What are you listening to? Part III

[Scepticalscribe]

An oldie from the 1980s. (Great decade for music in the UK).

This wonderful song is called 'Left To My Own Devices' and the group that released it were The Pet Shop Boys.

 

[pachyderm]

'80s was one of the worst decades for music IMHO.

there were some bright spots but the pet shop were not one of them... again, IMHO.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

'80s was one of the worst decades for music IMHO.

there were some bright spots but the pet shop were not one of them... again, IMHO.

Let us agree to differ.

An aside: When someone posts about something they like, why do others (invariably male) feel the need to let us know how much they dislike it? Are we still undergrads, compelled to signal our dictates and dislikes with adamant certitude?

You know, there is much I dislike in popular culture - but, on fora such as these, I prefer to reference, or mention, what I like.

Now, other likes of mine include Bach, Scarlatti, Soler, Baroque organ music, much Renaissance music, Balkan bands, klezmer, high classical, 20th century Russian composers, modern French (Yann Tiersen, Air), and er, so on.

For now, I am listening to Yann Tiersen.

 

[pachyderm]

so... i have to agree with you or not post...? my bad.


for the record i actually like a lot of the stuff you've posted on here in the past and you've actually turned me on to some other stuff.


the pet sop boys, and a few others like them, were utter cack... well at least i thought so until a few minutes ago.

p.s. my main gripe on here is that there seems to be such thin skin on here. jesus.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

so... i have to agree with you or not post...? my bad.


for the record i actually like a lot of the stuff you've posted on here in the past and you've actually turned me on to some other stuff.


the pet sop boys, and a few others like them, were utter cack... well at least i thought so until a few minutes ago.

p.s. my main gripe on here is that there seems to be such thin skin on here. jesus.

No. And no, 'jesus'.

You don't have to agree with me, but - you know, I am no longer 23, and I have no interest in what you dislike musically, as I assume you have little interest in what I dislike (these days, that includes hip hop, rap, and unmelodic moronic nihilism).

Why be a bad tempered undergrad? On a music thread?

If you want to tell me what you dislike politically - because professionally, I am rather interested in this, and exceedingly engaged with it, and personally - well, I cannot conceive of not being very engaged with stuff such as political beliefs - and thus, I will more than happily debate with you (on other threads), because this stuff s still my bread and butter, and - yes - raison d'être.

However, I stopped debating the merits of musical choices with males (women never, ever engaged in such musical up-manship arguments) decades ago. And they stopped arguing with me when they realised they couldn't pursue me into the Middle Ages, where I actually like this stuff, and got the historical context because I taught it.

(I cannot begin to count the number of - invariably male - soi-disant intellectuals who sought to classify, judge and interrogate - and invariably dismiss - female acquaintances on the basis of their musical choices).

The guys I knew were prepared to launch into a mad musical assault on the fact that I liked (and like) groups such as Genesis, and Supertramp (among others).

However, the fact that I also like Beethoven, Bach, Susato, Prokofiev and so on (I have studied music since I was a kid, and my parents had taken me to classical concerts as a kid and encouraged me to listen to - and appreciate - classical music on the radio, discussed it with me, and made it clear that I was not to feel I was in any odd if I liked Khachaturian or Johann Strauss as a 10 year old and wanted those albums, which were bought for me) silenced them. Which was funny.

Why tell me what you dislike? Seriously, you think that is of interest? You think that will influence me, or embarrass me, or make me cringe to apologise for my taste?

Tell me what you like, - and why you like it - and I might wish to listen to it.

 

[lobeyonekenobi]

No. And no, 'jesus'.

You don't have to agree with me, but - you know, I am no longer 23, and I have no interest in what you dislike musically, as I assume you have little interest in what I dislike (these days, that includes hip hop, rap, and unmelodic moronic nihilism).

Why be a bad tempered undergrad? On a music thread?

If you want to tell me what you dislike politically - because professionally, I am rather interested in this, and exceedingly engaged with it, and personally - well, I cannot conceive of not being very engaged with stuff such as political beliefs - and thus, I will more than happily debate with you (on other threads), because this stuff s still my bread and butter, and - yes - raison d'être.

However, I stopped debating the merits of musical choices with males (women never, ever engaged in such musical up-manship arguments) decades ago. And they stopped arguing with me when they realised they couldn't pursue me into the Middle Ages, where I actually like this stuff, and got the historical context because I taught it.

