Song Match Up:
'Never Gonna Give You Up' vs
'Let’s Stay Together'
Word Wars
January 06, 2010

It’s easy to flirt around with the ladies, but convincing them to take that next step can be a big pain in the ass. You have to channel your inner Romeo and He-Man just to get a better chance. Our song match-up this week shows the desperate wooing that comes before getting the girl. Ladies and gentlemen, it’s Rick Astley’s ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ versus Al Green’s ‘Let’s Stay Together.’

In 1987, an unknown androgynous Brit named Rick exploded into the scene with the pop track ‘Never Gonna Give You Up.’ It conquered the airwaves and forever etched itself in the minds of every living being on Earth. Young, old, gay, straight – no one was spared. Twenty-two years later, heaven help us, it’s still in our heads.

 Our song match-up this week shows the desperate wooing that comes before getting the girl. Ladies and gentlemen, it’s Rick Astley’s ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ versus Al Green’s ‘Let’s Stay Together’





NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP

We're no strangers to love
You know the rules and so do I
A full commitment's what I'm thinking of
You wouldn't get this from any other guy
I just wanna tell you how I'm feeling
Gotta make you understand

Never gonna give you up,
Never gonna let you down,
Never gonna run around and desert you,
Never gonna make you cry,
Never gonna say goodbye,
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you

We've known each other for so long
Your heart's been aching but you're too shy to say it
Inside we both know what's been going on
We know the game and we're gonna play it
And if you ask me how I'm feeling
Don't tell me you're too blind to see

(Ooh give you up, ooh give you up)
(Ooh) never gonna give, never gonna give (give you up)
(Ooh) never gonna give, never gonna give (give you up)

I just wanna tell you how I'm feeling
Gotta make you understand
However, Astley didn’t exactly come up with Wooing 101. Fifteen years earlier, R&B legend Al Green released ‘Let’s Stay Together.’ The romantic lyrics, combined with its relaxed, feel-good tune, carried the song to the top of Billboard charts for nine weeks. It became a real classic, getting named the 60th best song of all time by Rolling Stone magazine.



  LET’S STAY TOGETHER

I, I'm so in love with you
Whatever you want to do
Is all right with me
'Cause you make me feel so brand new
And I want to spend my life with you

Since, since we've been together
Loving you forever
Is what I need
Let me be the one you come running to
I'll never be untrue

Let's, let's stay together
Lovin' you whether, whether
Times are good or bad, happy or sad

Whether times are good or bad, happy or sad

Why, why some people break up
Then turn around and make up
I just can't see
You'd never do that to me (would you, baby)
Staying around you is all I see
(Here's what I want us to do)

  

Looks like our streak of close wars is finally coming to an end. Let’s hear it for Al Green, who completely took out the competition this week. I love how his song screams ‘I need you, I want you and I’m here for the long haul,’ without actually mentioning those words. Rick Astley’s lyrics, on the other hand, seem as empty and insincere as a presidential speech. Just look at the chorus. You really think a woman would buy that? The song is all bull.

- Paulo Agulto
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