So late last night, Hec asked me to sort out a post for today. I believe “I’m Swayze. Off to bed. We need to post before 11:30am NYC time” were his exact words. As I was planning a post continuing my Mr. Scruff introduction to the wonder that is the Ninja Tune record label here in the UK, my morning lecture on Post Modernism pulled a fortunate serendipity on me. In the words of Andre 3000,
You can plan a pretty picnic, but you can’t predict the weather.”
So for today, I think a dip into the post modern side of popular music would be an interesting way of starting your Thursday. It involves exploring an evolution and the constant reuse of the jazz standard, Just One Of Those Things.
The song is about a feeling most, if not all of us, are familiar with. It is common, between two individuals that once shared an intimate affair, for one of the two to suddenly lose interest after a few encounters. It is a simple fact of life that not all relationships were made to last. So to build on what Hec so beautifully suggested, the concept of thinking in seconds as opposed to the future or past, I would like to suggest that some affairs were made to be enjoyed in the spur of the moment. As my dear friend Pichi once said, don’t cry because its over fool, smile because it happened. Additionally, certain long lasted relationships should be brought to an end, regardless of how difficult it is to break it up. To quote Chris Martin,
Nobody said it was easy. Nobody said it would be this hard.”
Brazilian Girls – Just One of Those Things
Quickly skipping through history, we keep seeing this tune popping up time and time again. That fact itself tickled my interest during today’s lecture. How universal must this situation be that musical artists from radically different generations keep expressing their interpretations of Cole Porter’s gospel through their own musical persona. Lord knows I’ve had my fair share of uncomfortable scenarios where I can’t find the words to lay it down straight. He also knows I’ve found myself on the other side of this predicament more than once, mon coeur brisé entre mes mains. So the reiteration of these type of songs throughout musical history epitomizes the deep roots of this instant of human interaction. (The tune was originally written in 1935 by Cole Porter for the musical Jubilee, performed by the one and only Ella Fitzgerald. In 1958 Blossom Dearie gave the public her rendition of the song, using musical minimalism to bring outthe bass and the vocals in the tune. Having passed away to greener pastures in February of this year, I would like to pay my respects to this diva by encouraging all those unfamiliar with her work to get on it. By 2005, Brazilian Girls pumped the bass up to 11 and brought the tune to its most modern adaptation yet)
It was just one of those nights
Just one of those fabulous flights
A trip to the moon on gossamer wings
Just one of those things…
It was great fun but it was just one of those things.”
Further more, on a more academic note, Modern theory extrapolates that music within this realm should, either intentionally or not, always evoke a pastiche or parody of a genre, style or ideology, in itself breeding a critical approach to the musical art form. In other words, covers should make us think and focus more attentively on the lyrical content of certain songs. So on that note, I leave you with this eargasmic cover version to sooth your mid-week pressure valves as Christmas approaches. Enjoy
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7 Comments
dropping some post modern terminology, i like it. A little Jameson in there perhaps, or Benjamin. I just wrote like a 10 page paper on postmodernism in the surf industry for my media theory class so i’ve been bombarded with postmodernity…but that’s where it’s at. songs are sick as usual. grazie
Thanks dood. I would be uber interested in reading your paper if you’d be up for it. Postmodernity in the surf industry, that reminds me of my friends company who were basically sick of people that don’t even skate wearing skater apparel and trying to pull off the persona. SO they started a clothing line called Can’t Skate. Pretty damn skippy if you asked me. Quite post modern too. Anyway kyle, let us knw dawwwg. peyce
ya dude for sure. i will premise it by saying that i wrote it in almost complete lay terminology as directed by my professor…explanations of things that are of common knowledge to people involved in the sport. it is more of a historical narrative of the industry and the journey to post modernity, so only the last few pages are about it directly in the present. i mean what else would you want to write about for ten pages…let me know your email.
you can just send it to jeronimo@etmusiquepourtous.com
cheers buddy. I’ll give you some c.c. if you’re comfortable with feedback.
Nice post man, a good read, especially seeing as I joined you in that brilliant lecture with the teaching hero that is Giles Hooper. I just picked up on one of the things you wrote though that cover versions should make us think about the lyrical content but I think that, yes, lyrical content is important, but other features should be focused on with equal attention. I mean it’s what the artist does with everything that defines how good a cover is going to be. I agree with you in listening to how well the music represents the mood and feeling of the words but in my opinion a good cover should have you rooted to the spot listening to every detail and thinking about how it relates to the original. This is a t-yoone though man, good shout.
great feedback Stead man. I couldn’t agree more. Although my reference to concentrating on lyrics was mainly due to the fact that it is the lyrical content that inspires artists to cover a song in the first place. That is to say that the lyrics of this particular tuna are what, in my opinion,invoked the covers year in and year out. On another note, I do not want next thursday to arrive. I feel a piece of me will die after our last Giles lecture.
Yeah man that’s a good point. I mean the original is a blues and the words and their meaning is what blues is all about. I try not to think about it man. Postmodernism is, by far, the best module out of the two years so far and i can see it being better than any next semester. Giles will be in the pub after it and I really can’t wait to join him and pick his brains, I reckon you could just sit for hours talking about music with him. Good times.
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