I only recently got properly into Toto – I’ve grown up listening toRosanna and Africa, but it wasn’t until I heard Africa properly that I went away and found more of their songs. Suffice to say, I’m glad I did. I found many songs by them that I loved, but Stop Loving You stood out the most.
Joseph Williams’ voice is exceptional – I loved his singing even before I found out that he voiced adult Simba in Hakuna Matata, a fact that increased my general happiness by approximately 78%. Lyrically, I’ve always been caught between wondering if Stop Loving You is sweet or vaguely obsessive (“I won’t stop till I’m through loving you”) but even if it does ere on the creepier side, Williams, unlike Sting, manages to make it sound happy and not like he’s looking through your window with a telescope. This is probably my favourite Williams song, tied with Pamela, which, by the by, is possibly the snazziest take on a guilt trip I’ve ever heard (“don’t break this heart of mine, it may not heal this time”).
Another element to note is Toto’s legendary harmonies, exhibited on every track from Africa to I’ll Be Over You to Dying On My Feet. Stop Loving You is no exception, and combined with an irresistible hook, you basically end up with a beautifully intrinsic wall of vocal loveliness which will also have you dancing around the kitchen.
Perhaps the fact that each member was a well-respected session musician means that there is no shortage of songwriting talent in Toto; they’re one of those bands at whom I’m amazed at their unending originality, which is helped of course by the instrumentation. Guitarist Steve Lukather’s distortion is a perfect contrast to the soft keyboard sounds created by Paich. All of this is tied together by the world-class drumming of Jeff Porcaro, about whom I have many thoughts, the main one being that I simply worship his talent.
Stop Loving You is an amazing song, and I defy you to listen to it without smiling. Aside from anything else, Joseph Williams’s mullet in the music video is magnificent.