Thank You For Being You

Trust Me #54

30-years ago #4

Thank You For Being You by The Pastels

A joyful burst of exuberant guitar pop perfection, Thank You For Being You by The Pastels was released 30-years ago. As far as I can remember, this was the first single I bought by the band, closely followed by the Truckload Of Trouble compilation album that also came out in 1993. 

Thank You For Being You explodes gloriously into life from the start with fuzzy electric guitar over acoustic, a funky bass and cool beats. Stephen Pastel ends the first verse by crooning 

Baby you know you are 

Getting close to my heart

Love simply pours out of this song. In the second verse Pastel recognises that he is a better person for having this love in his life; my hope, my faith and my guiding light, your love is super fine and it feels good in my heart

Indeed, Stephen is so head over heels in love that he needs 5 words rather than 3. The chorus is beautifully simple and it says everything you need to know.

So good to know you

So good to hold you

Thank you for being you

It's so good, to know you

Behind Stephen, The Pastels sound sublime. Annabel (Aggi) Wright on bass, Katrina Mitchell on drums and David Keegan joining Stephen on guitars. Norman Blake sings harmonies on the chorus. Paul Chisholm was on co-production duties with the band for this gem and it's a winning team. Listening on headphones, you hear the extra little strums of the acoustic and the way strings are allowed to ring out melts my heart. The little riff is gorgeous. The guitar solo is exquisite. 

The brass section isn't overpowering, becoming part of the song, almost melting into it. The production and arrangement really is top drawer.

Pastel is taking nothing for granted, empires may fall part and rivers may part but all he cares about is being part of his new love.

I hope that I'm a part of you

Thank You For Being You is a f**king brilliant guitar pop song that melts my heart every time I hear it. I've actually just listened to the song 6-times in a row on my headphones while writing this blog and I doubt I'll ever tire of its many charms.

Enjoy if you are listening for the first time. For many of you reading this blog, I'm sure you'll know this song and I hope you love listening back.

YouTube audio

A list of all previous songs I've blogged about in my Trust Me feature are listed below, along with links to each blog. Thank You For Being You joins them.

I've also collated them all into a playlist on Spotify that you can find by searching for Everything Flows - Trust Me , or you can CLICK HERE

Previous Trust Me blogs

1. Something On Your Mind by Karen Dalton

1A. Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells

2. I Am, I Said  by Neil Diamond

3. Where's The Playground Susie?   by Glen Campbell

4. If You Could Read My Mind by Gordon Lighfoot

5. Gimme Some Truth by John Lennon

6. Gone With The Wind Is My Love by Rita and the Tiaras

7. In The Year 2525 by Zager and Evans

8. The Music Box by Ruth Copeland

9. The Ship Song by Nick Cave

10. Sometimes by James

11. I Walk The Earth by King Biscuit Time

12. Didn't Know What I Was In For by Better Oblivion Community Centre

13. When My Boy Walks Down The Street by The Magnetic Fields

14. The Man Don't Give A F**k by Super Furry Animals

15. All Flowers In Time Bend Towards The Sun by Jeff Buckley and Liz Fraser

16. Are You Lookin' by The Tymes

17. A Real Hero by College & Electric Youth

18. Feelings Gone by Callum Easter

19. Sunday Morning by The Velvet Underground

20. Did I Say by Teenage Fanclub

21. Don't Look Back by Teenage Fanclub

22. Your Love Is The Place Where I Come From by Teenage Fanclub

23. Belfast by Orbital

24. Clouds by The Jayhawks

25. Dreaming Of You by The Coral

26. Everlasting Love by Love Affair

27. Walk Away Renee by The Left Banke

28. Teenage Kicks by The Undertones

29. Shaky Ground by Sneeze

29. Rill Rill by Sleigh Bells

30. I Can Feel Your Love by Felice Taylor

31. The State We're In by The Chemical Brothers w/ Beth Orton

32. Sunshine After The Rain by Ellie Greenwich

33. Losing My Edge by LCD Soundsystem

34. Mondo 77 by Looper

35. Les Fleurs by Minnie Riperton

36. Rat Trap by The Boomtown Rats

37. How High by The Charlatans

38. I Can't Let Go by Evie Sands

39. Pop Song 89 by R.E.M.

40. Summertime Clothes by Animal Collective

41. There She Goes by The Las

42. We're Going To Be Friends by White Stripes

43. Autumn Sweater by Yo La Tengo

44. Sister Rena by Lomond Campbell

45. Revolution by The Beatles

46. Lazarus by The Boo Radleys

47. Wrote For Luck by Happy Mondays

48. American Trilogy by The Delgados

49. Loser by Beck 

50. Silent Sigh by Badly Drawn Boy

51. Comedy by Shack

52. Take The Skinheads Bowling by Camper Van Beethoven

53. Freak Scene by Dinosaur Jr