Chalkhills Digest Volume 4, Issue 104
Date: Monday, 6 July 1998
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 4, Number 104
Monday, 6 July 1998
Today's Topics:
Foul Mouthings
Hah!
The F Word
artistic references
Another bugbear
The Big Express 2nd half
New Book And Discount
Re: Junior's Farm
commercial success
that there weapon of mine (or "sue me!!!")
Lurker button off
Pet Sounds & Trout Mask Replica
Vanishing girl and a big mistake
Hell, why not?
Re:No Larking Matter
Re:Big Express
Radio / breakeven point
Re: Dave Press Release
Re: If-You-Like-XTC
The Enigma
Dare God
XTC book
Re:Colin
Your Dictionary
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Things got more and more absurd.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message-Id: <2.2.32.19980703155206.006e9340@popmail.dircon.co.uk> Date: Fri, 03 Jul 1998 16:52:06 +0100 From: Simon Sleightholm <nonsuch@dircon.co.uk> Subject: Foul Mouthings From: Steven Graff <slapdash@earthlink.net> >Noticed Bob Estus counting off hidden occasions where our boys spake >the f-word. It just isn't so. >In 1000 Umbrellas: > "So with a mop and a bucket I'll just say 'forget her' and carry on >sweeping up where I've been weeping..." The real issue here is that "Umbrellas" wrong-foots the listener. Andy leads us to expect, for a rhyme with "bucket", "fuck it", something quite definitely driven home with the venom (as well as the pronunciation) invested in the first syllable of "forget". It's a bit like the game we used to play and school where we'd take some innocent young fellow (no, not _that_ game) and make him say "fork and knife" repeatedly, louder and faster each time, until it sounded like "fucking knife." We'd then report him to the nearest teacher with the full and eager anticipation of his impending thrashing. Ah, the salad days of youth! For the record, in "Shaving Brush Boogie" there are several other phrases which can be taken, by the unwary, to be similarly profane; all the references to Princess Margaret's "coke soaking" abilities, for example, often shock those ignorant of her penchant for submerging fossil fuels. Let us not forget, either, Colin's _appalling_ racial slur - I speak, of course, of the "Big Dago" he refers to on Skylarking. Shameful, I call it. Simon PS, in response to all the tension we have seen, sadly, in our list recently may I offer one of my favourite quotations from Laurence Sterne's marvellous 'The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman'? "...if I should seem now and then to trifle upon the road,--or should sometimes put on a fool's cap with a bell to it, for a moment or two as we pass along,--don't fly off,--but rather courteously give me credit for a little more wisdom than appears upon my outside;--and as we jog on, either laugh with me, or at me, or in short do any thing,-- only keep your temper." -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- http://www.nonsuch.dircon.co.uk/bungalow.htm (http://come.to/bungalow) -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- An XTC resource - "Saving it all up for you..."
------------------------------ From: LadyCPlum@aol.com Message-ID: <b69ca8d.359d0896@aol.com> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 1998 12:36:37 EDT Subject: Hah! Richard, I have but one thing to say to you...... ROTFLMAO! My, that Pooh costume was snug, wasn't it? Then there was sneaking off into the Indiana Jones ride, jumping ship on Pirates of the Carribean, so much fun! Tis a shame most of it can't be reprinted. (Nudge nudge, knowhatimean, nudge nudge, say no more.) Tis all for now, Amanda XTC song of the day-Rook non XTC song-China Girl-David Bowie
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 3 Jul 1998 12:48:29 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <v03007800b1c2807f78d3@[209.86.133.60]> From: Mitch Friedman <mitchf@mindspring.com> Subject: The F Word Am I crazy or does Andy utter a long and drawn out f word over the last few seconds of guitar noise on "She's So Square"?
