“Can't Do Without You” by Pink Turns Blue – A Song Feature

 

     The Germany-based trio continuously exhibits lyrical intelligence with political, social and ecological awareness. Pink Turns Blue is a Post-Punk force, tackling subject matter that includes troubling bonds with others and with our environment. Their single “Can't Do Without You” addresses the current almost-worldwide tendency to disrespect/discard/disregard opinions unless they are aligned with our own.

     Succinctly, "Can't Do Without You" is a song about the increasing polarization of society, the counterproductive nature of dismissing opposing viewpoints, and a plea for unity and understanding in a world marked by division.

     The song is one of eleven from the 2025 album “Black Swan,” which is a term used for a highly improbable event with severe consequences, where the event is difficult to predict beforehand but often seems obvious in hindsight. The album can be purchased via the usual platforms, including Bandcamp (https://pinkturnsblue.bandcamp.com/album/black-swan). The Spotify stream of "Black Swan" is embedded at the bottom of this post - below the lyrics of "Can't Do Without You."
 
     In an interesting explanation of “Can’t Do Without You,” the band said:
  “The world is becoming more and more divided. More and more energy is being spent on advocating different world views and political emphasis. It's about asserting one's own point of view, and the other person is simply wrong. He is too stupid, too gullible. Or is either manipulated by the media, the elite, the ideology, or a racist, nationalist, sexist who is easy prey for conspiracy theories and populism. But that doesn't lead to anything, except anger, disappointment, blockage. We can only really win as a team by not calling each other's point of view wrong, but by designing a common target landscape and working out the most viable solution possible for everyone. For well-being we need peace and security. We must get along.
  ‘It doesn't work without you.’”
 
     Pink Turns Blue was formed in 1985. The current members of the Berlin-based band are Mic Jogwer (vocals, guitar), Luca Sammuri (bass), and Paul Richter (drums). 
 
     “Can't Do Without You” by Pink Turns Blue

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pink.Turns.Blue.Official/
Website: https://pinkturnsblue.com/
 

 

Lyrics of “Can't Do Without You” by Pink Turns Blue
How many times we’ve tried to talk but couldn’t do it at all
Well, I’m sick of our stupid fights
I ‘m sick of being wrong or right
 
You say it’s so important to side with the weak in the world
Protect them from the cruel and strong
Give shelter and full support
 
Well, nothing will stop the bad to take advantage of us all
Despite of us being good
Despite of us trying hard
 
But I can’t do, I can’t do
Can’t do without you
Can’t do without you
Can’t do without you
 
Drifting through my life without a feeling for things around
Don’t want to meet my sadness inside
Too much bleeding going on inside
 
Spent so much time on the quest for global peace and love
Guess I shouldn’t have tried at all
There’s no meaning to be found
 
But I can’t do, I can’t do
Can’t do without you
Can’t do without you
But I can’t do, I can’t do
Can’t do without you
Can’t do without you
Can’t do without you
 
If anything of value depends on us being good
If there’s anything that we could do
We should take the chance, not true?
 
Cause without any vision or even the slightest hope
Our life means nothing at all
Even love means nothing at all
 
But I can’t do, I can’t do
Can’t do without you
Can’t do without you
But I can’t do, I can’t do
Can’t do without you
Can’t do without you
Can’t do without you
Can’t do without you
Can’t do without you
Can’t do without you

“Love Is A Dog From Hell” – Songs and Poems

 

     After noticing the frequency in the song title “Love Is A Dog From Hell,” we did the research into why. Turns our, the name stems from the poetry of Charles Bukowski, who released a collection of poems under that name in 1977. The poems reflect personal experiences with love, many of which leave the person crushed and damaged, as if having encountered a dog from Hell.
 
     Within the last 25 years, there are at least 20 songs released with the name “Love Is A Dog From Hell.”  This post features our favorites.
 
