Something Blue

Album: not on an album (2016)
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Songfacts®:

  • This uptempo, slightly frivolous melody is a fine piece of lyrical dissonance from a man who is obsessed with serial killers. It is also a murder ballad seen through the eyes of Canada's most hated woman.

    When the teenage Karla Homolka met the slightly older Paul Bernardo, the attraction was instantaneous. They became lovers literally within hours, and on the face of it were the perfect couple - good looking, charismatic and charming.

    In reality, Bernardo was already a serial rapist, and soon set his eyes on his next victim, Karla's younger sister, Tammy. What happened next is unthinkable, suffice it to say that Karla not only gave Bernardo her sister but joined in the depravity, drugging her for the purpose, hence the line "What are little sisters for?" Unfortunately, Tammy suffered an adverse reaction, and was taken to hospital, but didn't recover. The authorities put it down as a freak alcohol-induced death.

    Karla moved in with Bernardo and soon married him, helping him to kidnap and rape more girls. Two of the victims were murdered in most brutal fashion, but even that wasn't enough for Bernardo, and he beat Karla. After she left him, Bernardo was arrested on suspicion of being the Scarborough Rapist. Although the evidence against him was strong, Karla was offered a deal if she testified against him. She did so, was tried first in 1993, and sentenced to a mere 12 years, which she served in full, but after accepting the Crown's deal, evidence emerged of the full extent of Karla's complicity in Bernardo's crimes. Although Bernardo confessed to many more rapes, he insisted Karla rather than he murdered the two girls.

    As in the song, Karla was indeed her own best victim, and she did in effect "get away" due to the bruises on her face. While the feminist Attorney General of Ontario Marion Boyd seemed to believe Karla was a victim, the public were outraged at what became known as the "deal with the Devil."

    She was released in 2005, married, and soon became a mother of three. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England

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