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torsdag 2. september 2010
THE DODOLOGIST'S GEEK FOLK FESTIVAL: THE ILLUMINATI POLKA
Folk is more than dreary men with guitars singing dreary songs about dreary subjects. It's also more ... danceable tunes, for instance in a ... germanic style, about subjects of the utmost importance to the future of humanity. Yes, really ...
Anyway, it's Tom Smith again. He had to return, after the overwhelming attention his last performance got.
lørdag 28. august 2010
THE DODOLOGIST'S GEEK FOLK FESTIVAL, THE KICK OFF: TOM SMITH PERFORMS "I HAD A SHOGGOTH"
From the stages of American SF/fantasy/horror-cons, straight to extinction - The Dodologist has the pleasure to kick off The Dodolgist's Geek Folk Festival.
And the obvious man to kick it off is Tom Smith - if for no other reason, then to spread out his contributinons.
I Had A Shoggoth is one of those songs that covers a lot of ground - monsterwise. The real star of the video, though, is the woman (ostensibly?) doing a interpretation for the hard of hearing.
Enjoy!
torsdag 26. august 2010
tirsdag 17. august 2010
SAD SONGS, WEIRD VIDEOS, GREAT LYRICS
Some things ... Some things are just plain weird. Like the lyrics of Glenn Tilbrook's song The Genitalia of a Fool. Or like somebody creating a YouTube video to the song, only using footage of Johnny Depp - which, as far as I can gather from the World Weird Web, likes the music of Tilbrook and Squeeze.
Anyway, try not to watch the video, while you listen to this great example of Very Sad Country Music. You may keep your eyes on the lyrics instead. They are below.
The Genitalia of a Fool
Everybody's got a hobby
Everybody's got a schtick
Please consider me eccentric
Don't think of me as sick
Didn't mean to spoil your party
I didn't mean to be uncool
But I'm standing here holding
The genitalia of a fool
'Cause I thought if I exposed myself
You'd fall in love with me
But when I burst in
To my chagrin
You had company
I'm afraid I've shown your family
the wrong kind of family jewels
'Cause I'm standing here holding
the genitalia of a fool
Well I guess the show is over
so I'll just go on home
I'll pack my prize possession
it's the nicest thing I own
Didn't mean to scare the children
or make your grandma drool
but I'm standing here holding
the genitalia of a fool
And I pray that you'll forgive me
and try to understand
But I'm afraid you'll always picture me
with my whole world in my hands
And I'll go through life just wondering
how fate could be so cruel
Left me standing here holding
the genitalia of a fool
Now I wish that you were holding,
the genitalia of this fool
Anyway, try not to watch the video, while you listen to this great example of Very Sad Country Music. You may keep your eyes on the lyrics instead. They are below.
The Genitalia of a Fool
Everybody's got a hobby
Everybody's got a schtick
Please consider me eccentric
Don't think of me as sick
Didn't mean to spoil your party
I didn't mean to be uncool
But I'm standing here holding
The genitalia of a fool
'Cause I thought if I exposed myself
You'd fall in love with me
But when I burst in
To my chagrin
You had company
I'm afraid I've shown your family
the wrong kind of family jewels
'Cause I'm standing here holding
the genitalia of a fool
Well I guess the show is over
so I'll just go on home
I'll pack my prize possession
it's the nicest thing I own
Didn't mean to scare the children
or make your grandma drool
but I'm standing here holding
the genitalia of a fool
And I pray that you'll forgive me
and try to understand
But I'm afraid you'll always picture me
with my whole world in my hands
And I'll go through life just wondering
how fate could be so cruel
Left me standing here holding
the genitalia of a fool
Now I wish that you were holding,
the genitalia of this fool
torsdag 11. mars 2010
THE LOST BOY
Once upon a time - in 1987 - The Dodologist saw The Lost Boys. Three times. In a week. I'm not saying it made me the vampirologist that I am, but it is no less true because of that.
So the news of Corey Haim's death yesterday was ... well, not a shock, but a reason to be a bit sentimental:
And of course there is Sam's (Haim's that is) most memorable quote:
Lost boy, indeed.
_____
So the news of Corey Haim's death yesterday was ... well, not a shock, but a reason to be a bit sentimental:
And of course there is Sam's (Haim's that is) most memorable quote:
Look at your reflection in the mirror. You're a creature of the night Michael, just like out of a comic book! You're a vampire Michael! My own brother, a goddamn, shit-sucking vampire. You wait 'till mom finds out, buddy!
