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song oracle
- FB Fan -
88 Posts |
 Posted - 12/18/2003 : 05:11:20
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Today's random song of the day is (I Wanna Live On An) Abstract Plain.
What do you think of it?
lyrics
I''ve had it with this town
I never saw those shifting skies
I never saw the ground
Or the sunset rise
I want to live on an abstract plain
I''m building a frame
A place to put my ten-yard stare
Thinking of that paint
Painted in plein-air
I want to live on an abstract plain
I need a new adress
I want some new terrain
Is it North or South?
I want to live on an abstract plain
I could sit on the roof
On top of that abstract house
See my abstract view
An abstract mouse
I want to live on an abstract plain
I need a new address
Tell me I''m not insane
Is it up or down?
I want to live on an abstract plain
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Frog in the Sand
-+ Le premiere frog +-
France
2715 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2003 : 05:26:31
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A perfect song. I fell in love with it as soon as I heard it. Ten years later it's still one of my favorite FB songs.
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benji
> Teenager of the Year <
New Zealand
3426 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2003 : 06:11:51
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yeah gotta agree...
one of his finest.
instantly catchy, but it doesn't loose its appeal with repeated listens like so many "catchy" songs do...
holds together under closer scrutiny. |
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Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11687 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2003 : 06:17:07
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If you had to pick one song to epitomize FB, this might be it...
 "Join the Cult of Frank / And you'll be enlightened" |
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andyn
- FB Fan -
United Kingdom
169 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2003 : 06:33:25
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| Tremendous song, always great to hear it. By the way, what's "plein-air"? |
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ramona
"FB Quote Mistress"
USA
3988 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2003 : 06:58:27
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| I agree about this song epitomizing Frank. It really seems like a glimpse into his brain (not that all his songs aren't in SOME way but...). |
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STITCHES
= Cult of Ray =
USA
915 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2003 : 07:11:31
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a great song from a great album (my favorite solo frank by far)
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MAMASAYMAMASAMAMACOOSA |
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bedrock_barney
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
871 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2003 : 07:47:52
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Yep, this and the rest of TOTY puts him on a songwriting pedestal way beyond the reach of most bands/singers.
 "Join the Cult of the Theremin / It's Velouriatastic!!" |
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STITCHES
= Cult of Ray =
USA
915 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2003 : 07:49:39
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except maybe nsync......
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MAMASAYMAMASAMAMACOOSA |
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mereubu
= FB QuizMistress =
USA
2677 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2003 : 07:53:29
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quote:
Originally posted by andyn
Tremendous song, always great to hear it. By the way, what's "plein-air"?
Plein-air refers to landscape paintings produced out-of-doors--painting in "open air." Very big in the 19th century but certainly still practiced today.
I never tire of this song. It's so visual--shifting skies, abstract houses (abstract mouses.) It may be my favorite.
"I joined the Cult of Frank / And all I got was this lousy icon" |
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STITCHES
= Cult of Ray =
USA
915 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2003 : 07:55:22
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all this time I thought it was "painted in plain air"...which is a slightly more surreal lyric
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MAMASAYMAMASAMAMACOOSA |
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ivandivel
= Cult of Ray =
394 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2003 : 07:57:22
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| Agree with all. One of my absolute favorites. |
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BLT
> Teenager of the Year <
South Sandwich Islands
4204 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2003 : 08:35:45
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Fantastic song! It's one of my favorites (one out of about 13 or 14 on TOTY).
 "Join the Cult of Dustin / And vanish without a trace" |
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Adnan_le_Terrible
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1973 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2003 : 08:45:57
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I don't know if it really epitomizes FB but it certainly is a good example of FB humour in songs.
By the way, I really see this song as an answer to "Los Angeles".
 "I met a man/ he was a good man" |
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Adnan_le_Terrible
* Dog in the Sand *
France
1973 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2003 : 08:47:43
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By the way, the live version is great.
"I met a man/ he was a good man" |
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jonathan
- FB Fan -
United Kingdom
114 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2003 : 08:50:39
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quote:
Originally posted by STITCHES
all this time I thought it was "painted in plain air"...which is a slightly more surreal lyric
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MAMASAYMAMASAMAMACOOSA
It's actually painted en plein air I believe (or Frank's French is a lot worse than his Spannish) |
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JoobJoobbird
- FB Fan -
United Kingdom
10 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2003 : 08:56:49
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I've heard a live acoustic version performed on a French radio station. Tres cool...
