View Full Version : Supposing they did this instead......
I'm just being completely hypothetical here, but supposing Robin, Liz and Simon re-united in the studio in the future, and, failing to have enough new material written, they decided to release an album of cover versions instead.
What 10 songs (because 10 always seemed just right for most of their albums) would you like to (hypothetically) see them try and tackle. They can be by any artist, any genre, from any country.
I realise to some that this might be deemed pointless as the Cocteau's wrote songs and sound like no-one else, but i'll be curious to see your ideas all the same.
Sorry if you think that you've heard this been done before, by the way. :)
4-Colender-Coffee.
Fritter
Jun-12-05, 7:47 AM
Off the top of my head, (some of these are songs which ought to be great but need an extra nudge to make it into orbit, others are so perfect they can't be tarnished by being covered...:
Speed of Sound - Coldplay
I Want You - Marvin Gaye
Alien - Robert Wyatt
Come Live With Me - Heaven 17
Expecting To Fly - Neil Young
Blood From The Air - Coil
California Dreaming - The Mamas and the Papas
Close To The Edge - Yes
Life Is A Rollercoaster - Ronan Keating
A Groovy Kind of Love - Mindbenders/Phil Collins (grrr)
My head is about to explode at the very thought of this.
Love the new avatar, 4SeeSee :)
Love the new avatar, 4SeeSee :)
*4CC blushes profusely, embarrassed in the knowledge someone has congratulated him on his new avatar, despite the avatar having come from the list available within the forum pages, and not from his own computing ingenuity*
Thanks anyway, Fritter, for your kind words! :)
It was nothing really. ;-)
Fritter
Jun-12-05, 8:20 AM
*4CC blushes profusely, embarrassed in the knowledge someone has congratulated him on his new avatar, despite the avatar having come from the list available within the forum pages, and not from his own computing ingenuity*
Thanks anyway, Fritter, for your kind words! :)
My pleasure - after all, it was during my 3 years in Essex that I fell for the Cocteaus.
One other cover version for the Imaginary Cocteaux please- The National Anthem. Of every country. (I mean, how could you not get goose-bumps when they kick off "Oh, say can you seeee.....")
Pale Clouded
Jun-12-05, 12:06 PM
Phil Collins (grrr)
I see I'm not the only one that hates this man...
fornasetti
Jun-12-05, 12:57 PM
Funny, just as I read this I'm listening to Planet Rock and they're playing 'Turn it on again'. Up until that song and the 'Duke' album, I thought Phil Collins was alright. Then it all went downhill.
Feel the synchronicity.
andylama
Jun-12-05, 1:49 PM
Theme song to the Beverly Hillbillies
Theme song to the Dukes of Hazzard
Theme song to Gilligan's Island
Fruitopia (extended dance remix)
Fritter
Jun-12-05, 6:10 PM
Funny, just as I read this I'm listening to Planet Rock and they're playing 'Turn it on again'. Up until that song and the 'Duke' album, I thought Phil Collins was alright. Then it all went downhill.
Feel the synchronicity.
Driving up the A3 this morning, past the turnoff for Charterhouse School, I put "Foxtrot" in and it all made sense. Then I listened to a bit of "Seconds Out" - genesis with Phil Collins singing- and had to restrain myself from crashing the car
Anywhay, I like the idea of th Dukes of Hazzard theme as a cover - all that lap steel guitar...
I see I'm not the only one that hates this man...
What exactly did Phil Collins do to upset so many people? Yes, his later music may have been a little bland, but then many of us get older and mellow out a little. Yet in his heyday he was producing good music that was extremely popular.
For some reason that escapes me however it seems to have become incredibly trendy to hate and despise him. Why is this? Is his music really any worse than any number of other artsists who don't inspire anything like the same amount of scorn and derision? Or are people just jumping on the bandwagon because it's trendy?
Cocteau Twins have already covered one or two tracks as we well know so I think it was possible for them to make a tune their own. I think I would have quite liked them to have released a double album of covers. The first all acoustic numbers similar to "Siren" and "Pink Orange Red - acoustic". The second I would have loved them to tackle more rockier numbers. How about Liz singing Jeff Buckleys "Grace" that I would love to have heard. It might even have been cool if they tried Dylan or Neil Young. Imagine Liz singing "Mr Tamourine Man"
Fritter
Jun-13-05, 7:23 AM
What exactly did Phil Collins do to upset so many people? Yes, his later music may have been a little bland, but then many of us get older and mellow out a little. Yet in his heyday he was producing good music that was extremely popular.