Lost boy, indeed.
_____
tirsdag 2. mars 2010
torsdag 25. februar 2010
THE NEST IS ROCKING
The pictures may be gothic, but musically it's still soul & funk revival time here at The Dodo's Nest. Right now The Dodologist and The Itsy Bitsy Dodolinga In Pink is rocking to Laura Vane & The Vipertones. It's highly recommended:
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mandag 15. februar 2010
BILLIE DAVIS BONANZA
The Dodologist has a weakness for British female pop singers of the 60s. None more so than Billie Davis. Thus, ladies and gentlemen, a Billie Davis Bonanza:
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mandag 8. februar 2010
GHOSTS OF AUTUMN PAST
Early last autumn I was forced to spend a couple of days at a hotel outside of Oslo (it’s called “work”, I believe). It was, as is to be expected of this work thingy, rather dreadful. But I did get to spend a morning at the beautiful Tyrifjorden, taking lots of pictures (with a tri pod, which was a first).
The soundtrack to that morning was the record Ghosts, by The Triple Tree. Ghosts is a homage to M.R. James, perhaps the greatest writer of horror stories ever.
The Triple Tree is Andrew King and a certain Tony Wakeford, and skadoodling around on YouTube, I came across this fascinating and beautiful video to the song The Ghosts of England:
Here are some of the pictures, by the way (click'em for larger versions):
_____
The soundtrack to that morning was the record Ghosts, by The Triple Tree. Ghosts is a homage to M.R. James, perhaps the greatest writer of horror stories ever.
The Triple Tree is Andrew King and a certain Tony Wakeford, and skadoodling around on YouTube, I came across this fascinating and beautiful video to the song The Ghosts of England:
Here are some of the pictures, by the way (click'em for larger versions):
_____
tirsdag 2. februar 2010
BACK TO BLACK
The Dodologist has been listening to neofolk (with small excursions into neoprog and classical) for more than a month. It’s a great way to make January even bleaker. Nothing like a bit of jolly misanthropy to light up the post yule Norwegian winter.
But it was time for Change, so it's Detroit revival-time here at The Dodo's Nest: Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings. Great fun:
And yes, the recording and video is from 2007. And if the backing band sounds familiar, it might be because they backed a certain heavily tattooed, Jewish dopehead a few years back (to black). You might have heard about her. Beerhouse or something.
_____
But it was time for Change, so it's Detroit revival-time here at The Dodo's Nest: Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings. Great fun:
And yes, the recording and video is from 2007. And if the backing band sounds familiar, it might be because they backed a certain heavily tattooed, Jewish dopehead a few years back (to black). You might have heard about her. Beerhouse or something.
_____
søndag 31. januar 2010
RECOMMENDED: FAUN
The Dodologist is listening to German goth/folk/neofolk/dark wave/neopagan folk/whatever band Faun. And he happens to be of the opinion that more people should do just that. Thus, one of his favourite Faun songs:
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fredag 29. januar 2010
NEOFOLK AND THE PALINGENESIS OF PARANOIA
My friend Lord Bassington-Bassington has published a post on neofolk and politics. As we both love neofolk and hate the fascist scum that is sadly attracted by this glorious music, I agree with both his intentions and analysis.
As Bassy points out, in addition to these creepy crawlers, a second problem is those (mostly on the left) who see fascists everywhere. As the long eared one, I too have spent some time discussing with the Ukranian scholar Anton Shekhovtsov. A frustrating experience, I’m sad to say.
I started writing a comment on the subject, but it morphed into something much longer and finally became a blog post of its own. This blog post. To fully understand what is going on here, you probably should read Lord Bassington-Bassingtons's post first.
I believe the most serious problem with Shekhovtsov’s approach, is his use of Roger Griffin's definition of fascism:
"Fascism is a political ideology whose mythic core in its various permutations is a palingenetic form of populist ultra-nationalism."
Palingenesis in general means rebirth (Christ uses it to describe what will happen on judgment day), though in Griffin’s definition it is restricted to national rebirth.
So according to this definition, fascism is a form of populist ultra-nationalism, which strives for a rebirth of the nation, that is to say a return to a postulated former glory.
I agree with his lordship that the definition has its good sides, as when used to underline the continuity between old fascists and those pathetic developments the go through when renaming what they do silly things like national anarchism.