------------------------------ Message-ID: <304D2C3DF164D111827200600837841F28EA9C@einstein.moneystar.com> From: Jill Oleson <oleson@moneystar.com> Subject: artistic references Date: Fri, 3 Jul 1998 12:04:43 -0500 I was sincerely pleased to read Harrison Sherwood's post in Chalkhills #4-102 regarding the various artist references that are in Andy Partridge's lyrics. On some level, I knew those references were in there, but I hadn't spent the necessary time to investigate the details. Lucky for all us, people like Harrison, Bob Estus, and Mitch Friedman have. Personally, I've always appreciated that Andy mentions artist tools and processes in his lyrics. In my opinion, he write lyrics like a painter. The words he chooses are very visual--full of colors, shapes, and textures. I think that may be the main reason I like this band so much. I didn't know that Andy was a graphic designer or a sculptor. In so many ways, I only know what he chooses to tell me... all within the confines of verbiage that decorates his melodies. I haven't memorized biographical data issued in glossy magazine spreads, but I heard a wonderful interview he did a few years ago on KGSR, a radio station in Austin, Texas that probably plays more XTC songs than any other in the whole world. Nonetheless, I'd have to agree with donello that "Colin has always been the real mystery man in the group." Like donello, I've been listening to XTC since 1980. I've seen them play twice and have met them in person once (Andy, Colin, and Dave). I'll save that story for another post--after I've gotten to know you all a little bit better and see how you behave. Jill Oleson oleson@moneystar.com Austin, Texas
------------------------------ Message-ID: <c=US%a=_%p=SELECT_Software_%l=SELECT_OX_MAI-980703152219Z-2981@selectmail.selectst.com> From: Catherine Sweeney <CatherineS@selectst.com> Subject: Another bugbear Date: Fri, 3 Jul 1998 16:22:19 +0100 of a Partridgean nature (but not involving Goya). Liberty. This "Knuckles down, you two and/or Melt the guns, guys, Andy wouldn't like it" strand that crops up every so often. I've just thought about the irony of it. One is about being anti-racist, so that's a cool thing to write a song about. All he's saying is 'stop being racist, you lot'. Fine. and 'Melt the Guns'- same thing but bigger, 'stop dropping big bombs, you idiots'. Fine. So basically, he's arguing a case for freedom and liberty and an absence of fear. Which includes the right to speak your mind on mailing lists. By all acounts, he's a feisty and cranky individual. I'm sure he wouldn't lie down and take it if someone told him to stop speaking his mind. So use of those two songs as arguments against people having disagreements on the mailing list, or saying something a bit controversial but yet stimulating, is a perversion of what the songs are about. If anything, I'd say Andy would prefer if we DID exercise our right to speak out. So there.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <l03102802b1c2dd03bda4@[207.104.109.137]> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 1998 12:10:14 -0700 From: Dave Blackburn <dblack@access1.net> Subject: The Big Express 2nd half Rich /Metal Man wrote, <What I want to know is, does the rest of The Big Express match up to the first 5 songs?> Oh Rich, you lucky dog...you have "Train Running Low on Soul Coal" to hear for the first time-if you are in fact a "metal man" then this may become your anthem. On an unrelated note: are there any Chalksters in Denmark? I'm in the early stages of wanting to emigrate there and would love to make contact with some folks there. Harrison, love your posts... all for now, Dave Dave Blackburn Fallbrook, Ca dblack@access1.net
------------------------------
Message-Id: <2.2.32.19980703191233.006eb680@popmail.dircon.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 03 Jul 1998 20:12:33 +0100
From: Simon Sleightholm <nonsuch@dircon.co.uk>
Subject: New Book And Discount
Hi Gang,
Thought you might like to see this which just landed in my email..
----
Dear Simon
Neville Farmer suggested I contact you, as I will be publishing the new
XTC book in the UK under the Helter Skelter imprint. ISBN 1-900924-03-X
As an aside, I've enjoyed wizzing around your site - good fun and very
informative!
I am really pleased to be associated with the Song Stories project which
is much more than the usual music book.
Our publication date is planned for 1 September 1998 and the book will be
available across in all good bookstores across the country at #12.99.