(I cannot begin to count the number of - invariably male - soi-disant intellectuals who sought to classify, judge and interrogate - and invariably dismiss - female acquaintances on the basis of their musical choices).

The guys I knew were prepared to launch into a mad musical assault on the fact that I liked (and like) groups such as Genesis, and Supertramp (among others).

However, the fact that I also like Beethoven, Bach, Susato, Prokofiev and so on (I have studied music since I was a kid, and my parents had taken me to classical concerts as a kid and encouraged me to listen to - and appreciate - classical music on the radio, discussed it with me, and made it clear that I was not to feel I was in any odd if I liked Khachaturian or Johann Strauss as a 10 year old and wanted those albums, which were bought for me) silenced them. Which was funny.

Why tell me what you dislike? Seriously, you think that is of interest? You think that will influence me, or embarrass me, or make me cringe to apologise for my taste?

Tell me what you like, - and why you like it - and I might wish to listen to it.

I have a love/hate relationship with the 80s, I love the early-mid but hate the late 80s.

I will always love The Specials,The Selector, Simple Minds up until Street Fighting Years to name but a few.
The Clash, exceptional band but at the moment I'm listening to STP 'Core' in honour of the late Scott Weiland RIP, what a great album that is.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I have a love/hate relationship with the 80s, I love the early-mid but hate the late 80s.

I will always love The Specials,The Selector, Simple Minds up until Street Fighting Years to name but a few.
The Clash, exceptional band but at the moment I'm listening to STP 'Core' in honour of the late Scott Weiland RIP, what a great album that is.

Terrific music - well, at least, I really liked a lot of it.

Then, of course, don't they say that you never fall out of love with the music that was out when you were young? Perhaps, in some strange way, it defines you.

 

[997440]

 

[pachyderm]

Terrific music - well, at least, I really liked a lot of it.

Then, of course, don't they say that you never fall out of love with the music that was out when you were young? Perhaps, in some strange way, it defines you.

Wait!
NO NO NO!
Chew him out!!

Actually, @Scepticalscribe , I need you to recommend a good book on Hannibal. Chew him out after you do that... I'll be waiting in the "What are you reading" thread...

 

[lobeyonekenobi]

Terrific music - well, at least, I really liked a lot of it.

Then, of course, don't they say that you never fall out of love with the music that was out when you were young? Perhaps, in some strange way, it defines you.

It does define you, you're right, music has a way of uplifting me like nothing else can, except,my little boy of course.

My old man used to listen to John Denver when I was a wee little boy, now this is not the sort of music I would have on my iPod, but I do like it not because I love the song per se but the memories it evokes, I still know all the words there is nothing else on earth can do this , I can not hear a song for twenty years, then I'll hear it and it'll remind me instantly of that time in my life, it is so powerful.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Wait!
NO NO NO!
Chew him out!!

Actually, @Scepticalscribe , I need you to recommend a good book on Hannibal. Chew him out after you do that... I'll be waiting in the "What are you reading" thread...

You mean, Hannibal of Carthage fame? (When I first read that post, before I had sipped my coffee - always a stupid thing to do, as my brain is sluggish in the morning and doesn't always accurately read the data sent by my eyes) I thought you might have meant Dr Lecter, and wondered to myself why you thought I would be able to offer a recommendation on that.

It does define you, you're right, music has a way of uplifting me like nothing else can, except,my little boy of course.

My old man used to listen to John Denver when I was a wee little boy, now this is not the sort of music I would have on my iPod, but I do like it not because I love the song per se but the memories it evokes, I still know all the words there is nothing else on earth can do this , I can not hear a song for twenty years, then I'll hear it and it'll remind me instantly of that time in my life, it is so powerful.

Ah, yes. I do understand where you are coming from, completely.

Same with my parents. My father used to love smooth jazz, and easy listening stuff from the 40s (say, Ronald Binge, or Ketelby). Now, I listen to this sometimes to remind myself of him, or - as you say, - resurrect memories.

And yes, you are absolutely right: If you happen to hear one of those pieces of music inadvertently, you are almost immediately transported to where you were when you heard it. Actually, it is a powerful trigger.

These days, with my mother's dementia, sometimes we put on music that was out when she was young, and she lights up upon hearing it..

 

[pachyderm]

Yes, of Carthage fame. The one with the pet elephants.