For some reason that escapes me however it seems to have become incredibly trendy to hate and despise him. Why is this? Is his music really any worse than any number of other artsists who don't inspire anything like the same amount of scorn and derision? Or are people just jumping on the bandwagon because it's trendy?
Well, you've done your job as moderator and caused me pause for thought about this - after all, I used to love "And Then There Were Three" as a lad, and hearing his drumming on everything from Genesis to Brian Eno LPs to that Jubilee Gig at Buckingham Palace where he drummed for everybody reminded me that he does have a place in rock history. It's just his solo stuff - especially Another Day In Paradise; his Noel Edmonds-like "personality" and politics; his whiny voice; his ridiculously overbloated drum sound in the 80s (getting picky here, Dan) that I've grown weary of. I don't hate people who like his music, though. That accolade belongs to Robbie Williams!
Fritter
Jun-13-05, 7:33 AM
Imagine Liz singing "Mr Tamourine Man"
Ah, beautiful thought for a sunny day like today...
S'funny but I honestly can't remember whether their version of "Frosty The Snowman" was any good or not. Haven't heard it for years, mind. Anyone?
Ah, beautiful thought for a sunny day like today...
S'funny but I honestly can't remember whether their version of "Frosty The Snowman" was any good or not. Haven't heard it for years, mind. Anyone?
It wasn't
andylama
Jun-13-05, 11:27 AM
What exactly did Phil Collins do to upset so many people? Yes, his later music may have been a little bland, but then many of us get older and mellow out a little. Yet in his heyday he was producing good music that was extremely popular.
For some reason that escapes me however it seems to have become incredibly trendy to hate and despise him. Why is this? Is his music really any worse than any number of other artsists who don't inspire anything like the same amount of scorn and derision? Or are people just jumping on the bandwagon because it's trendy?
In a word: Sussudio.
Kidding, really. I acknowledge his large contribution to pop music, but overall, I'd describe my stance on him as "respectfully indifferent".
Having said that, I think a lot of people associate him with that overproduced, bloated "80's sound" that is very unfashionable now. Shame, since I actually like a lot of things about it. Besides, nobody still has any idea wtf "sussudio" means.
Paul TD
Jun-13-05, 12:43 PM
The reason people are genuinely miffed at Phil Collins is that he is a hugely talented musician who wastes his talents on lowest common denominator bubblegum music. The fact that he's raking in millions for churning out pop-by-numbers just makes it all the more galling.
Listening to Foxtrot (as mentioned previously) reveals him to be a superb rock drummer. Around the same period, he was creating jazz-fusion music with Brand X and guesting on other people's recordings as a top session player. Even his singing was affecting, rather than affected (eg "More Fool Me" on Selling England By The Pound) until he decided to slip into a populist solo career of middle-of-the-road crooning.
That's why he inspires such a venomous reaction - not because his music is poor (in fact, it is studiedly innocuous, which is how he shifts so many units) but because he is capable of so much better.
Here's a fun example of the vacuous lyrics that challenge nobody and thereby secure his continuing fortune:-
There's this girl that's been on my mind
All the time, Sussudio
Now she don't even know my name
But I think she likes me just the same
Sussudio
crying
ok, interesting, here is my list
. be my baby (the ronettes)
. i wish i never saw the sunshine (the ronettes)
. do i love you (the ronettes)
. footsteps on the roof (the shangri-las)
. look of love (lesley gore)
. angeleyes (abba)
. dreaming (blondie)
. dream sequence 1 (pauline murray and the invisible girls)
. outdoor miner (wire)
. here's where the story ends (the sundays)
JohnnyV
Jun-13-05, 1:24 PM
What exactly did Phil Collins do to upset so many people?
Before...
http://mitkadem.homestead.com/files/Genesis_PeterGabriel_Foxtrot_Paris_Januar1973.jpg
After (post Peter Gabriel, post Steve Hacket)
http://home.hetnet.nl/~timonels/s_illegal.jpg
....the sad demise.