     “Love Is A Dog From Hell” by The Amazons – The song was released in 2025. The Amazons are based in the UK.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theamazonsforever
Website: https://www.theamazons.co.uk/

Lyrics of “Love Is A Dog From Hell” by The Amazons
Love is a dog from
Love is a dog from
Love is a dog from hell
 
Child of thunder, wild restless wonder
Flashed me a smile and I came to heel
I didn’t ask for you, now I’m a madman
Why don’t you put me to the kill
 
Love is a dog from
Love is a dog from hell
Can you hear me baby, can you hear me howl?
Love is a dog from hell
Love is a dog from hell
 
Love was a holiday
Now it’s a hand grenade
That I woke up to in my bed
Wish I could slip away
Forget your negligee
Drown out your sirens call and break the chain
 
Love is a dog from
Love is a dog from hell
Can you hear me baby, can you hear me howl?
Love is a dog from hell
Love is a dog from hell
 
Can you hear me howl, baby?
 
I caught a fever, red hot believer
You’ve got a bite like a razor's edge
Now that I’ve found you, I can’t deny you
You’ve got me howlin’ like a dog from hell
 
Love is a dog from
Love is a dog from hell
Can you hear me baby, hear me howl?
Love is a dog from hell
Love is a dog from hell
 
Can you hear me howl?
Can you hear me howl?
Can you hear me howl?
 

     “Love Is A Dog From Hell” by The Limousines – The song was released in 2013. The Limousines are a San Francisco Bay Area duo comprising multi-instrumentalist/producer Giovanni Giusti and songwriter/vocalist Eric Victorino.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelimousines

Lyrics of “Love Is A Dog From Hell” by The Limousines
I remember kissing you back then
we cupped our cigarettes against the wind
and when the rain began to fall
we pressed ourselves against the wall
in two square feet of heaven all our own
I said what should we do
you said we could do anything you want to
you said what should we do
I said we could do anything we want to
but we gotta be careful because
love is a dog from hell
 
I remember kissing you again
you pressed your pretty lips against my skin
and when the dawn began to break
we stood there naked, face to face
you promised you would never leave me alone
 
you said what should we do
I said we could do anything we want to
I said what could we do
you said we could do anything we want to
but love is a dog from hell
 
sometimes I feel like a runaway
oh god, I feel like a runaway
sometimes I'm scared you could runaway
oh darling, please don't run away
 
darling don't run away...
 
I'll remember kissing you
I'll remember kissing you
I'll remember kissing you forever.

     “Love Is A Dog From Hell” by Sophie And Me – This song was released in 2022. Sophie and Me are a duo from Spain and Canada. Javi Manriquedelara comes from Canary Islands (Spain) and Sophie Brightman from Montreal (Canada).

Bandcamp: https://sophieandme.bandcamp.com/music

“Tree Of Life” by Art d'Ecco – A Song Feature

 

     Near the end of “Tree of Life,” the backing vocals twice emphasize an earlier-made promise, “I’ll give you everything you need.” But the song from Art d'Ecco had already delivered on the promise – propulsion by a tireless rhythm section, aggressiveness from a horn section, touches of elegance from string flourishes, and a balance of innocence and self-assuredness from the vocals.
 
     While many elements of the track deserve praise, the percussion in “Tree of Life” stands out. The standard components of a drum kit are present, but the “add-on” elements take center stage and are played with attention-commanding rhythmic sophistication. The bass enhances the groove.
 
     “Tree of Life” is one of ten tracks on “Serene Demon,” the fourth full-length album from Art d'Ecco. The album was released on February 14 via Paper Bag Records. Art d'Ecco is the stage name of a Canadian Producer/Rocker based in Victoria, British Columbia. The credits of “Tree of Life” show that, in addition to vocals, he played synth, guitar, Wurlitzer and Rhodes. But there were numerous other contributors. The credits list:
  Pascal Le Vasseur - bass
  Malcolm Holt - drums, percussion
  Evan Miller - backup vocals
  Aleisha Kalina - backup vocals
  Francesca Carbonneau - backup vocals
  Jonnie Bridgman - baritone sax, tenor sax
  Dominic Conway - tenor sax
  Malcolm Aitken - trumpet
  Nick La Riviere - trombone
  Elyse Jacobson - violin
  Molly Mackinnon - violin
  Doug Gorkoff - cello
  Steven Lin – viola
 
