We have all met that person at some point in our life. They appear like a god or goddess and we end up completely enamoured with them, but then something unexpected happens. They open their mouths and your realized they are shallow, materialistic, cruel, and not at all what they appeared to be at first impression. Unfortunately, it’s too late, we are trapped. Stuck in a toxic and often one-sided relationship with no way to get ourselves out.
I’ve missed Song Lyric Sunday the last couple of weeks, but I am back. This week Jim at A Unique Title for Me asks us to feature a song that deals with the concepts of appearance, image, likeness, object, picture, or photograph. While the song I have chosen does not specifically mention any of these terms the song is all about the appearance and image a person projects.
The Northern Pikes are a Canadian rock outfit hailing from the prairie town of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The band includes Jay Semko, Bryan Potvin, Merl Bryck, and Don Schmid. Although they still perform and record the period from 1987 through 1993 was the band’s heyday with songs like ‘Teenland‘, ‘Things I Do for Money‘, ‘Girl With a Problem‘, ‘Believe‘, and this week’s song choice ‘She Ain’t Pretty‘.
The following is in response to Fandango’s Provocative Question #166. The prompt is: Do you feel that President Biden’s plea to take action and to do something to stem the rising tide of gun violence in America have any impact? Or will lawmakers at both the federal and state levels do nothing more than offer their useless “thoughts and prayers,” which is all they ever do?
Content Warning: Offensive Language
Same Shit, Different Day
Ten days, 21 more lives, 19 of them ten-year-old children. The same old news with different names, different faces, and subtly different storylines. The one thing they all have in common is the same all too familiar outcome.
Unfortunately Fandango, I don’t believe Biden’s call for action will have any effect on Federal and State politicians, the NRA, individual gun owners, and most everyday Americans. These types of pleas have fallen on stone deaf ears in the past and there are no signs that America’s views on guns are any different now than in the past.
I have already heard from family and friends in the United States and in particular, Texas that don’t believe gun control is the solution. Instead, they believe training and arming teachers to carry in school is the answer. It appears the best option is to shoot our way out of these messes.
Hell, I suggest we not stop there, empty the entire gas can on the dumpster fire. Let the elementary kids carry too, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday they should take several hours out of science, math, and literature (but not religion) classes and learn how to shoot stuff (or each other.) If that sounds ridiculous, it’s because it absolutely is ridiculous. If you are reading this and it doesn’t sound absurd to you then let me spell it out…
The following is in response to Fandango’s Provocative Question #165. The prompt is: How do you feel about what is going on in the United States in regard to racism? Do you see any way of reconciling the concepts of White Replacement Theory and Critical Race Theory?
The Human Race
I identify as human, yes I have skin that categorizes me as Caucasian, my recent ancestors are of European descent and can be traced back to England, Ireland and France. That is how others identify me but I am human, we are all human.
As an outsider, I see the American race dilemma as an observer. I have a sister who moved and married in Texas and although I would not call her racist she and her family certainly represent conservative white America. From what I see that Trump supporting rabid white right is a scary place right now. Not from external threats but from within. Seemingly bright, educated people who have lost all perspective on reality.
Canada is not without our own racial discourse. Our treatment of Japanese Canadians during World War II and two centuries of oppression against aboriginal populations have been appalling.
It’s said that shoes can change your outlook on life. Take a bad day and make it good. This week Jim at A Unique Title for Me has ask that we find songs that are about or mentions Socks, Shoes, Boots and/or Feet for Song Lyric Sunday.
This week I am highlighting a track by Scottish singer, songwriter and musician Paolo Giovanni Nutini. Nutini who hails from Paisley is Scotland released his debut album “These Streets” in 2006 where it peaked at #3 in the UK. The fourth single “New Shoes” reached #21 in the UK and #1 on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart in the USA.
There is nothing quite like a burlesque show circa 1924. We have all seen it romanticize on Broadway and in the movies. The experience seeming nothing like the seedy strip clubs of modern day. No doubt the shows of the roaring 20s and the Soprano style clubs of today are designed to sell sex but there was an art to burlesque that is lost in today’s striptease acts.
