Vincent best tribute song ever? Come off it...
Posted by Raymo on 12 November 2008 - 2:46pm.
The best/worst list in this month's mag has got it badly wrong. If anything could be described as "smaltzy, drippy and feeble" it is Don McLean's mawkish "tribute" to Van Gough, a song that misses the mark dreadfully, forsaking geniune appreciation of Van Gough's paintings in favour of embarrassing, sentimental tosh about how he "tried to set them free" but "they" did not listen so he took his life, but now McLean makes it all right because "I think I know what you tried to say to me". Horrible, really horrible.
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If you had my name...
...then after the 50th time someone gurned at you and sang "Starry starry night...", you'd be off to stuff a sunflower up Don McLean's rectum.
Is it possible...
... that particular choice was arrived at in mawkish mood after a long night in the pub? (Ditto Matchstalk Men...).
Disappointed not to see Abraham, Martin And John in the 'best' list, though. I have to admit it seldom fails to bring a lump to my throat.
I could have read the pages reversed almost in total...
....and been equally dismissive, as, in truth, all were tripe, shite and claptrap. They virtually always are.
Exception might be RT's paean to Alexander Graham Bell. I also like My Man, an early Eagle song about Gram, written by then Eagle Bernie Leadon, but accept its soppiness. In the same vein, I have always presumed Little Feats Voices on the Wind to be about Lowell.
Agree about Abe, Mart and John
And also agree that "Candle in the Wind 1997" deserved to be in the worst list. I thought that the original version might have made it into the best though.
As for Brian and Michael, words failed me. Lowry did not paint matchstalk men, cats or dogs.
And what happened to Nick Lowe's "Marie Provost"? That hungry little dachshund.
I like Vincent
So there.
Why, thanks, Lucas
That's set me up for the week, that has.
Yes, it's difficult to think of good ones.
As the list shows. It looks like a worst/worst list; almost all of them are dreadful (exceptions include Hattie Carroll, Geno & Shine On You Crazy Diamond).
The best tribute songs I can think of are: "The Killing of Georgie" by Rod Stewart (except the excrutiating football-style chant at the end - if only he'd left that out) which is surely the best song he ever wrote, "My Old Man" by Ian Dury, which movingly and evocatively pays tribute to his dad, and "The Ballad of Ira Hayes" by Johnny Cash. Is it a coincidence that all of those pay homage to someone who wasn't particularly famous?
Thumbs down for Don
Not that I want to get all disgusted of Tunbridge Wells over this, but does anyone else think that Don MacLean's songs are amongst some of the most over-rated pieces of self-important tedium ever recorded?
Vincent, Empty feckin Chairs, and - quite possibly the most lumpen and faux-meaningful lyric ever - American Pie. Each one a bona fide piece of awfulness.
I have a faint memory
of Don appearing on Desert Island Discs, and choosing mostly his own songs... or did i dream it, anyway it always put me off his music after that, although i didn't really like it too much before to be honest.
His career was all downhill
after Crackerjack.
Loads of songs to choose from about Elvis Presley...
...but surprised not to see Warren Zevon's Porcelain Monkey in the list.
Just an addition
I'd have included Kate Rusby's "My Young Man"
Woooooo!!!!
Is that the scary one about (allegedly) John McCuskers spurning of her?
In a similar vein, try the incredibly vitriolic "Only a boy" from Linda Thompsons One Clear Moment following her troublesome split from her erstwhile husband. Wonder who the songs about, tho'?
(On a less unnerving style, the Barnsley Nightingale, Ms Rusby, does also a wonderful tribute to Davy Steele, wondrous scots singer in, amongst others, Ceolbeg, who died tragically young)
P.S. Could this strand be turning into "I wonder who that was about", which could be a marvellously more entertaining idea, if not without risk of litigation...... My Q for that is who was the Pal in RT's "Put it there, Pal". I always theorised possibly Clive Gregson (and have asked that question before, feeling the lukewarm Gregson-penned review of Mirror Blue in Mojo may have precipitated the Thompson ire.)
Put it there pal...
I asked him (Gregson) about it once. "No" apparently. But then he would say that...
As for tributes, whither The Bible's "Mahalia" ? (Also throws in a Robert Johnson reference)
Jolly (no, not really)
"Is that the scary one about (allegedly) John McCuskers spurning of her?"
