Chalkhills Digest Volume 2, Issue 33
Date: Friday, 17 November 1995
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 2, Number 33
Friday, 17 November 1995
Today's Topics:
Senses Working Overtime
Endings....
DG vocals and "help!"
Andy P's B day
Finding XTC (& spreading the word)
Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-31
collideascope
Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-32
Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-32
Collideascope
Singer/Songwriter
RE: birthday
Swindon
Nick Drake
Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-32
Newbies in the New World
Ramblings
The music!
Various things
Last word
more "Collideascope"...
Muzak versions of XTC
ignored in English-speaking countries
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Oh, my head is spinning like the world...
---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: shaefner@falcon.cc.ukans.edu Date: Wed, 15 Nov 1995 19:14:56 -0600 (CST) Subject: Senses Working Overtime I must say that this song is responsible for my interest in XTC also. I heard it first about 3 years ago, and was instantly hooked, as it has such a catchy beat. A friend of mine in Minnesota(I live in Kansas) picked up the tape at a thriftstore and put the song on a mix tape that he had made for me. This tape was his introduction to the band, BTW. Today I have most all of their albums, I think GO2 is the only one I don't have, and they are second only to REM. Actually, I guess it depends on when you ask me, sometimes XTC is my favorite. They are both so great, so it is hard to pick one over the other. -Scott
------------------------------ From: Randy Watkins <randyw@sisna.com> Subject: Endings.... Date: Wed, 15 Nov 1995 18:55:31 -0800 Has anyone ever noticed that XTC has a really gifted knack for writing phenomenal endings to their songs? I've always thought the ending to "Wake Up" is fantastic, as is the "fog-horn fade-in" ending of "Desert Island" and the chaos of "Lord Deliver Us...". I also like the ending to the newer version of "Good Things", which to me sounds a lot like Simon and Garfunkel on acid. New topic for input.....how about discussing (in addition to the cover songs)....PRODUCERS for XTC? I personally think they'd do a helluva lot better by themselves, but since the record company insists on producers.... My picks: Roger Waters Rodger Hodson 1966-era Brian Wilson (couldn't resist) Brian Eno Walter Becker or Donald Fagen Ciao, Randy "I'm most obliged to you for making it clear that I'm not here." ... Syd Barrett
------------------------------ Subject: DG vocals and "help!" From: jd.mack@neteast.com (JD MACK) Date: Wed, 15 Nov 95 22:28:00 -0500 Organization: Online Technologies, Inc. - Modem: 301-738-0000 O.K., I need an opinion on this one. There has been a few messages lately about Dave Gregory's vocals. I feel pretty certain that on "Humble Daisy," at the end, after Andy sings "humble daisy," it's Dave who sings "We'll look up together." Perhaps it's Dave and Colin singing in unison, but I'm sure I recognize Dave's voice, having heard it on live recordings. #2. Help! I like to post this about every three months, just in case. Does anyone have for sale a copy of the Canadian single "Love At First Sight" with the live B-sides? Could anyone tape it for me. I've certainly got some other XTC goodies to tape trade (like the live "Traffic Light Rock" give-away single). Please e-mail me privately at jd.mack@neteast.com
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 15 Nov 95 22:30:40 -0500 From: Paul_Myers@magic.ca (Paul Myers) Organization: Magic Online Services Inc. Subject: Andy P's B day Here in Toronto on Monday November 13, radio station CFNY played an XTC song and dedicated it to Andy in honour of his birthday on the 11th. I thought it was nice. P.S. These Days Are Old by Spooky Ruben sounds too much like an Andy demo, even the drum machines sound the same, check it out. Paul Myers
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 15 Nov 1995 23:12:13 -0500
From: mp2@waterw.com (Jim Kee)
Subject: Finding XTC (& spreading the word)
Hey all,
Last time in chalkhills a very good friend of mine (hi Megan!) told about
her into to the band. & I realised that I, too, never actually wrote in
about it. I'm not that new 'round here, but new enough that I don't throw
that much in here, but I figured, what the hell....
I guess I got into XTC because of _that_ song. It was being played
on the radio all over the place & it became the "Screamer of the Week" on
the radio station I listened to (WMMR, Phila) at the time. I kind of liked
it but I didn't run out & buy it or anything. I was, I think, a freshman in
high school at the time & I didn't listen to many other bands besides the
Bea***s.