We are keen to make sure that anyone who wants the book can get hold of it
easily, and that real fans of the band can get it as soon as possible. So,
people can order it directly from the Helter Skelter music store
approximately 10 days before publication date and the book will be
despatched the same day. Anyone who quotes Bungalow in their order will
get the book for #10.00 plus postage.
Our details are:
Helter Skelter Limited, 4 Denmark Street, London WC2H 8LL
Tel 0171 836 1551 Fax 0171 240 9880 email helter@skelter.demon.co.uk
Visa and Mastercard accepted
One final point, due to last minute changes to the book as a result of Mr
Gregory's sad departure, it is possible that the pub date may slip by a week
or two.
Anyway Simon, I hope this doesn't come across as too capitalist an email,
I am just trying to make as many people know about the book as possible,
and I know a lot of people regularly visit you site, so all publicity is
very welcome. We are hoping to line up some promotional events to tie in
with the publication date, and I will keep you posted of all developments.
If there is anything else you need to know about the book, please don't
hesitate to contact me.
All the best
Sean Body
Helter Skelter
----
I'd like to make it known that I have no financial connection with Neville
or Helter Skelter and that the first I heard of any special discount offer
in connection with my web page was when this landed - it's not some special
deal I've cooked up behind the scenes...
I'll keep you all posted as I find out more, for those of you who
desperately need to see this news again in slightly different form you
should check out the appropriate section of Bungalow -
http://www.nonsuch.dircon.co.uk/stuff.htm - that's where I'll also post any
new developments as they happen. There is a very strong suggestion, from
other connected sources, that the band (such as they now are) will almost
certainly be undertaking _promotional_ duties of some kind but details are
not forthcoming.
Right, I'm off to summer school for a week - have I time to cultivate a
goatee, I wonder?
Simon
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
http://www.nonsuch.dircon.co.uk/bungalow.htm (http://come.to/bungalow)
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
An XTC resource - "Saving it all up for you..."
------------------------------ From: CCooli9575@aol.com Message-ID: <876394c4.359d5044@aol.com> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 1998 17:42:27 EDT Subject: Re: Junior's Farm >I heard Wing's "Junior's Farm" the other day on the radio. Talk about >a lost classic! It reminds me of Andy's recent material. I bet you a dozen >donuts that Andy has that song in his collection. Yes! Gotta be Paul's best song ever, along with "Helter Skelter" and a very few others. "Let It Be" almost makes it, but the "mother Mary" reference seems like a copout; why don't you use your mother's real name, Paul, unless you want us to think you're Catholic? I don't get why Paul writes such great songs as these and also writes piffle like "Silly Love Songs" and "My Love." The guy confuses and frustrates me no end, even more than Ray Davies and Van Morrison, who seem to have the same problem editing themselves but at least haven't put anything truly horrible yet.(Davies' "Only A Dream" and most of Van's "Days Like This" come close, though, and Van's slurred duet with Sinead O'Connor on Letterman is one of the most surreal things I've seen in pop music history, right up there with Sinead ripping up a picture of the pope) Not to disrespect the dead, but I'm in no hurry to hear the upcoming album of Linda's songs, if "Cook Of The House" is any indication. Then again, Ringo's last album was actually pretty good, so anything's possible. Chris
------------------------------ From: "David McGuinness" <dmcg@btinternet.com> Subject: commercial success Date: Sat, 4 Jul 1998 00:53:02 +0100 Message-ID: <01bda6dd$b71f31a0$LocalHost@default> Hello again - As regards XTC's lyrics and *commerciality* I think RedNoise's suggestions of >"Love at first site...oooo baby, goin'a do it ALLLL night " >or maybe "Train running low on cocaine, gotta get me more or I'll go insane" >better yet, "Rook, rook, show me your tits" are but one possibility. The mark of a truly great commercial song is when schoolkids make up rude versions of the lyrics to sing in the playground. All together, sing along with me: "B.A.R.F. is that how you spell barf in your dictionary?" As FZ didn't say, 'some commercial potential'. I hope this doesn't become a thread. -David
