"I can never hear lyrics. I've got a real dyslexia with lyrics."
Paul Abbott, scriptwriter of Channel 4's 'Shameless' on Desert Island Discs
It was interesting to hear this throw-away remark (I missed it when I listened to the first broadcast last weekend), interesting because I have a similar relationship to song lyrics. Strange for a lover of Dylan and similar but I really struggle to engage with lyrics in a whole or analytical way. They're more like part of an audio collage to me. Glints of light, a diamond spinning in the dark.
A good rounded choice from Mr Shameless punctuating a raw, honest, insightful and illuminating interview:
1.Good Vibrations
Performer The Beach Boys
Composer B Wilson-M Love
2.Ode to Billie Joe
Performer Bobbie Gentry
Composer Gentry
3.Sweet Soul Music
Performer Arthur Conley
Composer Conley/Cooke/Redong
4.Imagine
Performer John Lennon
Composer John Lennon
5.Children of the Revolution
Performer T Rex
Composer Marc Bolan
6.Town Called Malice
Performer The Jam
Composer Paul Weller
7.Video Lullaby
His son Tom Abbott with his band Kid4077
8.The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
Performer Roberta Flack
Composer Ewan MacColl
Record: Town Called Malice
Book: Complete works of Arthur Miller
Luxury: Writing pad and pencils
Particularly like his One Record - it's an explosive song, brilliantly exploited in 'Billy Elliott' - a kicking the wall song. Yes, really kicking. He zooms in on it as an expression of creative anger, constructive shouting, exactly as his writing is.
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1 comment:
at least 6 great tracks in that lot and I have a very soft spot for the Jam track - I remember buying it and I think the B side was pretty good too. The one exception is Imagine. I have a total blind spot with this one. I think it is awful. 'Imagine, no possessions' ...while sat by a huge white grand piano in a great big mansion while addicted to smack!
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