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fumanbru
* Dog in the Sand *
Canada
1462 Posts |
 Posted - 10/13/2013 : 03:33:31
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So I just got back from my morning jog. “I Gotta Move” was cranked to 11! See I was jogging while listening to “I Gotta Move” Get it??!! The endorphins are kicking in!
I know this has been done many times before but his lyrics are so brilliant we need to revisit awesome lines in Frank tunes!
“Got coffee
Got donuts
Got wasted
Erased head
And what do they say?”
Brilliant! The song is about Jack Nance who starred in ERASUREHEAD!
http://songmeanings.com/songs/view/47209/
everyone have a fantastic canadian thankgiving weekend eh!!
 "I joined the Cult of Frank/ cause I'm a real go-getter!"...long live snitz!! |
Edited by - fumanbru on 10/16/2013 08:48:37 |
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Jose Jones
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1758 Posts |
Posted - 10/13/2013 : 11:05:00
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i'll admit it- i've never seen Eraserhead. i think it's streaming on hulu plus. i should maybe get on that.
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they were the heroes of old, men of renown. |
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simibaby
= Cult of Ray =
405 Posts |
Posted - 10/13/2013 : 11:47:54
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| I dont think brilliancy is a word. But could be wrong. Will get back to you regarding your penalty. |
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fumanbru
* Dog in the Sand *
Canada
1462 Posts |
Posted - 10/13/2013 : 12:35:11
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That's ridonkulous! Plus Frank makes up words all the time.
"I joined the Cult of Frank/ cause I'm a real go-getter!"...long live snitz!! |
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fumanbru
* Dog in the Sand *
Canada
1462 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2013 : 00:13:37
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”...I put down my blanket on Cigarette Butt Beach
I saw the old man, he was doing OK
He's making his last stand
On old bottles and cans
'Round there, Calistan way
Used to be sixteen lanes
Used to be Nuevo Spain
Used to be Juan Wayne
Used to be Mexico
Used to be Navajo
Used to be yippy-ay-I-don't know
Went in from the weather when I got wheezy
I play some pachinko I play pachisi
And St. Anne is still making it breezy
In the valley of tar that once was L.A.
And my best friend he's the king of karaoke
He struck up a chord and he took it away
Out of the pan
And into Japan
'Round there, Calistan way...”
Yeah baby!!
From the frank back discopedia:
Quotes:
"And through the layers of California, from pre-Navajo (as the Spaniards said) all the way to a time found somewhere between now and Blade Runner."
- Frank Black, from the Teenager press kit.
"My Calistan, playing on the whole 'Stan' suffix, you know, Turkistan, Afghanistan; this is 'california-stan', which sounds a little silly, so Calistan. It sorta takes us into the future sometime between now and bladerunner."
- Frank Black, Glr Radio interview, May 18, 1994
http://www.frankblack.net/songs/default.asp?menu=album&mode=release-song-details&releaseID=102&songID=19
i absolutely love this song. i love the line “Used to be yippy-ay-I-don't know”. only frank can use the word “yippy” and make it sound cool.
"I joined the Cult of Frank/ cause I'm a real go-getter!"...long live snitz!! |
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McDutchie
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
268 Posts |
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fumanbru
* Dog in the Sand *
Canada
1462 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2013 : 18:25:47
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Hadn't seen that before. That's awesome! Thanks McDutchie! Brilliant!
"I joined the Cult of Frank/ cause I'm a real go-getter!"...long live snitz!! |
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shineoftheever
> Teenager of the Year <
Canada
4307 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2013 : 21:59:22
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what about ERASUREHEAD not being a word...
sorry fu. no elbow points intended...
"Do Re Me So Far So Good" |
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fumanbru
* Dog in the Sand *
Canada
1462 Posts |
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fumanbru
* Dog in the Sand *
Canada
1462 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2013 : 02:40:00
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ok so i'm driving to work this morning in my prius and i have calistan cranked! ....i'm pretending i'm in bladerunner... no kidding!! TOTY is on shuffle and the next song that comes on is speedy marie.