(admittedly I listened to Phil Collins back in the vinyl days)
Fritter
Jun-13-05, 1:57 PM
Besides, nobody still has any idea wtf "sussudio" means.
Apparently, it was the "amusing" way a Japanese woman, with whom Collins was acquainted, said the word "Studio".
(Once had to spend 4 days in a Berlin hotel where all of the bars, restaurants, corridors and elevators had 3 Phil Collins songs in perpetual rotation being piped through them at a volume too loud to ignore. That's what did him for me...)
JohnnyV...your signature...is it from Ghostbusters 2?
JohnnyV
Jun-13-05, 3:09 PM
JohnnyV...your signature...is it from Ghostbusters 2?
Yep...FARK inspired. http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:XOfFy5FTRmUJ:www.davemcd.net/vigo.jpg
Yep...FARK inspired.
:confused:
andylama
Jun-13-05, 6:44 PM
FARK = www.fark.com
A popular internet time-wasting site. It's a forum where people make snarky commentary on current news stories. Visit at your peril. It is ocassionally funny, but it is also a den of razortooth trolls.
andylama
Jun-13-05, 6:45 PM
Yep...FARK inspired. [IMG]
Johnny, your sig block is pure art. :D
In a word: Sussudio.
.
In several words: Groovy Kind of Love Having said that I quite like Against All Odds :omg:
Deebank
Jun-14-05, 8:11 AM
For all its obvious faults, Sussudio has a cracking bassline played on Moog Taurus pedals by Collins with his hands. But otherwise Collins is an odious turd.
Hello everyone BTW.
For all its obvious faults, Sussudio has a cracking bassline played on Moog Taurus pedals by Collins with his hands. But otherwise Collins is an odious turd.
Hello everyone BTW.
Welcome aboard Matt :)
Now this is just what I was talking about. Why is Phil Collins an 'odious turd'? It's not like he's in the papers every week or anything - his public profile is almost non-existant. In fact last time I remember him being in the public eye was a rather acrimonious split with his wife and shacking up with some young girl, but since when has that made people objects of hate? Now as Mr Lama, I can understand people being indifferent simply because he's dropped off the radar, but do people really hate him? Is producing a few not particularly good records a genuine reason to hate someone, and if it is then shouldn't we be hating a huge proportion of older pop stars? Or is the power of the media really strong enough to make a generation of people hate him for no reason other than the press say we should?
For all its obvious faults, Sussudio has a cracking bassline played on Moog Taurus pedals by Collins with his hands. But otherwise Collins is an odious turd.
Hello everyone BTW.
Welcome :bye: An odious turd? Do you know Phil Collins personally?
JohnnyV
Jun-14-05, 10:08 AM
Johnny, your sig block is pure art. :D
Knew you'd appreciate it Andy. The Ghostbusters meets Ivo. Marriage made in heaven.
Thanks for everyone's replies! To repeat what i asked in this thread at the start:
Why do you think it is that Phil Collins is viewed with such disdain by such a large section of the music-loving community and beyond? In no less than 1000 words, discuss Collins' relative songwriting/drumming/vocal merits, paying particular attention to his emergence as a solo artist after his role in Genesis, and also any possible reasons his fanbase may have dwindled due to his mid-to-late 80's output. (Spare paper is available from the exam invigilator.)
:) :)
Ah, the unexpected twists and turns of a music forum thread. My next thread will be on your favourite tracks from the CT album Garlands, so i expect to see an in-depth thesis about Aja by Steely Dan, or possibly an explanation of how the power struggle in The Human League between Phil Oakey and the girls eventually led to the band's implosion and (temporary) disappearance from the music charts.
;-) :) ;-)
ScottL
Jun-16-05, 12:21 PM
always baffles me when people say they hate a musician...if it is just a euphemism for saying "I don't like their music", why bother?
count me out.
I can't think of a popular musician I hate.
later
always baffles me when people say they hate a musician...if it is just a euphemism for saying "I don't like their music", why bother?
count me out.
I can't think of a popular musician I hate.
later
Well said. I'd like to think I don't actually hate anybody. Yes, there are people I don't much care for, but hate? It just isn't worth the effort.
