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We're Not Who You Think We Are

Certain Songs #1980: Robyn Hitchcock – “I Feel Beautiful”

December 12, 2020 by Jim Connelly

Album: Jewels For Sophia
Year: 1999

. . .

The exact opposite of the jovial “Viva! Sea-Tac,” was the song that followed it on Jewels For Sophia, the all-acoustic, spooky “I Feel Beautiful.”

Like I mentioned yesterday, Jewels For Sophia was recorded in London, Seattle and Los Angeles. “I Feel Beautiful” is from the Los Angeles sessions, which were produced by Jon Brion, who was pretty much everywhere at that time.

I feel beautiful
Because you love me

Which, of course, is a pretty straightforward and common sentiment, even if Robyn is singing it in a desperate, hushed voice, echoed by an even more hushed Grant-Lee Phillips. And, of course, Robyn almost instantly goes from straightforward to, well, Robyn Hitchcock.

I water the tomatoes and I think of you
No one’s ever watered me the way you do
I feel beautiful
Because you love me

I feel like a creature that is sleekly groomed
Not some poisoned soul that is alone and doomed
I feel beautiful
Because you love me

And if it’s OK, I’m going to assume that “No one’s ever watered me the way you do” is basically a sext.

Musically, “I Feel Beautiful” is basically Robyn strumming an acoustic guitar, while Jon Brion accompanies him on a marimba and adding what the liner notes unhelpfully call a “low sonic wobble.” It’s all enough to provide that alone at midnight feel, especially when Robyn ups from a hush to a quiet scream while declaring.

I’ve been hanging round Covent Garden for you for centuries
I’ve been waiting on Festival Pier for you, honey, for decades

After that, Brion starts playing the melody line with something called a “marxophone,” which is basically a fretless zither, for those of you keeping score at home, and it’s off-puttingly beautiful, and an absolutely perfect way to end this otherworldly love song.

“I Feel Beautiful”

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Filed Under: Certain Songs Tagged With: I Feel Beautiful, Jewels For Sophia, Robyn Hitchcock

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Previously on Medialoper

  • Certain Songs #2007: Roger Miller – “King of The Road”
  • Certain Songs #2006: Rod Stewart – “You Wear It Well”
  • Certain Songs #2005: Rod Stewart – “Italian Girls”
  • Certain Songs #2004: Rod Stewart – “Lost Paraguayos”
  • Certain Songs #2003: Rod Stewart – “(I Know) I’m Losing You”

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