"Juxtaposed in each moment's sight"
********SPOILER ALERT*********
i've seriously listened to this song hundreds of thousands of times and this morning the word "juxtaposed" just dawned on me. it's such a cool word but i never realized how it was a clue to the second part of the song.
JUXTAPOSED: to place (different things) together in order to create an interesting effect or to show how they are the same or different.
like you better get ready for the second part of this song baby!!
acrostic! plus shakespearean sonnet!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonnet
http://songmeanings.com/songs/view/3530822107858543913/
BRILLIANT!!
"I joined the Cult of Frank/ cause I'm a real go-getter!"...long live snitz!! |
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hammerhands
* Dog in the Sand *
Canada
1594 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2013 : 07:13:21
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Brilliancy reminds me of a word in the song in the link below.
I have to make this comment, compulsively, because I think it every time
I see this thread title.
I like this guy's lyrics, Rock Plaza Central, The Things That Bind You.
This lamp I use to read, thought it was a guitar for me,
Your silency, felt the guilt rise to my cheek.
This light is a loving light.
http://rockplazacentral.bandcamp.com/track/the-things-that-bind-you
Good, I feel better! |
Edited by - hammerhands on 10/16/2013 07:14:12 |
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fumanbru
* Dog in the Sand *
Canada
1462 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2013 : 08:50:06
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ok i just edited the title thread! RIP brilliancy.
"I joined the Cult of Frank/ cause I'm a real go-getter!"...long live snitz!! |
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billgoodman
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Netherlands
6214 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2013 : 09:32:55
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quote:
Originally posted by fumanbru
So I just got back from my morning jog. “I Gotta Move” was cranked to 11! See I was jogging while listening to “I Gotta Move” Get it??!! The endorphins are kicking in!
I know this has been done many times before but his lyrics are so brilliant we need to revisit awesome lines in Frank tunes!
“Got coffee
Got donuts
Got wasted
Erased head
And what do they say?”
Brilliant! The song is about Jack Nance who starred in ERASUREHEAD!
http://songmeanings.com/songs/view/47209/
everyone have a fantastic canadian thankgiving weekend eh!!
"I joined the Cult of Frank/ cause I'm a real go-getter!"...long live snitz!!
I thought I Gotta Move was also about Peter Radiator who 'got bashed'. Referencing to Peter Ivers who wrote In Heaven: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Ivers
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BF: Mag ik Engels spreken? |
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peter radiator
= Cult of Ray =
USA
653 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2013 : 10:37:25
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The song cleverly conjoins and poetically intermingles the true life stories of Ivers and Nance, both of whom were key figures in the creation of the film Eraserhead and its mythos, and who each came to sad and untimely ends at the hands of despicable characters.
~ Peter Radiator
"Real music is out there and real people are making it." ~ Webb Wilder |
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fumanbru
* Dog in the Sand *
Canada
1462 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2013 : 10:40:27
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BRILLIANT!
"I joined the Cult of Frank/ cause I'm a real go-getter!"...long live snitz!! |
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2013 : 14:40:35
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i always like it when Pete Rad chimes in.
i was going to start a thread about use of alliteration and assonance in Frank songs. maybe those examples can go in here?
 green star member since 2006. smb? |
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fumanbru
* Dog in the Sand *
Canada
1462 Posts |
Posted - 10/17/2013 : 00:09:41
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yes please do floop.
adda lee
"And away
I went away
Cause I wished I was away
I wished I was away
A wishing well
Of well wishing
And Adda waves away
Adda waves away"
"I joined the Cult of Frank/ cause I'm a real go-getter!"...long live snitz!! |
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fumanbru
* Dog in the Sand *
Canada
1462 Posts |
Posted - 10/17/2013 : 02:07:49
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just got back from my morning jog. I HAD THE SWIMMER CRANKED!
love that tune!
"You were so incredible Finding all the edible Prize of the sea Prize of the sea In the wake of his chariot You swam toward the latitudes Leaving for happier times Florida far behind In division pelagic You were choragic Will you never drown?"
thoughts/opinions/theories of what this one is about?
