THEN HE KISSED ME is Even More Amazing Than You Thought

If you’ve ever seen the launch of any of the Apollo missions, you’ll have noticed that right at launch the rockets pause for a few seconds, wavering ever-so-slightly as the entire rocket package sways as if lightly dancing, before  finally thrusting upwards & launching for good into space.

That’s the same feeling that comes to me at the beginning of Phil Spector’s amazing Then He Kissed Me. There’s a million things about the song to love – Hal Blaine, I’m looking up at you on the big drum kit in the sky – but if you notice, right between the opening guitar notes and when it really takes off there’s a moment of free-fall swaying that feels like a subconscious decision on Spector’s part to brace the listener for the brilliance they’re about to be steamrolled over with.

Check it out, from 0:04 to 0:07.