When you think about musical coolness, who comes to mind? It’s not just about being a favorite artist; it’s that undeniable aura of someone who seems effortlessly awesome, someone you watch on screen or stage and think, “Wow, they’ve just got it.” For many, and certainly for me, that image is perfectly captured by Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders, especially when thinking about the iconic Day After Day Song.
John Scalzi
The Pretenders weren’t necessarily my absolute favorite band growing up, but while I enjoyed groups like Journey, whose coolness factor unfortunately peaked around the time of that “Separate Ways” video, or the synth-pop melancholy of Depeche Mode, Chrissie Hynde and The Pretenders occupied a different stratosphere. Bands I loved were often wonderfully uncool – think Billy Joel or Men at Work – and that was perfectly fine. Liking what you like is the point, regardless of some arbitrary coolness metric.
But coolness? I recognized it, and Chrissie Hynde embodied it. She projected intelligence, a rebellious attitude, and a take-no-prisoners stance. She led a band that could deliver powerful rock anthems and maybe, just maybe, handle any post-show disagreements in the parking lot with equal ferocity. Is this the real Chrissie Hynde behind the scenes? Probably not entirely. Like Shirley Manson from Garbage, who also radiates cool, she’s likely navigating everyday life just like the rest of us. But in the public eye, Chrissie Hynde is pure rock star, a magnetic presence who delivered some of the most outstanding rock music of the late 70s and early 80s.
The first two Pretenders albums, largely penned by Hynde, are masterpieces of guitar-driven rock, utterly unique and influential. Even after tragedy struck the band, Hynde persevered, rebuilding and releasing their most commercially successful album, Learning to Crawl. She’s a true icon, a force of nature.
Choosing one Pretenders song to exemplify Hynde’s coolness is a challenge, but “Day After Day” stands out as a perfect distillation of their magic. This day after day song showcases all the hallmarks of their best work: James Honeyman-Scott’s signature shimmering guitar riffs, Martin Chambers’s powerful and precise drumming, Pete Farndon’s solid bass lines, and soaring above it all, Chrissie Hynde’s unmistakable voice, filled with both strength and vulnerability, singing about the complexities of loneliness. While The Pretenders have numerous hits, “Day After Day” is arguably among their finest achievements, a testament to their artistry and Hynde’s captivating presence.
Chrissie Hynde remains active, still radiating that same attitude and coolness that defined a generation. While personal coolness might be an elusive and perhaps unnecessary aspiration for many, appreciating it in artists like Hynde is effortless. When I consider musical coolness, it’s still Chrissie Hynde who immediately comes to mind, especially when I hear the timeless day after day song and remember the impact of The Pretenders.