"I joined the Cult of Frank/ cause I'm a real go-getter!"...long live snitz!! |
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Mickey
- FB Fan -
USA
207 Posts |
Posted - 10/17/2013 : 10:25:04
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"in division pelagic you were choragic" = "you were very brave while out at sea"
-Mickey |
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trobrianders
> Teenager of the Year <
Papua New Guinea
3302 Posts |
Posted - 10/17/2013 : 20:28:16
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A quick search gives this. Maybe it means something like you marshalled the resources of the sea. That might be in keeping with the earlier lyric "Finding all the edible prize of the sea"
pelagic division
noun
the biogeographic realm or zone that comprises the open seas and oceans, including water of all depths.
choragus
noun
1a. the leader of a dramatic chorus.
1b. a person who undertook the expense of providing for such a chorus.
2. any conductor of an entertainment or festival.
Related forms
choragic, adjective
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Ed is the hoo hoo |
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fumanbru
* Dog in the Sand *
Canada
1462 Posts |
Posted - 10/17/2013 : 23:08:58
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for the longest time i thought that frank made up "pelagic division" and choragic". these words actually exist! and they mean something!
i was wondering about thoughts on the actual meaning of the song? i have a theory....i'll post later.
this is from the fb discography:
Quotes:
[Question]: Is "The Swimmer" based on actual events or made up?
Frank Black: Actual events of course. The stuff is real man!
- Music Today online chat, January 28, 2001
"I joined the Cult of Frank/ cause I'm a real go-getter!"...long live snitz!! |
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fumanbru
* Dog in the Sand *
Canada
1462 Posts |
Posted - 10/17/2013 : 23:27:12
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in terms of pure songwriting, my opinion is that dog in the sand may be the best album out of frank's entire music catalogue including pixies material.
ok. now to Robert Onion. This if my favorite onion song! The first two lines of the song are great in terms of how they set the song up!
"Robert leads me into thought
Onion layers wait for you"
If that isn't a clue I don't know what is! Get ready to peel back the layers of this song! YEAH BABY!
***********SPOILER ALERT*****************
the acrostic has been discussed many times.
http://songmeanings.com/songs/view/47196/
"Each line's first letter spells out ROBERT THE CASE FOR MARS ZUBRIN.
Robert Zubrin wrote a book called "The Case for Mars" which proposes that humans colonize the red planet.
The actual lyrics of the song seem to express interest in the idea of human travel to Mars. The siren Diana is probably the moon, as Diana is the godess of the moon.
The first words of the last stanza combine to form FOUR THREE TWO ONE. A countdown for launch..."
my favorite part is the last stanza. for, three, to, one.......BLAST OFF!! plus there is another song on the album called "BLAST OFF"!
ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!
"I joined the Cult of Frank/ cause I'm a real go-getter!"...long live snitz!! |
Edited by - fumanbru on 10/17/2013 23:28:52 |
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peter radiator
= Cult of Ray =
USA
653 Posts |
Posted - 10/18/2013 : 09:32:02
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Reading this thread reminded me of an exchange I had with FBF near the end of the last lengthy interview I was fortunate enough to conduct with him.
That was one afternoon in 2006, just a few hours before he kicked off his "Best Of" Tour (backed by EDF, Duane Jarvis and Billy Block) with the first of a couple of opening slots for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers before a lengthy cross-country run of headlining dates.
We had a really lovely and free-flowing conversation, which FBF kindly told me a few weeks later resulted in what he termed a "much more perceptive" article than usually comes from such telephone interviews.
I believe his positive reaction to the piece was due at least partly to the fact that I did my level best to portray our conversation in print exactly as it occurred in real life, without the kind of severe compression of questions and the editing and reorganization of answers that is far too commonplace in newspaper Q&A's of this sort.
