John Coan's SHIT OR HIT 12

[fange]

Most definitely a HIT. The fact that i don't really like it much - as a whole, anyway; i think parts of it are fabulously 80s - has absolutely nothing to do with it.

Poor show, fangey baby.

Ok it's not amazing and it's horribly overplayed, but even that hasn't brewed up enough ire in me to make me hate it, like say that FR David song 'Words'.

Is it my definition of a great song? Nah. But that synth hook makes me smile, and it brings up a fond nostalgia for me these days.

[Bent Fabric]

that FR David song 'Words'

THAT one fascinates me just by how utterly perfunctory it manages to be on every level.

It exists - it starts, it ends, but there's an almost platonic/heroic "Let's nobody knock ourselves out here" quality to it that I somehow can't turn away from. Like..."It's a Heartache" or "Stumblin' In" is "A Day In The Life" or "Rumble", comparatively speaking.

I'd had a conversation recently with a friend/colleague about music that could justifiably be referred to as pure "content" (emphasis on first syllable) - you can go ahead and sell it, put it on tape/wax/video/mp3, but to no discernible effect/purpose.

Christ, even the name of the act:

"Look, Fred - you're going into show business, you can call yourself anything you like. Let 'em know you're something special. You know...Freddie Mercury, Gary Glitter, Bob Dylan, Johnny Rotten, Ringo Starr..."

"Oh, I reckon 'FR David' should do the business."

[fange]

that FR David song 'Words'

THAT one fascinates me just by how utterly perfunctory it manages to be on every level.

It exists - it starts, it ends, but there's an almost platonic/heroic "Let's nobody knock ourselves out here" quality to it that I somehow can't turn away from. Like..."It's a Heartache" or "Stumblin' In" is "A Day In The Life" or "Rumble", comparatively speaking.

I'd had a conversation recently with a friend/colleague about music that could justifiably be referred to as pure "content" (emphasis on first syllable) - you can go ahead and sell it, put it on tape/wax/video/mp3, but to no discernible effect/purpose.

Christ, even the name of the act:

"Look, Fred - you're going into show business, you can call yourself anything you like. Let 'em know you're something special. You know...Freddie Mercury, Gary Glitter, Bob Dylan, Johnny Rotten, Ringo Starr..."

"Oh, I reckon 'FR David' should do the business."

Hear, hear. I'm sure some masochistic person could make an entire doctoral thesis out of that song. It horrifies me and makes me want to break things, yet fascinates me too to find what people actually liked about it enough to make it a hit.

[Bent Fabric]

It sort of seems like the type of thing you'd find playing in a pub that has one cassette that just cycles through over and over on auto reverse (Jesus - that technology sounds almost exotic in 2017). None of the staff seems to care, mind or notice, and most of them don't know where the stereo is located.

I feel like the backstory is entirely ours to manufacture.

[Charlie O.]

I don't think I've heard that particular song. But seldom does a day go by that I don't hear something that makes me think: The person (or persons) who started writing this song actually decided that it was worth finishing! Then somebody, maybe the same people, decided it was actually worth recording in a studio! And THEN somebody thought it was actually worth releasing to the public!

And thus my childlike sense of wonder is continually renewed.

[Bent Fabric]

And thus my childlike sense of wonder is continually renewed.

I mean, it's a beautiful thing.

We all face the danger of becoming smug and jaded in our sense of "believing ourselves to understand how the world works". The process you describe is crucial in keeping us young.

[Charlie O.]

Naturally, it happens with movies, too:

[Loki]

Dave Marsh is in it! Fricking hell.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0385639/?ref_=nv_sr_1

[Loki]

As far as I know (?) they were a one-hit wonder here. I doubt I've ever heard anything else by them.

Yeah I was wrong - I have heard "The Sun Always Shines on TV"

[Darkness_Fish]

A definite hit, and Morten Harket sounds like a lovely village.

[Ranking Ted]

Oh crikey. I really like A-ha's run of hits which started with this

As far as I know (?) they were a one-hit wonder here. I doubt I've ever heard anything else by them.

They had a series of top 10 hits in the UK after this; the follow up (The Sun Alwars Shines On TV) got to number one.

[Ranking Ted]

As far as I know (?) they were a one-hit wonder here. I doubt I've ever heard anything else by them.

Yeah I was wrong - I have heard "The Sun Always Shines on TV"

Ah, you got there first!

[Loki]

If I remember later maybe I'll listen to some of their other hits.....

[Count Machuki]

I don't think I've heard that particular song. But seldom does a day go by that I don't hear something that makes me think: The person (or persons) who started writing this song actually decided that it was worth finishing! Then somebody, maybe the same people, decided it was actually worth recording in a studio! And THEN somebody thought it was actually worth releasing to the public!

And thus my childlike sense of wonder is continually renewed.

I freaking love this, Charlie

[fange]

I wish i still had my child-like sense of wonder.

But FR David stole it with his horrible song and scarred me for life.

[hippopotamus]

It's one of those things that shouldn't work at all, but...here we are with me saying it most certainly does.

Quite.

I've been defiantly trying to disregard it for years.
I heard a Jazz fusion band play it the other year and now I realise I can't.

[hippopotamus]

I don't think I've heard that particular song. But seldom does a day go by that I don't hear something that makes me think: The person (or persons) who started writing this song actually decided that it was worth finishing! Then somebody, maybe the same people, decided it was actually worth recording in a studio! And THEN somebody thought it was actually worth releasing to the public!

And thus my childlike sense of wonder is continually renewed.

I think this ALL the time. How do people go about and spend their TIME making something that they really hope other people will listen to and like. And it doesn't just happen every so often, there's TROVES of things people just make because they really felt they should, and somehow it gets to MY ears. And if it gets to MY ears-- there's a sort of unity in the world, where we're all sharing something. Even if it's a smug smile when you accidentally find yourself shamefully enjoying a song you intellectually decide is inferior. It's all pretty great that things Weren't in existence at some people, and then they Were, and we all know them, and there's "a spark of divine fire" that keeps that song from dying.

[Modesty Forbids]

I wish i still had my child-like sense of wonder.

But FR David stole it with his horrible song and scarred me for life.

I've never heard (of) it and have managed to forget the soundtrack to A Ha's video.
There are upsides to being old.

[BARON CORNY DOG]

If we must choose between "shit" or "hit" options, then I must choose "hit."

[naughty boy]

Hm.

Well, someone needs to break the tie before I post my NEW AND INCREDIBLY EXCITING POLL!