Dave's Jukebox #12: Yes

Many of us at some stage will have had that hypothetical question about if you were stuck on a desert island what would you take with you. In a similar vein I will be sharing all the songs that I would put in my own personal jukebox, not necessarily to take to a desert island, you understand, but just the many songs that would make me sad should I never hear them again. In order to make things a little interesting I'm going to permit myself just one song from each group or singer, which will be something of a test but one I'll embrace. I hope you enjoy some of my choices and would be intrigued to hear selections from your own personal jukebox, these days MP3s or Ipods, but I'm sure you'll forgive me on this occasion.

McAlmont & Butler – Yes (1995)

Released in the UK in May 1995, this collaboration between David McAlmont and Bernard Butler peaked at #8 in the charts but is an undoubted classic. Butler was in the wilderness somewhat having sadly left Suede after a row with lead singer Brett Anderson. Butler's pairing with McAlmont for this song showed his continued potential and it's no surprise that when Suede disbanded in 2003, Anderson contacted Butler and they not only settled their differences but formed a new group, The Tears (2004-5) which showed much promise but didn't survive beyond a great debut album.

I'll confess that when I first heard "Yes" I believed the singing was from a woman and even when I found out the truth my mother (another big fan of this song!) refused to accept my claims. The song seems to be about a relationship that has ended some time before but now one person is looking to reconcile things. However, McAlmont sings from the perspective of someone who has been wronged yet their ex has now got back in touch, perhaps to try and start the relationship again. McAlmont stands strong and dismisses this person's advances, assuring them that he is feeling much better with life and that he has no interest in them.

While many songs talk of broken hearts it's nice to come across ones like this where the perspective is someone who has become stronger as a result of a relationship ending. McAlmont reflects a difficult relationship, "whatever it was you couldn't stand about me" but there is a lot of hope in the present, "Yes I do feel better, yes I feel alright," but the best comes with the dismissal of revisiting this past relationship, "I feel well enough to tell you what you can do with all you've got to offer." I've often thought Soft Cell's Say Hello Wave Goodbye would be a great way to end a relationship with someone who has wronged you, but McAlmont and Butler's Yes is more appropriate for those of us that have been walked all over by someone we loved. It's underlying message is that we're stronger now for that experience, we don't need you in our lives again and we're happy as we are. A fabulous song.