Rikki, You’re Beautiful

A contrast of two songs: “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” by Steely Dan and “You’re Beautiful” by James Blunt.

Rikki was a real live person when Don Fagen had a crush on her after meeting her at a party at Bard College. Rikki was the wife of a professor and was pregnant at the time, yet Fagen could not resist slipping her his number in case she had a “change of heart.” It was not a stalker song by any means, just a young man telling a young woman of his attraction to her. “You tell yourself you’re not my kind, but you don’t even know your mind, and you could have a change of heart.” Rikki Ducornet was the “Rikki” and never really knew of Fagen’s interest until years later. They never hooked up over the years either.

The catchy lyrics, the smooth sound, and the harmonizing all made “Rikki” the biggest commercial hit for Steely Dan, which is named after… never mind, you can look it up yourself. “Rikki” went on to propel Steely Dan to a lifelong career for Fagen, Walter Becker, and other talented musicians that worked for “Steely Dan” over their 50+ years. It is a classic song that will still be played 100 years from now.

Now for “You’re Beautiful.” Written by James Blunt who has had moderate success but never anything close to the hit that “You’re Beautiful” became. Written mostly by Blunt (63% – how do they decide that?), the song is about when Blunt saw an ex-girlfriend, Dixie Chassay, on a London train with her new boyfriend. Blunt imagined that they reignited their love affair and consummated it in that simple meeting of eyes. “She smiled at me on the subway. She was with another man. But I won’t lose no sleep on that, ‘Cause I’ve got a plan.” There was no flame, as the two have never talked since.

The song went to #1 in 10 countries, including the U.S., and was a life-changing song for Blunt. It wasn’t for Dixie, though. Blunt has made obscene gobs of money off that song. He has a net worth of about $20 million and owns his own jet. He’s a proclaimed eco-environmentalist, although he flew 1,400 miles just to get some chicken wings. Unlike Al Gore, Blunt admits he is a hypocrite.

So Steely Dan wrote of unrequited love, made millions over the years, leaving Don Fagen, decades later with a net worth of $50 million. Blunt, with one hit, clocks in at $20 million. The moral of the story? Songs of unrequited love pursuits are very profitable. I may or may not have a column next week, as I’m going to be working on my song I’m developing.

Did you know there are six people in the world who are your soulmates? Someone you meet and it just clicks? It is magical, fantastical, enduring, all encompassing, and incredibly passionate. But the situation may not work for a variety of reasons and you have to move on. I am about to give too much away about my song, so let me get to work.

Kelly Burke, attorney, former district attorney and magistrate judge, writes about the law, rock’n’roll, and politics or anything that strikes him. Contact Kelly at dakellyburke@gmail.com to comment on this article or suggest articles that you’d like to see, and visit his website at www.kellyrburke.com to view prior columns.

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