But it simply isn’t good enough in the long run. For two reasons: Because it is too wide and because it is too narrow.
It is too wide because it includes a lot of people who are not fascists. The longing for national rebirth is hardly original to fascism. It was common to many romantic, nationalist groups in 19th century. It is an idea traceable back at least almost three centuries. It was the core of the neo-druidic groups that grew up around the dream of re-creating the Welsh nation. As it has been the core of every nationalist movement among minorities in Europe since then.
And all of these people were not fascists. Not by far.
That does not mean that I deny that this is an important element of fascism, only that it is not enough to establish a definition of fascism. Which brings me to my second point: The definition is to narrow, because it does not include other criteria that can separate actual fascists from those imagined to be so by Shekhovtsov and his ilk.
Personally I like Michael Mann’s definition: “Fascism is the pursuit of a transcendent and cleansing nation-statism through paramilitarism.”
It is in agreement with Griffin’s on the importance of a transcendental form of nationalism, but adds two fundamental elements: An opinion about the role of the state (totalitarian, militaristic, anti-democratic, führer-led) and about the importance of paramilitary groups.
According to this definition you are not a fascist if you simply dream of national paligenesis. You must also have certain opinions on how this palingenesis is to happen and the role of the state in this rebirth. It is possible that it is this Griffins means by “populist ultra-nationalism”, but that is by no means clear.
So the problem with Shekhovtsov’s approach is not simply that he is way to free with the fascist label, the problem is that he judges people to be fascists based on a definition that at its best is able to tell you that they might be fascists.
My own take on who are fascists and not is rather simper. To quote one of my comments on Shekhovtsov’s blog:
“In my naive view of the world, a fascist is someone who sympathises with fascist politics. They may retreat into metapolitics, but they do so because they see that this is not the best of times for their political opinions. So they keep the flame burning, waiting for the times to change.”
Another problem with Shekhovtsov’s approach is that he tends to call people fascists even without documenting any palingenetic tendencies, not to say any indication of populist ultra-nationalism. Symbols that he imagines to be fascist, combined with a certain nietzschean and/or spenglerian leaning in the lyrics, is more than enough for him.
But the biggest problem with Shekhovtsov’s approach is that he seems more or less unable to view his own position critically. Like His Lordship I have tried arguing with him, and his ability not to answer to concrete critiscisms of his analysis is rather astonishing.
Shekhovtsov is oh so willing to label people fascists, but rather less willing to turn a critical eye on his own analysis. Rather a typical scholar in other words.
_____
As Bassy points out, in addition to these creepy crawlers, a second problem is those (mostly on the left) who see fascists everywhere. As the long eared one, I too have spent some time discussing with the Ukranian scholar Anton Shekhovtsov. A frustrating experience, I’m sad to say.
I started writing a comment on the subject, but it morphed into something much longer and finally became a blog post of its own. This blog post. To fully understand what is going on here, you probably should read Lord Bassington-Bassingtons's post first.
I believe the most serious problem with Shekhovtsov’s approach, is his use of Roger Griffin's definition of fascism:
"Fascism is a political ideology whose mythic core in its various permutations is a palingenetic form of populist ultra-nationalism."
Palingenesis in general means rebirth (Christ uses it to describe what will happen on judgment day), though in Griffin’s definition it is restricted to national rebirth.
So according to this definition, fascism is a form of populist ultra-nationalism, which strives for a rebirth of the nation, that is to say a return to a postulated former glory.
I agree with his lordship that the definition has its good sides, as when used to underline the continuity between old fascists and those pathetic developments the go through when renaming what they do silly things like national anarchism.
But it simply isn’t good enough in the long run. For two reasons: Because it is too wide and because it is too narrow.
It is too wide because it includes a lot of people who are not fascists. The longing for national rebirth is hardly original to fascism. It was common to many romantic, nationalist groups in 19th century. It is an idea traceable back at least almost three centuries. It was the core of the neo-druidic groups that grew up around the dream of re-creating the Welsh nation. As it has been the core of every nationalist movement among minorities in Europe since then.
And all of these people were not fascists. Not by far.
That does not mean that I deny that this is an important element of fascism, only that it is not enough to establish a definition of fascism. Which brings me to my second point: The definition is to narrow, because it does not include other criteria that can separate actual fascists from those imagined to be so by Shekhovtsov and his ilk.
Personally I like Michael Mann’s definition: “Fascism is the pursuit of a transcendent and cleansing nation-statism through paramilitarism.”
