Two "Slips" - Who Did It Better?

"Slip of the Lip" (RATT) and "Slip of the Tongue" (Faster Pussycat) played back to back on Hair Nation last night. This got me to thinking: who did it better?

Faster Pussycat released the album Wake Me When It’s Over in 1989 and it features the song “Slip of the Tongue.” It wasn’t even a single but I think it is the strongest song on the album – and maybe of the entire Faster Pussycat canon.

RATT released the album Dancing Undercover in 1986. It contained the track “Slip of the Lip.” There is an official video for “Slip of the Lip” and it charted as an album single. I do think it is one of the stronger RATT songs, period.

Both songs talk about self-destruction, albeit in different ways. I tend to prefer the Faster Pussycat song but I have to wonder if the guys in the band were listening to RATT’s ideas on “Slip of the Lip” and decided to expound on the idea? Then there’s the Whitesnake album called Slip of the Tongue from 1989… but that’s a whole other conversation.

So who did it better in your opinion?

Comments

[stu]

gotta go with faster p on this one. that song is a live staple for them, the crowd eats it up.

[Him]

Not that decorum matters when it comes to glam, but . . .

One song winks and nudges. The other song goes right for the bum. I had friends that didn’t even ‘get’ what that FP song was about. Love the good old days!

Methinks that has something to do with each song’s respective place. Granted, I love FP’s song because it is exactly what it suggests; it is an aggressively sleazy take on a bad after-dinner date! But Ratt’s song is the slow slide off their classic era, just the right amount of winks (Peacy does one at the end of the video) and a hint at where they were going . . . going . . . gone?

Not really. But not entirely untrue either. Because, at present, the bands are approaching something close to parity. For the one band, because they keep soldiering on. For the other, because none of them can agree to disagree so as to agree to something that is less and less interesting to fans.

Some might move their hips. Others are caught in deep s***. The rest of us? Fans of both bands, irrespective of what they are currently up to or not up to doing.

[Bob]

Okay, time for the blind guy to weigh in. :) I say that because all I have to go on is the music. The video, appearance of the band, Etc. don't register with me at all. Musically, "Slip of the Lip" is a far more interesting song IMHO. "Slip of the Tongue" is a great tune, but it's a typical late 80s sleazey stomper in 4/4 time like so many other late 80s sleazey stompers. "Slip of the Lip" has a swing to it, and some of the accents are in between the downbeats, so it bounces along while still being heavy. There is a live performance of Ratt at the Monsters of Rock festival in Pforzheim, Germany that has just a killer version of "Slip of the Lip." Blotz is syncopating the hell out of the tune on the drums, and the boys syncopate right along with him...Super tight and super heavy.

[fletch]

Well, um, this a bit awkward, Allyson, but I thought those songs had completely different meanings. I mean, I understand why you interpret the songs as self-destruction (or, perhaps, misspeaking), but I thought the songs were loaded with double entendres. And, each song could have very well inspired lyrics/songs that Michael Starr would (years later) write for Steel Panther.

Slip of the Lip = Camel toe?
Slip of the Tongue = Eatin' ain't Cheatin'?

[Metalboy!]

Well, well, well, my boyz …

Glad to see some things never really change and you’re still alive and kickin’! … And so am I!

Great comments, all!

Yes, even you, Fletchyboy!

I ain’t dead yet, you bastards!

Seen both bands many times. In the case of Faster Pussycat, TOO many!

Of all the “Slip”s, RATT’s is by far superior, though maybe not in the lyrics department, never one of their strongpoints, unfortunately, with the exception being their magnum opus and THE Greatest Hair Metal Anthem in all of creation, “Round and Round”.

Though I appreciate your insights, HIM, on the topic, and as always, here it’s all about what Bob said …

From which I may infer, as is nearly always the case when it comes to the best classic GLAM, “Slip of the Lip” by RATT is just plain catchier, from the first riff to the bitter end (haha!!).

Even that opening riff, to over extrapolate, with it’s subtle little stutter a few seconds in, achieves a superiority over every second of Faster Pussycat’s entire catalogue, including the best moments such as their incredible cover of Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain”, or their best original, “Nonstop to Nowhere”.

p.s. Thanks for keepin’ it goin’, Allyson! … I owe you one! … Or, in the case of comments, 100+!

[Bob]

Metalboy!, my good sir. I smoke one in your honor...Actually, I'll smoke one in all our honors!