Fritter
Jun-16-05, 1:09 PM
Well said. I'd like to think I don't actually hate anybody. Yes, there are people I don't much care for, but hate? It just isn't worth the effort.
I must confess I have hated 2 blokes, both called Adam. Both caused friends great hurt, both arrogant, thoughtless, unrepentant.
After hearing "Talk" on the new Coldplay album I think I hate them, because every time I whistle "Computer Love" by Kraftwerk someone will think "Oh, you like Coldplay, cool!" (I suspect this one will pass though nowe it's out of my system :) )
leviathan
Jun-17-05, 12:59 AM
Good topic. I think CT could put a great spin on some classic songs.
Little Red Corvette- Prince
Live to Tell- Madonna
After the Dance- Marvin Gaye
Word on a Wing- David Bowie
He's the One I Love- Mary Wells
Best of My Love- The Eagles
Human Nature- Michael Jackson
Taking it All Too Hard- Genesis. For all you Phil Collins lovers out there. haha
Wonderland- XTC
Beyonce- Me, Myself and I
Stoned Soul Picnic- The Fifth Dimension
andylama
Jun-17-05, 1:21 AM
Wonderland- XTC
Great tune!
andylama
Jun-17-05, 1:33 AM
Why is Phil Collins an 'odious turd'?
Oh, don't take it so personally, deeps. Phil Collins is just fine. He's an excellent musician, a great talent, a prolific songwriter, a successful pop star with a long, distinguished career, and a total stud with a huge phallus...and a lot of people seem to love to hate him. SO WHAT? People similarly hate Madonna. Again, so what? Who can argue with success?
If you dig something, and it isn't hurting anyone else, who gives a rat's ass what anyone else thinks?
I love florid, over-the-top bongload prog rock, and I fart in the general direction of anyone who mocks me for it. My joy--get off my cloud!
Take a deep breath, smile, cue up "Abacab" (a song I've always liked, btw)
:)
leviathan
Jun-17-05, 8:58 AM
Collins is an odious turd..
Phil is a fine songwriter, an ok singer and an excellent musician. Im not a big fan or anything but I've seen him live and have had to cover some of his and Genesis' music in a band I was with. Ive learned to respect his talents. I saw him playing drums live in the late 70s with a jazz-rock fusion band called Brand X. Trust me, he's got the goods and has earned his stripes.
On the other hand, I can see why people got turned off by him but that's how pop music works. Oversaturation for the masses. The masses like drivel. Collins made well-crafted drivel. He could have just as easily made good art-rock. He already has. Listen to Genesis' Trick of the Tail and Wind and Wuthering. But he liked riding in limousines and staying in fancy hotels, not to mention his alimoney payments. At some point ya gotta make a living.
Musette
Jun-17-05, 11:59 AM
Well, didn't Peter Gabriel hate Phil Collins?
jottke
Jun-17-05, 12:51 PM
i for one really like his guitar playing once he joined Def Leppard.
andylama
Jun-17-05, 4:15 PM
Well, didn't Peter Gabriel hate Phil Collins?
Hey, J, I was just wondering where you've been.
I dunno about animosity between Gabriel and Collins, but sadly, my love for gabriel has been cooling for years. "UP" was a confusing album.
Hmm... somebody said CT should cover "Close to the Edge"... I'm sure that was made in jest... but I always thought CT were closer in spirit to some of those 70's prog bands than the 70's punk bands. Whether that was intentional or not is irrelevant. That being said, I'd rather hear CT cover "Awaken" or "Gates of Delerium" I think. Like THAT's ever going to happen. Come to think of it, NOONE will EVER cover those songs... (a) because they can't and (b) because they are now too obscure and (c) because CT will never cover another song ever again.
Nevertheless, as a purely fantasitcal rumination... I would love have had heard the following songs done in imitable CT style:
The entirety of SMILE by the Beach Boys/Brian Wilson.
"Ten Years Gone" or "Communication Breakdown" by Led Zep.
Anything off Van Morrison's Astral Weeks.
Liz' musings put to the music of Rimsky-Korsakov.
Any Ramones' song from 1976-79.
"Auld Lang Syne" whatever the hell that actually means... I would guarantee radio play on an annual basis.