The practice of taking journalistic liberties such as those almost always results in misleading articles which are annoying at best and rage-inducing at worst to the person being profiled. (In a recent post on these very forums, FBF spoke openly about dejectedly resigning himself to expecting as much whenever he agrees to such an interview).
It was a treat to speak with him under such circumstances, and to have the opportunity to preserve our conversation for posterity with a bare minimum of edits (for space and clarity only). Hopefully a similar situation will present itself again someday.
For those who may not have seen this particular interview before, here is the relevant section:
Me: You often draw on historical facts and references to religious doctrines and different types of mythologies in your lyrics, and some of your songs seem like these oblique constructions that challenge the patient listener to discover the true meaning of the song. Is it safe to say there’s a certain amount of playful obfuscation on your part when writing songs for a core audience that you know can sometimes obsess over stuff like that?
Frank Black: I believe it’s called a riddle. Yeah. (Laughs) Sure. I riddle.
Me: (Laughs) Do you find yourself coming up with a riddle and then constructing a song around it?
Frank Black: Well, when you’re a riddler, you just riddle. It doesn’t require extra time to riddle. You know? Trying to figure out what rhymes with elephant is a whimsical challenge. The whole process of songwriting as far as I’m concerned, is riddled with... You know... Games.
Me: Have you always felt that way?
Frank Black: Yes, yes, yes, yes. Always felt that way. Always worked that way.
Me: Who are some other artists whose work you might enjoy personally in the same manner that I have described your fans pouring over your own songs for clues and inspiration? Whose songs do you sit and wonder about?
Frank Black: The Beatles.
Me: Any particular songs that you are especially proud of, in terms of how you constructed the riddle, and which to your knowledge, no one has ever solved?
Frank Black: Oh, ahh...
Me: The songs of yours that I enjoy the most seem rather elliptical. They seem to have red herrings thrown in there to knock you off the track. They’re like written math questions which include erroneous or misleading information to confuse the reader. Is that a method that you find yourself applying when writing songs?
Frank Black: Yes.
Me: (Laughs) Well, I appreciate you being patient with me while I linger on this tangent!
Frank Black: No, no. It’s rare that someone would discuss things of this nature with me on this kind of a level. It’s usually like, (adopts a foolish voice) “So, Frank, you know. How do you write your songs?” I guess that’s kind of the same question, isn’t it? But it’s just obvious that they’re not clued in. They’re not even close to being on the same page.
Me: I don’t mean to seem like I’m trying to pry into your methods.
Frank Black: No, it’s cool. I’m egging you on. (Laughs) It’s rare that I would just answer a question with “Yes.” But, if the question is chock full of information, and upon analyzing the question I determine that the best answer would be yes, then I have to go with that. (Laughs)
Me: I have noticed similar refracted songwriting methods in a lot of Elvis Costello’s work, and over the past few years, he’s become much more open, penning liner notes and discussing a lot of the ideas behind his songs. Can you imagine a time when you might be more forthcoming, and perhaps aid people in cracking some of these codes and solving some of these riddles?
Frank Black: Well, the main thing is that most people don’t ask yet. You know, when someone is asking you questions from the angle of, “So Frank, your new album is called blah-bity blah blah blah. Uh, what’s the theme of this record? What’s it all about?” It’s like they don’t just want me to fill in the blanks, but they also want me to decide what the blank is.
Me: It’s like a "Mad Lib" interview. (Laughs)
Frank Black: Yeah! (Laughs) Most people don’t get that specific with their questions. They wanna ask about the Pixies and that whole “Kurt Cobain said ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ was a rip-off of a Pixies song” thing. “How does that make you feel?”
Me: You should tell them that smells like they looked you up on Allmusic.com right before they called! (Laughs)
Frank Black: Exactly. (Laughs)
~ Peter Radiator
"Real music is out there and real people are making it." ~ Webb Wilder |
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Classic Masher
- FB Fan -
146 Posts |
Posted - 10/18/2013 : 17:51:23
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"In a place for to hide,
at an orgy of grooms and brides,
at the scene of the suicides."