Nope, but I would be interested in finding that song. I haven't gotten around to buying the last couple of Kate Rusby albums.
My Young Men is about her Grandfather who developed emphysema after years working down coal mines and it's written from the point of view of her Grandmother. It's not often I get a "there's something in my eye" moment after only hearing a song once, but I had it listening to this. The brass feels terribly appropriate.
Here's a live version:
Uneasy listening for a fiddler.
Perhaps........
Its on Awkward Annie. Its called Bitter Boy. Any conclusions about the no-longer Mr Rusby (aka John McCusker) are entirely a matter of opinion, assuming opinions are still allowed.
"There was a boy, a bitter boy,
Whose golden heart I saw gleaming.
I thought I'd win the heart within,
But now I know that I was dreaming.
But I will rise, and I will sing,
Until I know I can't conceal it.
Because I hold the saddest song,
I wish to God I cannot feel it.
And then the boy, the bitter boy,
He came to me for rest and healing.
He reached in his chest, deep in his breast,
Held out the heart for me stil gleaming.
But I will rise, and I will sing,
Until I know I can't conceal it.
Because I hold the saddest song,
I wish to God I cannot feel it.
And then the boy, me and the boy,
We walked for miles through stormy weather.
And hand in hand, we roamed the land,
And held the gleaming heart together.
But I will rise, and I will sing,
Until I know I can't conceal it.
Because I hold the saddest song,
I wish to God I cannot feel it.
Then the boy, the bitter boy,
He came to take the gleaming treasure.
He reached in my chest, deep in my breast,
And took the gleaming heart forever.
But I will rise, and I will sing,
Until the day I can't conceal it.
And then I'll sing the saddest song,
And wish to God you cannot hear it.
Oh, then I'll sing the saddest song,
I wish to God you cannot hear"
Cold sweats all round, I feel.....
Hate to say it
but there were some very lazy choices in the Word's list.
John Martyn's Solid Air???? Where in Nick Drake's name was that?
Or The Handsome Family's ode to Nicky Tesla - Tesla's Hotel Room?
Solid Air
Gosh, yes, I'd forgotten about that one. That IS surely the best tribute song ever - unless someone can think of an even better one...
I know!!!!
What were they thinking?
Questions will be asked in the House, methinks.
Rodney Crowell
Wrote a song called "The first time I heard Johnny Cash sing 'I walk the line'" which is a damn fine tribute.
As is
Emmylou Harris' marvellous Strong Hand.
I agree
but I would coz I love Emmylou. Isn't she Geooooorgeous!
I'm also in the minority of people....
....who actually like "Vincent".
I think better tributes are "Drunken Angel" by Lucinda Williams, which is about little known American singer/songwriter Blaze Foley.
"Ft Worth Blues" - Steve Earles tribute to another little known singer/songwriter called Townes Van Zandt.
"Wild As The Wind" - Steve Forberts tribute to Rick Danko.
"Johnny Cash" - Ry Cooders tribute to the man in black...from his latest cd.
"Never Any Good" by Martin Simpson (2007)
This song has won praise from several bloggers, including myself.
It's a tribute to Simpson's recently deceased father, written after a phone conversation with his estranged mother. Her dismissive summary of his beloved Dad was that he was "never any good with money".
It's a subtle, evocative and moving five-minute biography, and right now I can't think of a greater tribute song:
http://www.divshare.com/download/5799981-749
Amazing
I've seen him perform this two or three times and it's just such an amazing song, I'm pretty sure it'll be on that last mixtape I make just before I pop my clogs in a few decades times.
Simpsons
Feck me, yes, I'd forgotten that one. Is was 2008 wasn't it? Scuse me while I pop over to the festive 50.
No!
2007, definitely.
Otherwise it would rightfully wipe the floor with yer Elbows and Foxes.
Yes..great song!!
I forgot about that one. There's a live version of it on the "That's Proper Folk" sampler which I got for peanuts after someone recommended it here.
I think that someone was me
The best £1.99 I've ever spent. Never any Good is such a lovely heartfelt song. The whole album, Bachelors Hall, is excellent. It's available for next to nowt on eMusic.com, if you're a tightwad like me.
My Act of Remembrance
The Proclaimers. Possibly not a band to grace these pages all that often. However, this song to their father still manages to make me think there's something in my eye.
Totally Agree
...was going to post it myself, but once again beaten to the punch.
