Music Appreciation
“Got My Mind Set on You” began life as a brisk R&B tune written by Rudy Clark and first recorded by James Ray in 1962. More than two decades later, George Harrison revived the song for his comeback album Cloud Nine.
Released as a single on October 12, 1987, Harrison’s version surprised many listeners with its bright, contemporary sound and quickly became his third and final No. 1 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It also reintroduced him to a new generation after a relatively quiet period following the Beatles’ breakup.
Lyrically, the song is built on directness rather than poetry. Its central idea—romantic determination—comes through a repeated, almost mantra-like declaration of devotion. Harrison’s arrangement keeps the structure simple but modernizes it with a punchy beat, prominent electric bass, and crisp guitar accents.
The use of early drum-machine textures and polished production gives the track a late-1980s sheen while preserving the infectious drive of the original. Harrison’s vocal delivery feels relaxed yet assured, reinforcing the song’s sense of steady resolve rather than dramatic longing.
The music video, directed by Gar Weis, became just as memorable as the song itself. Set in a haunted house filled with moving furniture, jumping taxidermy, and surreal visual gags, it drew clear inspiration from the comedy-horror film Evil Dead II. The blend of slapstick humor and horror tropes matched the MTV era perfectly and helped propel the single’s popularity, making the video a pop-culture fixture of the late 1980s.
Sources:
Wikipedia
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/george-harrisons-greatest-musical-moments-246887/
https://americansongwriter.com/why-george-harrison-was-fed-up-with-the-music-industry-in-the-1980s/