You're weird.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑24 Sep 2019, 6:47pmPiL would be mine, too, but in a roundabout way. Album to Sex Pistols to Second Edition and This Is What You Want.
The Mighty Musical Observations Thread
Re: The Mighty Musical Observations Thread
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Re: The Mighty Musical Observations Thread
It was the 80s, man. We did everything roundabout back then. Because of Reagan and leg warmers and feeding Africa as long as Phil Collins would fly on the Concorde. The Challenger is in there somewhere, too.
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Re: The Mighty Musical Observations Thread
Hey Inder, you see this?
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Re: The Mighty Musical Observations Thread
I never listened to a word you said.
Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty
We're the flowers in the dustbin...
No fuchsias for you.
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Re: The Mighty Musical Observations Thread
Researching for a lecture on nuclear imagery in rock music, so of course this Frankee Goes to Holywüd (that's what it said on Heston's shirt, anyway) song has to be discussed. Serious respect to the UK consumer that this fucker was #1 for nine straight weeks. One of the last gasps of pop songs being both successful and politically dissenting.
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Re: The Mighty Musical Observations Thread
Helped by the fact that each week a new 12" mix was released.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑25 Sep 2019, 7:26pm
Researching for a lecture on nuclear imagery in rock music, so of course this Frankee Goes to Holywüd (that's what it said on Heston's shirt, anyway) song has to be discussed. Serious respect to the UK consumer that this fucker was #1 for nine straight weeks. One of the last gasps of pop songs being both successful and politically dissenting.
Regards your later comment don't forget the Manic Street Preachers "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next" and "The Masses Against the Classes".
Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty
We're the flowers in the dustbin...
No fuchsias for you.
"Without the common people you're nothing"
Nos Sumus Una Familia
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Re: The Mighty Musical Observations Thread
My favourite nuclear related song has to be Sh-Boom, first heard it as a kid without ever knowing the fascinating history behind it and the significance it had in the development of rock 'n roll. Then again, it was the Darts version i first heard, so you're not exactly thinking of nuclear holocaust when you listen to Den and the boys!
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Re: The Mighty Musical Observations Thread
Wow! I didn't realize there was a connection there, but just found a paper online about it. Thanks muchly for the tip!Low Down Low wrote: ↑26 Sep 2019, 11:07amMy favourite nuclear related song has to be Sh-Boom, first heard it as a kid without ever knowing the fascinating history behind it and the significance it had in the development of rock 'n roll. Then again, it was the Darts version i first heard, so you're not exactly thinking of nuclear holocaust when you listen to Den and the boys!
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Re: The Mighty Musical Observations Thread
I'd heard the song probably a 1000 times and never realised the connection either, was reading some book about the whole Bikini Atoll business a few years back and it seems that half of the US pretty much figured on being wiped out of existence imminently around the early-mid 1950s and hence a glut of songs on the subject with an eerily upbeat tone, as in might as well just enjoy time we've got left kind of thing.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑26 Sep 2019, 11:25amWow! I didn't realize there was a connection there, but just found a paper online about it. Thanks muchly for the tip!Low Down Low wrote: ↑26 Sep 2019, 11:07amMy favourite nuclear related song has to be Sh-Boom, first heard it as a kid without ever knowing the fascinating history behind it and the significance it had in the development of rock 'n roll. Then again, it was the Darts version i first heard, so you're not exactly thinking of nuclear holocaust when you listen to Den and the boys!
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Re: The Mighty Musical Observations Thread
There's an amazing number of atomic songs from the 1950s, mostly in the country music genre. It's not until the 80s that rock really catches up. I've been quite surprised that there isn't much literature exclusively focused on music and nuclear anxiety. My lecture's going to end up having a lot more historical context than discussion of music that I expected.Low Down Low wrote: ↑26 Sep 2019, 11:58amI'd heard the song probably a 1000 times and never realised the connection either, was reading some book about the whole Bikini Atoll business a few years back and it seems that half of the US pretty much figured on being wiped out of existence imminently around the early-mid 1950s and hence a glut of songs on the subject with an eerily upbeat tone, as in might as well just enjoy time we've got left kind of thing.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑26 Sep 2019, 11:25amWow! I didn't realize there was a connection there, but just found a paper online about it. Thanks muchly for the tip!Low Down Low wrote: ↑26 Sep 2019, 11:07amMy favourite nuclear related song has to be Sh-Boom, first heard it as a kid without ever knowing the fascinating history behind it and the significance it had in the development of rock 'n roll. Then again, it was the Darts version i first heard, so you're not exactly thinking of nuclear holocaust when you listen to Den and the boys!
