It never occurred to me, back when this song was popular on the radio in the late seventies, that it was a song about overcoming suicide. Livin’ Thing is another in a long list of great songs by a great band from a great era of music. There are SO many layers to this song, from the synthesized undertones to the scolding back-up singers (Don’t you do it, don’t you do it.) to the echoing shouts of lead singer Jeff Lynne. I like a lot of the music by ELO, some of which are tethered to Xanadu (obviously), but this song is a true stand out for me. I’m absorbed by the rhythmic melody of the cello and the sweet soft vocal harmonies, not to mention the urgency of the horns. And of course there’s the message: life is a terrible thing to lose. This is the kind of song that can make one rethink the downward spiral of drug addiction and giving in to depression, and in that way it has done its job.
From the historical writing archive. Original date: December 3, 2016. Recovered from local source material; editorial review is still in progress.