The very wonderful (and sadly missed) Miss Laura Branigan would have been 55 years old today.
To mark this auspicious day (and very much in the spirit of this week's countdown to World Pride), I make no apologies in playing again her definitive "coming out anthem" Self Control.
Oh, for the heady days (and nights) of 1984!
Oh, the night is my world
City light painted girl
In the day nothing matters
It's the night time that flatters
In the night, no control
Through the wall something's breaking
Wearing white as you're walking
Down the street of my soul
(You take my self) you take my self control
You got me livin' only for the night
Before the morning comes, the story's told
(You take my self) you take my self control
Another night, another day goes by
I never stop myself to wonder why
You help me to forget to play my role
You take my self, you take my self control
(I) I live among the creatures of the night
I haven't got the will to try and fight
Against a new tomorrow
So I guess I'll just believe it
That tomorrow never comes
A safe flight
(You take myself, you take my self control)
I'm living in the forest of my dream
(You take myself, you take my self control)
I know the night is not as it would seem
(You take myself, you take my self control)
I must believe in something
(You take myself, you take my self control)
So I'll make myself believe it
(You take myself, you take my self control)
That this night will never go
(Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh)
(Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh)
(Oh-oh-oh)
(oh-oh-oh)
(Oh-oh-oh)
(oh-oh-oh)
Oh, the night is my world
City light painted girl
In the day nothing matters
It's the night time that flatters
(I) I live among the creatures of the night
I haven't got the will to try and fight
Against a new tomorrow
So I guess I'll just believe it
That tomorrow never knows
A safe flight
(You take myself, you take my self control)
I'm living in the forest of my dream
(You take myself, you take my self control)
I know the night is not as it would seem
(You take myself, you take my self control)
I must believe in something
(You take myself, you take my self control)
So I'll make myself believe it
(You take myself, you take my self control)
This night will never go
(Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh)
(Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh)
(Oh-oh-oh)
You take my self
(Oh-oh-oh)
You take my self control
(Oh-oh-oh)
RIP
Laura Branigan on Wikipedia