The Doom That Came To poptimists

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

On the fearful night of December 8
Poptimism at the Polar Bear was no longer a debate

Yes, the Poptimism club is now officially homeless as the new management of the Poley Bear are putting on their OWN nights and want no more to do with our Blossom Hill-swilling hordes. A shame, but we're looking for a new venue and in the meantime you can catch us playing guerilla gigs putting records on jukeboxes around London instead.

MEANWHILE one last tribute to Lennon, J - you've read the lyrics, now hear the song:

The Cranberries - I Just Shot John Lennon

It is really very bad. (And sounds a bit like a Morrissey B-Side).

I know I'm behind on the advent calendar, wait until lunchtime for that, but first of all here's today's Winner Stays On. GURLS ALOUD are still the champions of pop with 7.62 for "Biology" against Vitalic's 6.95 (this is all going onto a big GRAPH, dont you worry). In reality the scores are a little closer because The Lex wasn't able to get his votes in, but GA still win it. Can they come through a third bout, this time against Kelly Clarkson, darling of the pop blogosphere (US version)? As usual, nominees for future WIZZOs in the comments, and hopefully more recent ones - yes, C Frog comin' up nearer the magical Wobs Day.

Girls Aloud - Biology
Kelly Clarkson - Since U Been Gone

[Poll #630231]

Ho for orgafun! (I'm a)

Comments

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I have to admit I've gone off Since U Been Gone a bit. I only really like it when it's a) tearing up dancefloors b) infuriating Stylus comment box deacons. Otherwise it's just a bit too rock for me.

[sbp.livejournal.com]

Isn't it by Rainbow?

[byebyepride.livejournal.com]

K Clarkson no. 1 in Stylus singles poll shockah!

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

This is sad news about Poptimism/Polar Bear. I hate all London pubs!

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I know. Though maybe it's better that we start anew rather than potentially struggle with people who don't want us to be there.

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

bah. i am all pessimistic now. can it really be so difficult to find a venue in LONDON willing to accommodate a club night devoted to MUSIC THAT IS POPULAR?

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I don't think they specifically thought our night was teh rub, they just think they know what works and getting in outside nights isn't it, and presumably the accounts back them up (the £5 blossom hill did for us in the end!)

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

so carsmile didn't say "it smelled of wee and so do you"

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Time for sukrat night at the Chapel.

[steviespitfire.livejournal.com]

i wish biology and since u been gone be gone.

poor dario.

[byebyepride.livejournal.com]

Actually does anyone here know of some really interesting writing about what biology is ABOUT? i.e. not what it sounds like (as on the ilx thread)? I can't figure it out (beyond broad brush strokes)? I was not paying attention when it came out so I am sure all you witty and clever people have discussed it to death -- but where?

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

The 'about' of Xenomania songs is always very elusive for me too, which I quite enjoy as long as the words they string together don't actively annoy me (cf In The Middle)

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Lets do it now!

lyricz here (http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/girlsaloud/biology.html)

I THINK IT IS ABOUT: Druqx0r!

'With your head in your face getting red in your heart beats closer'
'The magic number is in front of me'
'Throw all the heavy stuff, comes back to bite your behind'

[byebyepride.livejournal.com]

Well I think it is very cleverly done -- i.e. it works v. well -- because it goes in all sorts of directions. If there's a 'narrative' it seems to be 'girl(s) fight(s) with her own attraction to man' i.e. wants to overcome 'biology', but biology ends up meaning 'my animal nature', 'my sex', 'my desire' and probably more too. I have a feeling that the reason the song holds itself back from the monster chorus (You can't mistake my biology onwards...) is to kind of mime the girls trying to fight off the overwhelming urge which will master them (a fire of pure desire) but obviously this reticence is also a kind of foreplay, so it is (as ever) impossible to tell whether no means yes here (old GA trick, see my various ramblings past esp. on Love Machine). The beat gets closer is great because it can be the beat of the heart and of the song, so the musical and sexual are linked again, which is also v. old pop trick and still a winner. This is a sexy, sexy song. Also because they're flaunting their biology (bodies!) at me while warning me about their biology (demand to have it both ways, to not make up my mind, to feel conflicted about satisfying their dirty brain or being loved for other things)! 'Give it up and then they take it away' is old teen dilemma of boys only interested in one thing, I guess.