Sylvia
Ralph McTell wrote a rather lovely tribute to Sylvia Plath called, erm, Sylvia. I've not heard it in years - the dog ate my cassette - but I'd snap it up right now on iTunes if only it was available.
Better than Vincent...
...was 'Darren' the warm tribute to the diminutive England fast bowler and later a Saturday night dancing champ.
Sneaky, Philip,
very sneaky.
I wish I'd noticed that....
Fine cricketer he may have been but
has he had a whole musical written about him?
Not even best Vincent tribute
Sweet Gene Vincent- Ian Dury
Vincent Black Lightining 1952- Unknown artist(Just Kidding)
Ian Dury really was a Massive Gene Vincent and I once spend an hour in the company of the great man discussing our favourite Cliff Gallup solo's.
Not an RT fan (Yes i have a death wish). got into this via Del McCoury. An excellent tribute to the second finest Motorcycle ever made. The Vincent Black Shadow C series 1950 model is the finest.
Shall I mourn your decline with some thunderbird wine...?
Good call on "Sweet Gene Vincent"! That's two great examples from Ian Dury. (There must be some Ian Dury tribute songs? Madness would be the men for the job.)
Isn't...
...Madness' Drip Fed Fred about him?
nope...
he sings on it instead.
However, i saw Madness in the Royal Albert Hall a few years ago and during the set, they brought chairs out onto the stage, sat with their backs to the audience and 'drip fed fred' was played on the big screen with, i think, a montage of pictures of Ian D
My mistake...
...but their The Prince is definitely about the ace Prince Buster.
Erm...
...I hadn't bought the current issue of the mag when I wrote that, evidently...
so obvious we missed it...
Nick Lowe and the "Rollers Show". A tribute to one of the best selling British bands of all time. Or an attempt to get out of a record contract. Discuss.
I feel dumb for not thinking of Sweet Gene Vincent - I guess we could count "There ain't half been some Clever Bastards" as a general tribute, but it is more of a list song.
Another vote for Abraham, Marting and John. Oh, and Solid Air.
'Sweet Gene Vincent'...
has to be right up there. A corker.
By popular demand
Ode to the Glimmer Twin
Keith Don't Go by Nils Lofgren is a touching tribute - could have been included. I am inclined toward the possibly heretical view that it is superior to both 'Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs' and 'Vincent'. I am, I realise, courting controversy once again.
Go Keith, Go (but not like that, Keith - no, Keith, no...)
...Or for that matter, Murray Lachlan Young's tribute poem, "Go Keith Go", written after Keith Richards' fall from a coconut tree/shrub/sapling/twig:
http://www.divshare.com/download/5817996-f4b
Free Nelson Mandela
would be my preferred choice - Cool band, Good intentions, Great lyric, Sung by anti-apartheid masses everywhere AND still great to dance to......put it on at your Christmas party and watch everyone over 40 go nuts!
She left me for Jesus
Ha Ha Ha Ha haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
My new favourite - The Word CD strikes again!
Some Fantastic Place
I've been talking Don McLean up round here but, no, Vincent isn't his finest few minutes; lovely tune, mind, but a lyric so saccharine it's got a 'High GI' rating. My fave tribute song is Some Fantastic Place by Squeeze, dedicated to their agent, I think, who died at a very young age. It's a genuinely uplifting song and Difford & Tilbrook's favourite of all their collaborations. There's a lovely video for it too. NB Great guitar solo.
I had thought it was about one of Tilbrooks old (sorry) squeezes
but may be wrong. Standout track on a standout LP. A&M re-signed them for it and then, unbelievably, dropped 'em again.
Thanks for the vid, I'd never seen it. And was that Mr Pete Thomas on drums? (A quick scan of the CD suggests probably so)
I always felt there should have been more Squeeze/Costello interplay than has made it's way to posterity.I know EC produced East Side Story and Tillbrook popped up on Trust, but I'll bet there are some cracking as yet unheard collaborations and covers.
Chuck Berry...
... actually wrote 2 songs about Brenda Lee. One is called 'Brenda Lee' which, I think, gives a clue as to its subject matter. The other is called 'The Little Girl From Central' in which he lazily puts new words to the tune of 'Sweet Little Sixteen' which means it ain't so bad. I will need to dig out my vinyl to decide whether either are much cop.
