Shakedown Breakdown Takedown

Oh, won’t you come with me, And take my hand, Oh, won’t you come with me, And walk this land, Please take my hand.  Nope, I am not going to write about In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida today, I was just trying to tease everyone.  I have got a new attitude from listening to music and right now I want to do the Neutron Dance, but ‘New Attitude’ only climbed to #17 on the charts and ‘Neutron Dance’ peaked at #13, so I will write about the #1 hit song from this same movie, because this song satisfies the prompt.  Bob Seger had his breakthrough hit in 1976 with ‘Night Moves’, he sang ‘Still The Same’ in 1978  and he had another big one in 1980 with ‘Against The Wind’ and he finally made it into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.  He sang solo and also played with the Silver Bullet Band, but his only #1 hit ‘Shakedown’ came from the 1987 Beverly Hills Cop II movie.

Keith Forsey, Bob Seger and Harold Faltermeier, who also wrote the score for the film worked together to write the lyrics for this song which relate to Eddie Murphy’s character.  Keith Forsey is a drummer and a composer who is known for co-writing the song ‘Flashdance… What a Feeling’ for the movie Flashdance and the song ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’, from The Breakfast Club done by Simple Minds.  His music is also featured on the soundtracks of Ghostbusters, Beverly Hills Cop and The NeverEnding Story.  Harold Faltermeier is a German musician, composer and record producer is best known for composing the ‘Axel F’ theme for the feature film Beverly Hills Cop.  ‘Shakedown’ was nominated for an Oscar for Best Music, Original Song, but this song lost out to Carly Simon’s ‘Let The River Run’ from Working Girl.

Bob Seger logged six Top 10 songs in six years, plus a No. 1 album, but ‘Shakedown’ was his last gasp, as it only stayed at the top of the chart for one week in August 1987.  In the 26 years since ‘Shakedown’, Seger has had only one other charting single, 1991’s ‘The Real Love’, which stalled at No. 24.  At least he did make it to the top of the charts even if it took some help from Eddie Murphy and the MTV generation.

The song is about crime and the glamour that comes with it, it is sung from the point of view of a relentless cop who’s basically saying that “You may be flying high now, but I’ll get you sooner or later.”  Shakedown is about the cop coming after the criminal.  Breakdown is the Criminal’s glamorous lifestyle coming to an end.  Takedown is when the cop makes his move, catching the criminal in the act.  You’re busted is what drug enforcement cops live for.

No matter what you think you pull you’ll find it’s not enough
No matter who you think you know you won’t get through
It’s a given L.A. law
Someone’s faster on the draw
No matter where you hide I’m comin’ after you yeah

No matter how the race is run it always ends the same
Another room without a view awaits downtown
You can shake me for a while
Live it up in style
No matter what you do I’m gonna take you down

Shakedown
Breakdown
Takedown
Everybody wants into the crowded line
Breakdown
Takedown
You’re busted
Let down
Your guard
Honey, just about the time you’re thinkin’ it’s alright
Breakdown
Takedown
You’re busted

This is a town where everyone is reachin’ for the top
This is a place where second best will never do
It’s okay to want to shine
But once you step across that line
No matter where you hide I’m comin’ after you

Shakedown
Breakdown
Takedown
Everybody wants into the crowded line
Breakdown
Takedown
You’re busted
Shakedown
Breakdown
Honey, just about the time you’re thinkin’ it’s alright
Breakdown
Takedown
You’re busted

Ah, busted
Aw aw
Shakedown
Breakdown
Takedown
Everybody wants into the crowded line
Breakdown
Takedown
You’re busted
Shakedown
Breakdown
Honey, just about the time you’re thinkin’ it’s alright
Breakdown
Takedown
You’re busted

Shakedown
Breakdown
Takedown
Everybody wants into the crowded line
Breakdown
Takedown
You’re busted
Let down
Your guard
Honey, just about the time you’re thinkin’ it’s alright
Breakdown
Takedown
Ah, you’re busted

Shakedown
Breakdown
Takedown
Everybody wants into the crowded line
Breakdown
Takedown
You’re busted
Let down
Your guard
Honey, just about the time you’re thinkin’ it’s alright

Written for 11/4/18 Helen Vahdati’s This Thing Called Life One Word at a Time Song Lyric Sunday Theme where the prompt is “take/taking”.