Rod Stewart's "Do you Think I'm Sexy?"
Oh... and Gino Vanelli's "Mama Coco."
Could you imagine the box set?
andylama
Jun-17-05, 6:17 PM
Rod Stewart's "Do you Think I'm Sexy?"
I cannot, for the life of me, imagine Liz singing this song. Actually, I can't imagine anybody singing it, including Rod Stewart himself; it's just so preposterous!
starhopper
Jun-17-05, 7:29 PM
After hearing "Talk" on the new Coldplay album I think I hate them, because every time I whistle "Computer Love" by Kraftwerk someone will think "Oh, you like Coldplay, cool!" (I suspect this one will pass though nowe it's out of my system :) )
Huh, I hum Radiohead and get the same response.
CT covers, eh? How fun!
Run Like Hell - Pink Floyd
Roll On - Sneaker Pimps
Go Down - Sam Phillips
Brand New Cadillac - The Clash
Last Night - Lush
When CT WAS there, they could cover everything...
Brand New Cadillac - The Clash
Now there's an obtuse, yet interesting idea! The Clash play that song pretty fast - i'd love to hear Liz singing "Jesus Christ, where did you get that Cadillac!!"
Welcome on board btw, Starhopper! Re:your forum name, how does this planet compare to other online celestial bodies?
Fritter
Jun-18-05, 6:07 AM
Hmm... somebody said CT should cover "Close to the Edge"... I'm sure that was made in jest...
Well only half-joking, as there's lots of layered harmonies and lush textures to get their teeth into. And Our Favourite Band could always take it a bit slower during the tricky bits - actually, "Wonderous Stories" might be a better choice.
(just realised, it's a boiling sunny day and I'm sitting in my dressing gown worrying over which Yes song the Cocteau Twins should do a cover of...) :crazy:
by the sea
Jun-18-05, 8:16 AM
Take It To The Limit - The Eagles
Hey Fritter, I bet many parts of Close To the Edge would be great done by CT...esp. the first 5 minutes(once it gets started after that little sound effect intro)
many earlier solo Peter Gabriel songs could be reworked in CT's own way with great effect I think.
by the sea
Jun-18-05, 2:36 PM
Benihana - Ilona Staller
andylama
Jun-18-05, 4:52 PM
Blue Suede Shoes - Elvis Presley
Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen
Through Bein' Cool - Devo
Der Fuehrer's Face - Spike Jones
...what was the question again? :crazy:
fornasetti
Jun-19-05, 10:44 AM
Lovin' You - Minnie Ripperton
I think I said that ten times before but I was told never let a good idea go begging ...
by the sea
Jun-19-05, 1:10 PM
Supposing Liz did a solo tour wearing the heels from the blue orchid video. That'd be so mental.
Destination Unknown - Missing Persons
by the sea
Jun-19-05, 1:17 PM
Je t'aime Melancolie - Mylene Farmer
Lux AEterna - Michel Chion
andylama
Jun-19-05, 6:35 PM
Destination Unknown - Missing Persons
Now you're talking. I could actually picture this one.
Fritter
Jun-20-05, 6:04 AM
Hey Fritter, I bet many parts of Close To the Edge would be great done by CT...esp. the first 5 minutes(once it gets started after that little sound effect intro)
I'm on your wavelength! Come to think of it, there's even a nice bit in 3/4 for Robin and Simon to get their teeth into - I'll get to work on the demo version right away and mmmender can add the vocals later as a birthday treat! (If we build it, they will come) :)
by the sea
Jun-20-05, 6:25 AM
Fritter, are you blind? What do you think of the heels?
Fritter
Jun-20-05, 10:29 AM
Fritter, are you blind? What do you think of the heels?
Actually, I am blind, but judging by the way they feel on my chest, those bunions can't be too far off. ;)
Baddy2shoos
Jun-20-05, 10:42 AM
those heels are fierce miss girl
ScottL
Jun-20-05, 12:22 PM
I'm on your wavelength! Come to think of it, there's even a nice bit in 3/4 for Robin and Simon to get their teeth into - I'll get to work on the demo version right away and mmmender can add the vocals later as a birthday treat! (If we build it, they will come) :)
Heh..yeah, the whole thing would be cool...the whole quiet part with the buildup, "I get up, I get down" and Wakeman's keyboard parts, could be way cooler with Robin's ambient treatments...
