| Author | Message | ||
     Mark_lynch (Mark_lynch) Username: Mark_lynch Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.171.129.70 |
I'm indulging in a guilty pleasure: listening to Christian Premier Radio on digital radio. So far we've had some priest called Jonathan on, taking phone calls with the host (of the show!) on the subject of Halloween. He sugests it's evil, like homosexuality (a view not challenged by the host or any callers so far), and shouldn't be indulged in. When asked for his views on kids dressing up for Halloween, he's very much against witches and wizards costumes, but would be more considerate towards a child dressing up as a ghost, providing it wasn't an evil spirit. Christian Radio: proving the devil does have all the good music. | ||
| Steve Bacon (Stevebacon) Username: Stevebacon Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 90.209.108.225 |
I bet there's a certain Rolling Stones song that's not on their playlist, Mark... | ||
| Craig (Craig) Username: Craig Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 75.4.225.182 |
"C*cksucker Blues"? | ||
| Stephen Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
"Starf**ker"? | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.47 |
Make that 3 songs | ||
| Craig (Craig) Username: Craig Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 75.4.225.182 |
And one whole album. | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 82.38.75.85 |
Never heard of any of the others you young 'uns mention (except the Stones, of course - "Sympathy for the Devil"), but try these rather obscure oldies: "Come to the Sabbat" - Black Widow (indeed, their entire album "Sacrifice" would get an instant ban) "Fire" - The Crazy World of Arthur Brown (not so obscure really - any song that starts "I am the god of hellfire and I bring you .. fire" must be on the blacklist) "Witch Queen of New Orleans" - Redbone There must be loads of similar ones. Go on, how many more can we think of between us? | ||
| Stephen Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
They're all Stones songs Caroline... and I personally believe Keith Richards is the devil incarnate. Explains all the good tunes.  | ||
| Stephen Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
'Black Magic Woman' - Santana 'Witchy Woman' - The Eagles 'Evil Woman' - ELO 'Devil Woman' - some satanist bloke ...what is it with you women anyway Caroline!?!? | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.47 |
There are too many tunes that just wouldn't be allowed. My personal favourite would be the Monster Magnet album Spine of God - regardless of dodgy lyrics this wouldn't stand a chance because the only sleeve note on the album apart from the legal niceties is "It's a satanic drug thing, you wouldn't understand" There used to be a t-shirt with that slogan emblazoned but I never managed to get hold of one. One of my many regrets in this world. | ||
| Stephen Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
You do know they took their name from a Zappa & The Mothers track - 'Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet'. Don't get me started on my hero or we'll be here all night... | ||
| Craig (Craig) Username: Craig Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 75.4.243.102 |
My hero too, Stephen! "C*cksucker Blues" is an awesome Stones song, and is not on any album - it's backstory is interesting. Here it is, for whomever hasn't heard it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEFhuvg1SEA | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 82.38.75.85 |
>>'Devil Woman' - some satanist bloke << I really laughed at that!  I had no idea the Stones had done so many songs with ** in the middle of them. >>...what is it with you women anyway Caroline!?!?<< We're a wicked lot - or the men who write the songs about us think we are anyway. Stephen, I could tell you a funny story about when I saw Frank Zappa in the flesh ... | ||
| Stephen Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 82.0.106.15 |
You saw Frank in the flesh!! That's like saying you met God or shook hands with Stan Laurel in my book... bloody hell!! You must tell!!  | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 82.38.75.85 |
