Scandal was formed in New York City in 1981 by guitarist Zack Smith. The other initial members included: bassist Ivan Elias (1950–1995), guitarist Keith Mack, keyboardist Benjy King, (1953-2012) drummer Frankie LaRocka (1954-2005) (later replaced by Thommy Price), and singer Patty Smyth. Bon Jovi lead singer Jon Bon Jovi also briefly played guitar for the band in 1983.
The band had much success early on but due to struggles within the group and their record company, it slowly dissolved—losing member after member. By the time "The Warrior" tour hit the road in 1984, all that remained of the original lineup were Smyth and Mack. Scandal broke up shortly after the tour ended. The group (minus Ivan Elias, who died of cancer in June 1995; he was replaced by Kasim Sulton) reunited in 2004 for VH1's Bands Reunited show and did a string of concerts on the United States East Coast culminating in a show at Irving Plaza in their home city (New York) on February 9, 2005. During the summer of 2006, the band (excluding Price and Sulton) reunited again for VH1's "We Are the '80s" tour, playing a string of large - mainly outdoor - venues and earning critical acclaim. During the summer and fall of 2007, they toured again (this time without Zack Smith).
In July 2008, Billboard reported the upcoming release of new music by Patty Smyth and Scandal (featuring original members Keith Mack and Benjy King). At a performance in Dewey Beach, Delaware on August 3, 2008, Smyth indicated Scandal would be releasing a new five song EP in the near future. Scandal also performed one of their new songs, "Trust in Me". Other new titles include "Make It Hard" and "End of the Girl". Patty Smyth & Scandal debuted their first single as a band ("Hard for You to Love Me", also referred to as "Make It Hard") in over 24 years on January 17, 2009 in Ridgefield, Connecticut to a standing ovation. Smyth stated the song will be available to purchase digitally in February 2009, with the new EP to follow shortly. However, the single has been indefinitely delayed as the EP will be expanded to a full-length album, according to Smyth's blog in May 2009.[6] As of December 2011, the only new music released was "Silent Night", their cover of the Christmas classic, which was featured in the NCIS Season 9 Christmas episode, "Newborn King" and subsequently available for purchase on the band's official website.
Original drummer Frankie LaRocka died in 2005 after undergoing surgery. Original keyboardist Benjy King died on September 20, 2012, from injuries sustained in an accident.
Albums
Scandal (EP) (1982) - No. 39 U.S. (RIAA: Gold)
Warrior (1984) - No. 17 U.S. (RIAA: Platinum)
Hands Tied
Scandal Feat. Patty Smyth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll never understand how sometimes
Just the way you look at me
Can tear my heart
But then again
Darling, darling, darling
Don't look across the room
Cuz you might catch me looking at you
Or what to do
So hold on
Don't turn away
There must be a hundred things
We forgot to say
How can we touch
With our hands tied
When only you know
How much you keep me satisfied
How can we explain
This photo play locked up inside
With our hands tied?
Darling, darling, darling
You think this love is blind
Just remember
Each time you squeeze her hand
You crush my heart
Oh and you just could be
Driving me out of my mind
Darling, darling, darling
I'll never let it show
As long as you go on leaving me
I'll just fall apart each time you go
So hold on
Don't take my heart away
She may be one good reason to leave
But I'm a hundred reasons to stay
How can we touch
With our hands tied
When only you know
How much you keep me satisfied
How can we explain
This photo play locked up inside
With our hands tied?
The song "Hands Tied" by Scandal Feat. Patty Smyth is a heart-wrenching ballad about a woman being in love with someone who doesn't reciprocate the same level of affection. The singer sings about the difficulty of being in love with someone who is in a relationship with someone else. She can't express her feelings and the situation leaves her feeling helpless and trapped.
The lyrics convey the singer's mixed emotions about her unrequited love. She struggles to understand how just a look from her love interest can fill her with so much emotion, even though she knows that her love is not returned. She also reveals how her love interest's affection towards his girlfriend hurts her and crushes her heart. She keeps her feelings to herself, as she knows that speaking up will only cause her to fall apart further.
The chorus of the song tackles the impossibility of expressing their love freely, as if their hands are tied. It's a metaphor for being unable to act on their emotions. The singer states that she is satisfied with the love she has but acknowledges that they can't fully explain the gravity of their situation, which leaves them both locked up inside.