 

[lobeyonekenobi]

This

You mean, Hannibal of Carthage fame? (When I first read that post, before I had sipped my coffee - always a stupid thing to do, as my brain is sluggish in the morning and doesn't always accurately read the data sent by my eyes) I thought you might have meant Dr Lecter, and wondered to myself why you thought I would be able to offer a recommendation on that.




Ah, yes. I do understand where you are coming from, completely.

Same with my parents. My father used to love smooth jazz, and easy listening stuff from the 40s (say, Ronald Binge, or Ketelby). Now, I listen to this sometimes to remind myself of him, or - as you say, - resurrect memories.

And yes, you are absolutely right: If you happen to hear one of those pieces of music inadvertently, you are almost immediately transported to where you were when you heard it. Actually, it is a powerful trigger.

These days, with my mother's dementia, sometimes we put on music that was out when she was young, and she lights up upon hearing it..

Can your mother remember the music even though she may not remember anything else, if so This is why music is so so important to me, it has the power to uplift and bring joy, even movies or TV can't do this, they can to an extent but music to me is the one thing after my family I couldn't live without, to prove this I actually listened to Haircut 100 Love Plus One as it reminds me of my brother and I haven't see him in twenty years as I emigrated to Australia then from England, an otherwise non-starter of a song turns into a cry-fest for me

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Yes, of Carthage fame. The one with the pet elephants.

With elephants. Okay. Will give it thought. (Mary Beard's just published - and excellent - book SPQR - a history of Rome, - does look at this, but from the perspective of what it meant for Rome.

This

Can your mother remember the music even though she may not remember anything else, if so This is why music is so so important to me, it has the power to uplift and bring joy, even movies or TV can't do this, they can to an extent but music to me is the one thing after my family I couldn't live without, to prove this I actually listened to Haircut 100 Love Plus One as it reminds me of my brother and I haven't see him in twenty years as I emigrated to Australia then from England, an otherwise non-starter of a song turns into a cry-fest for me

Yes, I relate to that story completely.

And yes, my mother remembers the music and gets emotional, too, as sometimes, happy, as well.

She doesn't remember that my father has died (he passed 10 years ago), and so asks me sometimes, in a voice heavy with longing and sadness if I have heard from him. She doesn't understand why he is not chatting to her, gently teasing her, and making her laugh, as he used to. A few weeks ago, over dinner, she remarked thoughtfully that he 'seems to have gone from the face of the earth'. More true than she could ever even have begun to imagine.

But yes, music transports her, the old stuff (that she danced to in the late 40s, early 50s to mid 50s - indeed, when she had her mind and her memories, she would remind us that 'Elvis put me off the dance floor'), and some more modern stuff. She loves ABBA, and if we put that on, she will sing and try to dance to it, if encouraged to do so.

 

[MacSociology]

"Nina Simone and Piano" by Nina Simone.

 

[arkitect]

Wait!
Actually, @Scepticalscribe , I need you to recommend a good book on Hannibal. Chew him out after you do that... I'll be waiting in the "What are you reading" thread...

You could try "The Ghosts of Cannae", Robert O'Connell and "Hannibal - A Hellenistic Life", Eve MacDonald.
Of course Adrian Goldsworthy has written extensively about the period. But only recommended if you are not allergic to his style…

The Barcid family are a curious lot… Hannibal's father (as Philip for Alexander) laid much of the groundwork for the invasion of the Italian peninsula. And did Hamilcar really marry his daughter to his lover Hasdrubal "The Fair" just so he could be together with Hasdrubal more conveniently? After all, you could not prevent a father in law from seeing his son in law… apparently so. (Or is it all just so much ancient gossiping?)

(Mary Beard's just published - and excellent - book SPQR - a history of Rome, - does look at this, but from the perspective of what it meant for Rome.

I had it on my Christmas list… but after browsing it in a local bookshop I'm not so sure.

 

[Berlepsch]

I posted this song in another thread, but it fits also here. A bit Procol Harum like, maybe.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

A classic, one of those seminal piers of music which challenged the boundaries of what can be considered popular music, and by doing so, transformed the understanding of what might be considered popular music, and one where it is hard to believe that it is all of 40 years old: the astonishing (and ageless) 'Bohemian Rhapsody' by Queen.

