God Bless the Go-Go's
Encyclopedia
God Bless the Go-Go's is the Go-Go's
fourth studio album
, released May 15, 2001. It was their first studio album in 17 years since the release of Talk Show in 1984
.
wrote "Every bit as Go-Go's, that is, as their non-hits and less remarkable material. While the Go-Go's sound is intact, there is not a "We Got the Beat" or a "Head Over Heels" to be found. It is feasible that in this age of pop rebirth, the Go-Go's decided it was now or never". Allmusic wrote "The album doesn't attempt to update the band's sound with hip-hop moves or electronic frippery, for which God should bless 'em, indeed. The girls' hold on the current pop world remains so strong that Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong co-writes a song ("Unforgiven") in impeccable Go-Go's drag".
The album sold fewer copies than the previous Go-Go's studio albums but still managed to chart in the U.S. Billboard 200
, peaking at number #57.
Singles released from the album included "Unforgiven" and "Apology."
groups for showing the group members posing as the Virgin Mary. The U.S. Catholic League
president William Donohue criticized the band for ripping off Catholic imagery and resorting to "cheap ploys" to lure a new audience to the band. Go-Go's singer Belinda Carlisle
replied to the critics by saying "any sort of art shouldn't be an issue. Art should not be censored. I don't get that it's controversial at all."
The Go-Go's
The Go-Go’s are an all-female American rock band formed in 1978. They made history as the first all-female band that both wrote their own songs and played their own instruments to top the Billboard album charts....
fourth studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
, released May 15, 2001. It was their first studio album in 17 years since the release of Talk Show in 1984
1984 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1984.-Janury-March:*January 21 – "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood reaches number one in the UK singles chart, despite being banned by the BBC; it spends a total of forty-two weeks in the Top 40.*January 27 – Michael Jackson's...
.
Critical reception and chart performance
God Bless The Go-Go's received mixed reviews from critics. Rolling StoneRolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
wrote "Every bit as Go-Go's, that is, as their non-hits and less remarkable material. While the Go-Go's sound is intact, there is not a "We Got the Beat" or a "Head Over Heels" to be found. It is feasible that in this age of pop rebirth, the Go-Go's decided it was now or never". Allmusic wrote "The album doesn't attempt to update the band's sound with hip-hop moves or electronic frippery, for which God should bless 'em, indeed. The girls' hold on the current pop world remains so strong that Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong co-writes a song ("Unforgiven") in impeccable Go-Go's drag".
The album sold fewer copies than the previous Go-Go's studio albums but still managed to chart in the U.S. Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, peaking at number #57.
Singles released from the album included "Unforgiven" and "Apology."
Artwork controversy
The album cover was created by photographer Maryanne Bilham. It was criticised by some CatholicCatholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
groups for showing the group members posing as the Virgin Mary. The U.S. Catholic League
Catholic League (U.S.)
The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, often shortened to the Catholic League, is an American Catholic anti-defamation and civil rights organization...
president William Donohue criticized the band for ripping off Catholic imagery and resorting to "cheap ploys" to lure a new audience to the band. Go-Go's singer Belinda Carlisle
Belinda Carlisle
Belinda Jo Carlisle is an American singer who gained worldwide fame as the lead vocalist of the Go-Go's, one of the most successful all-female bands and the first such group whose members wrote their own songs and played their own instruments...
replied to the critics by saying "any sort of art shouldn't be an issue. Art should not be censored. I don't get that it's controversial at all."
Track listing
| # | Title | Composer(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "La La Land" | Caffey, Valentine | 3:02 |
| 2. | "Unforgiven" | Billie Joe Armstrong Billie Joe Armstrong Billie Joe Armstrong is an American rock musician and occasional actor, best known as the lead vocalist, main songwriter and lead guitarist for the American punk rock band Green Day... , Caffey, Wiedlin |
3:23 |
| 3. | "Apology" | Heatherton, Valentine | 3:57 |
| 4. | "Stuck in My Car" | Caffey, Stuart, Wiedlin | 3:36 |
| 5. | "Vision of Nowness" | Ross, Valentine | 2:55 |
| 6. | "Here You Are" | Caffey, Vallence, Wiedlin | 4:01 |
| 7. | "Automatic Rainy Day" | Plunkett, Schock, Wiedlin | 3:17 |
| 8. | "Kissing Asphalt" | Caffey | 2:49 |
| 9. | "Insincere" | Caffey, Wiedlin | 3:45 |
| 10. | "Sonic Superslide" | Caffey, Carlisle, Schock, Valentine, Wiedlin | 3:33 |
| 11. | "Throw Me a Curve" | Caffey, Carlisle, Schock, Valentine, Wiedlin | 3:11 |
| 12. | "Talking Myself Down" | Caffey, Susanna Hoffs Susanna Hoffs Susanna Lee Hoffs is an American vocalist, guitarist and actress. She is best known as a member of the all-female pop band The Bangles.-Early life:... , Wiedlin |
3:55 |
| 13. | "Daisy Chain" | Sobule, Valentine, Wiedlin | 3:45 |
Bonus tracks
- "I Think I Need Sleep" (Japan only)
- "King of Confusion" (UK only) (Written by Bartell/Caffey/Valentine)
Charts
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 57 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Internet Albums | 17 |