When Talk Talk released their sophomore album, It’s My Life, way back in 1984, things were just fine and dandy for the pop genre. Never mind the seemingly unstoppable force that was rock and the obligatory rock ballad, pop had the scene fully dominated, with the availability and wide range of synthesizers what drove many bands to discover their true sound.

Depeche Mode, Erasure, Pet Shop Boys, to name a few, grafted hard to get a name for themselves, quelling the “it’s not real music” crowd that somehow still survives. The Cure embraced the synths without abandoning guitars, bass, and drums, and created gorgeous albums on that era.

Talk Talk might’ve started as synth pop darlings, but their later output is experimental and jazzier, with patronage from the good sales of their earlier work.

It’s my life probably paid for a large share of the bill. The deceptively complex pop hit is easy on the ears, but when you try to hum it on its own, you realise all the effort the band musters. A sudden beginning, and you’re hit right in the face by Paul Webb’s syncopated bass. A playful bass line, like a wild animal roaming carefree. It shouldn’t work but it’s a beautiful chaos that lets Mark Hollis mournful lamentations feel like a scream. He never raises his voice, but all hairs on the back of your neck stand up as if a Banshee had wailed.

The pre-chorus structure is pure genius. A bog standard pop band would’ve left it all together, or maybe split in half. Hollis delivery of “I’ve asked myself” is full of trepidation and regret. “How much you do…” it’s both an accusation and a genuine fearful question, where Hollis is probably aware of the tragic answer before he even receives it. “commit yourself…” The question is finished, and he won’t get the resolution he needs. “It’s my life”, an affirmation, a declaration of surrender.

I don’t believe that Talk Talk gets narrowed down to only this megahit for most people. The ones who obsess over the song and discover how varied their later discography is are more than grateful for the beautiful pop perfection of It’s My Life. I think my real love of the song was rekindled on a trip to Scotland, many moons ago…

-Sam J. Valdés López