"Mixed messages from Sir Naff, please authenticate..." |
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sdon
= Cult of Ray =
France
786 Posts |
Posted - 10/18/2013 : 23:07:16
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silver snail ;)
--
"Aristophanes! (gong sounds)" |
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fumanbru
* Dog in the Sand *
Canada
1462 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2013 : 00:04:38
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Great interview peter. Is there a link out there of the full interview?
quote:
Originally posted by peter radiator
Frank Black: I believe it’s called a riddle. Yeah. (Laughs) Sure. I riddle.
Me: (Laughs) Do you find yourself coming up with a riddle and then constructing a song around it?
Frank Black: Well, when you’re a riddler, you just riddle. It doesn’t require extra time to riddle. You know? Trying to figure out what rhymes with elephant is a whimsical challenge. The whole process of songwriting as far as I’m concerned, is riddled with... You know... Games.
Me: Have you always felt that way?
Frank Black: Yes, yes, yes, yes. Always felt that way. Always worked that way.
I love that part of the interview! So there is a high probability there are more fbf songs that haven't yet been cracked!
I find it surprising that there aren’t more interviews (except for your’s Peter) articles, and reviews that reference his use of acrostics and other games in his songs. Whenever a review mentions his songwriting this is what typically comes up, “His cryptic lyrics mostly explore unconventional subjects, such as surrealism, incest and biblical violence, along with science fiction and surf culture.” True, but make an effort to uncover the layers! This is gold!! I googled frank black pixies acrostics and the main links that come up are from the fb.net forum.
"I joined the Cult of Frank/ cause I'm a real go-getter!"...long live snitz!! |
Edited by - fumanbru on 10/19/2013 00:08:50 |
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fumanbru
* Dog in the Sand *
Canada
1462 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2013 : 00:24:26
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i was just reading some online reviews of dog in the sand.
i love this line from the pitchfork review.
"Often, though, Black's lyrics remain willfully obscure, as Frank eats dictionaries for breakfast."
http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/781-dog-in-the-sand/
"I joined the Cult of Frank/ cause I'm a real go-getter!"...long live snitz!! |
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trobrianders
> Teenager of the Year <
Papua New Guinea
3302 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2013 : 00:38:03
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Oft-referenced Bowie comments on Charles' writing (58sec - 1min42sec), particularly relating to imagination "understanding the affinities of something and have those affinities illuminate a subject" That's really well put.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7VhNjZXALU
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Ed is the hoo hoo |
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fumanbru
* Dog in the Sand *
Canada
1462 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2013 : 00:44:57
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GREAT INTERVIEW! thxs.
"I joined the Cult of Frank/ cause I'm a real go-getter!"...long live snitz!! |
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Stevio10
* Dog in the Sand *
United Kingdom
1118 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2013 : 03:22:56
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Im sure its been said many times before, but Western Star has amazing lyrics.
"I get my freon bingo inside your cool soft sarong
Rolling on the moquette inside a cul-de-sac kampong"
"And now he's headed skyward standing up on piles of plywood
And all he thinks about is how he looks like heroes-period bowie
And his figure blocks the light
And he takes away the night
And he's dancing to the new bolero
You soy un pistolero I'm not shakin' in my boots
I'm ruler of this moon boy so if you move I shoots"
Makes me think of the movie Westworld, if Calistan is a time between now and Blade Runner, Western Star is its post apocalyptic desert wasteland cousin. |
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Classic Masher
- FB Fan -
146 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2013 : 16:37:32
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I knew a guy named Lou
Who had a friend named Kady
And they were made in the shade
Cause they were shady shady shady shady shady
And Kady knows another dude
And that guy is buddies with nobody
He's in love with his truck
The wheels they always seem a little muddy
"Mixed messages from Sir Naff, please authenticate..." |
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peter radiator
= Cult of Ray =
USA
653 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2013 : 07:12:38
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Fumanbru,
Thanks for your kind words.
