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 Who is the Selkie Bride?
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Stevio10
* Dog in the Sand *

United Kingdom
1122 Posts

Posted - 10/10/2024 :  14:22:16  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I've often wondered who the Selkie Bride is.

The song began, apparently, in the Catholics days (Jean Marie Walsh), before the Pixies reunion and prior to Honeycomb.

But it was officially released on Honeycomb (Violet Clarke era).

Then it turns up in St Nazaire - smells like spliff and Armagnac...(Kim Deal?)

So who do you think it is about?

billgoodman
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<

Netherlands
6223 Posts

Posted - 10/10/2024 :  17:33:15  Show Profile  Click to see billgoodman's MSN Messenger address  Reply with Quote
Absolutely 100 percent Violet if it's about a real life person anyway

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BF: Mag ik Engels spreken?

Edited by - billgoodman on 10/10/2024 17:34:12
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Stevio10
* Dog in the Sand *

United Kingdom
1122 Posts

Posted - 10/11/2024 :  01:37:13  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Quotes:
"I've been trying to record it for years, tweaking the lyrics and doing whatever I could to make it feel right. Then at some point I read some of the words to my therapist, and she pointed out that they actually applied to events and people in my own life. It was only when I viewed the song from a more personal perspective that it made sense to me and I was able to finish it."
- Frank on recording Honeycomb - Night Times. 12/06/2005

"Even Selkie Bride which was a song about the mythical creature. I started writing it a few years ago and it wasn't a personal song. I was never quite happy with it and I brought it up to my therapist, read the lyric to her, and she said, 'Well, OK, here's what's going on...you know who the Selkie Bride is, don't you?' And then she said, 'Now that you realise who the song is about, I think you can finish it.' And she was right!
- Frank Black interview - Comes With A Smile. Autumn 2005


If it's about Violet then there's a slight disconnect as at that time why would he be so sad about her return when their relationship was relatively new.

Jean Marie, yeah it seems likely, it was around that time they divorced. But as sad as it was (show me your tears, 13 salty tears etc) they could go on to do Strange Goodbye.

Kim Deal, it was around the time of the Pixies reunion. 'If you return I'll be the saddest man' - maybe being around Kim again would evoke some previously held emotions - there were always rumours about their relationship.

Or maybe someone else altogether. I'm just theorising, not intending to stir anything - just curious as to who the Selkie Bride is.
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billgoodman
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<

Netherlands
6223 Posts

Posted - 10/11/2024 :  08:00:16  Show Profile  Click to see billgoodman's MSN Messenger address  Reply with Quote
He went down on the Selkie Bride, I always thought that was a nod to When I Go Down On You


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BF: Mag ik Engels spreken?
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Jamie
- FB Fan -

USA
111 Posts

Posted - 10/11/2024 :  13:33:33  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
My guess is he's using the Selkie Bride as a metaphor for trying to hold on to a doomed marriage, and the songs aren't directly connected beyond that. So Selkie Bride is about Jean, and St. Nazaire is about Violet.
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yarbles
= Cult of Ray =

USA
635 Posts

Posted - 10/14/2024 :  10:21:59  Show Profile  Visit yarbles's Homepage  Reply with Quote
I assumed it was about Violet, but I like Jamie's point that it's a metaphor for a doomed marriage. So that works with the song selkie Bride being about Jean and St. Nazaire about Violet.

I never assumed it was about Kim Deal.... I don't think any songs are about her. I know fans are fixated on Kim and that her departure must've plagued poor Charles... but honestly I think Charles isn't interested in writing songs about Kim. He's not fixated on her like some fans are.
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Troubles A Foot
= Cult of Ray =

USA
962 Posts

Posted - 10/14/2024 :  11:16:18  Show Profile  Visit Troubles A Foot's Homepage  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by yarbles
I never assumed it was about Kim Deal.... I don't think any songs are about her. I know fans are fixated on Kim and that her departure must've plagued poor Charles... but honestly I think Charles isn't interested in writing songs about Kim. He's not fixated on her like some fans are.




Songs about Kim, Frank has either confirmed, hinted at, or I genuinely can't remember where I heard that about it, but:

Blown Away
You Ain't Me
You Can't Crucify Yourself
If Your Poison Gets You
All I Think About Now


And I'd imagine some others.
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Bedbug
> Teenager of the Year <

3164 Posts

Posted - 10/14/2024 :  12:18:24  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Others I've heard or theorized are Alabaster and Who's More Sorry Now

But I guess every song and not one single song could be made / not made to be about her
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billgoodman
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<

Netherlands
6223 Posts

Posted - 10/14/2024 :  12:40:41  Show Profile  Click to see billgoodman's MSN Messenger address  Reply with Quote
Alabaster is the only one that I really feel is about her
All I Think About Now too, of course

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BF: Mag ik Engels spreken?
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Troubles A Foot
= Cult of Ray =

USA
962 Posts

Posted - 10/14/2024 :  15:45:43  Show Profile  Visit Troubles A Foot's Homepage  Reply with Quote
I totally forgot Who's More Sorry Now. Absolutely. I'd bet my hat on it!