Anyway, sometime later my sister shows me this tape her boyfriend
had given her called Psonic Psunspot by this really weirdly named band and
tells me to listen to "You're A Good Man Albert Brown". I loved it! It was
awesome! Then she told me it was actually the same band that did that
_other_ song. That was all it took. I bought everything I could find, &
what I couldn't afford I asked for for Christmas.
That year we got our 1st cd player. My 1st cd: Skylarking. Which,
in a fit of superstition, is the first cd I play in any cd player I buy (or
my sister buys, for that matter). So far Skylarking has baptised 6 of mine,
2 of my sisters, & 1 of a friend of mine.
Oh, & strating to like XTC actually changed the course of my musical
tastes. Once I accepted the fact that it was okay to like other bands
besides the Bea***s, music is a whole new greener field for me. From my
first cd of Skylarking I now own 500 cds, but that's a different story.
And so far I've gotten my 3 best friends, who vowed they'd never
like the band (because of _that_ song) into XTC fans. They're not at the
fanatical level yet, but when there is a road-trip planned, there's always
plenty of XTC along for the ride.
Well, I've taken up enough space.
Later everybody,
Jim (Kee)
By the way: DEAR GOD! It's just a fucking _song_! Get over it already!
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 15 Nov 1995 23:23:14 -0500 From: mp2@waterw.com (Jim Kee) Subject: Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-31 James wrote: >From: vanvalnc@is2.nyu.edu (Chris Van Valen) >>Who should XTC cover??? > >The Church - Unguarded Moment/Electric Lash YES!!! yes, yes, yes! That would be too cool! It would also be cool to have Marty & Dave playing together. But somehow I don't hink it'd work out. Oh well Later, jim
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1995 02:58:39 -0500 (EST) From: Brookes McKenzie <RMCKENZI@smith.smith.edu> Subject: collideascope read your _chips from the chocolate fireball_ insert (or _psonic psunspot_ one if you don't have the former) - all songs written by sir john johns (which = andy): 25 o'clock bike ride to the moon my love explodes your gold dress the mole from the ministry have you seen jackie? little lighthouse you're a good man albert brown _collideascope_ you're my drug brainiac's daughter pale and precious except for the following, written by the red curtain (= colin): what in the world vanishing girl shiny cage the affiliated *-------------------------------------------- random recommendation: peter blegvad's _the naked shakespeare_, on which andy plays guitar, linn drums and sings backup vocals (in varying combinations, on one song he and some other guy are the "green mountain high school marching band" !) on almost every track, but that's only icing - this is a great cd, a bit weird in places (a little too much spoken word for me, but that's only on one or two tracks) - sounds like dire straits sometimes, bob dylan, pink floyd a little, and sometimes an andy home demo, but also manages to sound original - lyrics extremely strange. i've been trying to find blegvad's _king strut_ after hearing exceedingly good things about it, but this album is well worth it in it's own right. i believe i got it through cdnow, but it could have been cdeurope. oh, it was also produced by andy, and it came out on virgin uk in 1983. - brookes
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1995 00:34:50 -0800 From: rimshot3@ix.netcom.com (ERIC ROSEN ) Subject: Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-32 TR Russell put forth: >From: "RUSSELL" <T.R.Russell@newcastle.ac.uk> >How about this - I'm convinced that Peter P-Head is about Jesus... >-"Emptied churches and shopping malls" (Jesus getting angry in the >temple) >-"told the truth" (Truth is another word for the Gospel)... >"was too good" (Pontius Pilate could find nothing wrong with him)... >-"had him nailed to a chunk of wood" (i.e. crucifix)... >-"died grinning" (He'd completed his task so was pleased) >-"on live TV" (the crucifixion was BIG news at the >time therefore a lot of people would have witnessed it)... >-"looked a lot like you and an awful lot like me" (Jesus was the sacrifice for >our sins i.e.took our place)... >-"made enemies of the people who would >keep us on our knees" (Jesus' enemies were the Jewish bigwigs of the >time who wielded the rods and kept authority over the Jews). > >Anyone other opinions? At least you ask for other opinions. About "Jewish bigwigs" wielding rods and authority over their brethren and being enemies of Jesus...that has the same kind of anti-semitic overtones as the crackpot conspiracy theories of Jewish bankers plotting world conquest spewed forth by "intolerants" like