album, Shabooh Shoobah: a track titled “Don’t Change.”
Synth opens the track, slowly fading in, giving listeners a glimpse of what is to come and offering a feeling of hope. The tone is instantly uplifting. Soon, a guitar swoops in. Strummed with pace, the same note is held until the drums blast in with power, and the thick bassline is played underneath. Lead singer Michael Hutchence opens:
“I’m standing here on the ground /
The sky above won’t fall down /
See no evil in all directions /
Resolution of happiness /
Things have been dark for too long.”
Things quiet down as Hutchence sings the opening verse, building the catchy chorus as Hutchence simply says,
INXS simply puts forth a feeling all of us feel: completeness. Change is a monster that follows us all, but even if it is for just a moment, sometimes we don’t want a thing in the world to change; things feel right. Sometimes, we get to a point where we feel content, and if we could just freeze time, we would feel that happiness forever. The picture is all laid out for us by the band: no evil in sight, just pure bliss. It is defiant for the band to say, “No, don’t change. Let’s stay like this forever.” Even if it is unrealistic, all of us think this in our best moments.
All in all, the song is powerful, trying to resonate with the audience. The music accompanying the message is nothing short of perfect either. It is almost angelic to listen to the progression of the song as instruments fade in and out, each one taking over at some point to be the focal point. The song was perfect for its time and still holds up today as one of the best alternative songs of all time, so please do yourself a favor and listen to the magic of Michael Hutchence and company as you are taken away on a journey into the human mind.
