This is Song of the Day with Neena Savage where I, Neena Savage, share my song of the day.

One of my biggest pet peeves is when people completely write off an entire musical genre. Isn’t that such a limiting way to live?

Open your eyes and ears to all the amazing music out there, and let me help you find your new favourite song.

Today’s song is No Mercy by The Stranglers

This week has been a rough one, covid isolation, midterms, Kid Carson’s pro-convoy rant, and what is a better anthem for my crappy mood? No Mercy was released in 1984, written by Hugh Cornwell, Dave Greenfield, Jet Black and Jean-Jacques Burnel and performed by the Stranglers.

I found myself belting out The Stranglers classic while driving home from an unsuccessful covid test. Screaming “life shows no mercyyyy” at the top of my lungs, alone in my car, was a cathartic experience that everyone should try before spending hundreds of dollars on therapy.

The guitar and percussion are fairly simple and repetitive, layered with some fun 80’s new wave keyboard and sax. It’s uncomplicated yet rich in sound.

Every day you’re working like a slave
Sweating buckets hoping that you get it right
Will it be as tough tomorrow, have to wait and see
Life shows no mercy

Is it weird I find this song strangely motivational? Just suck it up, you know?

I’m all for a sad sap song to cry to, but sometimes I just need Hugh Conwell to tell me to pick up my bootstraps and roll with the punches.

This track was released as a single and was later added to the band’s 1984 album, Aural Sculpture. Even though No Mercy made number 37 on the UK Singles Charts, the song’s commercial success doesn’t measure up to other Stranglers songs like Always The Sun, Strange Little Girl and Golden Brown.

This is why I think No Mercy is one of the most underrated songs, that deserves your attention. Turn on this track on your next morning commute and lean into your depressing 9-5 routine because life shows no mercy.