"I joined the Cult of Frank/And now I can never go home"
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JoobJoobbird
- FB Fan -
United Kingdom
10 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2003 : 08:57:27
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I've heard a live acoustic version performed on a French radio station. Tres cool...
"I joined the Cult of Frank/And now I can never go home"
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STITCHES
= Cult of Ray =
USA
915 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2003 : 09:01:14
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quote:
Originally posted by jonathan
quote:
Originally posted by STITCHES
all this time I thought it was "painted in plain air"...which is a slightly more surreal lyric
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MAMASAYMAMASAMAMACOOSA
It's actually painted en plein air I believe (or Frank's French is a lot worse than his Spannish)
yeah, I was responding to some earlier stuff on this thread about what that meant.....
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MAMASAYMAMASAMAMACOOSA |
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Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11687 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2003 : 09:17:37
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Here's why I think this song epitomizes FB:
1) Non-standard structure, musically.
2) Intro/outro which are awesome and could be a completely different song but totally fit.
3) Awesome lyrics - I sometimes think of this song as being about his own lyrics and how they generally are so abstract in themselves.
4) Moving/relocating theme, so recurrent in FB's life (and lyrics). Poor guy's been moving around since before he could walk. When I'm not thinking that this song is about his lyrics, I'm thinking about how it sort of suggests that he wants to move somewhere that doesn't exist - and I guess that means that he'll always be moving and looking for it.
5) Defies genrification and could have belonged on most of his records seamlessly: Orange, TOTY, Cult of Ray (put it after or replace Adventure/Resolution), DITS, BLD, and SMYT. Brown / Pistolero are a little raw for it.
It seems to encapsulate his life and his music fairly well... plus I just love this song.
"Join the Cult of Frank / And you'll be enlightened" |
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apl4eris
~ Abstract Brain ~
USA
4800 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2003 : 10:44:23
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quote:
Originally posted by STITCHES
quote:
Originally posted by jonathan
quote:
Originally posted by STITCHES
all this time I thought it was "painted in plain air"...which is a slightly more surreal lyric
It's actually painted en plein air I believe (or Frank's French is a lot worse than his Spannish)
yeah, I was responding to some earlier stuff on this thread about what that meant.....
I always thought it was both - a brilliant play on words, like "I'm building a frame, A place to put my ten-yard stare" is also abstracted, and could be about an artist's easel, and the artist's gaze, and also about building mental structures and perspectives. Whether I'm cuckoo or not, I dunno, but I usually see several meanings in many of his lyrics, and that's most of his appeal for me, besides the fact that the music cashes the checks his lyrics write, huzzah!
This is one of my favorite FB songs, by far.
 Swedish Chef's "Dumpling of Wisdom": Øder tis moodle in der noggin tu smacken der ouchey und vinger-slingers ur to smacken-backen und fix de morkin, yøobetcha! |
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STITCHES
= Cult of Ray =
USA
915 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2003 : 10:53:37
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quote:
Originally posted by apl4eris
besides the fact that the music cashes the checks his lyrics write, huzzah!
that's such a great phrase, apl....and so true
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MAMASAYMAMASAMAMACOOSA |
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Jayhawk
- FB Fan -
80 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2003 : 10:57:42
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| Great tune. Saw him open a show with this song once. |
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STITCHES
= Cult of Ray =
USA
915 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2003 : 11:23:16
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the two times I saw him play he didn't play much from TOTY....at least not enough to satisfy me
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MAMASAYMAMASAMAMACOOSA |
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El Barto
= Song DB Master =
USA
4020 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2003 : 15:11:17
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This song is a perfect example of why Frank's voice is kick-ass. Try singing it youself...try it.
 "I joined the Cult of Clops / If I were you, I'd sleep with one eye open." |
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STITCHES
= Cult of Ray =
USA
915 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2003 : 15:13:01
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actually, I do....all the time
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MAMASAYMAMASAMAMACOOSA |
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Jason
* Dog in the Sand *
1446 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2003 : 16:00:09
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The version of this song played at the famous, MP3'd Madison, WI show from 2000 (where a bunch of then-unreleased Dog in the Sand tunes were played) is so great and draining. The accents in the line "I want to live on an abstract plain" are slightly different than the familiar recorded version.
