"We Pass Each Other On The Stairs"

a post on my long-time fav podcast, The Rock And Roll Geek Show about one of those ridiculous (imvho) reality competition TV shows reminded me of how great a band was INXS during the 80's and 90's. INXS has produced some great songs that very gracefully and successfully bridge the gap between pure Rock and commercial Pop. INXS's songs are notable because they are well-written pieces that blend strong melodic tunes peppered with catchy hooks and powerful, thoughtful and meaningful lyrics.
but, even more important to the success of INXS is the fact that they were an awesome live performance band. accomplished musicianship and the incredibly breathtaking charm and charisma of frontman Michael Hutchence was what made INXS unique and a band worthy of much well-earned success.
i saw INXS in the mid-80’s when they played some gigs at a small, but popular, club in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. i’m not sure, but i think it might have been during one of INXS’s first major tours of the USA.
INXS was truly awesome.
there was something indescribably mesmerizing about Michael Hutchence. he exuded not only sexuality but also sensuality and the man had a voice that seem to know no range and was somewhere beyond emotion. Michael's stage presence had an ethereal quality. sometime about halfway into that evening's show, i realised that Michael had every woman in the house wanting him and the men didn’t care as they seemed to be in awe of the power Michael poured forth from stage. i feel privileged to have experienced INXS live in a small and intimate club.
good luck to INXS in trying to replace one of the most talented and awe-inspiring frontmen the music biz has ever seen. i won't be watching that competition TV show.... i know it's rather fruitless to think Michael's place behind the mic with INXS can be filled, but i guess it is good exposure to put INXS back in the spotlight, again.

just wondering if the winner of the competion will be able to write hauntingly beautiful and profoundly insightful lyrics such as this....

The Stairs
In a room above a busy street
The echoes of a life
The fragments and the accidents
Separated by incidents
Listened to by the walls
We share the same spaces
Repeated in the corridors
Performing the same movements

Storey to storey,
Building to building,
Street to street,
We pass each other on the stairs
Storey to storey,
Building to building,
Street to street,
We pass each other on the stairs
Listened to by the walls
We share the same spaces
Repeated in the corridors
Performing the same movements

The nature of your tragedy
Is chained around your neck
Do you lead or are you led
Are you sure that you don’t care
There are reasons here to give your life
And follow in your way
The passion lives to keep your faith
Though all are different, all are great
Climbing as we fall
We dare to hold on to our fate
And steal away our destiny
To catch ourselves with quiet grace

Storey to storey,
Building to building,
Street to street,
We pass each other on the stairs
Listened to by the walls
We share the same spaces
Repeated in the corridors
Performing the same movements
Storey to storey,
Building to building,
Street to street,
We pass each other on the stairs