Co Co Givin Up Is Not Easy: A Wild Ride Through 1981’s Scandinavian Pop Chaos
Alright, buckle up, because this one’s gonna hit you like a sugar rush on a Monday morning. Co Co Givin Up Is Not Easy by CoCo Band is that weird cousin of '80s pop-rock who showed up uninvited but somehow stole the show. Released in 1981 outta Scandinavia (yeah, those chilly Nordics know how to party), this album blends reggae-pop vibes with synth-heavy new wave beats and just enough rock edge to keep things interesting. Produced and arranged by Johan Wallin, with tunes penned by John Groves, it's got layers—like an onion or maybe a really questionable lasagna.
Let’s cut straight to the chase: “Co-Co” and “Givin’ Up Is Not Easy.” These two tracks slap hard enough to make you forget the rest of the tracklist even exists.
First off, “Co-Co”—it’s catchy as hell, man. The synths bounce around your brain like ping pong balls dipped in glitter. It’s got this weirdly addictive groove where reggae meets some futuristic disco vibe, like if Bob Marley and Depeche Mode had a secret love child. You can’t help but hum along, even though you’ll probably butcher the lyrics after two beers. That bassline? Absolute filth. It worms its way into your soul and refuses to leave. I swear, I heard this once at a thrift store five years ago, and it still haunts me—in a good way.
Then there’s “Givin’ Up Is Not Easy,” which feels like someone took all their teenage angst, threw it into a blender with neon lights, and hit puree. This song doesn’t mess around—it punches you right in the feels from the first chord. The chorus sticks to you like gum under a school desk, and damn if it doesn’t sound like every breakup anthem you’ve ever screamed into a hairbrush. But here’s the kicker: it’s uplifting too. Like, yeah, life sucks sometimes, but hey, don’t give up! Or something. Honestly, I’m not sure what John Groves was smoking when he wrote this, but sign me up for whatever it was.
The whole thing screams early-'80s experimentation—Mercury Records clearly gave these guys free rein, and they ran wild with it. Sure, some parts feel a bit dated now, like shoulder pads and leg warmers, but isn’t that part of the charm? It’s raw, unfiltered fun without trying too hard to be perfect. And honestly? That’s refreshing in today’s overproduced music scene.
So yeah, Co Co Givin Up Is Not Easy might not change your life, but it’ll definitely remind you why music back then felt so damn alive. Weird, flawed, and unforgettable—that’s this album in a nutshell.
Final thought? If aliens ever invade Earth, we should blast this album through giant speakers. They’d either surrender immediately or start dancing awkwardly. Either way, win-win.
