Archive for the ‘Book Of Love’ Category

Transgendered Cabin Boys, Religious Symbolism and Gay Dance Duos – Just Another Day in 80s Pop Music

Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

Seriously, the musical landscape of the 90s didn’t have shit on the randomness of the 80s.

Kate Bush
Alternative Hounds Of Love
The Handsome Cabin Boy
I’m going to level with you,I don’t know what’s so “alternative” about this mix of “Hounds Of Love’ aside from the fact that it’s about 50 seconds longer than the original album version. It has the “do-we-do-do do-we-da-da” and those awesome drums still, so it still kicks ass.

The real star here is the B-side, “The Handsome Cabin Boy.” I had never heard of this tune before, but after some quick online research, I’m now absolutely fascinated by it. This is a traditional folk song…about a woman who tries to pass as a man on a ship, only to have an affair with the captain and his wife (and possibly some of the crew as well) before she ends up pregnant. Bisexuality, transgender issues and the prevalence of homosexuality on the seas! That’s a mighty progressive traditional folk song! Anyone out there now how old this tune is?

Bush’s treatment of the song is absolutely haunting, its nothing more than her voice and some very subtle synthesizers-as-chorus melodies. Its haunting, and it leaves the message and meaning of the song bare for your to take in. It was completely the right way to go. Any attempt at “mainstreaming” this song as a single would probably just make it come off as a joke in poor taste. Best to let the lyrics and the message speak for themselves.

Book Of Love 
Counting The Rosaries (Full Confession Mix)
Counting The Rosaries (Full Confession Dub)
Counting The Rosaries (Happiness & Love Mix)
Counting The Rosaries (Crying Angels Mix)
Sunny Day (Heal Your Positive Body Mix)
I rarely wish I was a religious person. Okay, scratch that, I almost never wish I was a religious person. The only times I do is when it could help my understand of pop culture with religious overtones. For example, I hear songs like this and am left with absolutely no clue as to what it is about due to my blissful ignorance. Anyone care to fill me in? Regardless of what this song is actually about, these remixes are pretty great. Best dance tune about…something religious(???) that I’ve heard all week.

Pet Shop Boys
Always On My Mind (12″ Verision Phil Harding Mix)
I somehow had this 12″ single in my “to record” bin for two years and never got around to it. Stupid me. Now that I have it recorded and filed, however, it brings my Pet Shop Boys singles collection to an even 40. I think that gives me an official ranking of “fabulous.”

Bjork’s Book Of Blondie Love

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009

Holy shit I’m back. Sober! Oh well. That might not last all week though (sorry mom)!

I’m also not feeling very talkative tonight, so I’ll be keeping things brief. I’ll be back to my ranting misanthropic self in a day or so. It’s late.

Book Of Love
Boy (Peter Rauhoffer Club Mix)
Boy (Headrillaz Extended Vocal Mix)
Boy (Headrillaz Dub)
Boy (Dubaholics Mix)
Boy (Dubaholics Dub)
Boy (Peter Rauhoffer Dub)
Boy (RPO Remix)

I have a feeling this song is big with “the gays.” I have no basis for that other than the fact than the lyric “I wanna be where the boys are” and the fact that one of my gay friends LOVES Book Of Love. Educated and mature I know. These are from a 2LP 12” that came out in 2000 for som strange reason.

Bjork
I Miss You (R.H. Factor Lovely Mix)
This mix is quite good, although I think proclaiming it to be “lovely” is a bit egotistical of the remixer. I have more remixes of this song on vinyl, and if I ever get that record to play without skipping like it’s on jello in the middle of an earthquake, I will share them with you all.

Blondie
Rapture (Guru’s Fly Party Mix)
This is a very weird remix. I’ve had it for a very long time, so long that I forgot where I found it. It is however the only remix of “Rapture” you can’t buy on iTunes, so I’m featuring it tonight. Much like the “lovely” mix, I think proclaiming this mix to be “fly” is a bit bold. It wouldn’t got that far for sure. It’s quite…groovy though.