Soft, kind of creepy, bad mustaches. Yes, The Bells had a great deal to answer for. I, however, would rather not be so negative and I'd prefer to focus on the good qualities present in their signature hit: delicate, unsettling (i.e. 'creepy but in kind of a good way'), sensual. "Stay Awhile" can be off putting but it has grown on me. While I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way to put it on, I wouldn't rush to turn it off either.
In researching this review, I discovered that its cover versions are surprisingly few and far between — and those that do exist are by a bunch of people I've mostly never heard of. Fellow Canadian Ken Tobias, who actually wrote "Stay Awhile", did it in a light country style not unlike John Denver. It's interesting but surprisingly free of horniness and it becomes clear that the decision on the part of The Bells to do it as a duet was a wise one. Yet, not many subsequent duos have taken it on. Let's look at a few who might have done well with it:
The Beautiful South
Big in their native Britain but just a cult act at best in Canada (and they only managed to do even that well because support from Good Rockin' Tonite, Video Hits and MuchMusic playing their promos for "Song for Whoever" and "A Little Time"), the sextet with three vocalists would have been perfect for "Stay Awhile". Original female singer Brianna Corrigan had the helium-voiced tone to match Jacki Ralph's seductive reading and she always paired well with the passive-aggressive sneer of Dave Hemingway. Alternatively, leader Paul Heaton and Corrigan's replacement Jacqui Abbott could have done a tension-packed, smokey duet. It would have no doubt been nothing more than a B side though.
Nick Cave and Saint Etienne
One of those unlikely nineties' team-ups (something that both acts had prior experience doing) sees the Australian goth legend Cave really bring out the dark heart in "Stay Awhile" while Sarah Cracknell would have smouldered ironically alongside him. Plus, something tells me that lifelong pop obsessives Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs were fond of The Bells and would've loved nothing more than to add some loungy synths for that extra bit of sparkle. A fantasy pop winner!
UB40 and Chrissie Hynde
They did an awful cover of Sonny and Cher's "I Got You Babe" but then later put out a reasonably good version of Dusty Springfield's "Breakfast in Bed" and it's possible that they could've been looking for a third potential classic to revisit. Pretenders' singer Hynde could have thrived with it but I'm less certain when it comes to Ali Campbell's phlegmy whine. Also, cod reggae "Stay Awhile"? Just because I'd like to hear it doesn't mean I'd enjoy it. On the other hand, anything would've been better than UB40 and Robert Palmer's horrible version of Bob Dylan's "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight".
One of those late eighties' cross-generational duets
Following Bryan Adams and Tina Turner's "It's Only Love", Aretha Franklin and George Michael's "I Knew You Were Waiting for Me", Pet Shop Boys and Dusty Springfield's "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" and Buck Owens and Dwight Yoakam's "Streets of Bakersfield", "Stay Awhile" by a contemporary pop act their peak along with a faded star from the sixties would have had the markings of a hit single. What about Ann Wilson of Heart and, say, Del Shannon? Or Lulu and Johnny Hates Jazz? Petula Clark and Jimmy Sommerville of The Communards? Okay, now you're just being silly.
A random 90s R&B pairing
As I will no doubt explore further, the contrast between male R&B acts (deeply serious, robotically romantic, all sporting glasses whether they needed 'em or not) and their female counterparts (cheerful yet sassy, actually seemed to enjoy being pop stars, didn't act as if they were carrying the weight of the world on their backs) was stark. While having differing perspectives doesn't always work on a pop duet, it actually might have suited a song like "Stay Awhile". He — Babyface, for example — could be your average soul Romeo and she — I could see Shanice in the role — could be flirtatious and coy. The Nice Cave/Saint Etienne collaboration aside, I think this one would have had the most potential.
Someone Canadian (or Canadian-adjacent)
This is a blog about the Canadian charts and I'm a Canadian so why the hell not? But who exactly do I picture stepping up with a fresh version of "Stay Awhile" c. 2003? Neko Case and Rufus Wainwright seems like a good match. Or maybe Feist and The Unicorns? They could've performed it at the Juno Awards as they honoured The Bells with a Lifetime Achievement award. Or, more realistically, a You're Lucky Anyone Still Remembers You award.
Like it or not, The Bells hit a mark on "Stay Awhile" that not just anyone could have or would have been able to replicate. Some of the examples above seem like cool ideas but it's probably for the best that they remain that way. While we may expect to catch lightning in a bottle with an all-time great pop hit, sometimes similar things can be achieved with much less to work with. Pop music may not have needed The Bells but I'm happy they had their time nonetheless.
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