Entertainment For Lively Minds
The Divine Comedy - I Forgot How Good Neil Hannon Is
Neil Hannon was the feature artist in a BBC Northern Ireland programme this week about local songwriters who made good. Reflecting on his life and music he made spoke about his experiences of growing up in Northern Ireland during the Troubles as a middle class child. What he said rang true for me and many of my contemporaries, in that we drifted alongside the carnage without really ever being blighted by it, the privilege of living outside the worst affected areas. As the son of a Bishop, he had the advantage of an education at Portora Royal School and a comfortable upbringing.
He mentioned that he had only ever been moved once to write a song about the Northern Ireland of his youth, and it was called Sunrise (on Fin De Siecle). This prompted me to listen to it on Spotify, and I found it so touching, beautiful and moving that I wanted to share it with the Massive.
It sounds simple, but then it is. It hits the nail on the head. Having spent the past 2 days listening to his back catalogue, I am reminded of what a fine lyricist and musician Hannon is. Listen and (I hope)enjoy. The last 30 seconds are untouchable.
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Neil Hannon is great
A cross between Scott Walker and ELO how could he go wrong ?
I may post a spotify playlist idc
Divine playlist: http://open.spotify.com/user/marbles22/playlist/61RBiyxaJlf5awa3q9Iyix
my favourite is The Certainty Of Chance there are many other great tracks he has done but National Express is not one of them shame that was his biggest hit
Sunrise
is such a fantastic song, he finished the "Absent Friends" tour with it. What is most impressive if you watch this clip is that Neil has been singing for virtually two hours when he launches into this:
Everybody Knows (Except You)
Sums up my love life completely.
First heard of the band via "National Express", but he's so much better than that.
good tunes
Frog Princess
Commuter Love
Gin Soaked Boy
lovely
Becoming More Like Alfie
not so much...
Divine Comedy
I was a late recruit to DC only after Absent Friends, But i think the guy is class. Love the Duckworth Lewis Method LP. Would love to see them live- The Divine comedy that is-
When I last saw
The Div Com at the Roundhouse they played a cracking cover of 'Touch Me'.
Current faves
The Dogs And The Horses
Songs Of Love
Our Mutual Friend
Don't Look Down
Tonight We Fly
Bad Ambassador
The Plough.
On the extras of the Scott Walker documentary Neil reveals he used to send a copy of every album he made to Scott Walker for reasons not even he knows. (In some cases maybe to pass on to his lawyers)
He is good
I really like the 'regeneration' album which was the supposed 'change of direction' record. Ok, he grew his hair and cut down the whimsy quotient but it was still recognisibly him.
sunrise
I play that song so much my kids know the words. So uplifting - The SuuunRiiiSSSEEE!
Is the programme on iPlayer or similar ?
My stepmum lived there for many years and would I think be interested
I Player
Here is the link.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00n9pzy/Music_Makers_Episode_3/
You'll only get agreement from me
on the brilliance of Hannon.
First encountered his music 'Promenade' era via Mark & Lard on Radio 1 (night time show). The Booklovers was, and is, one of my favourite songs ever.
Happy the man, and happy he alone, who in all honesty can call today his own...
I'm still striving for that, more than 15 years on.
Another fan here
I was at the Roundhouse show too and it was great. But then he always is. And the DLM were great at The Oval.
I hate to go against the grain..
But I can't abide most of Neil Hannon's work. He does have a fine voice but the overly-twee lyrics grate horribly. He also struggles with the arrangements. Trying to create Bacharach-esque arrangements needs Bacharach-esque melodic genius. Neil doesn't have this and the results are, to my ear, lumpen bits of string-heavy turd-polishing.
I did listen to the Duckworth Lewis Method album, however.
Then I listened to it again. And have continued so to do.
It's bloody great. Suddenly, he's found his groove. I hope he continues in it.
Try the 'regeneration'
Try the 'regeneration' album, he cut down the whimsy and made his best record.
I adore the Divine Comedy
and have done since I saw them (well, the guise of the time) supporting Tori Amos in 1994. I think I've seen them about 15 times all in, but I doubt I'll get the chance again, as I moved to Australia a couple of years ago and they don't seem to be known here at all.
Favourite tunes:
Lucy
Gin Soaked Boy
Tonight We Fly
Our Mutual Friend
A Lady of a Certain Age
Bernice Bobs Her Hair
The Beauty Regime
In Pursuit of Happiness
They always like to throw in a cover or two when performing live. Over the years, I've heard them do pretty good interpretations of (among others) Make it Easy on Yourself, Johnny Mathis' Feet, Raspberry Beret, Pictures of Matchstick Men, Mr Blue Sky, and No One Knows (this one re-worked as an old German folk song... it's available on the brilliant Live at the Palladium DVD and should really be checked out).
Anyone know where an ex-pat can see the Music Makers doc online legally? I can't get access to the iPlayer...
The Divine Comedy...
...are the group from this part of the world whose records I have played most for the past five years. I think he's exceptional.
Hitting his stride
Always liked him a lot, ever since Liberation, but I feel he's improving with age. His last album, Victory for the Comic Muse wasn't perfect but contained his three best songs I think:
Lady of a Certain Age - lovely, heartbreaking song about a down on her luck elderly aristocrat - perfect for the 'unlikely song subject' thread.
Light of Day - an absolutely gorgeous love song.
Arthur C Clarke's Mysterious World - the finest pop song he's yet written
I urge everyone to check them out.
Then of course there's the already much discussed Duckworth/Lewis. Can't wait for the next DC album.
Promenade
I think Promenade is his most completely satisfying album. Not a duff track on there, and it end with Tonight We Fly - his absolute best.
The bit about 2/3 in where he sings "TONIGHT WE FLYYYyyyyyy" (I think that illustrates what I mean) - perfect.
Nobody has mentioned this one yet
My favourite Divine Comedy song:
he's back
well not quite yet, I heard the single Indie Disco quite liked it in a laid back way have seen the album cover has anyone else seen it ? it did make me laugh, still don't know how to post pictures otherwise I would have posted it.
yes I am excited by the thought of the new album Bang Goes the Knighthood just listening to the back catalogue and bewitched by the wit,charm and sheer pop nous.
That album cover in full
It just struck me
as I was listening to this...
That the resemblance to Graham Chapman goes beyond the pipe.
love the divine comedy
and love this - written by neil hannon for duke special
Through A Long And Sleepless Night Is My Fave
But this runs it a close second.
I'm nodding in agreement to nearly all of the posts above
Neil has been living in Dublin for quite a few years now, which is a godsend for me as he frequently pops up doing instores, small club gigs and so on.
I can understand why some of the mannerisms and stylings grate with people, but he is a very talented boy. Great voice, lovely way with words and truly wonderful arrangements that can take a song like A Lady Of A Certain Age from the sublime to the ridiculously good.
Off to see him play a great small venue in Dublin on May 7th, will report back.
Charmed Life
An absolutely exquisite song, the last track from Absent Friends.
Got the new album on Saturday
And after two days I have to say it's everything you'd want from The Divine Comedy; funny, sad and beautiful. 'When A Man Cries' is just so lovely.
Love the new album
my favourite track is I like but there are many other wonderful moments on it