pat robertson. Don't distort the facts. Jesus was killed by the Romans who dispersed the Jews throughout Europe, Northern Africa and the Middle East after fighting 3 wars with Israel. As for the Pumpkinhead is ??? thread, that was nearly as overtrodden as the DG thread (several months ago). I think there are quotes of AP saying that it's about a decaying Jack-o-Lantern that was outside his recording shed. Further, I think he indicates that it really is a "one martyr fits all" kind of song hence, equal plausibility that Peter is JFK or even John Lennon. If you watch the video, it will be apparent past the point of intelligent debate that JFK is one possibility. Perhaps it was James Dignan who thought the intro guitar riff to Funk Pop a Roll was reminiscent of something. My guess is that it's similar to the intro guitar riff to the Beatles' "If I Needed Someone." Not blatantly so. Even when XTC blatantly wears its influences on its sleeve, the songs stand on their own as creative, innovative works (e.g. "Mole from the Ministry" with its "I am the Walrus" start and "Strawberry Fields" finish). ELR "What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding?" -Elvis "Napoleon Dynamite" Costello
------------------------------
From: "RUSSELL" <T.R.Russell@newcastle.ac.uk>
Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1995 11:06:12 GMT0BST
Subject: Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-32
I disagree with Chris Van Valen in that I love "Melt the Guns" and
"It's Nearly Africa". OK, so Andy goes a bit mad at the end of the
Our Father bit of MtG, but the incessant rhythm of that song gets me
going.
As I introduced myself with another piece of religious discussion, I
thought I'd better go back to the beginning and tell all you lovely
XTC-lovers how I became infatuated with this brilliant music. My
uncle has been a fan for many years and he once gave me a compilation
tape of some of his favorite songs. On it was "Love on a Farmboy's
Wages". At first I didn't really like the singing as it remended me of
the Cure, but I borrowed a copy of "The Compact XTC" and was
subsequently hooked. I loved "Sgt. Rock", "Senses" and "Generals" and
told all my friends about it (I am now a 1st year medical student at
Newcastle and at that time none of my friends had ever heard of
them). Fortunately, the boys were just about to release "Nonsuch" so I
went out and got that straight away. I think "Nonsuch" is excellent
and I would love to know what the critics thought of it (I know it was
a nominee for some music prize in '92 in the Alternative category, but
that's all)
My XTC collection has since expanded and, like everybody else with
decent bone in their body, am eagerly awaiting their next release.
Thanks for reading - it's great to know that I'm not the only person
who likes XTC. Hey - is Colin one of the best bassists of all
time or what!!??
Tim Russell - castaway on a desert island
xxxx
------------------------------ Date: 16 Nov 95 06:32:15 EST From: Danny <100637.2212@compuserve.com> Subject: Collideascope Surely Collideascope is Andy imitating John Lennon. Check out the nasal Liverpudlian accent.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1995 14:00:23 +0100 (MET)
From: markus gruber <h9150394@obelix.wu-wien.ac.at>
Subject: Singer/Songwriter
Hi, Klaus Bergmaier from Austria participating:
IMHO Colin is of course lead vocals of "Limelight" and Andy definitely
sings on "Collideascope", just listen to the 'wakey, wakey'-lines and you
will know. There is but a line in Andy's "Desert Island", that is sung by
Colin. Between one chorus it is Colin who sings "do do do do do ..."
alone. And in the very end of "My Bird Performs" Andy repeats the verses
('Shakespear's sonnets leave me cold..) while Colin goes 'My bird sings
sweetly...' and the flugelhorn improvises into the fadeout. BTW, IMHO 'Is
this the right tempo...' in the beginning of "Officer Blue" is Colin,
while 'Ladies and Gentlemen..' in "Dear Madam Barnum" is Mr. Partridge
himself. Someone once said 'It's the singer, not the song', but I can
finally resume 'The songwriter is the singer' at least in XTC. Please
feel free to tell me if I'm wrong!
Most of all I remember the sun...
See you
KLAUS
------------------------------ From: "Burgess, Christopher (msx)" <BURGESSC@linelnt1.light.GE.com> Subject: RE: birthday Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1995 08:08:42 -0500 >Also, MTV had a blurb saying 11-11-42 was Andy's birthday. Happy >birthday! (unless, of course, they screwed up their research...) Hmm . . if Andy was born in 1942, he would be 53. Why do I have my doubts about this? If it's true, maybe he should join the Stones. Or retire and move to a little cottage in London . . .
