Educating Peter # 8

This instalment of Educating Peter has proven to be an incredibly difficult one to write.

Michael, my usual supplier of "Hey, the 80s weren't that bad" songs, sent me a song by Big Country. He suggested "Look Away", and I remember liking it a lot. And that reminded me of "In A Big Country", a song that would probably be one of my favourite radio songs – not just of the 80s, but of all time. I think "In A Big Country" is a monumentally great song. I like "Look Away", but it's not "In A Big Country".

Despite Michael suggesting "Look Away", I'm going to exercise the power of self-indulgence (which I'd originally mistyped as "the power of elf-indulgence") and make "In A Big Country" the featured song in this post.

But getting back to the aforementioned difficulty. The difficulty with this particular episode of Educating Peter is that I honestly can't think of a bad thing to say about either "In A Big Country" or "Look Away". Even the bombastic drum sounds – so typical of the 80s, and something that I usually loathe – suit the music.

But you didn't come here to read a post where all you see is the word "great" repeated 50 times.

I'll try to think of something to say.

Big Country - "In A Big Country" (1983)

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Nope. I can't think of a thing. I'm listening to the song as I'm typing these words, and I've come to the realisation that these words are not worth typing. Excuse me while I stop typing and simply listen to the music. Very loudly.

Although the album version sounds a little to me like one of those dreaded "extended versions" that I moaned about a couple of weeks ago, I don't care. It's great. And so is the shorter, single version:

Big Country - "In A Big Country" (single edit) (1983)

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And now for the song Michael actually chose. I'll play you the two versions of "Look Away" I found – the only difference I can hear is that the 7" version has a drier drum sound.

Big Country - "Look Away" (1986)

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Big Country - "Look Away" (7" version) (1986)

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I'm listening to "Look Away", and I'm thinking "This is a mighty good song". The only other thing I'm thinking of is that I prefer the sound of the 7" version.

And that's about it I'm afraid.

As for insightful, illuminating, or perceptive comments about Michael's suggestion, all I can say is what police officers on television are fond of saying: "Nothing to see here, folks."