Fritter
Jun-20-05, 2:43 PM
and Wakeman's keyboard parts, could be way cooler with Robin's ambient treatments...
Oh yeah, and if there's something that Steve Howe's guitar parts could do with, it's shedloads of reverberation! And then there's Heart Of The Sunrise to think about - I've got "Yessongs" playing right now and the world suddenly seems full of (impossible) possibilities!! Ah, a boy can dream...
Denise Williams - Free
Dead Can Dance - Devorzum
Echo and the Bunnyman - Ocean Rain
Faye Wong - Amusement Park
The Cure - Breathe
by the sea
Jun-20-05, 4:49 PM
those heels are fierce miss girl
Ah yes, the slippers. There they are, and there they'll stay.
Conga - Miami Sound Machine
Pale Clouded
Jun-20-05, 5:02 PM
What exactly did Phil Collins do to upset so many people? Yes, his later music may have been a little bland, but then many of us get older and mellow out a little. Yet in his heyday he was producing good music that was extremely popular.
For some reason that escapes me however it seems to have become incredibly trendy to hate and despise him. Why is this? Is his music really any worse than any number of other artsists who don't inspire anything like the same amount of scorn and derision? Or are people just jumping on the bandwagon because it's trendy?
I honestly wasn't aware that there was a "I hate Phil collins" bandwagon, I just don't like the man....
Pale Clouded
Jun-20-05, 5:20 PM
Danielle Dax - Pariah
by the sea
Jun-20-05, 5:47 PM
Danielle Dax - Pariah
Ooh la la, yes.
starhopper
Jun-20-05, 7:01 PM
Now there's an obtuse, yet interesting idea! The Clash play that song pretty fast - i'd love to hear Liz singing "Jesus Christ, where did you get that Cadillac!!"
Welcome on board btw, Starhopper! Re:your forum name, how does this planet compare to other online celestial bodies?
Hello 4CC and thanks for the welcome. In truth, this celestial body is treating me very wonderfully. I enjoy all the new people I am meeting. :)
by the sea
Jul-31-05, 10:43 AM
Dancing With Tears In My Eyes - X
by the sea
Jul-31-05, 11:11 AM
Wordy Rappinghood - Tom Tom Club
by the sea
Jul-31-05, 11:21 AM
Taita Inty - Yma Sumac
She's Not There - The Zombies
Thackeray
Jul-31-05, 12:24 PM
I'd like to buy the world a coke
longer than
the candyman
suicide is painless
walkin' after midnight
do you know?
bless the child
on the good ship lollypop
chains of love
fire and rain
I'd like to buy the world a coke
They started working on a version of that but it turned into Rilkean Heart ;)
Fritter
Jul-31-05, 8:15 PM
They started working on a version of that but it turned into Rilkean Heart ;)
Oasis thought they could rip it off and call it 'Shakermaker'. They got well busted for that, ha. Should've called it "I'd like to buy myself a fookin' mountain of coke"
;-) Danielle Dax - Pariah
What exactly did Phil Collins do to upset so many people?
He took up singing when Peter Gabriel left Genesis?? ;-)
He took up singing when Peter Gabriel left Genesis?? ;-)
and took up acting after he ruined Genesis???? [insert tongue in cheek smilie here]
After hearing "Talk" on the new Coldplay album I think I hate them, because every time I whistle "Computer Love" by Kraftwerk someone will think "Oh, you like Coldplay, cool!" (I suspect this one will pass though nowe it's out of my system :) )
Speaking of Kraftwerk, I'd like to hear CT cover Autobahn.
Phil Lawton
Aug-4-05, 10:09 AM
Speaking of Kraftwerk, I'd like to hear CT cover Autobahn.
I'd like to see an electromagnetic pulse cover Kraftwerk.
And can someone explain to me why they turned down an "MTV: Unplugged...." show?
Baddy2shoos
Aug-4-05, 10:22 AM
roflmao
Fritter
Aug-4-05, 10:33 AM
Speaking of Kraftwerk, I'd like to hear CT cover Autobahn.
