SONG REVIEW: What do you want from me? (Monaco) — Forum Archive

19 Mar 2005, 18:40

Since I'm the resident "Monaco nutter" :D I'll start off the song review by puting forward Hooky and Pottsy's finest 4 minutes and never-topped debut single "What do you want from me?". I can't remember the exact chart position it reached, but it was surely top ten at least and proved the Hookmeister could readily hold his own against the "supergroup" of Marr and Sumner in Electronic. David Potts also proved he was almost as good next to Hooky's bass as Sumner, a worthy alternative indeed considering the obvious stiff competition.

My favourite bit is the electric guitar riff that kicks in as the middle eight before the final set of choruses come in, that really is a riff and a half. Another favourite bit is simply Hooky's intro bass riff, confident and tuneful. Overall it's a great song, lyrics memorable and highly singable. My only complaint is the drums could have been beefed up a bit, they seem a bit "lite" for some reason. Overall it's a masterpiece and perhaps the best song New Order never wrote. (But Monaco beat them too it ;) ) Overall a 9/10 for sure.

But what does everyone else think of it?

Ally.

19 Mar 2005, 19:07

This peaked at 11 in the UK i think. I remember hearing it a bit in the states as well. It peaked at #41 on pop radio I think. I like this song, but it isn't one of my favorites on the album. "Shine" is the standout track for me.

19 Mar 2005, 19:14

20 Mar 2005, 16:27

It's a great song, but compared to Revenge sounds a bit lightweight... Kashemere was Monaco's best song, almost at the level of some great New Order moments like Run...

22 Mar 2005, 09:54

Wasim wrote: Great song. Love how the shalalalas and drums break in after Hooky's intro.

and those shlalalalalalalas were used for the '98 version of Paradise, if I remember correctly. That was a really great moment...

22 Mar 2005, 15:31

Having followed all the side-projects closely apart from REVENGE which for some reason seem to pass me by for awhile i think WDYWFM is one of the best of ALL the SIDESHOW stuff.Also remember how without these spin-off groups then i probably would have lost touch with NEW ORDER.The song itself is incredibly CATCHY though and i still play it quite a bit these days.I know some people here hate all the side projects.But without them many of us would possibly not be here these days on such forums.Also i loved the artwork for the FIRST MONACO album so much i bought it on VINYL aswell.

Regards Rocket Mick

23 Mar 2005, 05:18

I love the start of the song with Hooky's bass :) Great song, but not my favorite on their first album. That whole album kicked ass.

26 Mar 2005, 21:15

The first time I heard it I thought it was the Order.

26 Mar 2005, 22:40

A great song, as is Kashmere and a lot of other Monaco stuff. Several of the Monaco tracks could come directly from a New Order album, as the bass and vocals are so similar. The bass line ending Under The Starts is always enjoyable. I also like that they had some instrumental songs.

28 Mar 2005, 20:19

sha la la la la lah! Love it! Sounds like a blend of New Order and Oasis. I agree with ya, Ally, it's Monaco's masterpiece and penultimate song! Easily a 9 out of 10.

4 Apr 2005, 14:16

great tune. maybe New Order could do a cover version when they next play live?

ps whatever happened to David Potts?

5 Apr 2005, 15:17

NO Regret wrote: great tune. maybe New Order could do a cover version when they next play live?

ps whatever happened to David Potts?

Last I heard, Pottsy was in a new band called RAM. Spotnick mentioned this on the news section of this site awhile back so I don't know what he's up to these days. I heard a track from them, and it was decent but to my recall, it wasn't very Monaco-ish.

Also, would love to see NO do a cover of WDYWFM, but that's not likely to happen. :thumbdown:

12 Apr 2005, 10:34

Bad lyrics, awful voice, good melody.

19 Apr 2005, 11:06

Great bass, great guitar interlude near the end, unique voice from Hooky (unlike Potts). Has the problem of all Monaco tracks- incredibly wimpy drums. Even in the tracks where they're turned up (the painful Britpop cash-in Shine) the patterns and tempos just blatantly shriek 'Studio Performer'.

20 Apr 2005, 16:10

Love the song. But c'mon- Pottsy does his best Barney impression, doesn't he? Sounds like he's trying pretty hard to sound like "the man" to me. Just my two cents.

21 Apr 2005, 01:51

runwild 1 wrote: Bad lyrics, awful voice, good melody.

Just like all the best NEWorder tracks then :evil4:

24 Apr 2005, 00:07

3 out of 10

1 Jul 2005, 21:46

what an intro!!! best bass riff!!! and something about the lyrics-is Hooky talking to Mrs Merton.....?

4 Jul 2005, 05:57

8 out of 10.

It deserves 9.5, but it depressed me that such a NOrdery song was being made by only a quarter of the membership (I was desperate to see them do something together)...

5 Jul 2005, 19:54

a bit over the top...but a classic (New Order?) masterpiece. it did a nice job filling the void some 4 years after Regret.

9.5/10

6 Jul 2005, 02:13

hooky's bass intro is a classic, and this is my second favorite monaco song after junk. in fact, they're the only two i can say that i really love. it's up there with the finer NO tunes. i just don't think the rest of their material quite lives up to it--WDYWFM and junk are just too hard to match!

6 Jul 2005, 15:59

good chorus

6 Jul 2005, 21:30

The best "New Order" song of its time.

The first time I heard it on the radio, I thought who are these wankers ripping off New Order.

13 Jul 2005, 16:24

Just had it in my Cd player today. Superb, perfect pop-song. Monaco were a great band.

15 Jul 2005, 07:28

AgentWood wrote: hooky's bass intro is a classic, and this is my second favorite monaco song after junk. in fact, they're the only two i can say that i really love. it's up there with the finer NO tunes. i just don't think the rest of their material quite lives up to it--WDYWFM and junk are just too hard to match!

Add Sweet Lips to that & i'll agree with you - clasic disco track with Hooky's growl & bass bringing it up a few levels

15 Jul 2005, 08:28

I love this song! I couldn't stop listening to it when it was released and it still makes me feel great when I listen to it now. Love Hooky's bass; it gives a mysterious-dark tune to the whole shalahlah popish song. Excellent combination!

16 Jul 2005, 05:56

Remember hearing the opening on the radio and thinking "The bastards have got back together and kept it quiet"

Right up there with any of Hooky's finest bass riffs.

A cracking song which neworder themselves woulda been more than happy with.

9/10

1 Nov 2005, 03:13

Best part: Hooky's bass and Hooky and David Potts singing together.

Worst part: Gives the impression that David Potts is trying to sound like Bernard... :nono:

Overall: 85%

Misc.: In terms of side projects, I still like Electronic better, though.

1 Nov 2005, 09:36

I still have to spend time explaining to acquaintances that when they heard this song it wasn't New Order. I really, really liked Monaco. I love this song.