It is in agreement with Griffin’s on the importance of a transcendental form of nationalism, but adds two fundamental elements: An opinion about the role of the state (totalitarian, militaristic, anti-democratic, führer-led) and about the importance of paramilitary groups.
According to this definition you are not a fascist if you simply dream of national paligenesis. You must also have certain opinions on how this palingenesis is to happen and the role of the state in this rebirth. It is possible that it is this Griffins means by “populist ultra-nationalism”, but that is by no means clear.
So the problem with Shekhovtsov’s approach is not simply that he is way to free with the fascist label, the problem is that he judges people to be fascists based on a definition that at its best is able to tell you that they might be fascists.
My own take on who are fascists and not is rather simper. To quote one of my comments on Shekhovtsov’s blog:
“In my naive view of the world, a fascist is someone who sympathises with fascist politics. They may retreat into metapolitics, but they do so because they see that this is not the best of times for their political opinions. So they keep the flame burning, waiting for the times to change.”
Another problem with Shekhovtsov’s approach is that he tends to call people fascists even without documenting any palingenetic tendencies, not to say any indication of populist ultra-nationalism. Symbols that he imagines to be fascist, combined with a certain nietzschean and/or spenglerian leaning in the lyrics, is more than enough for him.
But the biggest problem with Shekhovtsov’s approach is that he seems more or less unable to view his own position critically. Like His Lordship I have tried arguing with him, and his ability not to answer to concrete critiscisms of his analysis is rather astonishing.
Shekhovtsov is oh so willing to label people fascists, but rather less willing to turn a critical eye on his own analysis. Rather a typical scholar in other words.
_____
tirsdag 19. januar 2010
MORE EUROBEAT, THE SOUND OF PARA PARA
As I said a post ago, it's really only one version of Ike Ike that counts, the one by Tri-Star. And lo and behold, here it is:
As a bonus, here is a Para Para video with parts of Ganguro, by Franz "Mad Cow" Tornado and the Yamanba-Gals:
Franz Tornado (real name Federico Rimonti) is a personal Eurobeat favourite that shows up in a endles row of different "groups", of which Franz Tornado and the Royal Eurobeat Orchestra of Bazookistan is one of the best (names, that is). The endles changes of band names is a joke, as most of it is really made by a rather small group of people.
Another favourite - and part of the Tornado clan - is Bazooka Girl (real name Cristiana Cucchi). Here is a video with parts of her Velfarre 2000:
And finally, I linked to it yesterday, but the deep and subtle poetry of Bazooka Girl's Cantare Ballare (Happy Eurobeat) simply must be shared again:
Cantare Ballare (Happy Eurobeat)
Suck a Bazooka
No One Sleep In Tokyo
Din Don Dan
Money Go
Night of Fire
Bandolero Comanchero
Boom Boom Girl
Virtual Love
Go Go Dance
Technotronic Flight
Shadow In The Night
Telephone
Try Me
Ike Ike
Dancing In The Jungle
Dancing In The Maharaja Night
Mad Cow
Bazooka Man
Boom Boom Japan
Hot Girl
Deja Vu
O Sole Mio
My Only Star
Don’t Stop The Music
Love Generation
Mad Cow
Bazooka Man
Boom Boom Japan
Hot Girl
Deja Vu
O Sole Mio
My Only Star
Don’t Stop The Music
Love Generation
(Cantare Ballare)
(Cantare Ballare)
My Sweet Banana
Dancing At Twin Star
Milan Milan Milan
Get My Love
Round ‘n’ Round
Hot Love & Emotion
Deltadance.com
Be My Lover
______
As a bonus, here is a Para Para video with parts of Ganguro, by Franz "Mad Cow" Tornado and the Yamanba-Gals:
Franz Tornado (real name Federico Rimonti) is a personal Eurobeat favourite that shows up in a endles row of different "groups", of which Franz Tornado and the Royal Eurobeat Orchestra of Bazookistan is one of the best (names, that is). The endles changes of band names is a joke, as most of it is really made by a rather small group of people.