[steviespitfire.livejournal.com]

although i dont want to endorse the "pop has no meaning = it is great" view, i do often think that the bafflement factor is fundamental to the pop's (MUSIC'S) wonderfulness.

eg. the line "shaking like a cool lemonade" sort of baffles me (if i overthink) (how/why shake a cool lemonade? if we are giving it human properties, then we shake when we're cold not cool? etc ETC) but it just seems so right in capturing this sort of sweetness, sultriness....

you know?

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I get the feeling the lyrical directness is part of why people like La Clarkson.

[byebyepride.livejournal.com]

Fair point. Can I change my vote?

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

ha ha, i was going to do a LYRICS DUEL:

"shaking like a cool lemonade" v "let me take your hand you're shaking like milk"

[sbp.livejournal.com]

v "My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard" or whateveritis

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

anyone who cares about my view of "biology" will notice that i have been giving it increasing marks. it is quite the grower. kelly is ok, but it sort of passes through and it won't be a "oo yes i haven't heard that in ages, let's play that again".

[byebyepride.livejournal.com]

It is a one-trick pony. It is a nice trick, and all, but there's only one.

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

which do you mean - kelly i assume. biology has a lot going on, tho glad to see some sane backpeddling the hyperbole that first greeted it. it has not revolutionised pop music. but it does stand out in how it's strung together

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I stand by my hyperbole! It's my favourite single of this year, probably (I say this without really trying to remember earlier ones).

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

but that annoying too-fast percussion noise ALL THE WAY THROUGH IT! i like the song and the structure but the production just seems a complete mess.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I will listen out for this noise, I can only assume it doesn't annoy me!

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

i don't know what kind of drum makes it, it's a fairly common noise but it's too loud in the mix and completely out of sync with the rest of the song.

i'm not sure i like the way the bass sounds either.

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

oh it's never going to climb as high as a fave of the year. tho the stevens fixation is largely to blame there.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Speaking of growers, "Long Hot Summer" sounds loads better now it's not actually Summer and so I can't feel disappointed in its lack of summeriness.

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

AGREED.

all the trax that ppl said COR WOW this is grebt i did quick downloads of, and they were a bit underwhelming. but real actual listening to album produced better results, and in that context long hot summer works really well, and listening to it again, i like it WAY more now.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Reading the stylus write-up of Kelly it does seem to have had a massive impact in the US, I wonder if it's a song like "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" was here, where everybody agrees about it being good in a rare moment of pop consensus, and that consensus seems to become part of the pleasure of the song.

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

contrarian me (pffff) did/does not think CGYOOMH is all that. and the consensus annoyed me, but you can't let it annoy for long. you let go.

[byebyepride.livejournal.com]

contrarian i.e. rockist !! If everyone agrees they must be wrong!!

[byebyepride.livejournal.com]

This is not a diss! I do it too!

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

i think i may have felt this urge (embarce your inner rockisst), but not with CGYOPOMH. honest. it's still an ok song.

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

To be totally contrarian you have to say that all the other singles taken off Fever were better.

Which I do, hurrah!

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Am disappointed that Kelly was not doing a cover of the Rainbow classick.

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

WHERE ARE "KUTE"?

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

:(

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

if only you'd replied to that email, eh...

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

i wish rainbow had covered the rainbow themetune

also:
suddenly dwalin opened one eye

"where is ritchie blackmore?" he said to the others

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

uh oh sudden flashback to our class's School Assembly "presentation" to the juniors (don't ask) (it involved me being dressed up as a TV)

[pot80.livejournal.com]

These two songs are more or less equally perfect.

[plumsbitch.livejournal.com]

Can't *stand* Since U Been Gone. Not entirely sure why, but if gives me the heebies more than any song in a long time.

*runs for cover*

[zenith.livejournal.com]

Well obviously it's not as good as 'Kamikaze' by The Flesh Happening *cough*.

[zenith.livejournal.com]

(Which I have now heard, confirming that in fact you really can often judge songs by reading their lyrics first!)

[juror8.livejournal.com]

Surely it has to be Robyn's turn to face off against GA next?

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the YSI of the Kelly C, Tom. Good to finally hear it. I cannot believe what all the fuss is about on that one tho' - it's just an Avril song as sung by tATu innit.

Thanks also for the Cranberries mp3 - gobsmacking.