Convincing Eyes, Persuasive Lips

Belinda Carlisle “I Get Weak”

Diane Warren originally wrote this song with Stevie Nicks in mind, and that seems totally absurd to me. I can imagine Nicks’ voice working on the verses, but the big chorus doesn’t square with her aesthetic, and there’s a naive sweetness to the lyrics that feels all wrong for the author of jaded masterpieces like “Gold Dust Woman” and “Dreams.” Belinda Carlisle on the other hand? A perfect fit. Carlisle is extremely good at conveying a very pure sort of love, untainted by cynicism or low expectations.

“I Get Weak” is about lust and a lopsided power dynamic, but there’s an innocence to it too, as Carlisle sings Warren’s words like she’s experiencing this sort of extreme infatuation for the first time. Part of the magic of this song is that the sound of it implies an adult perspective, distinctly different from the more youthful tone of previous Carlisle crush songs like “Mad About You” and “Our Lips Are Sealed.” She’s singing from the point of view of someone who has some stability and composure, enough so that she’s very aware of losing it when she’s with this overwhelmingly sexy person. She never expected this, but she’s absolutely thrilled to give into the feeling. The song is nothing but joyful surrender.

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