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1995 14:21:10 +0000 (GMT) From: Kevin Donnelly <kevin.donnelly@st-hughs.oxford.ac.uk> Subject: Swindon Swindon experiencing phenomenal growth?Give me a break. Swindon is used by the government when it wants to experiment with something new ie SKY TV in the mid 80's and at the moment there's something going on with a new kind of money there. And there've been other experiments as well. Are XTC recording a new album?Does anyone know anything about this rumour? When are they going to release a new single;it must be a while since the last. The only XTC song that I actively dislike is All You Pretty Girls. I don't know why, it seems just a bit well kitsch really. There are some nice bits of music (oh yes, I'm a musical scholar as well)but the whole is less than the sum of its parts. And a belated happy birthday to Andy P. I'm drinking soda that's as cold as frost Kevin "New Wave" D.
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Nov 95 14:47:07 GMT From: jde@intera.co.uk (Jon Eva) Subject: Nick Drake Dear All, I'm sorry to bother you all about a non-XTC subject, but yesterday I was looking thru some old digests, looking for something else, when I found a reference to a Nick Drake tribute album. Nick Drake is my musical hero. I tried emailing the person who posted the message (a Mr. CrowsPants), but he was an AOLer who has seemingly gone AWL. Anyway, if anyone has any information whatsoever about said Nick Drake tribute album, please email me. Thanks, Jon Eva
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Nov 95 10:21:04 EST From: ldsteve@MIT.EDU (Stephen Gilligan) Subject: Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-32 AHHHHH!!! My tape player just ate my only copy of the 1/29/80 Live from the Paradise show!! AHHHHHH!!! #@$%#&%$@!!! In the middle of Real by Reel no less! RANDOM THOUGHTS DEPT. I must say, this list is almost as much fun as Andy's liner notes in the Nonsuch CD. The DG debate will rage on no doubt. It's interesting enough, if I'm in the mood. By the way, is The Red Curtain Colin? I figured as much but a confirmation from you folks would seal it. When I first heard The Dukes I immediately thought of Fly On the Wall. Hey, couldn't they just form a new band and sign with a new label? It isn't that easy is it? I though contracts were made to be broken, at least that's they way it is in sports these days. I bought the Nonsuch demos the other day in an attempt to get something new (XTC) into my head. Poor quality recording but some fun stuff I hadn't heard. Still, IT'S TIME!!!!! Back to work......
------------------------------ Date: 16 Nov 95 11:31:53 EST From: David Rhoten <71450.2654@compuserve.com> Subject: Newbies in the New World Hi: Well, another mailing list newbie (though not new to XTC!) -- just wanted to share my 2 cents. Bob Thomas said that when trying to introduce people to XTC, many often find the music annoying at first (or sometimes at last, too). I remember when I was first introduced to XTC. My best friend was spending the majority of the last two years of high school in another city as his mom was going to law school -- so we only got to see each other holidays and summers. Anyway, he had picked up English Settlement and really gone head over heels for our lads. I wasn't so sure about it, myself. But, during our marathon sessions of playing all of Scott Adams' adventure games on my folks' TRS-80 (am I dating myself really badly here? verb-noun-only text adventure games on a computer w/ 16k RAM and only a cassette deck for I/O?) we listened to it quite a few times. Then I remember that suddenly it was ME who was always re-playing it, even though I wasn't sure why. Did I actually LIKE it? I don't think I really knew -- I just had to keep hearing it. Then, up at college, I found a couple other XTC albums in a cheapy record sale at the student union -- and I was hooked! I was buying every XTC thing I could find. And I've been a strong XTC "pusher", ever since. Bob also said there must be a "somethingness" about XTC's music. I think it's kind of the thing that underlies the book "Zen and the Art of Motorcylcle Maintenance" -- there's _quality_ to XTC's music that even people who can't say they actually "like" the music can't ignore. You know that these guys have produced something that they care deeply about, and that they love -- that care and love are what shine out from the music. And even the most chaotic of XTC's songs has such a strong and driving undercurrent -- a rope to pull yourself through the swirling maelstrom of notes and chords. They're kind of irresistable. But I could be wrong. :) Dave David Rhoten 714500.2654@compuserve.com
------------------------------
From: Ben Gott <BENG@hotchkiss.pvt.k12.ct.us>
Subject: Ramblings
Date: Thu, 16 Nov 95 11:35:00 est
*The strangest places I've ever heard XTC being played:
1) THE DORM: All my friends are now obsessed with a certain song that was
left of the first pressing of a certain album that rhymes with "Dogbarfing"
2) H-TV: My school's in-house TV station, H-TV, played the Dummie's version
of "Peter Pumpkinhead" during a promo. The head of the station said that he
wanted to play the XTC version, but BMG was sponsoring their show, so they
had no choice...
