INXS.


What do we all think about this popular 1980s Australian pop/rock and new-wave band, fronted by the late lead singer Michael Hutchence (he died 20 years ago, in November 1997, apparently due to a suicide through an act of auto-erotic asphyxiation, about 2 months after the tragic death of Princess Diana in a car accident that year by the way)? And what songs do we most like by them?

I myself think they're pretty good, mostly I admire loads of songs by them, including various popular singles like "Need You Tonight", "Never Tear Us Apart", "The One Thing", "Don't Change", "Original Sin", "Suicide Blonde", "Heaven Sent" and others no doubt and even own quite a few albums on CDs at home by them, I even have one INXS T-shirt of their album "Kick".

Although after 1997's "Elegantly Wasted" album and after Hutchence's death they have mostly gone downhill, although "Full Moon Dirty Hearts" from 1993 was also an average album. I have heard a lot about the The The-LIKE Hutchence's project Max Q and one 1999 Michael Hutchence solo album, but haven't yet explored much of either.

Also, I want to ask about ONE song and ONE video OF THAT song by them, so bear with me a minute please, thank you.

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OK, time has come, also, may I ask, has anyone heard, and, especially, SEEN THE VIDEO, for their 1992 song/single, featured on their solid 1992 album release "Welcome to Wherever You Are", called "Taste It", and what did you think of the song AND its video, link to video here (if you are faint hearted in any way, be prepared to watch it) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ny8HFB2q7xU

To those of you who have just heard the song AND watched the video, may I ask, what DID you think of it?

Also, I am aware, from what I've read (its a good song by the way, on the album, the song "Wishing Well" is almost like a SEQUEL to that song as it ALSO features the words "taste it" in the lyrics) that the song was about its lead singer Michael Hutchence having lost his sense of taste after a minor car accident around that time, but do you think there is perhaps another meaning to the song, so what is it REALLY about?

Also, the video, which I tell you, although slick, beautifully shot and attractive, is weird, chilling and even to an extent, albeit in a glossy way, CREEPY as hell, and I wonder if it is meant to directly relate to the song's message, and the video, for those of you who have just seen it, shows lead singer Michael Hutchence lying on the floor all tied up, while his band members watch, and there is this lady, who IS attractive mind you, imitating sex*al acts on him whilst cutting up his clothes with scissors, and all the while, it is being watched through the window by two little kids playing outside, I also wonder... besides what you think of it all, if in the video's storyline, it is implied that the lady and Michael Hutchence are playing some kind of weird S&M-like game consensually, or if she ACTUALLY intends for some or other reason to maliciously do something wrong to him, also, I kinda can't help but wonder, does the "Taste It" part of the song ONLY refers to Hutchence's lost sense of taste after the accident, or is there another, maybe sex*al, mayb

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maybe not - etc, MEANING to it?

I also find it interesting how online, very little is being said about that song and its video interpretation, seriously, in its own albeit more slick and less over the top sort of way, and more relaxed perhaps, it is almost as creepy and weird as the "Windowlicker" video for "Aphex Twin" song, but except on the internet, there's TONS of interpretations to the meaning of the video and the song, even if many fans and people in general just see Chris Cunningham and Aphex Twin's main member Richard D. James messing about with minds of audiences, maybe Michael Hutchence of INXS and whoever shot the video for "Taste It" was doing the SAME thing albeit in a more slick and sort of condense able manner?

I mean, if we were to compare the two videos back to back, both kinda deal with controversial and adult elements, but Windowlicker was like an attempt to parody and critique rap music videos, misogyny, and also question the elements of transgender, like, remember how those gorgeous women turned into the male Aphex Twin's lead member towards the end, maybe even question sexuality?

In a perhaps less over the top manner, "Taste It" almost seems to question whether or not it is appropriate for kids to watch adult material, and also maybe play on the euphemism of the song's title, maybe it is meant to be sex*al in nature, maybe not, and also ask about male and female sexuality, and in the video, is it meant to ambiguously suggest that the girl in the video either sexually in some way violates Hutchence's character or does something bad with the scissors to him, or is just role play as such?

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I am not much of a fan of INXS so I can't usefully comment on their music or videos. But I would say that as a firm believer in conspiracies I think that Michael Hutchence was either murdered or he is still alive, and the same for Princess Diana.

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Fair enough, what did you think of that song and the video behind it and its meaning?

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I always liked 'Disappear' by INXS ⤵
https://youtu.be/qKAa20ukR-s

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Yeah, its a good song too, yes.

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I liked them since Listen like Thieves and owned a Need You Tonight T-shirt back in the 80's! Kick was their best album for me, nothing topped that afterwards but they were a great band live, Michael was irreplaceable.

Taste It is a decent INXS song but the video is a little boring tbh, I don’t like the way it’s directed, and feel sorry for the rest of the band hardly getting a look in.

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Is it still suicide if you kill yourself unintentionally? I am not sure if they ever worked out what his intentions were. I think it was just an accident due to the extreme sex act.

INXS 1984 "The Swing" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGpvVuq0QvY

I didn't hear much of their post Hutchence music, I think they shot themselves in the foot by trying to find a replacement via a talent show. A bit gimmicky and in bad taste. I still like this song with the replacement singer though https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnTelUJrDhc

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Suicide goals are also scored usually intentionally.

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