15 Camera Obscura “Lloyd, I’m Ready To Be Heartbroken”

Answer songs were a staple of music in the 50s and 60s. The idea of an answer song is in the name – respond to a previous song, typically disagreeing with the premise of the original. For example, the original “Hound Dog,” recorded by Big Mama Thorton, had a plethora of answer songs some of which were big hits. Don’t get me started on the weird story of Annie and Henry that flowed through a series of songs in the 50s. 

Camera Obscura is a pop group from Glasgow Scotland that manages to mix a modern indie rock sound with a 60’s pop orchestration. Their “Lloyd, I’m Ready To Be Heartborken” is an answer song to Lloyd Cole’s “Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken?” Moved by Cole’s song, Tracyanne Campbell wrote this as a flat out tribute. 

I’ve listened to Cole’s “Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken?” and didn’t find it all that moving myself, but I am trying to adopt the view that the person who loves the art is correct. I do think of the two, Camera Obscura’s song is tighter and cleaner.