*XTC fans will enjoy the background to the title bar of my home page (see the
address below...)
*I'd like XTC to cover "God's Comic", by Elvis Costello.
That's all.
Ben
beng@hotchkiss.pvt.k12.ct.us
Home page: http://www.lookup.com/Homepages/58596/home.html
XTC SONG OF THE DAY:
"Little Lighthouse"
------------------------------ From: Michelle Pratt <mpratt@aacn.nche.edu> Subject: The music! Date: Thu, 16 Nov 95 09:12:00 PST Another newbie speaks.. Bob said: <They confound me in some ways. Anyone who has ever tried to introduce a friend to XTC knows that people often find their music strange -- even annoying. When I get a notion to make a tape on the theme "Pop Music I Really Like" I find it near impossible to work XTC into the mix.> In 1989 I saw a video for "Mayor of Simpleton." I went out almost immediately and bought "Oranges and Lemons." Then I headed off to my first year of college where, amazingly enough, people in one of my classes and a friend from a neighboring dorm were also XTC fans. I went to the local music store and bought up every XTC album I could find. I got my friend to tape for me the albums the store didn't have. And then, as luck (or some strange cosmic alignment) would have it, one of the DJs on the campus radio station was doing an XTC show. 3 hours of XTC including rare and live stuff. I was drooling. Unfortunately, this was taking place during a party I had helped organize in the dorm. I left my tape running in my room and ran upstairs every 45 minutes to flip it or change it. In 4 short months I had gone from never having heard of XTC to becoming addicted. I think what I like most about their music is that it's not just something you bop up and down to. Once you listen to the lyrics, there's no going back. They're super-clever and, as we've discovered by the "DG" fray, open to many different interpretations. I think that's also what makes this list so cool; that we're all coming from different places with different experiences and we can bring those to our discussions of the coolest band in the world. Michelle P.S. I go out of my way to put an XTC song on every mix or theme tape I make in a continuing effort to educate the populace...
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1995 12:25:08 -0500 (EST) From: Natalie Jane Jacobs <gnat@umich.edu> Subject: Various things Thanks to Bob Thomas for his newbie invitation, and his comments on my comments. I wanted to clarify my reasons for finding XTC "too English." At the time, I had been in England a few months and was becoming overwhelmed with processing the new information being sent my way - language, social interaction, even the physical appearance of the country - all of this was causing my brain to slowly fry. XTC's uniquely British qualities - language (again), sensibilities and aesthetic, even their accents (far more alien-sounding to my ear even than the South England standard accent) - were too much for me to handle at the time. Even now, I'm still going through my experiences in England and trying to make sense of them. Having gotten to a point where I can stand back and look at these experiences clearly, I find XTC's Englishness much easier to handle. XTC's other unusual qualities are still very appealing to me, and always have been. I mentioned in my first post that I was sucked in by "Beating of Hearts," a song with relatively "weird" instrumentation, singing, meter, and lyrics. The reason I liked this song so much was that I had NEVER heard anything like it; it was a whole new universe being opened up to me. It is, indeed, hard to make other people hear that - but how can you reproduce for others a very personal experience? Re. the "Weird places you've heard XTC" thread, here's two... 1. "Thanks for Christmas" in a Taco Bell. This hurt deeply. I was thinking, "Hey, they're playing XTC!" at the same time that I was thinking, "God, I hate this song, make it stop..." And all in the cozy environs of "the Border." Ack. 2. A couple of weeks ago, I was listening to my scraggly old tape of "Chips from the Chocolate Fireball" one night before I went to bed. The next morning, my radio alarm woke me up with "Little Lighthouse"! What are the chances of this happening? Granted, my alarm was tuned to the local college station, but still... I took it as an omen of great good. oh well... Natalie Jacobs ************** "The future isn't what it used to be."
