WARNING: This is nothing but blatant fangirling, baby.
A bit ago I wrote about my struggles with the gush, and I am finally ready to sit down and have it out. I chose to go with Everything You Say, because the way I perceive Benjamin to be during this time of his life matches my current mood. It’s okay with me if that part doesn’t make sense to you… I also chose it because he’s absolutely AH-MAZING in this video!
Those first notes and that countdown raise my heart rate right out of the gate. The video editor makes me crazy by showing everyone else *but* Benjamin for the first 30 seconds, but when my man finally comes out of the dark and onto the screen he has been worth the wait: he is GORGEOUS. That layered black leather wrapped around his husky build, the 1987 blonde shag, and (as always) the way his hands move on his bass… Seriously, I have to pause here and breathe for a minute.
He starts singing in that low voice and it is sooooo delicious and sexy. The way he says ‘honey’ makes my spine tingle. And oh, those closeups at 1:02 and 2:04! With the sweat on his jaw and his glance over to the right; that way he sort of half-purses his lips… yummy.
Catch his beautiful smile, too, that smile at 1:39! Grooving moves at 2:42, his hands at 2:57 (really, through the whole thing), and his shrug and grin at the late spotlight at 3:26… Ah, and that little bass swing at 3:57! I love it!
Other things that crack me up about this vid: Looks like Elliot gives up at 4:26; the way Greg be-bops around reminds my kids of a little parakeet, I love Ric with the acoustic guitar, and the footage of David is wonderful! Think I’m going to make some gifs from this one. Hee hee!
Be sure to comment on your favorite parts — and let me know if I missed anything!
sweetpurplejune 
sigh . . . I’m most in love with David from Door to Door. I always had a mental image in my head as a child of what my future husband would look like, and DtD!DR matches to a T. ♡ Oh, BTW, this is my baby brother’s favourite song//performance {Strap Me In is his fave Cars MV, on that note – can’t decide if it’s mutually mine too, or if Panorama is, just cos that’s when I first *really* fell for David}.
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I love David here, too! I made a gif of him playing the drums from this vid; I’ll put it on facebook. Tell your brother I said hi!
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Aw man, I just saw him yesterday, too! I’ll mention it the next time I see him.
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“Everything You Say” is my favorite tune from Door To Door. Ben’s voice gets so low that it seems like he is about to break out into an Elvis impersonation…a great live performance.
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Yes, it’s definitely at the top of my list, too. I love that rockabilly sound.
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This is the last video I watch every night before going to bed; the penultimate is always “Double Trouble”. Even if I’ve spent the prior hour(s) watching Greg Lake vids, particularly “Still….You Turn Me On”. If anyone had told me that my 65th birthday would apparently turn on my fangirl switch, I would have laughed myself silly. I’m just thankful that my fangirl targets are both from my generation!
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Hey Donna, just coming back to look around parts of your site that i havn’t been to in a while. I have to say that you are spot on about all the things you said regarding Ben in this video. gorgeous as always and that voice that is more amazing that any words could do it justice. i just cant believe it wasn’t long after this that the Cars were no more. why oh why would Ric want to break up a band so wonderful in every aspect of what the perfect group had to offer every fan of their of music? i just dont get why he would have wanted to scatter apart what should have stayed the perfect group. no one can tell me either that the breaking up of the Cars didn’t hurt Ben to his soul. I can hear the terrible heart ache in his voice when he sings,”Do you know what it feels like” must have been like watching his house burn down to him, and there was no way he could stop it.
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I’m sure there are several layers to the break up, but I totally agree; I think Ben was cut to the core. 😦
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I’ve been spending a lot of time home sick the last week, and as tedious as that is, it’s given me more time to read your blog : ) Donna, you always hit the nail on the head. When I’m obsessively scrolling through 10 years of youtube comments and happen on particularly cogent observations, they always turn out to be ones left by you.
About this video: it was my first hearing of the song and it was so powerful it made cry (and I’m not a weepy type). Though I don’t even know if it’s meant to be a sad song (not sure what those lyrics mean) and on subsequent viewings I see that he’s often smiling during the performance, something about Ben’s voice is so melancholy that it really gets me. Beyond that, the whole mood is wistful: band about to break up, Ben looking still incredibly handsome but heading into his more mature years, knowledge of what the coming years would bring. I adore this live version, but can only listen to it when I feel emotionally ready for it.
I also love the way he sings “honey”–look forward to each one in the song. Something I love that you didn’t mention: how nicely those trousers fit him. The youtube thumbnail showcases his lovely leather-encased haunch, which I very much enjoy.
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Thank you for your kind words, and for sharing your thoughts. I do agree with you as so the frame of mind he must have been in during this performance and this tour. I mean, I’m sure they all could see that the end was near… such a shame! And of course, I TOTALLY agree with you about his trousers.
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I’m fangirling right there with y’all on this one. Ben, devastatingly beautiful as usual, the leather clinging tightly to that strong frame…ugh. I do like it when he only wears the leather vest, though, so I can gaze upon those broad shoulders and muscular arms *sigh* Just so, so gorgeous in this video.
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I think this is becoming one my favorite songs Benjamin sings. I can’t explain it. I don’t remember hearing it before in the context of it being a Cars song and yet it sounds really familiar to me, like I’ve heard it someplace in some other context. The Cars version just without knowing it was them. He just sings it so beautifully. His smile in the video is just so lovely. His whole face changes when he smiles.
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Someone commented on YouTube that this was the finest live vocal ever recorded from a rock band front man. I agree. The vocal ability displayed here is nothing short of amazing. I mean how often is it that someone actually sounds better live? Hardly ever! He had a serious gift.
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Love this video of leather daddy. So delish. His vocals are amazing!!
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“Take my heart it’s only TIN”? no way Gorgeous Boy….You are the FINEST Solid Gold
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