Another favourite - and part of the Tornado clan - is Bazooka Girl (real name Cristiana Cucchi). Here is a video with parts of her Velfarre 2000:
And finally, I linked to it yesterday, but the deep and subtle poetry of Bazooka Girl's Cantare Ballare (Happy Eurobeat) simply must be shared again:
Cantare Ballare (Happy Eurobeat)
Suck a Bazooka
No One Sleep In Tokyo
Din Don Dan
Money Go
Night of Fire
Bandolero Comanchero
Boom Boom Girl
Virtual Love
Go Go Dance
Technotronic Flight
Shadow In The Night
Telephone
Try Me
Ike Ike
Dancing In The Jungle
Dancing In The Maharaja Night
Mad Cow
Bazooka Man
Boom Boom Japan
Hot Girl
Deja Vu
O Sole Mio
My Only Star
Don’t Stop The Music
Love Generation
Mad Cow
Bazooka Man
Boom Boom Japan
Hot Girl
Deja Vu
O Sole Mio
My Only Star
Don’t Stop The Music
Love Generation
(Cantare Ballare)
(Cantare Ballare)
My Sweet Banana
Dancing At Twin Star
Milan Milan Milan
Get My Love
Round ‘n’ Round
Hot Love & Emotion
Deltadance.com
Be My Lover
______
mandag 18. januar 2010
PARA PARA - AS IT SHOULD SOUND
My friend, the Mad Mullah, has put up an instruction video for Para Para dancing - that subtle and lovely Japanese addition to teen culture. But ... it's without music. That's really utterly pointless. Now this is what Para Para should look - and sound - like:
It's silly. It's embarrassing. It's annoying. And the music is the perfect drug for pointless tasks in the office - when mixed with at least six shots of espresso.
And the best thing, The Very Best Thing, this being music directed at japanese 14 year olds and mostly written by Italians, is of course the lyrics. As some of you may not be fluent in Japanese, here are the English lyrics for Ike Ike (which really should be heard in the Tri-Star version):
Ike Ike
Living night
I need to feel imagination
Yes, all right
I need a rhythm invasion
Sing together "na-na-na-na"
I wanna dance all the night
Oh - oh - oh Oh - oh - oh
Ehy, DJ John Robinson
Make me feel the rhythm and hot desire
In Roppongi Tokyo
Keep me into your heaven
Baby, take me higher
Ikeike
Lucky night, pretty girl
Mini-skirt Ikeike
Hi-heel shoes and then you feel the power
Ikeike, magic nights
And the blue, my baby, will go bye
Uoh-ho
Lovely night
You take me up imagination
In my heart
You bring me up your confusion
When you dance I'm gonna head out
I like to dance eurobeat
Oh - oh - oh Oh - oh - oh
It's great poetry, though not quite as good as the lyrics to Cantare Ballare (Happy Eurobeat). Then again, few things are. That might be a reason for cheerfulness. Then again, maybe not.
(As to the title of this post: This was written listening to Matt Howdens record As They Should Sound. It's not half bad. But it's useless for Para Para.)
_____
It's silly. It's embarrassing. It's annoying. And the music is the perfect drug for pointless tasks in the office - when mixed with at least six shots of espresso.
And the best thing, The Very Best Thing, this being music directed at japanese 14 year olds and mostly written by Italians, is of course the lyrics. As some of you may not be fluent in Japanese, here are the English lyrics for Ike Ike (which really should be heard in the Tri-Star version):
Ike Ike
Living night
I need to feel imagination
Yes, all right
I need a rhythm invasion
Sing together "na-na-na-na"
I wanna dance all the night
Oh - oh - oh Oh - oh - oh
Ehy, DJ John Robinson
Make me feel the rhythm and hot desire
In Roppongi Tokyo
Keep me into your heaven
Baby, take me higher
Ikeike
Lucky night, pretty girl
Mini-skirt Ikeike
Hi-heel shoes and then you feel the power
Ikeike, magic nights
And the blue, my baby, will go bye
Uoh-ho
Lovely night
You take me up imagination
In my heart
You bring me up your confusion
When you dance I'm gonna head out
I like to dance eurobeat
Oh - oh - oh Oh - oh - oh
It's great poetry, though not quite as good as the lyrics to Cantare Ballare (Happy Eurobeat). Then again, few things are. That might be a reason for cheerfulness. Then again, maybe not.
(As to the title of this post: This was written listening to Matt Howdens record As They Should Sound. It's not half bad. But it's useless for Para Para.)
