Anything She Does and the Musical Box

Songs like "Anything She Does" may get dismissed by some who can not cross over to the modern era of Genesis. However, take a minute to listen to the song and you will learn it has a close connection to "The Musical Box." Lyrically, the story is very similar. "The Musical Box" from the Victorian era was a center of fantasy.  The pinup posters of  models replaces the musical box in the modern era. Men all across America would fantasize about the women in the poster. Both obsessions past and 20th century would lead some men to a path of pornographic obsession as they get older. This is the dark side of both songs which is cleverly weaved throughout the lyrics.

"The Musical Box" is a bit more complex, as it explores themes of nursery rhymes, aristocracy and the mixed messages of being pure during this time in history. The dark side of purity is the obsessions that can be created by controlling one's feelings of arousal. People were subjugated to hide their sexual desires, and show restraint. Ironically, the Queen, Prince Albert and the ruling class did not practice what they preached. This paradox was part of story - it truly is an incredible song from this era. 

Now, fast forward to "Anything She Does." It was written during the Reagan/Thatcher years. People were told to "Just s\Say No" to their inhibitions by leaders. Unfortunately, the human mind does not work that way. During the 70s and 80s, men were obsessed with the pinup poster, a modern day replacement for the musical box. It was naive to think what was supposed to be just a poster of a model would not become a symbol for fantasy. 

As men get older, they long to have a relationship with the item that was objectified in their youth. Whether a musical box, or a poster of a model, men can get lost in their fantasies. "Anything She Does" is another clever take on this obsession; do not let the video fool you. The choice of Benny Hill in the video was a clever, as his humor on his TV show reflected the themes of both songs. This is the genius of "Anything She Does" and worth a second look if you passed this over in your Genesis music catalog.