I’m not sure if there’s a band that I can claim as my favorite of all time, because the reality is I have a different favorite every day. This process of choosing one favorite over all others seems futile. But, for me, The Cure, is about as close as it gets. For me, their music is irreplaceable. There are things that I feel when I put on a Cure record that I can’t experience with anything else. For the month of June, I hope to share some of this as a I cover a different Cure song each day – counting down from #30 to #1. And, in this case, I have no qualms stating my #1. #30DaysofTheCure
U.S. original release: Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (1987) - Track 11
Ranking: 23
This track has lived under the shadow of “Just Like Heaven” and “Why Can’t I Be You?” since the day Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me was released. But it’s the single that I prefer most from the album. It’s proof of one of the most unique qualities of The Cure: their ability to capture a wide range of emotions and expressions. This is one of the qualities that has made The Cure so desirable among its fans. It’s hard, indisputable evidence that the band is far more than doom & gloom. They can do euphoric. They can do whimsical. And in the case of “Hot Hot" Hot!!!”, they can capture pure ecstasy.
The track is far more than just a catchy pop single. To this day, I still am unclear what “Hot Hot Hot!!!” is about, but that hasn’t impacted my appreciation for it. The song captures a sense of ecstasy in all its layers – most notably through Robert’s dynamic and playful vocals, Gallup’s unforgettable bass line groove, Porl’s twangy guitar chords and the keys which mimic a horn section at one point in the song. Somehow the song hasn’t received the best of reviews from the critics. But it’s still one of my favorites from a vast, double-length album.
“For a second, that room was on the moon. Then everything went black. I left that house on fire and I never went back.”