There are a lot of songs out there about sickness. Here are three examples: Dire Straits’ “Industrial Disease,” Buffy Sainte-Marie’s “Je Suis Malade,” and Joe Jackson’s “Everything Gives You Cancer.”
Dire Straits’ “Industrial Disease”
The song “Industrial Disease” was written by Mark Knopfler and released by British rock band Dire Straits in 1982. The song was released as a single in the United States, and was also released as a rare B-side to the “Private Investigations” cassette tape. The song is about the decline of the British manufacturing industry during the early 1980s, and deals with depression, strikes, and dysfunctionality.
The band’s “Industrial Disease” reached number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1983. They later released the fourteen-minute opus “Telegraph Road”, which became a hit on FM radio stations worldwide. The album’s follow-up single, “Love Over Gold,” was certified gold in the United States, platinum in France, and double platinum in Canada.
Buffy Sainte-Marie’s “Je Suis Malade”
“Je Suis Malade” is a classic song about sickness and its effects. It was written by Buffy Sainte-Marie, a woman who lost her daughter at the age of four. The song describes the pain and suffering she went through. It also demonstrates the importance of family, even if a second chance isn’t guaranteed.
Joe Jackson’s “Everything gives you cancer”
When Joe Jackson sang, “Everything gives you cancer”, most people thought he meant cigarette smoke, alcohol, red meat, and DDT-based pesticides. In fact, many of these things do cause cancer. But it’s not so easy to cut out all the things that cause cancer.
While Jackson’s music has its ups and downs, it generally holds up well. It’s his versatility and talent that have earned him so much respect. He’s a true artist who can work in different genres. In addition to a great reputation, the majority of his music is still very good.
Jackson’s writing has often taken unconventional stances and has always been a rebel against the rules of fashion. He took part in the mid-’70s punk revolution and was creatively liberated. He never stayed in a box or genre, opting to experiment with jazz, salsa, film score, and neo-classical compositions.
The late ’80s output from Jackson is full of intelligent adult pop/rock songs. However, this album does feel like a snotty declaration of Jackson’s pop skills. Although this album does show off some of Jackson’s pop skills, the snotty tone is not entirely appropriate for the genre. But Laughter & Lust is a showcase of Jackson’s ability to make a catchy pop tune. This is most evident on “Everything Gives You Cancer,” a bitterly funny single that has a lot of sarcasm.
While the song’s lyrics are a bit sarcastic, the underlying message is one of beauty and honesty. Jackson’s passion for beauty is matched only by his bilious hatred of ignorance and untruth. This book was published just before his popularity became world-wide through a single global hit song.
After moving to New York, Jackson’s music started to evolve. His next album, Night And Day, was a multicultural masterpiece and featured a number of songs that sounded like a combination of Spanish and Latin music. This album was the highlight of Jackson’s discography.
Despite the sex-obsessed pop star image, the singer continues to push the boundaries of male behavior. His songs have been compared to those from the Paul Newman film “The Verdict”. While “Everything Gives You Cancer” is a fun, catchy track, Jackson compares himself to a front-line lawyer defending a witness in a high-profile legal case.