 

[lobeyonekenobi]

A classic, one of those seminal piers of music which challenged the boundaries of what can be considered popular music, and by doing so, transformed the understanding of what might be considered popular music, and one where it is hard to believe that it is all of 40 years old: the astonishing (and ageless) 'Bohemian Rhapsody' by Queen.

Queen were one of those very few bands I actually liked right until the end, they were still making great music twenty years after they appeared on the scene, not even the Stones who died really after Tattoo You for me and Zeppelin (whom I love lost it really after Physical Graffiti), could keep it up.

I like some of today's music but can't really see any band lasting this long...

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Queen were one of those very few bands I actually liked right until the end, they were still making great music twenty years after they appeared on the scene, not even the Stones who died really after Tattoo You for me and Zeppelin (whom I love lost it really after Physical Graffiti).

To be honest, I don't like everything that they did, but - at their very best, (such as with Bohemian Rhapsody) they produced epic, superlative, epoch defining (and boundary shifting - I hadn't heard of operatic forms of music being used in popular music before then) songs. Superlative - and spine tingling music.

And, it is not just the homage to operatic forms that makes Bohemian Rhapsody such a stunning song - this is a musically complex, challenging, brilliant piece of music. Listening to it recently, it still sounds fresh. And original. And, actually, revolutionary. It transformed - and broadened - what we understood to be acceptable under the label of popular music.

 

[997440]

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/rush’s-neil-peart-says-he’s-retired-from-music.1943152/

 

[kazmac]

Motorhead's Ace of Spades... still a perfect album 34 years after it blew my then very young mind.

 

[LizKat]

While housecleaning I found a 4GB 2nd gen iPod under a bed and it had been there awhile, plus when I loaded it up originally, I had put a pretty varied mix of stuff on it. So of course I quit cleaning and came downstairs to charge the thing up . Any excuse, man, to ditch the mop.

So I've heard all kinds of stuff today from many genres -- Manu Chao, Kaiser Chiefs, La Ley, Lupe Fiasco, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Nouvelle Vague, Fey, Francis Cabrel, Spoon, Little Feat, David Bowie, Mike Auldridge, The Who, Walter Trout, John Gorka, B-Side Players, Derek Trucks, Belanova, Clapton, -- that I haven't listened to in quite awhile.

I just love playing random picks as with something like on that iPod, and turning up the volume as we approach the solstice.! Man I hate late November and early December for the low light of short days. January is cold here but I can't wait for the return of actual LIGHT instead of these pale streaky shadows of bare trees on frostbitten grass at two in the afternoon.

In the meantime this music gets the blood moving. However, the cats have retreated upstairs, I guess they don't care for Nada Surf, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs or The Who. Whatever, I'm letting that iPod rip until the whole thing has played. At least it will be charged up by suppertime.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

While housecleaning I found a 4GB 2nd gen iPod under a bed and it had been there awhile, plus when I loaded it up originally, I had put a pretty varied mix of stuff on it. So of course I quit cleaning and came downstairs to charge the thing up . Any excuse, man, to ditch the mop.

So I've heard all kinds of stuff today from many genres -- Manu Chao, Kaiser Chiefs, La Ley, Lupe Fiasco, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Nouvelle Vague, Fey, Francis Cabrel, Spoon, Little Feat, David Bowie, Mike Auldridge, The Who, Walter Trout, John Gorka, B-Side Players, Derek Trucks, Belanova, Clapton, -- that I haven't listened to in quite awhile.

I just love playing random picks as with something like on that iPod, and turning up the volume as we approach the solstice.! Man I hate late November and early December for the low light of short days. January is cold here but I can't wait for the return of actual LIGHT instead of these pale streaky shadows of bare trees on frostbitten grass at two in the afternoon.

In the meantime this music gets the blood moving. However, the cats have retreated upstairs, I guess they don't care for Nada Surf, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs or The Who. Whatever, I'm letting that iPod rip until the whole thing has played. At least it will be charged up by suppertime.

Great post and wonderful story. Finding an iPod - a long forgotten - iPod in such a way is a terrific excuse for a trip down musical memory lane. And, for once, I am not at all sorry for the cats.

Moreover, I agree with you completely on the small matter of that bleak, bare cold December light.

While I strongly dislike the cold, detest the wet miserable conditions of winter, and am no fan of either snow or ice, it is the light deprived nature of December that I loathe most of all.

 

[rhett7660]

Listening to some classic Iron Maiden.

Album: The Number of The Beast.............