Well, Stephen, it's not really all that funny - nor particularly interesting - but I'll tell you anyway. It was my first ever encounter with a "famous face" ... I was at college in the Home Counties in the early 70s doing what was then an Ordinary National Diploma in Business Studies (equivalent to the BTEC National nowadays). They took us on an educational trip to London to visit some places which were relevant to various things we were studying, like economics and law. We went to the old Stock Exchange, Lloyds of London - and the Old Bailey. So, there I was in the public gallery at the Old Bailey thinking to myself "that guy in the smart suit with the funny facial hair looks remarkably familiar". Turned out it was Zappa himself. I can't remember exact details of the case - if you know your pop/social history and Zappa well, you might be able to fill me in on the missing details. It was something to do with underage kids gaining access to one of his concerts - at the Royal Albert Hall or somewhere like that I think. Does that ring any bells with you? Anyway, I didn't see the full case - I think it went on for days or even weeks - but what I did see was fascinating stuff. That visit to the Old Bailey actually made me want to pursue a career in the law (which was my initial career direction as a trainee legal executive, before I veered off elsewhere). But I'm afraid I never saw him perform live - just in the dock at the Old Bailey!  | ||
| Stephen Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
Unwittingly you were actually a witness to one of the greatest performances of Frank's career! In unconscious emulation of the great Oscar Wilde our hero decided to sue the Crown for breach of contract because of a cancelled performance with the LPO, after much painstaking planning, due to the "obscene" nature of his lyrics!! Here's a choice snippet of the court transcript (and I swear the judge really was called Mocatta): (MR. CAMPBELL appeared as counsel for defense [ALBERT HALL], MR. OGDEN appeared on behalf of the plaintiff [ZAPPA], before MR. JUSTICE MOCATTA.) "A:" indicates the answers of the plaintiff, Frank Zappa. The interrogation took place in the HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE, QUEEN'S BENCH DIVISION, on 15th and 16th April, 1975. MR. CAMPBELL: Had you played the Albert Hall before? THE WITNESS: Twice. MR. JUSTICE MOCATTA: You mean the group had? A: The group had played at the Albert Hall twice. MR. CAMPBELL: Can you remember what sort of things you played, the titles? Can you explain it? A: The first time we played in the Albert Hall was in September of 1967. During that concert some of the song titles were "Call Any Vegetable." The subject matter of that song deals with the concept of apathy between a member of the audience and any form of inert material. Another selection performed in that first concert was a song entitled, "You Didn't Try to Call Me." Q: Has the thing about "vegetable" anything to do with sex? A: No. Q: Has the second one you mentioned anything to do with sex? A: Well, it is a boy-girl situation song but it involves no 'reproductive references.' It deals mainly with the subject of heartbreak, resulting from lack of telephonic communication. . . They then proceed to discuss several songs that were to have been performed at the concert. MR. CAMPBELL: What was the concept of the song "Would You Go All the Way?" A: This song makes reference to the kind of people that you might find in the armed services, and the way in which they attempt to treat girls which they procure for their amusement. It makes reference to the monster from the U.S.O. Q: That is not an unidentified flying object? A: No. Q: What is a "U.S.O.?" A: It is an abbreviation for United States Overseas. Q: Then, "She Painted Up Her Face," to which objection has been taken. What do you say about that? A: Well, I think that this is an important piece of material, lyrically. Q: What is the concept about it? A: To my knowledge, it is the only song in the repertoire that deals with the subject of a girl who is a groupie. Q: What is a "groupie?" A: A "groupie" is a girl who likes people in a rock-and-roll band. She likes them very much. MR. JUSTICE MOCATTA: She likes what very much? A: She likes "the members" of the band very much. MR. CAMPBELL: A sort of fan, like a football fan? A: Only of "the members." Q: Like film stars have fan mails? A: Yes. MR. JUSTICE MOCATTA: I did not gather that. I thought you said that this dealt with a girl who in fact was a member of a rock-and-roll band. MR. CAMPBELL: No, my Lord. THE WITNESS: I am sorry: girls who "follow members." MR. JUSTICE MOCATTA: I.e., a follower? A: Yes. MR. CAMPBELL: A sort of fan? A: Yes. Shall I continue with an analysis of this song? Q: Please do so. A: It is the only piece of material that deals with a look at the motivations of the girl. Many groups have done songs about groupies, but coverage of that subject has been superficial and the lyrics to this song represent some kind of landmark in the way in which the subject has been dealt with. Q: Is it intended as a serious song? A: Well, I would say it is as serious as anything else I do. Q: Now we come to "Bunna Dik" [sic]. What is the concept of "Bunna Dik"? A: I would like to point out at this time that those lyrics contained in this version of "Bwana Dik" are of a very