The only Roxy Music song I like
I basically hate Roxy Music. No, this post has nothing to do with feminism, except in the most tangential way — Bryan Ferry is a sleazebag, Brian Eno is a misogynist, the whole Roxy Music aesthetic was always sexist in a Hugh Hefner-Playboy Mansion-let’s put-girly-pinups-on-our-album-covers kind of way. But that’s not why I’m writing this post. I’m writing this post because I’m in the midst of a YouTube Vacation, and I thought I’d share.
So, anyway, I was never into Roxy Music. Yes, I know they were “cool.” I know that all the cool people in the 70s listened to them, and that they were supposed to be brilliant innovative geniuses who were breaking new ground with every record. The Radiohead of the 70s, for you young whippersnappers out there. But frankly they bored the shit out of me.
This, however, is a very good song. And it’s made even better by the fantabulously cheesy 80s MTV production values. The flaming set! The freeze frame closeups! The mousse! Enjoy.
21 Responses to “The only Roxy Music song I like”
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polly styrene says:
No argument on the sleazoid bit,(and Ferry’s son is an arsehole too) but I must speak in defence of ‘pyjamarama’ and ‘virginia plain’, both stonking tunes.
April 11th, 2009 at 8:45 am EST -
bluelyon says:
Not a bad song, but the video…it’s like they started out with a story (heaven/hell bookends) and then just decided the middle part of the story wasn’t worth the effort.
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Sis says:
I think the “cheesy” video makes it. I watched a straight up version and it just wasn’t the same flawless experience. No, you need this one. It’s iconic. It’s … a trip.
I guess I wasn’t hip in the ’70s. I remember Whiskey in the Jar-o.
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Nina M. says:
A YouTube vacation… always educational in its own way!
I like this song too. Hate, hate, hated the album covers and posters.
I’m no fan, but in his defense Bryan Ferry was aiming for louche, and nailed it. (On second thought, perhaps it would have been hard for him to miss.) But give the man his due. Could we have had this sort of thing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHojqzsx96E
without this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zJdbpzfJMs
[cough]
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Here are three selections that have something (you decide what) to do with feminism:
1st, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWnz70QVo1M
2nd, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related
Bringing the mood way down, with ‘date’ rape trigger warning:
3rd, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D044NzcX4h8
Interestingly, seems to have inspired a few covers, also sung by men.
Last, not music-related, but the wag and look (”can you believe this kid?”) at .48 is one of my favorite things ever:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....annel_page
It is important to look at puppies at least once a day.
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Cyn says:
What in the hell is Roxy music? And, if that video is any indication, I’m glad I missed it.
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AM says:
“I’m in the midst of a YouTube Vacation”
Me too, sort of. Got a more robust PC recently and now the YouTube clips are smooth, don’t stutter and stop. I’ve been bookmarking favorite songs by Delores Keane, Maura O’Connell, Billie Holiday, Roy Orbison, plus some classical things. And one of a kind things, John Jacob Niles singing Go ‘Way from My Window,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfSQAEsMuqA
and Leon Rosselson singing Stand Up for Judas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1irXjtkD1Y
I’ve waked up almost every morning since a child humming some melody, now I can hear most of them instantly on YouTube. Kinda cutting into my political blog reading.
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Violet says:
Not a bad song, but the video…it’s like they started out with a story (heaven/hell bookends) and then just decided the middle part of the story wasn’t worth the effort.
I think it’s the other way around. The real plot of the video is Bryan Ferry’s Ego, and note the thrilling central motif of watching Bryan Ferry watching himself there in his private screening room. Then they added the crucifix and the flames to sort of pretend there was something else going on.
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Violet says:
Polly Styrene, don’t you think that in “Virginia Plain” Ferry is doing a bizarro Dylan impression?
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Violet says:
Nina, I see your Avalon and raise you one Love Is The Drug from 1975, wherein we see Bryan already working through his 1940s Nazi-wannabe fetish:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_KFebLWpY0
Like so many Roxy Music tunes, “Love is the Drug” is actually about half of a good song.
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Nina M. says:
And here I was about to write how I like The Gossip because the vocals remind me of X-Ray Spex - the all out gutsiness and commitment to the songs… and Polly has the first comment!
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Violet says:
This is too delicious for words. I’ve attracted a Roxy Music troll! I suppose on a planet of 7 billion people there’s bound to be someone who’s so committed to Roxy Music that he spends his time defending Bryan Ferry online, and lo and behold if that someone hasn’t found me. It’s wonderful. He thinks I’m jealous of “Mr. Ferry” because I’m a lesbian or something.
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Unree says:
Bryan Ferry, according to Wikipedia, had a relationship with one Katie Turner who was 35 years younger than he. Think of all the abuse Demi Moore drew for marrying a man 15 years her junior.
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Nina M. says:
Hmm… I wonder if that troll is named Bryan Ferry….
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Sis says:
Nina thanks for your post. I learn, I learn. And the dog … .
My favourite bit with Zero was when she used the sock as a tool to turn the pup around. Egads. Tool using Bull Terriers. Female, Of course.
I got lost in YouTube for HOURS. And this is what I brought out for you. Sorry. It’s not ironic, just plain good.
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Sis says:
AM, you too. Thanks.
I need to figure out a way to ‘hear’ YouTube without my computer on. Great stuff there.
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Sis says:
Oh and this. I love these two:
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anna says:
Have you seen Susan Boyle from Britain’s Got Talent? Since she was old and plain naturally the judges and audience laughed at her, but she has a lovely singing voice:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxPZh4AnWyk
(Elaine Page is a star of British musicals, in case you didn’t know.)
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Sis says:
Stunning voice. I hope she won whatever it was she was after. It’s such a pleasure to hear real music, real talent.
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Violet says:
Thank you for posting that, anna! What a thrill. Beautiful voice. I can’t believe how rude the audience was to her before she started.
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bluelyon says:
Beautiful! Just beautiful!
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DancingOpossum says:
Yes, that Susan Boyle video is amazing — I saw it on alegre’s site and just cheered and wept. I love the way her gorgeous voice shattered the immediate pathetic-old-maid-with-cat stereotype the audience had clearly pegged her with. From a pathetic old maid with several cats who can’t sing: Brava!!
I loved Roxy Music when I was in college but that was long before I knew anything about life or music or that this thing called fire had been invented. I still their cover of “Jealous Guy” kicks Lennon’s out the door, but I don’t like John Lennon so it could be due to that.