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 3 Jul 1998 21:21:30 -0400 Subject: that there weapon of mine (or "sue me!!!") Message-ID: <19980703.212131.10598.0.skybar80@juno.com> From: skybar80@juno.com (Formerly Known as Smileypants) Hey chalkhedz. I just also want to be one of the brave few to admit fondness of "My Weapon." I don't see anything wrong with that song at all. I'm ready for your vitriol. Fire away. --ken
------------------------------ Message-ID: <359DB727.7D8AFECB@pop.uky.edu> Date: Sat, 04 Jul 1998 01:01:27 -0400 From: james isaacs <jmisaa00@pop.uky.edu> Subject: Lurker button off For all of you who have been whispering amongst yourselves, "Where is that one James fellow?-no, the third one," or "Whatever became of the Go 2 Anti-defamation League?" or "What the Belgium is this guy rattling on about?": I am back on my regular e-mail address after a 2 year exile in Germany and a large building. No, not prison. Anyway, I love technology. At my job location, they have a CD burner, which gave me a wonderful opportunity to make an XTC rarity CD, compiling all those B-sides and 3" CDs onto one lovely package. The track list: Ella Guru/Living in a Haunged Heart/The Good Things/Skeletons/My Painjt Heroes/Always Winter Never Christmas/The Good Things(Terry & the Lovemen)/My Bird Performs demo/The Smartest Monkeys demo/Homo Safari1-4 it makes for lovely listening. Anyway, this is also a good chance to plug my web page, which contains absolutely no XTC content, but does have several pictures of myself, looking like an idiot. Still single, girls! James -- "Humanity is the history of revenge"-Robyn Hitchcock http://www.geocities.com/thetropics/cabana/4665 The James Isaacs Garage/Tour of Europe
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19980704052705.9412.rocketmail@send1b.yahoomail.com> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 1998 22:27:05 -0700 (PDT) From: Mark Rushton <markrushton@yahoo.com> Subject: Pet Sounds & Trout Mask Replica I got both Pet Sounds and Trout Mask Replica CDs at my local library the other night - took 'em home and listened to them. I'd never heard Pet Sounds as an album, just the singles. It's been about 17 years since I heard Trout Mask Replica. And it was strange I picked those two. I'm still trying to digest it all, but they're both so marvelous in their own unique ways. It's so funny how I hear Andy when listening to EACH album, when really they couldn't be further apart on the musical spectrum. Pet Sounds just totally blew me away. I can't believe I missed out on this for so many years. I've never been a fan of the Beach Boys, maybe it had something to do with their early surf stuff, which I personally dislike, as well as the wretched "Kokomo". As for the Captain Beefheart album, well it was difficult to listen to when I first heard it in 1981 and it still is today, but it's not UN-listenable. I'm aware that Trout Mask Replica is one of Andy's all-time favorites and it is reflected (the more difficult aspect of the album) in his songwriting. But so is Pet Sounds, oddly enough! == Stay young and keep in touch, Mark Rushton Author of the Bill Nelson Web Site http://www.billnelson.com
------------------------------ Message-ID: <359DBDFF.275B92E5@yha.att.ne.jp> Date: Sat, 04 Jul 1998 14:30:39 +0900 From: Colin Seditas <cseditas@yha.att.ne.jp> Subject: Vanishing girl and a big mistake Help. Something terrible has happened: Recently I've been going Dukes-crazy (again) but, put the guitar intro from VANISHING GIRL in your heard. OK, now sing the same melody with these words: "In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight." Do you remember that? Is this exactly the same melody or what? You may have to a Brit to know what I'm on about. This great song has become inextricably entwined with a piece of mid 80's pop trash by someone with bleached blonde spiky hair (Lamaal? Kajagoogoo?). My apologies to you if you don't know what I'm on about. Colin S.
