Erasure | The DIVA Tribute pt. 1 - a podcast by Keith a.k.a. K j A M

In late 1986, I moved back home from Austin because I hadn't started college right after graduation and needed to get something going. I went back to work for C&C Music/Video, a company I worked for two years for in high school. "Oh L'amour" had already been a massive club hit but I hadn't given much thought about the group behind it, Erasure. Having more exposure to all sorts of music because of my job, my impression of the group did a 180 once "Circus" dropped.

"Upstairs at Eric's" by Yaz (Yazoo in Europe) had already seen massive success earlier in the decade. The group consisted of former Depeche Mode member, Vince Clarke, and the vocally gifted Alison Moyet. A fact I became aware of as my interest and love for all-things Erasure blossomed.



Andy Bell and Vince Clarke's (aka Erasure) music spoke to me like nothing I ever heard before. The lyrics are what I like to call smart-pop sceneries that while universal, actually speak directly to the hearts and minds of young gay folk.  There are so many fantastically well-written songs it's hard to single out a couple that has left lasting memories for me. So, I picked two that directly correlate to my young gay self at the time of their release.



It's not the way you lead me by the hand into the bedroom

It's not the way you throw your clothes upon the bathroom floor

Been thinking about ya, I just couldn't wait to see

Fling my arms around ya as we fall in ecstasy

Ooh, sometimes

The truth is harder than the pain inside, yeah

Ooh, sometimes

It's the broken heart that decides



First off, "Victim of Love" slays me every time I hear it. While it shouldn't, it makes me really happy and leaves tingly butterflies in my stomach like I've fallen in love for the first time. Granted, the sentiment of the song is the opposite of the feeling I get whenever I listen to it but it also brings back fond memories of Michael. He was 20 years my senior, a friend, a mentor and one of the gentlest persons I've ever met. I was totally enamored with the guy but he was never going to allow anything to happen. He found the club scene distasteful and tried to provide me with alternative culture in opera and is totally responsible for turning me onto "Mommie Dearest," which I had never seen. As any good card-carrying gay, I latched onto "NO MORE WIRE HANGERS" LOL. Sadly, he later moved to California where his partner helped him end his life. I was heartbroken when I heard the news, which was an indication of future devastations that were to come. I can't explain how I correlate "Victim of Love" with Michael but I always think of him fondly when I hear it.



I don't want to look

Like some kind of fool

I don't want to break

My heart over you

I'm building a wall

Everyday it's getting higher

This time I won't end up

Another victim of love



"Wild!" was another brilliant album that generated multiple club hits. "Blue Savannah" is a personal favorite to this day. However, it's "Star" that takes the prize. I was head over heels for Pete; more so than I had ever been for anyone. Things didn't shake out well for us and it's the very first and only time I truly felt jealousy, anger and resentment. I was the cruelest bitch anyone could ever be to another. In fact, I'd say I never knew I had it in me. I attempted to apologize multiple times only to be ignored. It wasn't until my last trip to PBD's (the local gay club) before moving to Atlanta that we had an honest, peaceful conversation after I saddled up on the bar stool next to him. "Star" was actually his song and reflected on a relationship he had with a different "Keith" (go figure) but I've long since adopted that song (and "I Try" by Macy Gray) as it related to us.

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