Never thought about Alabaster or those lyrics. Let's see...

She tried to dance to super slow ball
She ended up in limbo solo


About Cannonball!?!?

Any idea what the idea behind the song is?
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The Maharal
= Cult of Ray =

996 Posts

Posted - 10/16/2024 :  11:47:03  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by yarbles

I assumed it was about Violet, but I like Jamie's point that it's a metaphor for a doomed marriage. So that works with the song selkie Bride being about Jean and St. Nazaire about Violet.

I never assumed it was about Kim Deal.... I don't think any songs are about her. I know fans are fixated on Kim and that her departure must've plagued poor Charles... but honestly I think Charles isn't interested in writing songs about Kim. He's not fixated on her like some fans are.



He admitted It's Aint Me is about Kim. Went searching for the quote but the bloody link doesn't work anymore. http://www.berubecommunications.com/html/frankblack.html - that was a great article where he went through each of his albums.
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Active Duck
~ Abstract Brain ~

United Kingdom
435 Posts

Posted - 10/17/2024 :  02:01:07  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Thanks Maharal. Nice article! Hadn't seen it before.

You might need to copy and paste the whole thing because this forum thinks it's two separate links but this internet archive link should work...

http://web.archive.org/web/20160801004452/http://www.berubecommunications.com/html/frankblack.html
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The Holiday Son
= Quote Accumulator =

France
2010 Posts

Posted - 10/18/2024 :  03:03:40  Show Profile  Visit The Holiday Son's Homepage  Reply with Quote
I didn't remember this one. This should go straight up in the Discopedia :
quote:
"I really like You Ain’t Me – the inspiration was, frankly, probably a little bit about a former band member [laughs] … I write it around the time of her big hit maybe I was feeling quite cult-ish – no pun intended. It was a combination of being in a more cult-ish place and growing weary of the music business and all the hands I had to shake. Not that I had to compromise the music, but starting with the Pixies there were all these worries about getting to the next level of success, trying to make expensive videos: ‘You gotta get on MTV, you gotta get on the radio’ … I never got into the business for that.


Any source for :
Blown Away
You Can't Crucify Yourself
If Your Poison Gets You
?
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Troubles A Foot
= Cult of Ray =

USA
962 Posts

Posted - 10/18/2024 :  17:43:02  Show Profile  Visit Troubles A Foot's Homepage  Reply with Quote
quote:


Any source for :
Blown Away




Yes, the Pixies 33 & 1/3rd book. Frank says he wanted alone time during a Pixies tour and Kim followed him around and he was pissed off about it and she was in the hotel room right next to him and he wrote Blown Away that night.
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The Holiday Son
= Quote Accumulator =

France
2010 Posts

Posted - 10/20/2024 :  05:20:33  Show Profile  Visit The Holiday Son's Homepage  Reply with Quote
Thanks.
I haven't read the book. Is it worth it overall ?
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Troubles A Foot
= Cult of Ray =

USA
962 Posts

Posted - 10/20/2024 :  17:21:22  Show Profile  Visit Troubles A Foot's Homepage  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by The Holiday Son

Thanks.
I haven't read the book. Is it worth it overall ?




It's fantastic. I obviously already liked Doolittle, but it made me appreciate it even more.
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Troubles A Foot
= Cult of Ray =

USA
962 Posts

Posted - 10/25/2024 :  06:49:17  Show Profile  Visit Troubles A Foot's Homepage  Reply with Quote
Been listening to The Breeders all week on many car trips I've had to take for work.

Kim songs I'm PRETTY DAMN SURE are about Frank, somewhat blatantly:

I Just Wanna Get Along:

We were rich once before your head exploded
Imagine doing just what the big bang did
The whole world knew it was loaded
Wave bye-bye 'cause it ain't ever coming down now
....
If you're so special, why aren't you dead?



So Sad About Us

So sad about us
Sad that the music's stopped now
Sad that we can't go back now
Sad about us

So bad about us
So bad about us
Bad never meant to break up
Bad, suppose we'll never make up
Bad about us



Walk It Off (she's writing this in Loud/Quiet/Loud on the Pixies tour bus.)

Now the singer gets laid
And the drummer gets paid
I wait for mercury to fall
Nobody's allowed to fight
'Til the band starts playin' tonight
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The Holiday Son
= Quote Accumulator =

France
2010 Posts

Posted - 10/25/2024 :  07:28:44  Show Profile  Visit The Holiday Son's Homepage  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Troubles A Foot

Kim songs I'm PRETTY DAMN SURE are about Frank, somewhat blatantly:

I Just Wanna Get Along:

We were rich once before your head exploded
Imagine doing just what the big bang did
The whole world knew it was loaded
Wave bye-bye 'cause it ain't ever coming down now
....
If you're so special, why aren't you dead?