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Re: The Mighty Musical Observations Thread
I assume you're familiar with the Bear Family box set on the subject: http://www.atomicplatters.com/box_set.phpDr. Medulla wrote: ↑26 Sep 2019, 12:17pmThere's an amazing number of atomic songs from the 1950s, mostly in the country music genre. It's not until the 80s that rock really catches up. I've been quite surprised that there isn't much literature exclusively focused on music and nuclear anxiety. My lecture's going to end up having a lot more historical context than discussion of music that I expected.
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Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a rolling hoop
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a ton of lead
Wiggle - you can raise the dead
Pex Lives!
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Re: The Mighty Musical Observations Thread
Great list of songs there. Off topic a little but cant help noticing one of my old favourites, the Golden Gate Quartet, in there who are said to have recorded the first rap song way back in the 1950s.Flex wrote: ↑26 Sep 2019, 12:21pmI assume you're familiar with the Bear Family box set on the subject: http://www.atomicplatters.com/box_set.phpDr. Medulla wrote: ↑26 Sep 2019, 12:17pmThere's an amazing number of atomic songs from the 1950s, mostly in the country music genre. It's not until the 80s that rock really catches up. I've been quite surprised that there isn't much literature exclusively focused on music and nuclear anxiety. My lecture's going to end up having a lot more historical context than discussion of music that I expected.
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Re: The Mighty Musical Observations Thread
I don't have it, but I know of it. If you've never seen the documentary The Atomic Cafe, it's also got a few choice tunes.Flex wrote: ↑26 Sep 2019, 12:21pmI assume you're familiar with the Bear Family box set on the subject: http://www.atomicplatters.com/box_set.phpDr. Medulla wrote: ↑26 Sep 2019, 12:17pmThere's an amazing number of atomic songs from the 1950s, mostly in the country music genre. It's not until the 80s that rock really catches up. I've been quite surprised that there isn't much literature exclusively focused on music and nuclear anxiety. My lecture's going to end up having a lot more historical context than discussion of music that I expected.
edit: Fun fact: "Thirteen Men," by Ann-Margret, was originally the a-side of a single by Bill Haley and the Comets. The single flopped, but the b-side, "Rock Around the Clock," did okay several months later when it was re-released
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Re: The Mighty Musical Observations Thread
More nuclear (or at least apocalyptic) songs I'm revisiting: R.E.M.'s "It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)." Damn but this is good. As much of a (stereotypical) Gen X anthem as any other, with its ironic amused stance towards apocalypse and joyfully manic namechecking of popular cultural texts and people. There's a lovely defiance to the "and I feel fine" addition. I'm powerless to stop the insane games of insane presidents and premiers, but you can't hurt me because I'm numb to it all. But I'm especially drawn to the backing vocal line, "Time I had some time alone." Is it a desire to escape the cultural sensory overload that the lyrics express, or is it ironic satisfaction with the idea of massive depopulation? Both? It's not my favourite R.E.M. song ("Harbourcoat"), but it is the more significant one.
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Re: The Mighty Musical Observations Thread
To be fair, neither of those Manics songs entered the British consciousness like Two Tribes, especially the latter. The Manics were always high entries, then dropped like a stone. Frankie may have hammered the 12" mixes but that was a memorable song with a great message, and they would have sold shitloads regardless of different mixes.Marky Dread wrote: ↑26 Sep 2019, 6:03amHelped by the fact that each week a new 12" mix was released.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑25 Sep 2019, 7:26pm
Researching for a lecture on nuclear imagery in rock music, so of course this Frankee Goes to Holywüd (that's what it said on Heston's shirt, anyway) song has to be discussed. Serious respect to the UK consumer that this fucker was #1 for nine straight weeks. One of the last gasps of pop songs being both successful and politically dissenting.
Regards your later comment don't forget the Manic Street Preachers "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next" and "The Masses Against the Classes".
There's a tiny, tiny hopeful part of me that says you guys are running a Kaufmanesque long con on the board