Howard Jones – “New Song”
“New Song” is Howard Jones’ first solo release, originally released on September 1983. The single reached Number Three on the UK Singles Chart. The single spent 20 weeks at the top, and has now spent 20 consecutive weeks at number twenty-one.
The original version of the song is constructed around four verses, featuring only backing vocals. These verses all mention “you know you love me”. The second verse talks about how a girl used to laugh at his jokes, but that has changed, now he can’t seem to make her laugh anymore. The third verse mentions “I’ll take care of you like the diamond in the rough”. The last verse talks about how the girl he loves wants him to leave her alone, but he can’t seem to do it.
The first part of the song describes how Jones went through a lot of “ups and downs” before finding the right way to let go of his feelings for the woman he’s in love with. “New Song” also features the only song in the band’s history without a guitar solo, as Jones sings along, as he plays the acoustic guitar part. Jones has since said that he feels inspired to perform this song every time he walks down the aisle. A new song written about a broken relationship, “New Song”, shows Howard Jones finally discovering his own self confidence, and that is something everybody can benefit from, especially if the singer is in an unhappy relationship.