early draft. The song "Bwana Dik" did not occur in 200 Motels. It was not included in the film. It is not part of the album. MR. CAMPBELL: It was, I think, on another record? A: Yes, but not in this form. The title "Bwana Dik" is in an album called Live at Fillmore East but it has nothing to do with the text that you are asking me to analyze here. It was a totally different set of lyrics. MR. JUSTICE MOCATTA: "Bunna" is apparently a West African term, or an African term, for "boss," is it? Is that right? A: It is the kind of word that you have in a jungle movie. I do not know what it means in reality. It is a jungle-movie word. Q: What does it mean in a jungle movie? A: You never know what it means in a jungle movie, you know, unless somebody can explain to me that that word exists in some special African language. My understanding of "Bwana" has always been that it's something that the guy with the box on his shoulder says. MR. CAMPBELL: What do you mean by "the guy with the box on his shoulder?" A: Well, natives walk behind the guy with the helmet, and they have the box on their shoulder. MR. CAMPBELL: My Lord, he means the bearers in the jungle. MR. JUSTICE MOCATTA: A sort of porter, or bearer, in a jungle? MR. CAMPBELL: Yes. THE WITNESS: Yes. MR. OGDEN: I am not interested in what my learned friend thinks it is; I am interested in what the witness thinks it is. MR. JUSTICE MOCATTA: What does "Bunna Dik" mean? A: "Bwana" with the "Dik" after it would mean a person who, at some time, could wear one of those helmets, and could have people treating him in some sort of respected way, and who was also in possession of a "Dik." Q: And what is a "Dik?" A: Well, in this context, it would be a rock-and-roll person's penis. MR. CAMPBELL: And what is the concept of "Bunna Dik?" A: O.K. I will explain the concept of "Bwana Dik" to you. In every band there is some member of the band who, during the course of touring, gets the opportunity to entertain more girls than the other members of the band. It is like winning a contest. If we carry this concept to a ridiculous extreme, this person could be awarded the title of "Bwana Dik." The song deals with the fact that each in his own way, each member of the group, secretly believes that he is "Bwana Dik." Q: Oh, I see. A: And the song attempts to show how foolish this concept is. Q: Quite, satirically? A: That is right, it is a satire. . . Make your own minds up folks... [that was me by the way] | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 82.38.75.85 |
That's absolutely brilliant, Stephen - that's the case! Where did you find that transcript? I must confess, I'd forgotten what it was all about - indeed, I probably didn't really know what the case was all about at the time. I remember reading various bits about it in the paper, but that's all. Superb! I've realised now just how much of a part of rock 'n roll history I actually witnessed in the flesh.  | ||
| Stephen Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 82.0.106.15 |
I have it in Frank's hilarious autobiography 'The Real Frank Zappa Book' and the transcript can be found online (like just about everything these days). Frank was constantly in trouble with the law on both sides of the Atlantic and positively baited them at times. He even spent 10 days in "Tank C" of the San Bernardino County Jail (for obscenity!) back in the 60s - an episode immortalised in the track 'San Ber'dino'. Then there was the time he took on the American Mothers Against Porn movement in the 80s!! They wanted to censor lewd rock 'n' roll lyrics that might be listened to by their poor sensitive little poppets (awww). The album 'Frank Zappa Meets The Mothers Of Prevention' and attached sticker (below) sums up that particular episode of "free speech" quite neatly: WARNING/GUARANTEE This album contains material which a truly free society would neither fear nor suppress. In some socially retarded areas, religious fanatics and ultraconservative political organizations violate your First Amendment Rights by attempting to censor rock & roll albums. We feel that this is un-Constitutional and un-American. As an alternative to these government-supported programs (designed to keep you docile and ignorant), Barking Pumpkin is pleased to provide stimulating digital audio entertainment for those of you who have outgrown the ordinary. The language and concepts contained herein are GUARANTEED NOT TO CAUSE ETERNAL TORMENT IN THE PLACE WHERE THE GUY WITH THE HORNS AND THE POINTED STICK CONDUCTS HIS BUSINESS. This guarantee is as real as the threats of the video fundamentalists who use attacks on rock music in their attempt to transform America into a nation of check-mailing nincompoops (in the name of Jesus Christ). If there is a hell, its fires wait for them, not us. |