"Sense" is a song co-written by Terry Hall and Ian Broudie from the Lightning Seeds. It's one of several songs they wrote together, including "Lucky You," "What You Say," and a few others.
Landing right at the start of the Britpop era, this song embodies an extremely '90s production, complete with airy-sounding drums, synths, slightly chorused guitars, and the like. I heard the Lightning Seeds' version first, and while I liked it, I didn't appreciate how good it was until I heard Hall's rendition. Initially, I felt the '90s production obstructed the quality of the songwriting, but for some reason, Terry Hall's version clicked with me immediately.
Simply put, the lyrics are amazing, showcasing the seamless combination of both songwriters' styles. Despite this, I can still guess which parts were written by whom. The verses, in particular, have a very Lightning Seeds feel, flowing in a way that is quintessentially Ian Broudie, similar to the song "Pure."
"Sense" is a straightforward love song about the euphoria of love and how all-encompassing it can be. As simple as the theme is, it is brilliantly written. The verses contrast with the chorus, describing the frustration of being without love, then shifting to describe its euphoric feeling. It’s a very natural song, lyrically flowing brilliantly yet retaining a subtlety that I really appreciate. It never appears overly bombastic or pyrotechnical in its delivery, but you fully appreciate the sentiment as a euphoric release. The sentiment cuts through beautifully, even in the opening line: "I'm flying high on something beautiful and aimless, it's got a name but I prefer to call it nameless." The song has a conversational quality that both songwriters translate well, and I would guess that there was a great friendship between them, creating something so "pure."
I believe Terry Hall and Broudie fall into the tradition of great British songwriters, with the former still being vastly underrated. Terry Hall ranks among the greats and is yet to be fully appreciated. The collaboration with Broudie was extremely fruitful and delivered some absolute classics to the world.
"Sense" is a brilliant song! Give it a try, play it a few times, then play it again next week. I guarantee you'll fall in love with it!
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