Skin of Skunk Anansie picks her favourite Jeff Buckley song
As trailblazers in the British alternative scene, Skunk Anansie surged ahead of their contemporaries in the 1990s, led by the formidable figure of Skin, the band’s charismatic frontwoman. With a string of rock anthems to their name, Skin’s songwriting prowess is undeniable. However, her choice of the song she wishes she had written might come as a surprise.
Skunk Anansie broke onto the scene at the perfect moment. Just as new wave was dying off and crowds were looking for something darker, grunge came about. In the United States, acts like Nirvana and Pearl Jam were delivering heavier sounds, but the UK was still waiting. Still in limbo after the fast-burning but now faded punk scene of the 1970s, Skunk Anansie appeared at the start of the ‘90s as grunge found its way across the pond.
Almost instantly, the band gained mainstream attention. Becoming known for their wild live shows, Skin’s stage presence was always captivating. Intimidating yet effortlessly cool, gripping without trying too hard, she’s a leader through and through, going down in history as one of the UK’s best frontwomen.
As well as being the band’s singer, Skin stands as its principal songwriter. The tracks she penned for the group helped define Britrock, the heavier rival scene to Britpop. Pieces like ‘Hedonism’ and ‘Weak’ solidified not only their own sound, merging the world of rock, metal, grunge and indie but also helped push the entirety of British music forward as Skunk Anansie became one of the country’s top exports in the ‘90s.
But when it comes to Skin’s own tastes, though, it might come as something of a surprise. In conversation with Kerrang, she picked songs by Marianne Faithfull and ABBA as some of her all-time favourites. Extending far beyond rock, Skin’s personal listening habits are surprisingly soft.
When asked what song she wished she’d written, her choice was gentle and tender. She picked Jeff Buckley’s devastating ballad ‘Lover, You Should’ve Come Over’ from the classic 1994 album Grace.
From start to finish, Skin finds it striking. “It starts with an accordion, and it amazes me every time I hear it. It’s one of the few songs on Earth that can do that to me,” she said. The piece sees Buckley begging for his lover’s forgiveness, asking for another chance to treat her right as he cries, “It’s never over / my kingdom for a kiss upon her shoulder”. It has rightfully become considered one of the most beautiful and gut-wrenching love songs in history.
“The way that it builds and builds and his voice gets bigger and bigger is great,” Skin continued, considering the song’s swelling build to its huge bridge. As the track grows from a soft acoustic ballad into a full band breakdown, Skin is a fan of its emotional drama.
Worlds away from her own work and the frameworks of Britrock, this American ballad stands out to her either way. “I’m getting goosebumps even talking about it,” she concluded, “The complexity of the song is amazing.”
