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Conference marvin::uk_music

Title:	The UK Music Conference
Notice:	Welcome (back) to UK_MUSIC on node MARVIN.
Moderator:	RDGENG::CROOK

Created:	Mon Mar 28 1988
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	1381
Total number of notes:	39269

245.0. "The Proclaimers" by AYOV27::GHERMAN (George Herman 823-3016) Wed Oct 19 1988 20:19

A few people have mentioned the Proclaimers, but no note yet exists 
for this fine group. For all those who are grumbling about the state 
of the Top 40, give either "Sunshine on Leith" or "This is the Story" 
a listen. 24 songs without one single mention of dancing or disco or 
summertime romances or the like. Of the 24 songs, about a third each 
(in a George Herman quickie categorization) are about politics (the 
SNP would approve), love, and search for truth/religion. With songs
about Kilmarnock/Hibernian Football and a Saturday night slosh thrown 
in for good measure.

"This is the story" is just Charlie and Craig Reid on acoustic 
instruments. "Sunshine on Leith" they add a band. I think the band 
helps the sound. Trying to categorise them would be tough. Some songs 
sound like the Everly Brothers born in Scotland. The lyrics remind me 
of Bob Dylan or Phil Ochs. I suppose folk music is closest. As a 
non-Scot, I'm very glad the lyrics were included. Whereas most singers 
tend to flatten their accents for recordings, the Reids have certainly 
not "flattened their vowels and thrown the 'R' away". 

I find the lyrics running through my head for the past few weeks. 
The lyric of the moment (accompanied by brush drums, tinkly piano 
and acoustic guitar strum) is:

"It's Saturday night and I'm feeling on song.
I think I'm all right...I know I'm all wrong.
The drink that I had three hours ago,
has been joined by 
fourteen others,
in a steady flow."

Any other Proclaimers fans around?

George

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
245.1	Ahm oanly half oh somethin'	VANISH::CROOKSTON	Don't throw the 'R' away !!!	`Thu Oct 20 1988 12:56`	23
	I thought there was a topic on the Proclaimers already, but Having a look it has gone. Must have been in the old Live_music_uk conference. Anyway, I love em, not literally know what I mean. Could you imagine some teenage lassie with poster of Craig and Charlie plastered over her bedroom wall. Ripping down her 30ft by 30ft poster of the Dros boys to make room for her 3D pic of the lads. Easy....... I must admit, being a Jock living south of the border by force, I really enjoy the political content of some of their songs: 'What do you do when democracy fails you...' I'm sure this topic is gonna overtake these popular one's like Jefferson Airplane.....600 entries by one bloke....... ...........only kidding peeps, don't pick on me PLEASE. Anybody else going to see them at Reading Univ on the 25th???? Cheers Tommy.
245.2	bloody great.	MARVIN::MACHIN		`Thu Oct 20 1988 13:16`	10
	Yes, speaking as a sassenach (who probably can't spell sassenach) I too think they're a breath of fresh air. And if I hear one more Southerner say 'I can't understand what they're saying' I'll take up Scottish citizenship and learn the r. I haven't heard the new record, but a review in the MM (phwooeeee) said it didn't have the political edge of the first. Some hack starting the backlash bandwagon after only the second album, I thought. Richard.
245.3	eh	RTOISB::CHISHOLM	Forty miles to Saturday Night	`Thu Oct 20 1988 14:18`	17
	re. lack of political content He obviously didn't listen to the second track 'Cap in Hand' did he (the hack I mean). 'I can tell the difference between margarine and butter,' 'I can say Saskatchewan without starting to stutter,' 'But I can't understand why we let someone else rule our land,' 'We're cap in hand.' I too think they are a breath of fresh air, and must say I'm a little surprised (and pleased) they've taken off all over the country, (the CD's are prominently displayed here in Germany, can't imagine what the germans make of them). Doug (Spurtle)
245.4	Scotland-Holland 1-0	YUPPY::MEERMAN		`Thu Oct 20 1988 17:51`	17
	At last.... Have been looking around Hertfordshire for Proclaimers fans and was getting pretty desparate. Being totally brainwashed by my Scottish other half (a.o. about Scotland and anything from that direction is supposed to be brilliant) I am now trying to spread the Word myself - in Holland. Unfortunately, my friends/relatives do not seem to understand 80% of it. But I'm on a mission and will persevere. I read somewhere that when the reporter asked them why they're so close, they replied "When we were little, we were so ugly none of the other kids would play with us". ? The Dutchess
245.5		RDGENG::MACFADYEN	Roderick MacFadyen	`Thu Oct 20 1988 20:28`	8
	I saw them at the '85 Edinburgh Festival, when they did a 15 minute stint in a rolling cabaret in the Fringe Club. The audience was knocked back by the force of their singing and their massive white teeth! But me and me girlfriend loved them. They certainly do stand out among the Top 40 dross. Rod
245.6		YUPPY::MEERMAN		`Fri Oct 21 1988 14:03`	4
	Does anyone know if they're playing in Scotland next week? The gig in London for the 27th is sold out already BTW.
245.7		YUPPY::MEERMAN		`Wed Nov 02 1988 14:50`	7
	I have not bought their second album yet - I know, shame on me. How does it compare to the first one if it does at all? It's just that the song "Sunshine on Leith" sounds a bit - sweet compared to most of their stuff on the first album. Is that song "typical" for the other songs on the record? Karina
245.8	I live where the sun shines!	ESKIMO::POTTER	Poppies are crap!	`Thu Jun 08 1989 19:41`	8
	After Glastonbury the Proclaimers are heading back to Edinburgh to start writing their third album ... straight from the horses mouth. Karina - If you haven't bought Sunshine on Leith yet, then go out and buy it NOW!!!!!!!!!! Not all the songs are like the title track as you must of heard by now (on the radio/TV etc).
245.9		PENUTS::LEVINE		`Thu Nov 19 1992 00:14`	2
	Update? Peter
245.10		CSLALL::PLEVINE		`Wed Jun 23 1993 17:42`	3
	Has the 3rd album been completed? The 1st 2 were brilliant! Peter
245.11	He couldn't understand it but he liked it	GLADYS::CRAVEN	You are a case and a half	`Thu Dec 30 1993 08:57`	4
	I was wondering the same after spending Chrissy with a bloke from Holland who after hearing the Proclaimers wants me to tape it for him. Ica