Achtung Muso Alert: It's actually real easy to play on slide guitar with modal tuning! Not a lot of scope for Liz with the singing bit though..
Fritter
Aug-4-05, 10:34 AM
And can someone explain to me why they turned down an "MTV: Unplugged...." show?
Wrong voltage in Amerca, every song at half-speed, ach...
mike_mhg
Aug-4-05, 10:50 AM
She's Not There - The Zombies
Love that song.
La Mer - Charles Ternet
Outofspace
Aug-4-05, 7:17 PM
And can someone explain to me why they turned down an "MTV: Unplugged...." show?Don't calculate the value of music only from a good songwriting, it goes far beyond that...
starhopper
Aug-4-05, 7:37 PM
The Beds Too Big Without You - The Police
Phil Lawton
Aug-5-05, 5:38 AM
Don't calculate the value of music only from a good songwriting
I don't...it's just that being viruosos of a collection of hard-drives doesn't exactly enamour me to Kraftwerk.
"Ja, pliss be givink der big hand to Kurt on ze 'return' key...over zere is Hans on ze F9 key...let's hear it foor him...und introducing Johann on zer 'caps lock' und space-bar..."
I don't...it's just that being viruosos of a collection of hard-drives doesn't exactly enamour me to Kraftwerk.
"Ja, pliss be givink der big hand to Kurt on ze 'return' key...over zere is Hans on ze F9 key...let's hear it foor him...und introducing Johann on zer 'caps lock' und space-bar..."
Those melodies didn't generate themselves - Ralf has a very romantic ear for a tune. e.g. Computer Love, It's More Fun To Compute, Neon Lights, Europe Endless, Tanz Musik - I could go on... and listening to live recordings until the recent tour, a surprising amount is actually played manually and with fluffs.
Phil Lawton
Aug-5-05, 6:03 AM
Those melodies didn't generate themselves - Ralf has a very romantic ear for a tune. e.g. Computer Love, It's More Fun To Compute, Neon Lights, Europe Endless, Tanz Musik - I could go on... and listening to live recordings until the recent tour, a surprising amount is actually played manually and with fluffs.
Calm, Frit...I know that their stuff isn't randomly generated. I'm turned off by the bleak electronica and the heavy reliance on sequenced pieces in their live work. Didn't someone in here say recently that they all walked off-stage at the end of one gig with a sequencer/computer still playing end of one track?
Those melodies didn't generate themselves - Ralf has a very romantic ear for a tune. e.g. Computer Love, It's More Fun To Compute, Neon Lights, Europe Endless, Tanz Musik - I could go on... and listening to live recordings until the recent tour, a surprising amount is actually played manually and with fluffs.
Personally, I much prefer the early "Ralf & Florian" LP because, to my ear, it sounded "played" rather than "generated" as the later works became more "industrial" ?? just my humble personal opinion .... please don't jump on me!
Sorry if it looked like a rant - I'm feeling very mellow today.
The arguments for and against sequencers are old as hills now, I'm in the 'For' camp because I subscribe to the idea that repetition is a form of change (see Dub Reggae, Can etc. for human sequencing/drum machines) and as a schoolboy they opened up a world of possibilities beyond endless jams of "Smoke On The Water". In a way they provided a replacement for the virtuosity that Punk sought to make shameful - I find Orbital as ecstatically energetic and powerful as Capt. Beefheart or King Crimson. And although the recent Kraftwerk tour was more heavily synchronised than ever - I still found the effect overwhelmingly moving (there was a conjunction of a lighting change and my favourite bit in Autobahn that pushed me over the edge - not the sort of response one gets at a normal rock gig, yes, but I blubbed all the same). But each to their own, glad I like them, but happy to coexist.
Phil Lawton
Aug-5-05, 6:34 AM
Sorry if it looked like a rant - I'm feeling very mellow today.
