The Unguarded Moment (song) explained
"The Unguarded Moment" is a song by Australian alternative rock band the Church, released in March 1981.[1] It was the second single from their 1981 debut album, Of Skins and Heart.[2] It was written by Steve Kilbey, the group's frontman, singer and bass guitarist; and Mikela Uniacke (a.k.a. Michelle Parker),[3] who were married at the time.
The song reached No. 22 on the Australian Kent Music Report singles chart,[4] [5] and was the band's first radio hit.[6] It peaked at No. 19 on the New Zealand Singles Chart.[7] The single and the album were released on EMI Records then newly revived Parlophone label.[8]
Kilbey later said, "The song just doesn't appeal to me. It doesn't give me any pleasure at all. Maybe it was exciting for people who thought the country was going to be bogged down with the Human League and Buggles for the decade."[9]
In January 2018, as part of Triple M's "Ozzest 100", the 'most Australian' songs of all time, "The Unguarded Moment" was ranked number 57.[10]
Reception
Garry Raffaele of The Canberra Times described the track in June 1981, which "starts out with a bow towards the Beatles, then into a tightly constructed, powerfully written and pulsingly performed piece. And written so well... phrases like 'men with horses for hearts', 'friends with cameras for eyes'."[11] In August 2002, it was reviewed by Rolling Stones David Fricke as "The Church's 1981 jangling gem".[12]
Roadrunner claimed, "They've ripped off the riff from "Ticket to Ride". I don't care. It's what you do with stolen goods that counts, and the Church do good things with this." They also predicted, "If given a chance – a hit."[13]
External links
Notes and References
- News: This Church still have their believers. Molitorisz. Sacha. 20 November 2003. Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 21 September 2013.
- Book: McFarlane . Ian . Ian McFarlane . . The Church . http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=205 . 21 September 2013 . 1999 . . . 1-86508-072-1 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20040604042607/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=205 . 4 June 2004 . dmy-all .
- Web site: American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) . 'Unguarded Moment' at ASCAP: ACE Title Search . 27 May 2015 . Note: User may have to search again and provide details at 'Titles' e.g Unguarded Moment; or at 'Performers' Church
- Book: . Kent . David . David Kent (historian) . Australian Chart Book Ltd . . 1993 . 0-646-11917-6 . Note: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1974 until Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) created their own charts in mid-1988. In 1992, Kent back calculated chart positions for 1970–1974.
- News: Begone, Satan. Marx. Jack. 19 November 2004. Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 21 September 2013.
- News: The Church starts tour with San Juan concert. Kinsler. Robert. 1 April 2010. The Orange County Register. Freedom Communications. 21 September 2013.
- Web site: Discography The Church . Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ). Hung Medien . New Zealand Charts Portal . 27 May 2015 .
- Web site: About The Church. https://web.archive.org/web/20130723023821/http://www.mtv.com/artists/the-church/biography/. dead. 23 July 2013. MTV. Viacom Media Networks. 21 September 2013.
- Book: Tracee Hutchison . Tracee Hutchison . Your Name's On The Door. 23. 1992 . ABC Enterprises . Sydney . 0-7333-0115-0.
- News: Musicfeeds. Here Are The Songs That Made Triple M's 'Ozzest 100'. 4 January 2020. 27 January 2018.
- News: Powerful, Pulsing Performance . Raffaele . Garry . . 22 June 1981 . 27 May 2015 . 12 . .
- Live Review: David Fricke on The Church in New York. https://web.archive.org/web/20130928081257/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/blogs/alternate-take/live-review-david-fricke-on-the-church-in-new-york-20020810. dead. 28 September 2013. David Fricke. David Fricke. 10 August 2002. Rolling Stone. Wenner Media LLC. 21 September 2013.
- Singles. Donald Robertson. April 1981. Roadrunner. 30.
