Expert: Bong Santos - 12/14/2006

Question
I recently heard a song that had been revamped from an 80's hit. The only line from the original song was,"Each time I go to bed I pray like Areatha Franklin." All I can remember is that it was a European band and this was the only hit I can remember they had.  

Answer
Dear Stacey,

The song is called WOOD BEEZ (PRAY LIKE ARETHA FRANKLIN) by the Welsh band SCRITTI POLITTI. Formed in Leeds, England in 1978, it was primarily a musical vehicle for singer-songwriter GREEN GARTSIDE. You probably don't remember their other hits such as BOOM! THERE SHE WAS (Hot 100, #53, August 6, 1988) and their biggest hit PERFECT WAY (Hot 100, #11, December 21, 1985). Ironically, WOOD BEEZ was their lowest ranked hit, peaking only at #91 on the Hot 100 Chart on February 15, 1986. Both PERFECT WAY & WOOD BEEZ came from their album CUPID & PSYCHE 85. It was recently remade by the pop dance duo of FAITHLESS out of their 2006 album RENAISSANCE PRESENTS 3D. WOOD BEEZ also was sampled by AUDIO THIEVES on their 2006 single PRAY LIKE ARETHA FRANKLIN. Here's how it goes:

WOOD BEEZ (Pray Like Aretha Franklin) / SCRITTI POLITTI

There's nothing I wouldn't be
To get to be together
There's nothing I wouldn't be
My heart depends on me
There's nothing I wouldn't do
Including doing nothing
There's nothing I wouldn't do
For you to be with me now sugar

Each time I go to bed I pray like Aretha Franklin
Each time I go to bed I pray like Aretha Franklin
Nothing, oh nothing
Because baby, baooo
I'm a would be
W. O. O. D.
I'm a would be would be
B. E. E. Z.

There's nothing I wouldn't do
To make you want for nothing
There's nothing I wouldn't do
My heart belongs to you
There's nothing we shouldn't do
To get to be so happy
There's nothing we shouldn't do
Oh, let's forget taboo now sugar

Each time I go to bed I pray like Aretha Franklin
Each time I go to bed I pray like Aretha Franklin
Nothing, oh nothing
Because baby, baooo
I'm a would be
W. O. O. D.
I'm a would be would be
B. E. E. Z.

Each time I love you
You know what I need to do
And each time I need you
Oh, baby you know, you know, know, kn-know

(I)
(Ooh!)
(Ooh!)
Each time I go to bed I pray like Aretha Franklin
Nothing, oh nothing
Because baby, baooo
I'm a would be
I'm a would be
W. O. O. D.
I'm a would be would be
B. E. E. Z.

There's nothing I wouldn't take
Oh, even intravenous
There's nothing I wouldn't take
To get to be approved
There's nothing I wouldn't be
Oh that's the gift of schizo
There's nothing that's new to me
I've seen it all before now sugar

Each time I go to bed I pray like Aretha Franklin
Each time I go to bed I pray like Aretha Franklin
Nothing, oh nothing
Because baby, baooo
I'm a would be
W. O. O. D.
I'm a would be would be
B. E. E. Z.


Maraming salamat po!!

BONG M. SANTOS
Manila, Philippines