TS: "Gloria" vs. "Self Control"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTM_qG_NPC8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w1Qo1awwI4

Gloria (the Branigan version, obvs) was one of the very first pop songs I ever loved from a very young age. I couldn't watch MTV, but towards the end of Captain Kangaroo's run they would squeeze in a couple videos each week and I guess if Bob Keeshan thought they were okay then so did my parents. Anyway, Laura Branigan was one of my first rockstar crushes and it was half because she was cuet and half because Gloria is such an awesome single.

I love Self Control too, but, I don't have the same history tied to it.

Wow for some reason I'd never listened to the original "Self Control", and although I love Laura Brannigan's cover I prefer RAF's version. I think it's a bit faster and I love the "guitar" arpeggios in the verses, the rhythm of his vocal throughout, and the slightly different melody in the chorus. Only the oh-oh-oh's are better in Laura's version (which is a BIG part of the song's appeal).

Brannigan definitely has the better version of "Gloria" though. I remember it seemed like such an event single when I was a little kid. Even my uncle had the 45.

Out of the two, "Gloria" is probably more fun at karaoke. But I like "Self Control" just a bit more.

if we're comparing the branigans i vote 'gloria' but if we're comparing the originals i vote 'self control'. i can remember the commotion of 'self control' when it came out, i think pm magazine did a thing on the video which was said to be incredibly kinky and pornographic

I'm thinking xhuxk was right about "Self-Control" surpassing Joy Division's "She's Lost Control" in the fright department.