John Kettley Is A Weatherman
Can I just add that I used to work with John Kettley and he actually had the Tribes of Toff song specially made into a ringtone for his phone.
It's Emmylou again...
...singing a tribute to Hank Williams entitled 'Rolling and Rambling'. He may not have cut off his ear but he could self-destruct better than any other hillbilly hero.
Not forgetting Waylon Jennings...
who also sings of Hank on this one, ungrammatically titled, 'Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?' Don McLean he ain't and that's for sure.But 'tis a damn good song.
Wasn't "Killing Me Soflty With His Song" written
about Don McLean?
Yes
it was.
What about political or revolutionary heroes?
Here is Woody Guthrie's tribute to executed activists Sacco and Vanzetti. There are plenty more in this particular vault but this'll do for starters.
And dare we forget Joe Hill
This version by Luke Kelly of the Dubliners. An anthem for oppressed people everywhere. If you are not in a union then I suggest you either join one or run away and play your Don McLean anthology until you feel suitably anaesthetised.
Of course...
... you could go on indefinitely with the tribute thing providing you are prepared to look beyond the mainstream. The lives of the following have all been celebrated in song:
Salvador Allende; James Connolly; Jack Doyle (a.k.a. The Contender); James Larkin; The Birmingham Six, Charles Stewart Parnell and countless others. There is a tendency for the Rock/Pop fraternity to assume that they are the hub on which the musical universe rotates (like when Kevin Rowland 'invented' folk music I suppose).
You mean like when he invented literary referencing too?
Dance Stance:
"I'll only ask you once more
you only want to believe
this man is looking for someone to hold him down
he doesn't yet fully understand the meaning
never heard about (Oscar Wilde)
don't want know about (and Brendan Behan)
don't think about (Shaun O'Casey)
don't care about (George Bernard Shaw
Samuel Beckett)
won't talk about (Eugene O'Neil)
won't know about (Edna O'Brien)
won't think about (Laurence Sterne)
shut it
you don't undertand it
shut it
that's not the way I planned it
shut your mouth 'til you know the truth
I'll only ask you once more
it must be so hard to see
this man is looking for someone to hold his hand
he doesn't yet fully understand the meaning
shut it
you don't understand it
shut it
that's not the way I planned it
shut your mouth 'til you know the truth
(Oscar Wilde and Brendan Behan)
don't think about (Shaun O'Casey)
dont care about (George Bernard Shaw)
oh (and Samuel Beckett)
dont' know about (Eugene O'Neil, Edna O'Brien)
don't think about (and Laurence Sterne)
now listen all these other people they don't mean a thing
they're not listening to what you say
makes no difference anyway
if I knew it I would tell
give you anything
they're not listening what you say
but you might just......
(Oscar Wilde and Brendan Behan)
Shaun O'Casey, George Bernard Shaw)
Samuel Beckett,
Eugene O'Neill, Edna O'Brien
and Laurence Sterne)"
Pah!
In a fairly recent interview, Kevin Rowland admitted to Danny Baker that he hadn't read many of these writers. (Though, to be fair, the lyrics could be interpreted to imply that anyway...)
Ireland has for centuries commemorated its heroes in song.
To name but a few;
Wolfe Tone; Kevin Barry; Tom Barry; (Bold) Father Murphy; Sean South (from Garryowen); Roddy McCorley; Roger Casement; Ned of the Hill; Bold O`Donoghue; Kelly ('The Boy From Killane') 'Bold' Robert Emmet; Daniel O'Donnell; Brennan on the Moor and so on.
Collectively we might also include McAlpine's Fusiliers; The Bold Fenian men; The Boys of Wexford; Barry's (Flying) Column and of course the gallant crew of the improbably cargoed 'Irish Rover'.
More anonymous (but no doubt suitably 'bold' as required) characters include; The Kerry Recruit; The Wild Colonial Boy (does have a name but it changes in some versions); The Minstrel Boy; The Croppy Boy; The Iniskillen Dragoon and not forgetting The Man From Mullingar.
Interestingly many of these failed to get a mention in 'Oirish' Theme pubs of the nineties. Draw your own conclusions.
And no one has mentioned M J
And no one has mentioned M J Hibbett's fantastic tribute to the early days of home computing (21st century folk par excellence) ... Layedeez and gents, I give you, Hey Hey 16k
http://www2.b3ta.com/heyhey16k/
Ahhh....the memories.
Thanks for posting.