The traffic to the blog slows up over the Festive period, and it’s therefore something of an opportunity to take a bit of a breather.
Over a period of 26 days, I’ll be posting a single never previously featured on its own before – it might have sneaked in as part of an ICA or within a piece looking at various tracks – with the idea of an edited cut’n’paste from somewhere (most likely wiki) and then all the songs from either the vinyl or CD.
K is for Kiss Them For Me released by Siouxsie & The Banshees as a single in May 1991.
This is another of those occasions when I look at the date of the release and think to myself that I can’t possibly be that old a song.
Kiss Them for Me was the lead single from the band’s 10th studio album, Superstition, which would be released about a month later. It was something of a shock to hear a fairly substantial shift in direction, more dance/groove orientated than normal, with a very clear and distinct bhangra, as well as baggy, influence. The promo video turned out to be all Siouxsie with little of the Banshees, focussing on her looks as she swayed, moaned and sighed her way through what was bound to be a sure-fire hit single.
mp3: Siouxsie & The Banshees – Kiss Them For Me
It didn’t completely stiff, but at #32, it was along the lines of most of the band’s 45s. It as their 25th single release in the UK, of which only five had made it inside the Top 20.
Released on 7″, 12″ CD and cassette, many of the b-sides were remixes, but there were some other otherwise unavailable tracks:-
mp3: Siouxsie & The Banshees – Return
mp3: Siouxsie & The Banshees – Staring Back
mp3: Siouxsie & The Banshees – Kiss Them For Me (Snapper Mix)
mp3: Siouxsie & The Banshees – Kiss Them For Me (Kathak Mix)
mp3: Siouxsie & The Banshees – Kiss Them For Me (Loveappella Mix)
What I didn’t know until doing a bit of background research for today’s post is that Siouxsie’s cryptic lyrics are a tribute to Jayne Mansfield. It seems her catchword was ‘divoon’, a slang word used in the lyric, while there are also references to heart-shaped swimming pools, a love of champagne and parties, and also the horrific car crash which killed the actress in 1967. And neither was I aware that Kiss Them for Me was also the name of a 1957 film in which Jayne Mansfield had starred with Cary Grant.
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
Wow that makes such an interesting read thankyou.The Banshees are still one of my favourite bands and was lucky to see them a few times.
At the time I was worried they had gone “pop” but I think time has been kind to this single and I really do like it.Around this period I’m sure America had a remix of “Fear(of the unknown) which was truly dreadful.
To my mind this has, in many ways, the pop sensibility of Dear Prudence. It’s a song I like but marked the end of my Siouxsie and the Banshees purchases on physical format. I guess we just drifted apart.
I had no idea about the back story. It makes the song more intriguing, appealing? I did root more for Jane than I did Marilyn. Forever the fan of the under dog – if a remarkably talented, famous and wealthy woman can be described as an under dog?
*Jayne. So busy rooting that predictive text sneaked in. Bah!
Love this song…well done on the research! Went straight to check out more about it!!
Always loved this one. Not sure if anyone else has ever noticed this, but *factoid alert* it samples ‘Pearl’ by Chapterhouse.
Always a fan of this single, Siouxsie moving on and being part of the times. Can see how it might have been a misfire with some fans but it’s a yes from me.
OK, I really can’t believe this is so long ago. I like this more now than I did at the time!!
Classic.
A lovely single, and really interesting to hear the
story of the lyrics.
I will listen out for the Pearl sample as noted by
therobster71 – another corking single.
Around this time S&TB offered up Face to Face for
the excellent Batman Returns (potentially still the
best Batman film despite very strong competition).
I loved Face to Face too, although proper Siouxsie
fans may have sulked (more) about it.
Terrific post and comments.
Great track. The way the Banshees developed over time means that I can always find an album of theirs to listen to that matches how I feel.
As this is the time for facts, according to Siouxsie, oat one point the song was going to be called “Let’s get Smashed”.
Great post JC. And excellent information from many contributors!
I think SATB did a more than reasonable job of remaining relevant to their surroundings, their fans and their own canon. Kiss Them For Me rises above the currents it draws from. The bhangra tablas at the opening help entice the listener into the layers of silken musical webbing that begins to surround and envelope them. Budgie’s percussion is so much more than run of the mill ‘funky drummer’ styling as he manages to layer in a motorik beat and stuttering pattern or two.
The Snapper Mix is my preferred remix.