This week Jim at A Unique Title for Me set the theme for Song Lyric Sunday to clothing. Think suits, pants, shirts, dresses. Instantly classic tracks such as ZZ Top’s “Sharp Dressed Man” or Chris de Burgh’s “Lady in Red” come to mind.
“Patricia the Stripper” is the 4th track on the vinyl A-side of Chris de Burgh’s sophomore release “Spanish Train and Other Stories“. The album was released in 1975 and highlights de Burgh’s knack for storytelling. His lyrics come to life, drawing you in and making you feel as though you are in the scene. You will feel like your soul is truly on the line in “Spanish Train“, ‘La Bise‘ is swirling about your feet in “Lonely Sky“, and you are bearing witness to the return of Christ in “A Spaceman Came Travelling“.
This week’s selection “Patricia the Stripper” is no different. The story revolves around Patricia, or should I say Delicia, whose clothing ends up strewn across the stage floor. DeBurgh weaves the tale of the lovely Patricia so vividly that you can almost feel the ‘tremendous applause as she took off her drawers’ or the uproar in the riotous courtroom when the Judge decrees, ‘Case dismissed… this girl was in her working clothes!!’
The best I can tell the song never received wide release as a single although I did find a Canadian release from 1976 and a promo single from 2000 supporting the release of “The Ultimate Collection” greatest hits compilation. I highly recommend immersing yourself in de Burgh’s world. Patricia will have you captivated as will the other tracks on “Spanish Train and Other Stories“. Enjoy.
Patricia the Stripper Lyrics
Dennis is a menace with his "anyone for tennis?"
And beseeching me to come and keep the score...
And Maud saya "Oh Lord! I'm so terribly bored!"
I really can't stand it anymore...
I'm going out to dinner, with a gorgeous singer,
To a little place I've found down by the quay;
Her name is Patricia, she calls herself Delicia,
And the reason isn't very hard to see...
She says God made her a sinner just to keep fat men thinner,
As they tumble down in heaps before her feet.
They hang around in groups like battle-weary troops,
One can often see them queue right down the street...
You see Patricia, or Delicia, not only is a singer
She also removes all her clothing...
For Patricia is the best stripper in town.
And with a swing of her hips she started to strip,
To tremendous applause she took off her drawers,
And with a lick of her lips she undid all the clips,
Threw it all in the air, and everyone stared,
And as the last piece of clothing fell to the floor,
The police were banging on the door,
On a Saturday night, in nineteen twenty-four...
Take it away boys!
But poor Patricia was arrested and everyone detested,
The manner in which she was exposed,
And later on in court, well, everybody thought
A summer run in jail would be proposed,
But the judge said, "Patricia,
Or may I say, Delicia,
The facts of this case lie before me...
Case dismissed... this girl was in her working clothes!!"
And with a swing of her hips, she started to strip,
To tremendous applause she took off her drawers,
And with a lick of her lips she undid all her clips,
Threw it all in the air, and everyone stared,
And as the last piece of clothing fell to the floor,
The police were yelling out for more!!!
On a Saturday night in nineteen twenty-four...
On a Saturday night in nineteen twenty-four...
Songwriter: Chris de Burgh
Photos: 1. Unknown | 2. Mary Pickford | 3. Theda Bara | 4. Louise Brooks | 5. Clara Bow Images 2-5 from burlexe.com | Album Art: discogs.com Copyright 2022 Greg Glazebrook, All Rights Reserved.
Quietly he laughs and shaking his head, Creeps closer now, closer to the foot of the bed…
Step Into My Parlour…
For this week’s Song Lyric Sunday Jim at A Unique Title for Me is asking that we highlight a song with emotions as the central theme. The song I have chosen is filled with anxiety and fear. The tension builds as the lyrics progress and is augmented by the creeping arrangement of the song’s instrumentation.