_____
tirsdag 12. januar 2010
A JINGLE IN MY BONES
Just before Christmas, December the 23rd to be precise, I had the pleasure of letting loose on the world the 4th issue of Knokkelklang. Knokkelklang (which is best translated as Jingle Bones) is a blog magazine dedicated to “the marginal, the curious, the horrible and the fantastic” and it’s edited by a dodologist very close to you. Two articles this time are by theverysame dodologist:
The vampire as victim
Or: It’s terribly sad, but I have to kill you. Boo hoo!
Child In Time
Desmond Child & Rouge – the best band you've never heard
Oh, come on, take a peek.
_____
The vampire as victim
Or: It’s terribly sad, but I have to kill you. Boo hoo!
Child In Time
Desmond Child & Rouge – the best band you've never heard
Oh, come on, take a peek.
_____
lørdag 19. desember 2009
MUST BE SANTA, ONCE AGAIN
All this Christmas-stuff is making blogging a tiny bit difficult. Pressed for time and all that stuff.
While we do what we have to do before Santa comes calling, we tend to play Mr. Zimmerman's latest. I've already shared his video to Must Be Santa with you, my dear readers. That song made me search YouTube for more Christmas polka. And I found this, a live version of the same song, by the kings of modern American polka, Brave Combo:
You sort of hear where Dylan got his inspiration ...
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While we do what we have to do before Santa comes calling, we tend to play Mr. Zimmerman's latest. I've already shared his video to Must Be Santa with you, my dear readers. That song made me search YouTube for more Christmas polka. And I found this, a live version of the same song, by the kings of modern American polka, Brave Combo:
You sort of hear where Dylan got his inspiration ...
_____
søndag 13. desember 2009
MUST BE MR. ZIMMERMAN (AND THAT SANTA DUDE)
The Dodologist isn’t among the biggest fans of Robert Allan Zimmerman. He has made some good records, by all means, but as being of his biggest fans means never listening to anything else, The Dodologist limits himself to liking Mr. Zimmerman.
But, as The Dodologist’s wife was very clear that Mr. Zimmerman's Christmas record was destined for The Nest, off His Grumpiness went, ho-ho-ho-ing.
And lo and behold what a good idea that was. It’s playing right now and it’s great fun. Yep, it actually sounds like Mr. Zimmerman is having fun. Now that’s a real surprise for Christmas.
Whatever, here is the man, singing William Fredericks and Hal Moore’s Must Be Santa. Now that’s what we needed: Christmas polka.
_____
But, as The Dodologist’s wife was very clear that Mr. Zimmerman's Christmas record was destined for The Nest, off His Grumpiness went, ho-ho-ho-ing.
And lo and behold what a good idea that was. It’s playing right now and it’s great fun. Yep, it actually sounds like Mr. Zimmerman is having fun. Now that’s a real surprise for Christmas.
Whatever, here is the man, singing William Fredericks and Hal Moore’s Must Be Santa. Now that’s what we needed: Christmas polka.
_____
onsdag 9. desember 2009
ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS ...
Christmas is closing in, and it is time for those familiar sounds that create that very special Christmassy feeling:
Bing Crosby singing White Christmas, Eartha Kitt moaning Santa Baby, a bunch of adorable little boys singing carols in some English church. And of course this tender classic from the Australian folkie Kevin “Bloody” Wilson:
For some reason The Dodologist seems to be the only one who finds this funny …
_____
Bing Crosby singing White Christmas, Eartha Kitt moaning Santa Baby, a bunch of adorable little boys singing carols in some English church. And of course this tender classic from the Australian folkie Kevin “Bloody” Wilson:
For some reason The Dodologist seems to be the only one who finds this funny …
_____
tirsdag 8. desember 2009
THEIR PALL FOOT FOOT
In a comment to my last post, my good friend, themostexellent Lord Bassington-Bassington, reminded me of the once existence of The Shaggs. I haven't heard them in years, so I just had to dig them up on YouTube and share this, their, eh ... best ... sort off ... in a weird sense ... track with you, my dear readers.
As it was the last time I heard it, some ten years ago, it is still fascinating and sort of catchy, in a very, very painful way. Enjoy! The lyrics are below.
If you don't know The Shaggs, read Wikipedias article on them.
My Pal Foot Foot
My pal's name is Foot Foot (Foot Foot)
He always likes to roam
My pal's name is Foot Foot (Foot Foot)
I never find him home
I go to his house
Knock at his door
People come out and say
Foot Foot don't live here no more
My pal Foot Foot (Foot Foot)
Always likes to roam
My pal Foot Foot (Foot Foot)
Now he has no home
Where will Foot Foot go
What will Foot Foot do
Oh, Foot Foot
I wish I could find you
I've looked here, I've looked there
I've looked everywhere
Oh, Foot Foot
Why can't I find you?
