Peak: #12 on the Hot 100
Streams: 8.8 million
I once read a quote from Howard Jones saying that he intentionally gave his songs positive-sounding titles like “No One Is to Blame” and “Things Can Only Get Better” because he figured it would make people more receptive to his music. I cannot for the life of me find that quote now, but even the memory of it has made me appreciate Jones’ music for decades. Because honestly, that’s a clever strategy. If your job is to entertain people, then why not welcome them in?
And Howard Jones certainly entertains me! The hooks on “No One Is To Blame” and “Things Can Only Get Better” — both top 5 hits — cannot be denied, and if you hear the chorus to “What Is Love” one time then you will be singing it for the rest of the afternoon.
Today I want to call your attention to “Everlasting Love,” which is both Jones’ final top 20 hit in the US and a song I distinctly remembering hearing when my mom was driving me home from school.
It’s a delightful anthem about people who want lifelong commitments instead of one night stands, and thanks to its reggae-adjacent bounce (especially in the bridge) it sounds right at home next to The Police’s “Don’t Stand So Close To Me” or Madness’ “Our House.” But the real star is that chorus melody: “Wait for it! Wait for it! Give it some tiiiiime!” Thank you, I will indeed be singing along.
Meanwhile, I encourage you to check out Randee Dawn’s fantastic piece about loving Howard Jones’ music. She’s got some sharp insights on how the art we love shapes us as teenagers.
Here I thought this was going to be another cover of Carl Carlton's "Everlasting Love"! I never heard this one before. Good find!
Howard Jones also advised me not to try to live my life in one day. And I didn't!