"I need a new address - whOOOOoaa! Tell me I'm NOT INsane" |
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bumblebeeboy2
> Teenager of the Year <
United Kingdom
2638 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2003 : 16:59:16
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is it north or south?!
fantastic song. never really grabbed me when listening to TOTY, but whenever i hear it on its own i'm like "wow, that's a good song, sounds great"
~~~
I'm flat out, you're so beautiful to look at when you cry. Freeze, don't move, you've been chosen as an extra in the movie adaptation of the sequal to your life. Shady Lane, everybody wants one, Shady Lane, everybody needs one. |
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George42
- FB Fan -
USA
188 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2003 : 17:48:41
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great song. 'Frog in the Sand' said it perfectly. i too fell in love with the song right when i heard it. its sooo good !
it is top 5 for me |
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anazgnos
= Cult of Ray =
USA
383 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2003 : 18:04:28
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quote:
Originally posted by STITCHES
the two times I saw him play he didn't play much from TOTY....at least not enough to satisfy me
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MAMASAYMAMASAMAMACOOSA
dig it: Galaxy Theatre, 3/7/98, opening salvo:
Don't Ya Rile 'Em
Whatever Happened to Pong
Thalassocracy
(I Want to Live on an) Abstract Plain
Calistan...
As far as amazing vocals go, the version of IWTLOAAP on the 12/1/03 show (on hearitagain) is amazing...Frank was in incredible voice that night.
 "join the Cult of the Triforium / If we form a circle round it / in our white robes / God will surely play for us / the authentic Celestial Music / at last" |
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pinkashtray
- FB Fan -
USA
96 Posts |
Posted - 12/19/2003 : 00:27:24
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toty was the first fb album i heard..this song is the first one i fell in love with..i would play it over and over and over. I can still listen to it 20 times in the same hour.
great song!
cults are gay |
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Apesy
= Cult of Ray =
USA
411 Posts |
Posted - 12/19/2003 : 01:48:40
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Could someone put up a Catholics' version of the song?
-=Apesy |
Edited by - Apesy on 12/19/2003 01:49:19 |
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STITCHES
= Cult of Ray =
USA
915 Posts |
Posted - 12/19/2003 : 06:11:00
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quote:
Originally posted by anazgnos
quote:
Originally posted by STITCHES
the two times I saw him play he didn't play much from TOTY....at least not enough to satisfy me
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MAMASAYMAMASAMAMACOOSA
dig it: Galaxy Theatre, 3/7/98, opening salvo:
Don't Ya Rile 'Em
Whatever Happened to Pong
Thalassocracy
(I Want to Live on an) Abstract Plain
Calistan...
As far as amazing vocals go, the version of IWTLOAAP on the 12/1/03 show (on hearitagain) is amazing...Frank was in incredible voice that night.
I envy you so much
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MAMASAYMAMASAMAMACOOSA |
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IceCream
= Quote Accumulator =
USA
1850 Posts |
Posted - 12/25/2003 : 21:20:14
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| Reminds me of Tom Petty...He should perform this song. |
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IceCream
= Quote Accumulator =
USA
1850 Posts |
Posted - 01/17/2004 : 10:40:48
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| I have trouble deleting replies. My computer is not working properly. |
Edited by - IceCream on 01/17/2004 10:54:42 |
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IceCream
= Quote Accumulator =
USA
1850 Posts |
Posted - 01/17/2004 : 10:50:51
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quote:
If you had to pick one song to epitomize FB, this might be it...
"Los Angeles" is a good choice, too. Hard-rocking like some of the COR songs during the middle, folky like some "Dog Gone" kind of thing at the beginning, and so densely layered and dreamy at the end...It's got one of those classic FB melodies that I love to sing to myself over and over and over again for comfort whenever I chop down a Christmas tree or some other labor. And it has an odd meter: something like 5 measures of 4/4 and then one of 2/4 or something (forgive me if I'm wrong). Many FB melodies are catch like that (i.e. Robert Onion, This Old Heartache, Two Reelers; I can easily say that I've sung those with a lot of passion for hours and it's not easy to get out of the head) And it's densely layered with dreamy keyboards and vocals that just sweep me away and leave me enthralled to bathe in its ambience and bask in its essence. And the lyrics are 100% FB.
But the real reason I responded to this thread was to say that I got this song in my head today and I couldn't get it out. Amazing how FB can be so musically original and yet so undeniably catchy. |
Edited by - IceCream on 01/17/2004 10:53:48 |
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