     While talking about the message behind “Tree of Life,” Art d'Ecco said, “I think the words speak for themselves, partnership starts with planting a seed - sometimes we grow together, sometimes we grow apart.”  Turning to the making of the single, he explained:
  “This song is the first musical collaboration with my long-time rhythm section. I asked them to play a disco groove - something akin to 'You Should Be Dancing' by the Bee Gees, which stays in the same key/chords for all the main parts of the song, only deviating to a chromatic section as a respite from the various bass riffing.
  Using this as our inspirational goal posts, I hit record. They improvised the tight upbeat groove you hear on this song - almost immediately. Of the 2 minutes I recorded, I was able to chop up and assemble the entire demo for what would be the song.”
 
     “Tree Of Life” by Art d'Ecco

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“Like It Like This” by The Two Romans – A Song Feature (Amended)

     The Two Romans identify their musical role models as Gang of Youths and Nothing but Thieves. We don’t doubt the influences that the two bands have had. Still, we find “Like It Like This,” the most recent release from The Two Romans, to be far more inviting than the music of their role models. The track stands out with dynamic intensity shifts and multiple vocalists weaving in and out, creating a sound that’s sure to urge audience participation. A fitting comparison might be the Canadian band The Strumbellas, although The Two Romans bring a more sophisticated touch to their music.
 
     The band’s name reflects the fact that its core members, bothers Samuele and Mattia Zanella, are originally from Rome. The two brothers now reside in Switzerland and have joined forces with musicians from Germany and Switzerland. The members of The Two Romans are Samuele Zanella (keys, vocals), Mattia Zanella (guitar, keys, vocals), Florian Fettke (electric guitar), Simon Boss (drums), and Yvo Brönnimann (bass, guitar).
 
     In talking about “Like It Like This,” The Two Romans explained:
  “The idea of the song starts from the desire to be able to embrace life, even in the most difficult situations. The low moments allow us to recognize the highs and appreciate when things are going well.”
 
     The lyrics of “Like It Like This” are included at the bottom of this post. They are interesting and insightful, particularly in view of the somewhat quirky phrasing and presentation. For example, rather than a continuous flow to the statement “on this rollercoaster we call life,” the words are delivered almost as three thoughts, “on this rollercoaster…. We call: Life isn’t always easy.”
 
     “Like It Like This” is a single from the 15-song album “Real Life Lovers,” which was released on February 14, 2025.
 
      The band’s discussion of its name is also interesting:
  “Whenever their name or the capital of Italy is being mentioned, the well-worn saying "All roads lead to Rome“ often comes up. Well, let's stick with this figure of speech for a moment:
  What does the statement actually mean for someone who originates from Rome himself? Where do the paths leading into the eternal city carry a Roman himself to? That is simple. One starts walking – in the opposite direction and approaches other people who are on their very own section of their way.
  The Two Romans are doing just that: They are walking against the tide, being a little different, going beyond the mark, looking for encounters, meeting strangers, traveling the world and sharing the journey like a family. Many foreign encounters are spontaneous, moments often last a short time, conversations after the concert are tight. But all these contacts, impressions and exchanges with others ultimately create an overall picture like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle: A collection of memories.”
 
     “Like It Like This” by The Two Romans

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Website: https://www.thetworomans.com/
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Lyrics of “Like It Like This” by The Two Romans
I like it like this
 
If you ever had a doubt
Don’t worry you’re not alone
There’s plenty other doubters shooting their arrows
With covered eyes
 
And if you thought you’ve seen it all
Had enough of broken bones
There’s plenty other lost souls on this rollercoaster…
We call:
 
Life isn’t always easy
But I’m not
Gonna hide behind some cheesy lines
Whatever may come
I’ll always say one thing:
“I like it like this.”
 