Overall, "Hands Tied" is a beautifully crafted song that perfectly expresses the all-consuming effects of love, even when it's unrequited.
Line by Line Meaning
Darling, darling darling,
Addressing a loved one with affectionate repetition.
I'll never understand how sometimes
Expressing confusion and uncertainty about a loved one's behavior.
Just the way you look at me
Noticing the impact of a loved one's gaze and expression.
Can tear my heart
Feeling emotionally vulnerable due to a loved one's actions.
But then again
Acknowledging that there are also positive feelings despite the confusion and vulnerability.
Don't look across the room
Warning a loved one not to make eye contact.
Cuz you might catch me looking at you
Fearing that their own feelings may be exposed if caught staring.
Should we know what to say
Expressing uncertainty about what to do or say in the situation.
Or what to do
Continuing to express confusion and uncertainty.
So hold on
Asking the loved one to wait and not act impulsively.
Don't turn away
Asking the loved one not to reject their feelings or relationship.
There must be a hundred things
Suggesting that there are many unspoken thoughts and feelings.
We forgot to say
Implying that they have not fully expressed themselves to each other.
How can we touch
Expressing physical distance or metaphorical disconnect between the two.
With our hands tied
Acknowledging that something is preventing them from connecting.
When only you know
Acknowledging that the other person has a greater understanding of the situation.
How much you keep me satisfied
Expressing satisfaction and fulfillment in the relationship.
How can we explain
Expressing that the situation is difficult to articulate or understand.
This photo play locked up inside
Metaphorically describing the emotions and memories that are trapped or hidden.
You think this love is blind
Addressing a misconception about the depth of their feelings.
Just remember
Asking the loved one to keep something in mind.
Each time you squeeze her hand
Noticing the physical affection the loved one shows to someone else.
You crush my heart
Feeling emotionally hurt by the loved one's actions.
Oh and you just could be
Expressing uncertainty about the loved one's true motivations.
Driving me out of my mind
Describing the intense emotional impact of the situation.
I'll never let it show
Hiding their true emotions from the loved one.
As long as you go on leaving me
Describing a pattern of abandonment or neglect by the loved one.
I'll just fall apart each time you go
Suggesting that the loved one has a significant impact on their emotional stability.
So hold on
Repeating the request to wait and not act impulsively.
Don't take my heart away
Pleading with the loved one to not completely reject their relationship.
She may be one good reason to leave
Acknowledging that the loved one may have reasons to end their relationship.
But I'm a hundred reasons to stay
Asserting their own value and importance in the relationship.
Contributed by Violet S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@lisajoye5721
Once upon a time when Madonna and other female artists ruled, there was Patty Smyth. She stood out from the rest with a naturally distinctive voice. No bells and whistles, just raw talent. Her voice drew me in, and I was captivated. This song was one of her best. Everyone knew her by "The Warrior," but it was in the less popular songs she would shine. One of the best female vocalists of that generation.
@clarkkent3365
She definitely has one of the most distinctive female voices of the 80s, I can hear one of her songs, and instantly know it's her singing it.
@xuansolomonnguyen
Hi Lisa, how are you doing
@Ticona2
I agree but do not forget Pat Benatar
@lisajoye5721
@@Ticona2Pat Benatar was my idol when I was a teenager. I had my hair cut like her's, and would sing into my hair brush! I give her credit for being the best female rock vocalist that influenced so many others that came after. Ann Wilson of Heart was another favorite of mine in the rock genre.
@armandocardona4478
Those of us who were in our teens and twenties in the 1980's were truly blessed, we had an embarrassment of riches in terms of pop/rock singers, composers, songwriters, bands and musicians; I honestly believe the world will never again witness such a large concentration of raw musical talent within the same decade even if the universe lasts another trillion years.
@robertwiegman1
This was an excellent album, one of the best of the 80s...yes, Patty is underrated.
@pandapeep1148
Yeah, if there is a Top 10 of 80s albums (and how hard would that be to put together given how much incredible music came out then?), this should definitely be in there as a perfect example of the music of the 80s. I'd have to struggle to put together that Top 10, though. So many great albums to choose from.
@robertmichalscheck3072
@@pandapeep1148 yeah,if you watched these current shows showing 80s bands,you might think maybe 20 bands total,lol,Bon Jovi,twisted sister,etc,same shit,there was tons of great music back then,that’s because a lot of people producing these shows weren’t even alive then I think.
@htl3472
You bet!!!