dear god, Billy Bragg is taking the piss!

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Would you like to say a few words about why you think he's lapsed (further) into self-parody, for those of us on work computers who can't open the file in the link? smile [/jimmer]

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nah you'd have to hear it to appreaciate it fully.

he's not even trying anymore, I mean there is something nice in simple honest lyrics but these are just fucking awful.

rkn
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Quote:
Rachel Corrie went to Gaza to draw attention to the plight of the Palestinians, whose voice is seldom heard in her country, the US. That she herself should be silenced - first by an Israeli bulldozer, next by a New York theatre cancelling a play created from her words - is a testimony to the power of her message. This song was written on a plane on March 20 and recorded at Big Sky Recordings, Ann Arbor, Michigan on March 22. The tune is borrowed from Bob Dylan.

They are online http://arts.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1741197,00.html?gusrc=rss

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Quote:
The artistic director of a New York theatre

Cancelled a play based on Rachel's writings

But she wasn't a bomber or a killer or fighter

But one who acted in the spirit of the Freedom Riders

Is there no place for a voice in America

That doesn't conform to the Fox News agenda?

Who believes in non-violence instead of brute force

Who is willing to confront the might of an army

Whose passionate beliefs were matched by her bravery

The question she asked rings out round the world

If America is truly the beacon of freedom

Then how can it stand by while they bring down the curtain

And turn Rachel Corrie into a non-person?

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It doesn't even ryhme. Jesus H. Christ, its bloody awful. And I like dodgy folk.

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He had one good song, Sexuality, and it was only good cos Marr co-wrote it circa Electronic.

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Quote:
This song was written on a plane on March 20 and recorded at Big Sky Recordings, Ann Arbor, Michigan on March 22. The tune is borrowed from Bob Dylan.

no way, it must have been written on the bog

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xConorx wrote:
He had one good song, Sexuality, and it was only good cos Marr co-wrote it circa Electronic.

angry He had loads of good songs. His first few albums are deadly.

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no he had one good song, didn't you read my post? wink

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xConorx wrote:
no he had one good song, didn't you read my post? :wink:

sexuality is fucking gay! grin

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revol68 wrote:
xConorx wrote:
no he had one good song, didn't you read my post? :wink:

sexuality is fucking gay! grin

is that an insult or praise? confused

I was going to defend Bragg here on principle as I quite like him, but I've just listened to the song. eek

Doesn't even scan and bleedin awful mid-atlantic accent. I know Dorset's west of Barking, but I didn't think it was as far west as that

Regards,

Martin

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Im sorry but sexuality is one of his worse ever songs. And btw, compared to the England Half English album, this song is refreshing and at least honest. In the words of Nicky Wire from The Manics, his last album made me ashamed to be a republican.

Quote:
I’ve had relations with girls from many nations

I’ve made passes at women of all classes

And just because you’re gay I won’t turn you away

If you stick around I’m sure that we can find some common ground

Chorus:

Sexuality - strong and warm and wild and free

Sexuality - your laws do not apply to me

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xConorx wrote:
no he had one good song, didn't you read my post? :wink:

you listen to jamiriquoi (sp?) and madball. You blatently can't comment on musical matters wink

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tell you what, you can all shut the fuck up how about that? grin

I decided a long time ago that I was the only person on the entire planet that had a decent taste in music.

Points to note:

Sexuality is a good song, then again I like Electronic and it kinda sounds like them

Madball are sweet

Jamiroquai are sweet, might listen to them now.

Revol is gettin a hiding when I get back at the weekend wink

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I only listened to Sexuality recently, even though I've had the CD for ages. I really like it. But even better is The Fourteenth of February and Brickbat. There's a couple of contenders for that 'music to cheer you up' thread.

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enelpozo wrote:
I only listened to Sexuality recently, even though I've had the CD for ages. I really like it.

sanity

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No, the Bill Bailey version is though.

''Unisex Chip shop''

http://www.leftfield.coop/Media/Player.aspx?MediaId=7&IsHigh=True - video of Billy Bragg and Bill Bailey playing live together, singing the song.

http://muse.cream.org/bill/bewild04.mp3 - mp3

Absolutely hilarious!

Lyrics

I used to buy my chips from an oppressive chip shop regime.

The girl who worked there, she seemed happy,

But I knew it was not what it seemed.

"Do you want salt and vinegar", was what they made her say,

But in the language of the ghetto,

That means, "Help, I'm a woman in chains"

I wanted to free her.

In my dreams I would see her.

Running naked through the woods round Rainham,

If I had some tigers I'd train them.

To protect her

From the sexual fascism that was lurking, round the gherkins

(yeah)

I'd lean across the counter and we would talk,

I carved the name "Debbie" on a little wooden fork.

But into the shop came a skinhead gang,

They snatched the fork from my hand.

Debbie, she looked at me, to assert my masculinity.

I said "Oi!", they said "What?", I said "Nothing..."

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hahaha wot a shitty song!!! cant say ive heard much billy bragg, but this is wank grin

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Billy Bragg brought out that atrocious anti-war song too.

They had him on the TV, he stopped playing guitar when he sang, it sounded shite as he didn't have a band.

Even I can do two things at once.

The lyrics to the Rachel Corrie song are painfully bad.

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...Y'all realise the song is a joke, and he's taking the piss outta shit lefty lyrics, yea?

He mentioned it on his blog a couple weeks ago.

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Sure everything's a joke these days

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xConorx wrote:
He had one good song, Sexuality, and it was only good cos Marr co-wrote it circa Electronic.

Oh you what, ok it is quite happy and bouncy but it does contain the lyrics

''sexuality young and warm and wild and free''

and

''even if you're gay, i won't turn you away''

seriously its utter balls

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cantdocartwheels wrote:
seriously its utter balls

you're just jealous.

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Just got round to listening to this, and all I have to say is -

confused eek confused eek confused eek confused eek confused eek confused

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went to see billy bragg when he played a gig in the Orkney Isles ( where i lived at the time ) I was absolutely pissed and jumped on stage and knocked his microphone over, and that was way back in 1981..... I feel old now

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he's got a gig on may day and, being the great socialist that he is, he's charging £25 a ticket. eek

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man's got bills to pay wink

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Billy Bragg annoys me. I think it's cos a uni friend of mine fetishises all this lefty folk but doesn't buy into the politics and plays it to me constantly, assuming I'll love it cos of the wishy washy liberal left sentiment, when in reality I'd rather listen to Bad Brains singing about Jah.

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cantdocartwheels wrote:
''even if you're gay, i won't turn you away''

Yeah I've found that lyric sketchy since I first heard the song. I've occasionally liked some of his stuff, but that lyric makes me think the appropriate response is possibly "even if? you're really crap at being against homophobia". Maybe he also likes people even if they're working class too. Anywho.