Oh, and every day
Just let me say:
“Yah, I like it like this
I like it like this
I like it like this.”
 
It’s the coming and the going
A giving and receiving
We’ve all got crazy feels on this flipper field…
We call:
 
Life isn’t always easy
But I’m not
Gonna hide behind some cheesy lines
Whatever may come
I’ll always say one thing:
“I like it like this.”
 
Oh, and every day
Just let me say:
“Yah, I like it like this
I like it like this
I like it like this.”
[Repeat]
 
If you can find peace in the winter
Your life will be feeling like spring
And you
Will always bloom
 
Let me tell you:
“If you can find peace in the winter
Your life will be feeling like spring
And you
Will always bloom”
 
I like it like this
Oh, and every day
Just let me say:
“Yah, I like it like this
I like it like this
I like it like this.”
 
Oh, and every day
Just let me say:
“Yah, I like it like this
I like it like this
I like it like this.”

“Dancing with Ghosts” by Pink Turns Blue – A Song Feature

      Three months ago, Rick Beato, a highly respected YouTube personality, presented his observation that most musicians write and/or preform their pinnacle work before the age of 30. Beato’s theory is that aging-related changes in the brain affect a musician’s ability to write and improvise music. If you are interested, his video is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxR6Zi1euvc&t=5s.
 
     Beato listed exceptions to his theory, with most of the exceptions being classical composers. For us, the German band Pink Turns Blue is an exception within the Rock/Post Punk genres. The band released seven albums from 1987 to 1993. The albums received critical acclaim. But their pinnacle work, “TAINTED” dropped in 2021. The standout song on that album is “There Must Be So Much More.” As a strong follow up album. “Black Swan” will be shared on February 28, 2025. “Dancing with Ghosts” is the latest of three single releases from the upcoming album.
 
          “Dancing with Ghosts” is a song about a troubled relationship. Specifically:
“’Dancing With Ghosts’ is a song about our difficulty of breaking out of an unhealthy bond.
Some last a lifetime – and are not good for us at all. They suck all our energy, never give, always take. And whatever we do, it’s never right and never good enough.
And since it’s often our best friend, mother, or sister, it feels like we owe them something, but every time we try to do something good for them, we just feel miserable and used.
There is no easy way out, because whatever we do, we lose.
These spirits will haunt us forever unless we challenge them and eventually manage to leave them behind.
We’re Dancing With Ghosts.”
 
     The members of Pink Turns Blue are Mic Jogwer (vocals, guitar), Luca Sammuri (bass), and Paul Richter (drums). In an explanation of the title of the upcoming album, they note, “Black Swan is a term used for an unexpected event that, in retrospect, is rationalized as if one could have prepared for it.”
 
     “Dancing with Ghosts” by Pink Turns Blue

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pink.Turns.Blue.Official/
Website: https://pinkturnsblue.com/

Lyrics of “Dancing with Ghosts” by Pink Turns Blue

I’ve got to go now
You’re eating my soul
I’ve got to kill all love
Or I will fall
I need to bury you now
To stop the pain
Our love needs to end now
Or I’m going insane
 
Go dancing with ghosts now
Go dancing with ghosts now
 
Just leave me alone now
To live my life
Could strive for happiness
Because this would be right
Can fuck up without you
Don’t need you at all
Can grow with a challenge
But can’t solve yours
 
Go dancing with ghosts now
Go dancing with ghosts now
Go dancing with ghosts now
Go dancing with ghosts now
 
I’m trying to reach the light
Trying to get to the other side
I’m trying to pass the door
Because I know there’s so much more
And find my own keys to life
To reach the stairs of heaven alright
Been part of yours for too long
Now it’s time to live my own, my own
 
To live my own life
To live my own life
 
Go dancing with ghosts now
[Repeating]