Robert Smith and The Cure were one of the most influential bands of the 1980s. From early Goth culture, along with other bands like Siouxsie and the Banshees, to superstar status as the decade wore on. Smith was known for his lush lyrics, cutting-edge experimentation and trend-setting styling.
In 1989, The Cure released their eighth studio album, “Disintegration“. The album would become the band’s biggest commercial success charting at number three in the UK and 12 in the US. The album would include the hits Pictures of You, Lovesong, Fascination Street and the anxiety-filled track I will be highlighting today, Lullaby.
The sun, the surf, the salty air, and the sand between my toes. Colourful umbrellas, surfboards and bikini-clad girls everywhere.
“In the wake of the Beach Boys’ success, many singles by new surfing and hot rod groups were produced by Los Angeles groups. Himes notes: “Most of these weren’t real groups; they were just a singer or two backed by the same floating pool of session musicians: often including Glen Campbell, Hal Blaine and Bruce Johnston. If a single happened to click, a group would be hastily assembled and sent out on tour. It was an odd blend of amateurism and professionalism.”1
This week Jim at A Unique Title for Me, host of Song Lyric Sunday has asked us to look to the beach for inspiration. The song I am highlighting is “Surf City.” Released by Jan and Dean in 1963, the only other band from the surf era to achieve any real commercial success. Jan and Dean’s success would be cut short when real life would mimic one of the band’s other songs. Jan Berry would crash his Corvette not far from the location prominently featured in one of the band’s other hits, “Dead Man’s Curve.” The accident would leave him with brain damage. Berry would eventually overcome the effects of the accident but Jan and Dean would never achieve the success they saw prior.
In 2003 a United States led coalition invaded Iraq. The Iraqi forces were quickly overwhelmed leading to the fall of the Ba’athist government led by Saddam Hussein. The coalition would remain in Iraq for the next 8 years, officially withdrawing from the country in 2011.
In October 2008 Chicago based punk rock giants Rise Against released their 5th studio album entitled “Appeal to Reason“. The theme for this week Song Lyric Sunday is Army / Soldier / War and I have chosen to highlight the track “Hero of War” from that release. The track was only released as a promo single but did receive significant play on alternative radio.
Clive Davis was once famously referred to as the “Man with the Golden Ears”. The stable of artists he discovered or nurtured is vast, making him a legend in the music business. Janis Joplin, Aerosmith, Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel are just a few iconic names from the list of music royalty influenced by Davis.
The task for this week’s Song Lyric Sunday is simple, select a song by an artist that was discovered, nurtured or produced by Clive Davis. I am going to step outside the box and stretch the rules a little. The post will most certainly be related to Clive Davis but the artist was not a Clive Davis product. Instead, I have chosen to focus on someone who auditioned for Davis but he chose to pass on as discussed in a 2017 interview with Rebecca Jarvis on the ABCNews’ weekly show Real Biz.
John Milton the English Poet and intellectual once said, “The mind is its own place, and in itself, can make a heaven of Hell, a hell of Heaven.“ Think of that statement and then think of song lyrics where Milton’s quote rings true. That is Jim at A Unique Name For Me has challenged us with Sunday Song Lyric Sunday. We are to explore the mind for this week’s theme. The songs should be about mind, thoughts and/or the brain.
Think song of bliss, euphoria, depression, suicide and addiction. Examples range from Ozzy Osbourne‘s “Crazy Train“ to George Strait‘s “Nobody In His Right Mind Would Have Left Her“, from girl in red‘s “Serotonin“ to Joy Division‘s “She’s Lost Control“, from Tears for Fears‘ “Mad World“ to Patsy Cline‘s “Crazy“. There is no shortage of material to choose from that references the brain and the working of the mind.
This week I have chosen to highlight Lana Del Rey‘s haunting track “Summertime Sadness“. A song that skillfully weaves a tale of mental illness born from a deep loss. The track explores depression, while intertwining happy memories with thoughts of death and suicide. The accompanying music is eerily layered to evoke the sense of extreme melancholy the protagonist is experiencing.
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