utterly forgotten but NOT OBSCURE

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

by terming david byrne "obscure", alexmacpherson touches the exact, interesting nerve i think -- maybe even more than with his legendary "why SHOULD i have heard of john wayne?" argument

which is that in every generation (wait, that's how BUFFY starts!! -- er er focus) in every generation there are figures very well-known to all who have just VANISHED from mainstream radar by the next cycle

it's not that they're still popular but currently unfashionable; it's more that "what they meant" is no longer part of the pop discussion -- is that right?

so why has byrne vanished this way? or is it just not making "the right kinds of records" any more?

(disclaimer: i LOVED LOVE LOVED early TH and have i think every record they made --- BUT i went off them INCREDIBLY fast, round abt "true stories", and it took me years to rediscover any fondness)

Comments

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I think one reason that I haven't heard of what'shisname is sheer luck! I mean, I had heard of his band, and in fact had been meaning to Get Around To Them for a while, it's just that I didn't know the lead singer's name and Hackney Library happened to have Nico and Scritti Politti when I looked.

There is not much rhyme or reason to the Old Popstars I have heard of/heard/like.

I have never heard of Alex Harvey or Frampton. I have heard of Stevie Wonder and like what I have heard from him (not a great deal) v much. To date I prefer all Stevie Wonder samples in modern r&b to the originals though.

Do you like the Tori Amos Chas'n'Dave covers?