Here is a link to the original piece, as published online:
http://www.connectsavannah.com/savannah/cover-story-speaking-frankly/Content?oid=2154784
Sorry for the awkward formatting of that website. I quit my job as Entertainment Editor there several years ago in part because of the parent corporation's abysmal online efforts...
A truncated version of the piece also appeared in print (because the paper was limited in the space they could alot for such an article).
Some folks have mentioned that they wished I had gone on to ask FBF about the meanings/inspiration of specific songs.
As I recall, I did attempt that with one of my favorite (and for me at least, most thought provoking) of his tunes, the rather obscure "Living on Soul," but he seemed uninterested in divulging much of anything about its genesis or "meaning."
So, as quickly and politely as he demurred, I quickly and politely moved on (which is why that specific exchange was not included in the final piece).
It was a great surprise to learn that "Living on Soul" featured prominently near the start of most of the sets on the tour he launched later on the same day that we spoke.
I thought it was great that he had thought enough of the song to include it in what was being hyped as a "Best Of" his "solo years" tour (and which did indeed essentially prove to bookend his time as "Frank Black"), and yet adroitly parried my queries about it as though it was a minor work that did not warrant any serious interest or dissection.
I really do adore FBF's work and his unique brand of chutzpah and panache.
~ Peter Radiator
"Real music is out there and real people are making it." ~ Webb Wilder |
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fumanbru
* Dog in the Sand *
Canada
1462 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2013 : 23:43:49
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Superb article! You really hit the mark and I applaud how you word your questions. You should think about writing a book on the man!
Connect Savannah: For those of us for whom your post-Pixies output is at least as important —if not more so— than your work with that band, it’s hard to imagine a world in which there’s no hope of you working with The Catholics again, and specifically under the regimented live-to-2-track tape method that you adhered to with that project. Do you have any interest in ever working with those folks again under similar circumstances, or is that gone forever?
Connect Savannah: I’ve always appreciated the relative unpretentious and self-deprecating way you conduct yourself at your solo shows. It remind me a lot of Jonathan Richman. There’s a high comfortability factor between you, your material and your audience. I think that has a great deal to do with the great affection you fanbase has for you. Are you surprised that more artists at your level don’t react to their own output and fame with what comes across in your case as good natured bemusement?
And Living on Soul is awesome! If you have a take on it I’d love to hear it someday.
http://forum.frankblack.net/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=16983
http://forum.frankblack.net/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17558&SearchTerms=mantra.
"I joined the Cult of Frank/ cause I'm a real go-getter!"...long live snitz!! |
Edited by - fumanbru on 10/21/2013 23:50:37 |
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peter radiator
= Cult of Ray =
USA
653 Posts |
Posted - 10/22/2013 : 05:14:22
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Thanks very much, Fumanbru.
I actually had an idea for a fairly unique FBF-related long-form book a couple of years ago, but talked myself out of attempting it.
Maybe one day I will revisit that notion. However, I have zero interest in creating a commercially available document of that sort without the expressed blessing and input of Charles himself.
Part and parcel of any such effort would be my desire to craft something for posterity which he (and his close associates) could feel truly comfortable having attached -even indirectly- to his estimable body of work.
Hope this makes sense.
~ Peter Radiator
"Real music is out there and real people are making it." ~ Webb Wilder |
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Arm Arm Arm
* Dog in the Sand *
1037 Posts |
Posted - 10/22/2013 : 05:30:21
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Peter Radiator,
I remember reading the original article years ago and thinking it was one of the best interviews with Frank I'd ever come across. You did a great job; it was so refreshing to read someone who knew what they were talking about and asked intelligent questions. I could tell Frank was enjoying the process. Thanks for sharing that bit about Living on Soul. I thnk you'd write a very informative book on Frank's solo work.
cheers |
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Idalgo Clandestino
- FB Fan -
Yugoslavia
104 Posts |
Posted - 10/22/2013 : 06:55:15
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how about:
There was this boy who had two
Children with his sisters
They were his daughters
They were his favourite lovers
?
you probably thought i'm a shy guy |
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awesome lines in frank black/black francis songs
