Vince Charming

Heart Condition

Click to hear a sample

VC: lead & harmony vocals, Mosrite acoustic, Fender Precision bass, Fender Strat, drum programming; Angela Hessler: violin; Mike Grow: Fender "SRV" Strat

1997 proved to be an interesting year professionally (I moved school districts), personally (I somehow managed to get semi-involved with several fascinating women), and musically (I wrote eight songs after writing a combined five in the previous two years). I also began performing again and did some recording for the first time in nearly three years. “Heart Condition” deals with the subject of love at first sight. It’s a concept that may be hard to believe if it’s never happened to you. For me it’s happened not just once, but twice! For those of us who have been fortunate (or is it unfortunate?) to have emotions so closely entwined with our phycial beings, this song sets out to explain. It was late August of that year and I can still clearly envision the fist moment I saw the woman who inspired this song and numerous others for the next seven years. All the new teachers were at some training and the principal walked in an introduced our latest colleague to us. It was an awe-inspiring feeling at first and these initial impressions were given validity as we bonded very closely over the next few weeks as we both adapted to our new school. I kept trying to fight these feelings, both because I was so star-struck and because I wanted to focus on my work. I also found it hard to believe that this heavenly creature could be interested in me. Yet somehow she found an excuse to visit my classroom nearly everyday for weeks either for heart to heart chats or for help of some kind. Then confusion set in when one day in her classroom she introduced me to a male “friend”. Not “boyfriend” mind you, just simply friend. I was further confused by this ambiguity. Finally, I began to give in and writing this song was the first step. I finally asked her out to dinner and the rest is songwriting history ( see my previous CD, “Five Reel Film”).

 I can also still recall how I was walking down the hallway at school one morning when the “riff” of this song came to me suddenly. I raced home and worked in out on the bass. In later years we tried to adopt it to the guitar and even as we recorded Mike & I tried it, only to shelve it and keep it only on bass. When Angela came in to record we managed to both be inspired and her parts are just simply fantastic. The final result is pure pop, a bit country, and a dash of ELO.

I get a heart condition Every time you’re near A heart condition From you, dear Heart condition And I fear This heart condition You don’t hear The skip, flutter Skip, flutter Of my heartbeat Skip, flutter Skip, flutter Goes my heartbeat I got my armor on but it’s easily pierced Got my game face Trying something fierce To be so tough When you’re around Just one smile and I’m on the ground With the skip, flutter Skip, flutter Of my heartbeat Skip, flutter Skip, flutter Goes my heartbeat You say I’m rational You say I’m calm But I’d only be calm Lying in your arms You say I’m smart You say I’m sweet But I’m not smart enough to make a retreat

So it’s a heart condition Every time you’re near A heart condition From you, dear Heart condition And I fear This heart condition You can’t hear The skip, flutter Skip, flutter Of my heartbeat Skip, flutter Skip, flutter Goes my heartbeat I went to the doctor Been looking for a cure I tried to resist Your graceful allure I’ve tried to fight it But I’ve found There’s no escaping The familiar sound… How my heart pounds With a heart condition Every time you’re near A heart condition From you, dear Heart condition And I fear This heart condition Can’t you hear? The skip, flutter… VC 11/15-16/97