About the song
Bee Gees. A period often overshadowed by their later disco dominance, but one brimming with raw talent and unbridled emotion. Today, we turn our attention to a track from their 1965 album, The Bee Gees Sing and Play 14 Barry Gibb Songs, titled I Don’t Think It’s Funny.
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This song predates the soaring falsettos and bombastic production that would become synonymous with the brothers Gibb. Here, we find them a touch younger, their voices brimming with a youthful vulnerability. I Don’t Think It’s Funny is a prime example of this early sound – a blend of beat music and doo-wop with a heavy dose of teenage angst.
The instrumentation is delightfully simple. A driving backbeat lays the foundation, punctuated by the occasional flourish of organ. The true stars of the show, however, are the vocals. Barry Gibb, not yet the seasoned maestro he would become, delivers a passionate performance.
His voice cracks with genuine emotion, pleading with a lover who seems to delight in his pain. The signature tight harmonies of the brothers Gibb are present but in their nascent form, adding a layer of melancholic sweetness to the narrative.
Lyrically, the song explores the torment of a one-sided relationship. The narrator pours his heart out, yearning for commitment and affection. Lines like “You get your pleasures out of hurting me, honey / You get your kicks out of watching me cry” paint a vivid picture of a love that feels more like a cruel game. The repeated refrain, “I Don’t Think It’s Funny” , is a desperate plea for empathy, a plea that goes unanswered.
I Don’t Think It’s Funny may not be the Bee Gees’ most famous work, but it offers a fascinating glimpse into their early evolution. It’s a song brimming with raw talent and genuine emotion, a testament to the power of young love, heartbreak, and the yearning for connection. So, put on your dancing shoes, or perhaps a pair of bobby socks, and prepare to be transported back to a simpler time, when a catchy melody and a heartfelt plea could capture the complexities of teenage love.