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 4 Jul 1998 04:03:35 -0400 Subject: Hell, why not? Message-ID: <19980704.040336.12038.0.skybar80@juno.com> From: skybar80@juno.com (Formerly Known as Smileypants) Hey, I've already admitted I like "My Weapon".....I'll even go even further and admit "Super Tuff" is one of my favorites of Go2!!! Yea, that's right! I LIKE "SUPER TUFF!!!" C'mon and FLAME me!!!! I know many Chalkhedz aren't fond of the keyboards of Barry. I'll admit I have rolled my eyes and also cringed at some of his goofy parts. But I kinda like his keyboards. I'm not saying it was a bad move to lose Barry. His wacky keyboards were only really fitting for that time period and just do not fit the more mature albums. I can't explain my feelings for them. Just weird, I guess. But weird is good. All good things have their "Ugh, this is soooo corny/silly/sucky" moments, like Barry's keyboards at times (for most people, all the time). What can I say? I'm a goofball and I like gooball things. Gineen wrote: <<I must admit, I get afraid that XTC will become popular some day>> I fear this as well at times. I mean, if they do, good for them. I wish them the best of luck. But I just hope that if they do become popular that we won't be seeing them everywhere every ten seconds like the bands we see on MTV, because then they'd become a band that all those trendy kids who jump on and off every bandwagon. It has happened with many of my fave bands in the past and it ruined them. I will just die if I hear Philly's shit station Y100 play XTC 5 times every hour. It just can't happen. Yes, it would be nice if my friends knew who the hell XTC are and to be able to say their name without them going "Uhhh, you mean the drug, right? Nah, dude, never heard of 'em. C'mon, let's go watch MTV", but I just couldn't bear to see them turn into a mainstream marketing extravaganza. Also, does anyone else here feel that most of XTC's albums were ahead of their time? When I first heard the songs from Upsy Daisy playing in that record store that day I got into them, I thought the D&W songs sounded like they were from like 1981 or 82, I thought the ES songs were from around 1985, and that the Skylarking songs were from 1988/89. I know, this is a dumb opinion. Before I go, lemme just make a suggestion. I reccomend the new album from Clutch, "The Elephant Riders". I can't explain their style. But they are kinda metalish but theyhave a bluesy kinda thing, vocally. Also, those who still have yet to pick up Tock by Yazbek, please do. Hopefully, you will all scroll right past my post. In fact, PLEASE DO!!!! :) I'm just a weirdo. Don't listen to me. I'm just gonna go shield myself against the flames now. Fire when ready. --Ken
------------------------------ From: RiknBkr@aol.com Message-ID: <9c9c7431.359e368a@aol.com> Date: Sat, 4 Jul 1998 10:04:57 EDT Subject: Re:No Larking Matter > I haven't listened to Skylarking in a long time so I broke > out the UK disc of it. The label side has yellowed, especially at > the edges, and it now won't play. Has anyone else had the same > problem? My disc is fine, but I've heard that discs that were pressed at the PDO plant in the late 80's start deteriorating this way. In fact, I have a couple of CDs that are this way. You can check by looking near the inner diameter of the disc.
------------------------------ From: RiknBkr@aol.com Message-ID: <dac19131.359e3695@aol.com> Date: Sat, 4 Jul 1998 10:05:08 EDT Subject: Re:Big Express >What I want to know is, does the rest of The Big Express match up >to the first 5 songs? Yes. IMHO I think it's better than the first side......well at least I played it more on vinyl when it came out in '84. >What are the songs past This World Over (which is now one of my favorite >songs ever) like? Great.....IMHO better than side one. You will be more than satisfied.
------------------------------
Message-Id: <3.0.1.32.19980704111459.006abeb0@mail.clemson.edu>
Date: Sat, 04 Jul 1998 11:14:59 -0400
From: Adam Tyner <ctyner@clemson.edu>
Subject: Radio / breakeven point
<<
Well, I'm not versed in the regulations book, but I have trouble believing
that there are going to be too many mainstream commercial stations daring
enough to touch a song that spells out "F-U-C-K" quite clearly. FTC (rhymes
with "XTC") rules aside, however, I also don't really imagine the song
>>
Wow, I didn't think the Federal Trade Commission was too interested in
radio... ;) FCC aside, some radio stations tend to be a little...extreme
regardless. Case in point - last summer, I was making my annual road trip
to Arizona and somewhere in Mississippi, I heard a censored version of
Meredith Brooks' "Bitch" on the radio. I'm admittedly not too fond of that
song, but I've heard it on the radio at least 50 times, and that was the
first and only time I'd ever heard it bleeped out.