------------------------------ From: BObannon@aol.com Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1995 12:26:20 -0500 Subject: Last word Martin Wilson wrote: >>>This is b***sh*t of the highest order. Like many non-Christians I agree with many of the things the Bible says Christ said; that doesn't mean I have to swallow the whole moralistic line of organized religion<<< You're talking about two different things here. One is the words of Christ as they are recorded in the Bible; the other is organized religion. Unfortunately, these two things are often worlds apart. So no, you don't have to swallow the teachings of organized religion, but according to Jesus Himself, you do have to swallow what He Himself has said. I'd also be very careful about putting yourself in a position of judging what Christ did and didn't say. The Bible never claimed to offer an a la carte sampling of spiritual truths. >>>I just don't understand why we all have to believe the same as you Bob.<<< You don't. But you do have to believe what Jesus has required, which is exclusive belief in Him as the Savior of the world. That's His requirement, not mine. I'm just relating to you what He has said. If you don't believe He said this, you'll have to come up with some good evidence to support your claim. >>>Sorry for taking up so much room on a non-XTC subject but it's one of my 'spiritual truths' that I wont tolerate intolerance.<<< Your unwillingness to tolerate intolerance is in itself an intolerant attitude, isn't it? So aren't you violating your own spiritual truth here? This will be my last word on this subject since it is getting very far from being XTC related. If anyone wants to continue, please E mail me. Bob O'Bannon BObannon@aol.com
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1995 11:37:20 -0600 From: "Bird Rendell H." <rhb@usl.edu> Subject: more "Collideascope"... [John H Hedges writes]: > Finally: "Collideascope" is definitely COLIN. Doing his best Andy > impression, perhaps, but still Colin. (Buy "Demos 6" you won't be in any > doubt.) I'm confused. When Dave Gregory was playing guitar for Aimee Mann (last year?), Andy jumped on stage when they hit New York City and sat-in for a single song: Collideascope. Now, WHY would Andy sing one of Colin's songs? [Maybe 'cause Dave or Aimee ASKED Andy to play it ... ?] Now, I'm truly confused, --Rendell
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1995 12:37:21 -0500 (EST)
From: James Poulakos <engjcp@gsusgi2.gsu.edu>
Subject: Muzak versions of XTC
Are there people out there with the guts to MAKE Muzak versions of XTC
tunes? Sounds like a goofy, fun thing to do-- better XTC fans than those
foul Muzak anaesthotropic demons churning along in the evenly-lit
climate-controlled cubicles of Wherever-Muzak-Comes-From, Inc.
In my mind right now, I am hearing an ornate electric grand piano
arrangment in the style of Liberace, with lots of octaves & passing
tones: "Mayor of Simpleton." Just imagine shopping at Woolworth's.
*------------------------------------------------------------------
My home page is now at http://www.gsu.edu/~engjcp/zero.html
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
James Poulakos
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1995 12:47:49 -0500 (EST)
From: James Poulakos <engjcp@gsusgi2.Gsu.EDU>
Subject: ignored in English-speaking countries
"It upsets me deeply that so many thousands of brilliant musicians are
ignored in English-speaking countries because they don't sing in the same
language," said a fellow Chalkhillian.
You said a mouthful, buster. I just came back from a year of study in
Germany, where they [the radio, most young people--or at least the record
labels] largely ignore musicians UNLESS they do songs in English. Must
have to do with unit sales--the German-speaking market not profitable enough?
When I heard that France had imposed a sort of quota-system to enforce
French-langauge films and songs (a French friend tells me that every 5th
song on French radio must be by a French artist), I snorted. Snobs, I
thought. But I have seen both sides of the Atlantic now, and in Germany,
radio and films are absolutely dominated by English & American products.
I had to look hard to find modern German bands that recorded in their own
language, and seldom heard them on the radio. There aren't many German
films playing in the cinemas either.
Meanwhile, France's music scene is vital and interesting. They have
variety, tradition, originality AND they use their own language. Too bad
we can't hear Noir Desire, Higelin, MC Solaar, or Billy Ze Kick on the
radios over here...I can't even find their CDs in Atlanta shops (I
confess my college radio station plays Noir Desire, but only during a
3 or 4 hour "international music" program on Saturday mornings).
*--------------------------------------------------------------------
My home page is still at http://www.gsu.edu/~engjcp/zero.html
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
James Poulakos
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #2-33 ******************************
Go back to Volume 2.
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