Glad you bring this up.
I was gonna ask if Kim ever admitted that IJWGA is about him ?
I always thought that Kelley singing the song was an obvious clue (I mean appart from the lyrics !)
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billgoodman
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<

Netherlands
6223 Posts

Posted - 10/25/2024 :  09:58:40  Show Profile  Click to see billgoodman's MSN Messenger address  Reply with Quote
I just wanna get along:
She wrote it for Pod I believe
Was on a demo back then

So Sad About us is a The Who-song

Walk it off is probably about the band yes

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BF: Mag ik Engels spreken?
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Stevio10
* Dog in the Sand *

United Kingdom
1122 Posts

Posted - 10/25/2024 :  12:04:16  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by The Holiday Son

quote:
Originally posted by Troubles A Foot

Kim songs I'm PRETTY DAMN SURE are about Frank, somewhat blatantly:

I Just Wanna Get Along:

We were rich once before your head exploded
Imagine doing just what the big bang did
The whole world knew it was loaded
Wave bye-bye 'cause it ain't ever coming down now
....
If you're so special, why aren't you dead?


Glad you bring this up.
I was gonna ask if Kim ever admitted that IJWGA is about him ?
I always thought that Kelley singing the song was an obvious clue (I mean appart from the lyrics !)



Wait, is this one of those whodunnit plot twists where the twins swap places? Kelly Deal is the Selkie Bride?! Omg...I jest of course! ;)

Edited by - Stevio10 on 10/25/2024 12:04:52
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Troubles A Foot
= Cult of Ray =

USA
962 Posts

Posted - 10/26/2024 :  11:01:17  Show Profile  Visit Troubles A Foot's Homepage  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by billgoodman
So Sad About us is a The Who-song




But.

Kim changed a crucial lyric in the cover.

The Who: "Sad that the news is out now"

Kim: "Sad that the music's stopped now"
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billgoodman
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<

Netherlands
6223 Posts

Posted - 10/26/2024 :  14:05:24  Show Profile  Click to see billgoodman's MSN Messenger address  Reply with Quote
Ah good call
Safari EP was before or after the break up?

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BF: Mag ik Engels spreken?
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Troubles A Foot
= Cult of Ray =

USA
962 Posts

Posted - 11/03/2024 :  20:16:44  Show Profile  Visit Troubles A Foot's Homepage  Reply with Quote
So, Motoroller. "We tried to play it on the saxophone"

Anyone know what that's about? Is it an oblique reference to attempting a new album in the studio with Kim, only to have her realize this wasn't for her?
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billgoodman
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<

Netherlands
6223 Posts

Posted - 11/05/2024 :  03:29:45  Show Profile  Click to see billgoodman's MSN Messenger address  Reply with Quote
Maybe that part is about the Two Pale boys trying to fill in for Kim on the second disc of Frank Black Francis.


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BF: Mag ik Engels spreken?
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Joey Joe Jo Jr. Chabadoo
* Dog in the Sand *

1079 Posts

Posted - 11/05/2024 :  06:50:50  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by billgoodman

Maybe that part is about the Two Pale boys trying to fill in for Kim on the second disc of Frank Black Francis.


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BF: Mag ik Engels spreken?



No, because Andy Diagram plays the trumpet, not the saxophone...

++++
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billgoodman
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<

Netherlands
6223 Posts

Posted - 11/05/2024 :  09:01:58  Show Profile  Click to see billgoodman's MSN Messenger address  Reply with Quote
Damn! Ok, maybe about The Snake?

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Troubles A Foot
= Cult of Ray =

USA
962 Posts

Posted - 11/05/2024 :  11:44:02  Show Profile  Visit Troubles A Foot's Homepage  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by billgoodman

Damn! Ok, maybe about The Snake?



But the song is about Pixies and Kim Deal.
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billgoodman
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<

Netherlands
6223 Posts

Posted - 11/05/2024 :  21:40:45  Show Profile  Click to see billgoodman's MSN Messenger address  Reply with Quote
Then it's about masturbation going wrong

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Stevio10
* Dog in the Sand *

United Kingdom
1122 Posts

Posted - 11/07/2024 :  13:43:46  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Troubles A Foot

So, Motoroller. "We tried to play it on the saxophone"

Anyone know what that's about? Is it an oblique reference to attempting a new album in the studio with Kim, only to have her realize this wasn't for her?



I can't imagine it literally trying new material on the saxophone. However, it is often called the devil's instrument - to play it is to 'dance with the devil'. Maybe it was their attempt to attempt but it just didn't work, the curse of the saxophone - that shit was blown.

Plus the saxophone was banned in Nazi Germany - perhaps a link to Berlin in the song.

https://www.euroarts.com/tv-license/6703-devils-horn#:~:text=The%20saxophone%20has%20always%20been,and%20some%20even%20claim%20that

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-25/saxophone-history-of-musical-instrument-brutal-and-beautiful/11960922
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