In my time as a ballroom dance teacher I used all kinds of music, and in my earlier days most of that music came from what I called “teaching CDs”. No one uses CDs anymore, but for a while I was dependent on this arcane tech to get my job done.
One of these CDs featured some pretty good (Edit: “pretty good” is relative and revisiting some of these tracks recently revealed time has not been kind to their quality) covers of various pop hits, remixed with their beats highly enhanced and with random vocalists singing the lyrics to avoid licensing issues or something. I always loved one of songs that had a distinctive R&B feel to it. I had never heard it outside of this CD, to my knowledge, but it stuck with me and I always liked it.
Fast forward to when I learned the truth. Australian ARIA Hall of Famer Tina Arena is the artist, and the song was released to worldwide success in 1994. I’d be lying if I told you I already knew this. And that’s the crime, here. Tina Arena should be a household name. To be fair, “Chains” did chart in the US so it isn’t exactly unknown here. It just isn’t widely known.
Her vocals are a mix of Mariah Carey and Celine Dion, and she should have cornered the market on that except that Mariah and Celine already existed, I guess.
Not only that, but “Chains” was a single from Arena’s *third* album, “Don’t Ask”. Why didn’t I know this? Don’t ask… But seriously, “Chains” is an awesome banger that still slaps, as the kids say, and don’t miss her version of it with The Veronicas and Jessica Mauboy.
As far as music videos go, watch the Aussie one, especially since, well, she’s Australian. It’s a bit on the nose, as far as interpretation goes, with her ripping paper off of windows to express her resentment towards it.
Damn you, chain-like paper.
The US version… It’s… okay. It’s fine. But, like, why even is it a thing? It’s mostly just her with a fan blowing her hair, reaction shots, a random flower and some boots. Epilepsy inducing flashes abound and so much of it is unneccesary. I feel like someone in the US didn’t think she was sexy enough, and then this happened. Like, “how dare you bring your Australian music video filth into US broadcasting”, or whatever. It’s not her fault, though. She is sexy and talented. The US just tends to overdo.
Just stick to the original. It’s more a mood, a moment, while the US version just tries too hard.
When it comes down to it, Aussie pop is a powerful thing, and it deserves much more acclaim than it gets in the US. Go now, and listen to “Chains” and break free from the shackles of a Tina Arena-less life.
Snarkoplex 