Let's briefly do a rundown of the origins of this song. Written in 1956, by Otis Blackwell He also wrote or helped to write, ''Great Balls of Fire,'' & ''All Shook Up'' sung by Jerry Lee Lewis' cousin loving self, and Elvis' thieving self respectively, Blackwell wrote others too, but those are the really well known songs. It was recorded in 1956 by an artist Little Willie John and it did well. It went gold, and was a highlight of this guy's career. Then in 1958, Peggy Lee got hold of the song, adjusted a few lyrics, and it's what you know today.
It's seductive, vampy, super risque for it's time, and apparently Peggy's was the toned down version. On the surface she's just singing about her man. Her man who gets her hot (thus the high temps, either that or she's sitting on the radiator). She's singing about fever, it's been happening for centuries, people holding each other tight, and giving each other kisses that set them ablaze. I've had a couple kisses that started a small fire in my soul. Most of us have, so this song is awesome for that reason.
What I don't like, and this is probably really petty on my part, is the corniness injected when Romeo & Juliet, and then Cap'n Smith and Pochantas get in it. The song was HOT, then she slips into this regressive Shakespearean speak, and had Pocahontas talking back to the Chief and what not. In what world, is Pochantas sassin' her pops. Not happening. Sorry. And not for John, particularly because she doesn't even END UP WITH JOHN.
Finally, and I blame Usher for this, whenever I hear of flaming, burning love I think of VD. I can't help it. When ''Let It Burn'' came out, Usher was rumored to be going through somethings personally (turns out it was really Jermaine Dupri). So his singing about letting things burn just sounded like, he went out and got the package. So for Peggy's R&J to be whispering hot nothings about ''flaming youth'' and ''burning forsooth'' I'm sorry ladies and gentlemen but I just could not go. I am a victim of my times. Also ''forsooth'', is typically used ironically. So no Peggs, no dice.
Thank you for listening. LOL