The arguments for and against sequencers are old as hills now, I'm in the 'For' camp because I subscribe to the idea that repetition is a form of change (see Dub Reggae, Can etc. for human sequencing/drum machines) and as a schoolboy they opened up a world of possibilities beyond endless jams of "Smoke On The Water". In a way they provided a replacement for the virtuosity that Punk sought to make shameful - I find Orbital as ecstatically energetic and powerful as Capt. Beefheart or King Crimson. And although the recent Kraftwerk tour was more heavily synchronised than ever - I still found the effect overwhelmingly moving (there was a conjunction of a lighting change and my favourite bit in Autobahn that pushed me over the edge - not the sort of response one gets at a normal rock gig, yes, but I blubbed all the same). But each to their own, glad I like them, but happy to coexist.
I don't see any problem with sequencers, mate, but like so much else in life, they're OK in moderation. I guess Kraftwerk are just too cold for my liking. I had to smile at a recent post which said that they'd sacked a new member for moving around too much during gigs.
Is this why James Brown was always rebuffed when he tried to join their ranks?
by the sea
Aug-5-05, 6:37 AM
I'm still trying to figure out what was wrong with Smoke on the water.
I'm still trying to figure out what was wrong with Smoke on the water.
Fair point, bad example.
Outofspace
Aug-5-05, 10:47 AM
I'm still trying to figure out what was wrong with Smoke on the water.Nothing, but somebody should address the changes in technology, causing changes in life. A device called synthesizer was constructed and somebody had to think what to do with it, in order to connect it with the human soul.
Fritter
Aug-5-05, 10:49 AM
Nothing, but somebody should address the changes in technology, causing changes in life. A device called synthesizer was constructed and somebody had to think what to do with it, in order to connect it with the human soul.
Thank you, I get tongue-tied about music sometimes.
Outofspace
Aug-5-05, 9:50 PM
I believe that music nowadays misses the immediacy of the music in older times, but it has to be sick and boring in some way to depict reality.
The Reaper--Blue Oyster Cult
"I've got a fever and the only prescription is MORE cowbell!"
Fritter
Aug-8-05, 12:05 PM
The Reaper--Blue Oyster Cult
"I've got a fever and the only prescription is MORE cowbell!"
I've always loved that record, even when it was played at a friend's funeral when we were 18 it didn't 'taint' it. When I saw that sketch I loved it even more.
P.S. there was once a short film called 'Unsung Heroes Of Doo Wop' on a similar theme, a fake documentary where they interviewed two guys who provided percussion on Buddy Holly's 'Every day, it's a gettin' stronger..' song by slapping each other on the bum cheeks in teh recording studio - hear the track and you'll hear the joke, I hope)
etc etc
Aug-8-05, 12:13 PM
P.S. there was once a short film called 'Unsung Heroes Of Doo Wop' on a similar theme, a fake documentary where they interviewed two guys who provided percussion on Buddy Holly's 'Every day, it's a gettin' stronger..' song by slapping each other on the bum cheeks in teh recording studio - hear the track and you'll hear the joke, I hope)
I can hear it now! That must be a hilarious sketch....I was always wowed by that Buddy Holly song and the simple beauty of the knee slapping percussion....just goes to show you don't need a drummer or a fancy drum machine to come up with great rhythm parts........MORE cowbell!
Fritter
Aug-8-05, 12:18 PM
I can hear it now! That must be a hilarious sketch....I was always wowed by that Buddy Holly song and the simple beauty of the knee slapping percussion....just goes to show you don't need a drummer or a fancy drum machine to come up with great rhythm parts........MORE cowbell!
Hear, hear - all Bo Diddley needed was a bloke who could play 4 maracas at once, and off he went.
I saw that film at a short film festival about 8-9 years ago and have been trying to track it down ever since, without success. It had loads of great bits like that, seamlessly mixing modern and archive footage. (The guy who made it will probably turn out to be some asshole like Michael 'Pearl Harbore' Bay, that's the way it goes :)
I'd like to see an electromagnetic pulse cover Kraftwerk.
And can someone explain to me why they turned down an "MTV: Unplugged...." show?
In the same year's Melody Maker quotes of the year:
Edwyn Collins: I don't really relate to electronic music, I once got a shock from a plug.
Ralf Hutter: I think machines are really beautiful.
Love them both.
On said hypothetical album i would love to hear Atmosphere (joy division), Push (cure), Cascade (siouxsie), Birthday(sugarcubes) and most of all Your silent face (new order) just to hear her sing the "You've caught me at a bad time, so why dont you piss off" line.
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