Everything is Alright - Neil and Adam - a Playlist by musicto

Music to Navigate A Life

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The wife and I caught Hall and Oates at the Hydro last month. Some gig it was too! Full of big hits and bouncy songs that most people of a certain age have probably got saved somewhere underneath their skin. Yet, despite all of my gushing adulation, I was really quite disappointed that they failed to play one of my favourites - Everything Is Alright.

Mmmm… Of course, the trouble and strife took much delight (presaged by very superior and highly condescending facial expressions) in letting me know that this song is not actually a Hall and Oates song at all.

Well, I wasn’t having that, was I? A big argument ensued, big bets were placed, and big money was lost. It was, as it turned out, my big money that was lost!

Now, I believe there are two kinds of forgiveness in this world. The first kind is where everything really is all right, and what happened is mended. The second is where some idiot needs to get out of a big hole that he’s dug himself into, whilst not holding grudges against someone who is actually far smarter than the said idiot. I therefore unconditionally forgive my wife for her smugness and complete lack of sensitivity in this matter, and I hope we can just move on and never mention it again.

It transpires that Everything Is Alright was actually recorded and performed by veteran St. Louis songwriting partnership Neil McCloskey and Adam Hilligardt, quite recently as it happens, in 2015. Its nimble-footed fusion of soul, pop, and soft-rock is the stuff of all those eighties life-affirming pop hits that made Hall and Oates the most successful pop duo in the world ever.

And that brings me, albeit circuitously, to the point I’m so creatively/crudely attempting to make. That this song is so well written, so well crafted, and so well… err, classy that had it been around back then… back at the beginning of time, when glam and glitter roamed the earth, it could well have been yet another of those Hall and Oates No.1 hit singles.

If anyone’s wondering yet, how any of this fits into the life-navigation theme of our playlist, well now’s the time to start paying attention! The subject of this song, a young girl, lacks confidence. She doesn’t believe anyone can find her attractive. No one could ever love her. Intimidated by life, she’s living in the shadows. She’s had the sun stolen from her heart! Yet she’s entreated to love herself for who she is, to acknowledge her inner beauty… to feel better about herself and her place in the world.

Insecurity can be a crippling burden, akin really to an actual physical disability. Left to its own devices it will stymie, thwart and frustrate all of your hopes and it will shackle all of your dreams. Some of us will never encounter it. Some of us will sink under its crushing weight until there’s only one way out. Most of us will adapt, learn how to live with it, and how to hide it from others. If it’s been in your life, you’ll know what I’m talking about.

Our learning to live with a debilitating lack of self-confidence can often be facilitated by the kindness of friends or lovers if they are able to pierce the walls we build. I know you’re hurting. I know you’re struggling with something; something that doesn’t look like it’s ever going to end. You keep wondering if it’s going to take you down once and for all. Well, you just need to know that eventually, everything’s gonna be alright.

All you can do is all you can do. Give the day your best. Even though some days your best will be just getting out of bed. It’s so often our own minds that defeat us. But, if we can just keep going long enough, we’ll find our true colours. And they will be beautiful. Like a rainbow.

“It doesn’t matter what you look like
Everything is alright, you’re still an open book
What makes you think he doesn’t want you
Don’t you want to have another look”

Neil and Adam have written songs together for many years now, and boast family histories steeped in the Motown and Nashville music scenes. This particular song was requested by a New York publisher, who was after an upbeat number. His project didn’t get off the ground, but the pair had put so much work into it they decided to release it themselves. It’s a supremely catchy sweet-spot somewhere between blue-eyed soul, rock, pop and doo-wop; and where you’d expect to find an oozy-woozy sax solo you get a… banjo. It sounds seductive and spontaneous, like a slice of 80’s Miami Vice gone country!

Once nominated for Duo of the Year, via Nashville Universe, Neil and Adam say their passion has always been for the song. We didn't really set out to be musicians. We just wanted to write the best songs. That was always our focus.

Anyway, I’ll leave the last word about insecurity to Daniel Radcliffe