Foot Foot, where can you be?
Foot Foot, why won't you answer me?
Foot Foot, Oh Foot Foot
Wherever you are
I want you to come home with me
I don't have time to roam
I have things to do
I have to go home
Oh, Foot Foot, where are you?
If Foot Foot didn't like to roam so well
He would still have a place to dwell
Foot Foot, please answer me
I know where you are
You're behind that tree
Foot Foot, please come to me
Foot Foot, now that you're here
Won't you come home
Foot Foot, promise me this
That you will never again roam
_____
mandag 7. desember 2009
TOMORROW BELONGS TO ... ME?
Irony is difficult stuff – especially if you are really good at it – because people all to easily misunderstand.
Wikipedia defines irony as “… the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite”. In other words: Saying one thing, but meaning the opposite.
Over at Harry’s Place they are making fun of Swedish Neo Nazi folkstress Saga, because she sings the song Tomorrow Belongs To Me – from the musical Cabaret.
Making fun of Saga is always a good thing, not the least because her version of the song is unspeakably dreadful. (Though you’ve got to hand it to her: At least she sings in tune – in itself rather remarkable among Neo Nazi singers, as Prussian Blue time and again has demonstrated.)
For one thing Cabaret was an all out anti Nazi musical, and as such it is rather remarkable that Saga performs the song. For another, as Harrys’s Place enjoys pointing out, Fred Ebb, who wrote the lyrics to Cabaret, was Jewish. And gay. Not the most popular personality traits among Nazis. (So was John Kander, who wrote the music, by the way.)
The point of the song, as someone pointed out in a comment to one of many versions on YouTube, is that bad ideas don’t present themselves as bad ideas. They present themselves as – and more important: are considered by the people who hold them to be – good and noble. The Nazis were a bad lot – because their political ideas where really bad stuff. But they considered themselves brave defenders of nation, volk and family – and surrounded by enemies to on all sides.
As do Saga, Prussian Blue (or at least their mother) and most Neo Nazis of today. And they are right to consider themselves surrounded by enemies. At least we do our very best. Tomorrow do definitely not belong to them.
But the real irony of the story, I guess, is that the man who adopted Tomorrow Belongs To Me as a Neo Nazi hymn, in all probability knew exactly what he was doing. He was the skinmeister himself, Ian Stuart Donaldson of Skrewdriver, who recorded the song for their 1984 album Hail The New Dawn.
A lot can be said about Stuart Donaldson – most of it bad – but he wasn’t stupid. Recording Tomorrow Belongs To Me was an act of sheer arrogance: You may make caricatures of our beliefs, but we’ll adopt them and use them as our own. It was an act of real chutzpah, to use a very, very inappropriate term.
Some people within the Neo Nazi scene know this very well. I believe Joe Owens points it out in his autobiography. (Though I’ll be damned if I’m going to check. Reading it once was enough.) Others though, tend to speak of the song as traditional, as they do with The Green Fields Of France by Eric Bogle, another folkie tune Ian Stuart Donaldson recorded. (So does, by the way, Wikipedia's article on him. Funny that.)
There is probably some moral to this story, but I’m uncertain of what it may be. Except to beware of Nazis, even when they are singing gay Jewish tunes.
Here is the song from the movie version of Cabaret (a dubbed version, though that's hard to notice). And below that are the lyrics.
Tomorrow belongs to me
The sun on the meadow is summery warm
The stag in the forest runs free
But gathered together to greet the storm
Tomorrow belongs to me
Tomorrow belongs to me
The branch on the linden is leafy and green
The Rhine gives it's gold to the sea
But somewhere a glory awaits unseen
Tomorrow belongs to me
Tomorrow belongs to me
The babe in his cradle is closing his eyes
The blossom embraces the bee
But soon says a whisper, arise, arise
Tomorrow belongs to me
Tomorrow belongs to me
Now Fatherland, Fatherland, show us the sign
Your children have waited to see
The morning will come when the world is mine
Tomorrow belongs to me
Tomorrow belongs to me
Tomorrow belongs
Tomorrow belongs
Tomorrow belongs to me!
I don’t link to Nazis, even on YouTube. If you want to hear Saga’s version (and believe me, you don’t) search for it yourselves.
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