Directing Attention Away From The Trick

Squeeze “Rough Ride”

“Rough Ride” is one of Squeeze’s most ambitious songs, a sleek disco number that tosses in some sax, a choir, and an opera singer for a bit of extra flavor. The music evokes both opulence and community, which mirrors the sentiment of Chris Difford’s lyrics, which lament the steady removal of the working class from the hyper-gentrified contemporary London. Glenn Tilbrook, whose voice typically sounds affable and charming, takes on a sour tone in plainly uttering the subtext of every interaction in the city: “There’s nothing for you here / why don’t you move away?” And then a bit later at the end of the chorus, his voice shifts to a subtle blend of guilt, empathy, and weariness: “They can’t imagine the life that I’ve had / either you’re rich or it’s tough.”

Buy it from Amazon.