If you’re not into processing the lyrics and (understandably) absorbed in the catchy beats of the drum, you wouldn’t recognize “Heat of the Moment” is fundamentally a 3-minute, 50-second apology—a damn good one at that.
The band’s lead vocalist and bass player, John Wetton said so himself. In a 2014 interview with Songfacts.com Wetton said the whole song is just an apology. “It’s just saying I fucked up. I hold my hand out and I got it wrong. I never meant it to be like that. I didn’t want it to be like that. And so I’m sorry. That’s basically what “Heat of the Moment” is.”
(Sadly, Wetton passed away from cancer earlier this year)
It’s much more than that. The lyrics may be apologetic but the killer guitar riffs and aforementioned beat certainly were not.
Years later Asia and it’s most famous song became a pop culture sensation to a new generation in the movie “The 40-Year Old Virgin” when Seth Rogan suggests Steve Carrell has never gotten laid, in large part because of an Asia poster hanging on his wall.
“Wanna know why your gay—-because you like Asia.”
Chart Success: “Heat of the Moment” peaked at number-four on the Billboard Top 100 and finished 40th on the year-end Billboard Top 100. The self-titled debut album, also featuring a second hit “Only Time Will Tell” was the top selling rock album of 1982.
Great Lyrics: I feel like if I screw up with my girl and use this song as an apology I’ll get eye-rolled, but I digress.
“I never meant to be so bad to you
One thing I said that I would never do
A look from you and I would fall from grace
And that would wipe this smile right from my face
Do you remember when we used to dance
And incidence arose from circumstance
One thing lead to another we were young
And we would scream together songs unsung”
Fun Fact: Often the last few songs a band records for an album become throwaways but in this case “Heat of the Moment” was the very last song they recorded, which ultimately became the first single Asia released.
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PREVIOUS ENTRIES
100. Hall & Oates – I Can’t Go For That (No Can D0)
99. Michael McDonald – I Keep Forgetting
97. The Police – Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
96. Madonna – Papa Don’t Preach
94. Cyndi Lauper – Time After Time
93. Kenny Loggins – Danger Zone
92. Peter Gabriel – In Your Eyes
91. Night Ranger – Sister Christian