During my very brief experience with college radio, there were fliers and
warnings posted all over the booth saying how there was a $500 fine (or
somesuch) fine from the FCC if you used "hard" profanity on the air, but
then I hear the uncensored version of Ben Folds Five's "Song For The
Dumped" on a local station.
<<
Any ideas what the breakeven point is for this set? How many they expect
to sell ?
>>
I don't claim to know for sure, but I'd imagine that the breakeven point
wouldn't be too high, since the material has already been recorded & I'd
imagine they're not going to have extensive promotion.
-Adam
/=---------------- http://www.he-man.org/ctyner/ ----------------=\
http://www.awod.com/gallery/rwav/ctyner/
The home of He-Man, "Weird Al", Yoo-hoo, Killer Tomatoes, and more!
Demented music list admin O- MiSTie #67,326
------------------------------ From: "STEVE PERLEY" <steveandlauren@grolen.com> Subject: Re: Dave Press Release Date: Sat, 4 Jul 1998 11:12:52 -0400 Message-ID: <01bda75f$f3abdba0$b4cbf7cd@steveandlauren.grolen.com> You'll recall from the last issue that Stephanie Takeshita sent MTV a press release about Dave's departure. It was a nice thought and everything, but you forgot one vital point: if you can't work the Puff Daddy* angle into a story, MTV News won't touch it! While I'm being pessimistic here, maybe Mitch should suggest to Andy that they not waste any money on a video. After all, nobody will ever see it. [*Not to seem narrow-minded or anything, but screw Puff Daddy. He sucks.] Thank you, and good night. Steve
------------------------------ Message-ID: <359E598F.560B6AAC@gtii.com> Date: Sat, 04 Jul 1998 12:34:27 -0400 From: Percy the Angry Chicken Snatcher <brian@gtii.com> Subject: Re: If-You-Like-XTC Hello all, I recently joined the group right around when the "If-You-Like-XTC" discussion began. Well, here's my two bits/cents/pence/etc: If you like- Early, dissonant XTC: League of Gentlemen, namely, "Thrang Thrang Gozinbulx." Barry Andrews teams up with Robert Fripp. Great driving music. The experimental bonus tracks on Mummer: Jade Warrior, Popol Vuh, Bowie's "Low" & "Heroes." 'Complicated Game': John Cale's "Fear" and his work with the Velvet Underground, The Stooges. 'Sacrificial Bonfire': Gentle Giant 'Pink Thing' or 'My Weapon': Monty Python's 'Penis Song' and Nine Inch Nails 'Big Man With a Gun.' 'History of Rock `n' Roll': Frank Zappa. -Brian
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v03110700b1c45815a02c@[146.6.72.32]> Date: Sat, 4 Jul 1998 16:20:16 -0600 From: Jason Garcia <h.h.name@mail.utexas.edu> Subject: The Enigma >I don't feel I have an understanding about Colin like I do Andy >or Dave (at least their public persona). Well, Colin IS "the quiet one". Watching that old kids' show "Saturday Superstore" or whatever it is that I have on tape from 1984 with Andy and Colin as guests, Andy DOES do pretty much all of the talking. They even made sure Colin had something to say by giving him a trivia question to read out occasionally. There probably IS a lot more to know about Colin, but I have the feeling that no one on this list is in Colin's inner circle. Mitch Friedman has said he's more a friend of Andy and Dave. So naturally this leaves a big question mark over our heads concerning Colin- who some would say has the most accessible songs of XTC, but unfortunately the least accessible persona. Jason (whose original idea for CC98 was to do "Cynical Days") http://www.angelfire.com/tx/top40
------------------------------
Message-Id: <v03102800b1c44f8339ba@[165.227.110.102]>
Date: Sat, 4 Jul 1998 14:47:10 -0700
From: Richard Pedretti-Allen <richard@tactics.com>
Subject: Dare God
Ah, me... the Dear God debate resurfaces...
I was mildly amused, then insulted, the last time around but kept most
of my opinions to myself. Not that each individual isn't entitled to
their own belief but the comments that triggered me were oppressive and
that makes them offensive. The whole notion of some "religious" person
bellowing out such one-sided proclamations of how "IT REALLY IS" would
be VERY hilarious if the person wasn't serious. When a person is so
emphatic, unyielding and close-minded about their beliefs, it starts
getting hard to distinguish their intent from Hitler's. In the end,
they are entitled to their opinion and I will defend their write to
make as big a fool of themselves as they desire.
And now it's my turn.
We live in a world where we are very skeptical ("If it sounds too good
to be true, it probably is.") and cautious ("Unbelievable bargains
await you in beautiful, sunny, southern Florida real estate!").
So, you probably won't reply to me if you truly do not believe that I
exist, you probably won't be going to the Steinway store looking to
retrofit your grand with a hydraulic-assist whammy bar and you won't go
shopping for a brand new Studebaker Avanti because they don't exist.
People will generally not attempt to interact with things that they
truly do not believe exist (Take, for instance, the Boston driver that
will not let you merge. Eye contact means acknowledgment that they
know you are there.) with the exception of religious entities.
Conversely, we all occasionally talk to our computer monitor without
any delusions that it can hear, don't we?
So... WHO is Andy addressing in "Dear God"? Is he telling you that he
doesn't believe in god? Is he making a suggestion to rally behind some
variation on an existing religion? Is he going to be releasing "Dear
Buddha" soon to braoden the demographic viability of the song?
He is addressing "god."
I believe Andy has some religious beliefs. They very well may not be
in the "organized" form of "organized" religions but that's an entirely
different debate. He gives many indications about being knowledgable
on the subject, questioning people's use of a conditional "god" in
"It's Nearly Africa" or metaphorically citing Cain and Abel in "Reign
Of Blows", among other references. I also believe that he has some
questions about one or more of the supposed gods that "exist" and
certainly has questions about the violence and strange things that have
historically been done in the name of religion. It is human nature to
question things, be it your judgment, your manager's agenda, your
mother's motivation for wanting you to get married, your sexuality,
your predilection for red meat, the logic (or lack thereof) in going
bungee-jumping or religion. One reason that a song can become
extremely popular is that a large number of people can relate to what
is being said and, to me, that is clearly the case with "Dear God."
Very few people have ever started out with unquestioning beliefs.
They've learned their beliefs and, as with any learning, there are
questions along the way. Some can be answered or clarified by reading
more and some are classified as "miracles" requiring "faith" to
continue accepting the story. Regretfully, there is no
www.heaven.com/FAQ to clarify such ponderables. (BUT! If you have one
of those CD-ROMs that list all of the addresses in the U.S., I think
you'll find that "Jesus Christ" is listed in Manhattan Beach,
California!)
<<<<Page down if you've had enough of me! PERSONAL BELIEFS FOLLOW>>
My personal beliefs are that "organized" religions are SPECIFICALLY FOR
the bewildered, confused and/or uncertain. They need some shepherd to
guide them along and a large parish makes them feel that they are not
alone and probably not far off base (similar to an Atari Amiga User's
Group). I believe that each individual has his own interpretation of
what a "god" a religion is and what that means to them. That makes
each "religion" a unique interpretation and therefore there are as many
religions as opinions. So the best that can be had is something like
"Our Lady Of Similar Interpretations."
The Church of Richard says, "Enjoy life, be fair to people, do
something good and have love." ...but, ya know... I don't make it to
mass EVERY Sunday.
Richard "I feel better now" Pedretti-Allen
p.s. Actually... I always thought that the "DG" of "Dear God" was Andy
metaphorically addressing Dave Gregory!
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 4 Jul 1998 19:59:35 -0400 (EDT) From: "Jennifer L. Geese" <jlg@svsu.edu> Subject: XTC book Message-Id: <Pine.OSF.3.96.980704195721.1712A-100000@tardis.svsu.edu> My fellow Chalkhillians, I have bad news. I don't know if this is also redundant news, as I am behind in my reading, but I work for Barnes & Noble bookstore, and when I tried to get the XTC book that was supposed to have been published in June, I was informed that it would not be available until August 5th. I guess if we've waited this long for a new album, we can wait another month for the book! Happy 4th of July! JEn
------------------------------ From: RiknBkr@aol.com Message-ID: <1b4345f7.359f8c58@aol.com> Date: Sun, 5 Jul 1998 10:23:19 EDT Subject: Re:Colin > Arguably, if "Making Plans for Nigel" and "Generals and > Majors" hadn't gotten so much airplay in the early days, we might not have > this list at all because there is a chance the band wouldn't have survived. You're exactly right. Those two songs and the Nigel video were my first exposure to the band in '80-'81. Also, I wrote to XTC back when "Big Express" came out in support of the album and Colin responded with a hand written letter. I must say, I was mightly impressed with his graciousness and taking the time to do that.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19980705150443.17462.qmail@www09.netaddress.usa.net> Date: Sun, 05 Jul 1998 15:04:42 From: Derek Miner <minerwerks@usa.net> Subject: Your Dictionary Todd Bernhardt <tbernhardt@chemonics.com> muses: >I sincerely hope so. I hope the band/management/record label >realize that "Your Dictionary" could be _the_ over-the-top hit >for them. The fact that he spells out naughty words could be >the hook that initially gets it played, but people will ultimately >go for the raw emotion of the song. Anyone out there >knowledgeable enough about FTC regs to comment on the >possibility of "obscene" words being able to get played >on U.S. airwaves because they're spelled out ? Keith Sawyer said: "Well, the Poster Children had a song called "If You See Kay" which didn't raise any hackles ..." ...or any airplay. I would *never* have heard of that song if I hadn't known a friend who liked it. Keith continued: "In reality, the FCC really isn't specific on much of anything. Individual radio stations decide how adventurous they want to get and set their own policy. Many FCC actions stem from listener complaints ... so if a radio station feels their audience won't complain about a certain lyric, they'll program the song. That being said, today's radio stations are extremely cautious. I remember back in the early 80's major rock stations were willing to play songs with curses ... these days they'll get a 'clean' version from the label. So to answer your question: we could debate about whether or not spelled curses make a song obscene, but in reality it doesn't matter because commercial stations are going to err on the side of caution and avoid playing any song that could foster complaints." And the FCC is doing even less these days... ever since they stopped fining stations for playing Howard Stern, I haven't heard much about them doing *anything* in radio. I think they're all too busy debating digital television and the TV airwaves these days. But as far as legality is concerned, spelling out the word "fuck" is absolutely *not* obscenity. Obscenity is a very difficult thing to prove, and consequently the FCC created the concept of "indecency" to cover this kind of thing. Now, ALL radio stations have the legally protected right to broadcast "indecent" material overnight. So if someone had a song that actually *said* "fuck" - ten times even - they could play it between 10pm and 6am and never worry about being fined or losing their license. But here's an even more damning version of Keith's conclusion: Radio stations won't take a chance on XTC's "Your Dictionary," true. They may *say* it's because it might be offensive, but that's bunk. Tons of modern rock stations have risked fines and complaints by playing "Jeremy" by Pearl Jam uncensored during daytime hours (they say "fuck" plain as day). Heck, I've heard it in two markets here in Florda, and we're a conservative state! Now, if XTC had a monster hit this year and tried "Your Dictionary" early next year, you can bet radio would jump on it like crazy and be *defending* their right to spell out "F-U-C-K" on the air!
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #4-104 *******************************
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