Chicken bald back

[Cinnamon]

Polyphonic Spree

 

This has just reminded me of mu husbands lastest craze.

 

Band called 'X-Ray Specs'.

 

The lead singer is called Polly.

 

Polly Styrine.

 

 

 

I remember them - in fact I have an old vinyl album of theirs somewhere.

Polly was great - a bit like a cross between Cyndi Lauper & Siouxsie Sioux

[Karen & co.]

Didn't she have huge braces on her teeth too?

 

and sang about Germ Free Adolescents

 

karen x

[Cinnamon]

 

and sang about Germ Free Adolescents

 

karen x

 

Obviously mad,then

[Popcorn]

yes, that sounds about right. I came home one afternoon to find Darren and Stefan dancing about the kitchen to something equally as bizarre

[Richard]

I remember Polly Styrene and Xray specs from the punk days - not really my kind of music I have to say (although I do have pretty eclectic wide ranging tastes, there are two areas where I just don't go - punk and opera, I really can't take either genre).

[Sheilaz]

....punk and opera, I really can't take either genre).

 

Richard, have you seen opera live? I would have agreed on both counts until about 6 years ago. I had free tickets with family to see an opera as my brother was the designer. I'd never been bothered before, all that standing there wooden and proclaiming nonsensical high pitch tra la la, not for me.

Well, my brother met us before & explained the plot (just as well, sung in Italian with German surtitles, in Austria) and we not only understood it, it was terriffic at every level. Admittedly the production was very well staged (a bit biased here) and the overall concept involved a bit of acting too, made it all believable, not just someone singing at us.

For the first time I realised the magnificent control and power of the voices, every bit as thrilling as hearing a talented musician.

I've now been 3 times and can't wait to go again.

I dislike the expense of tickets making it seem elitist, yet I can see just how enormous the costs are in staging a worthwhile production. Yes, it's dressy too, (but not always) but then that too is part of the experience.

 

I used to think it was something for others. Now, even given the expense, I'd love everyone to go at least once or twice in their lives. If you enjoy every minute of it, it's not an expensive luxury any more than any other costly leisure activity. In fact, a ticket would be similar to some pop concerts wouldn't it?

 

As for punk...I like some with hindsight. At the time (yes, I'm an oldie) I was too in love with Glam rock and heavy rock to be bothered and I hated punk clothes.

 

Get it on. T. Rex.

[Richard]

....punk and opera, I really can't take either genre).

 

Richard, have you seen opera live?

 

Yes, and in the main I didn't like it, and got terribly bored. There are certain bits that I like, and the sheer spectacle of some of it I agree is amazing - The Messiah, Aida etc.

 

But so much is, in my opinion, rather boring; anyone who actually sits through Wagner's Ring Cycle has to be ... well, I just won't go there. Very very very patient without much else in their life I suppose I would say.

 

Shows I can cope with - I sang in several (am dram I'm afraid) when I was younger, the best being West Side Story with cheshire youth choir/dramatics, which was put on in Crewe for a week or two as I remember.

 

But I still don't have the stickability to watch them much. I saw little shop of horrors, and starlight express a few years ago and it was fun, but I wouldn't rush back. I don't have the patience to sit through the theatre either.

 

I'm just a pleb at heart I'm afraid; culchure, wot culchure?

[Cinnamon]

I'm with Richard on this one - I totally detest Opera, & I have seen it live

I saw Carmen a few years ago.We left at the first interval & went to the movies instead

In fact ,strangely, I can listen to an Opera track, but cannot bear the live spectacle - not sure why.

 

As for Punk, well I loved it but my Punk days were sadly short lived as I embraced the new Romantic movement wholeheartedly

I wore knickerbockers,diamante brooches,pixie boots & frilly shirts,dyed my hair pink & orange & whited out my face with make-up.....the whole shebang

I even had little fewel tear drops that I wore stuck to my face,by my eye for really special occassions

[fairy&cake]

LOL !!! Ross' Mother was a new romantic when he was a child/ teenager. I

would have hated it.

 

DO you still dress like that now?

 

i used to have pink hair for festivals, ill try and dig out an old picture of me. I doubt ill find one though.

 

Was anyone a embarressing Goth?

 

My older cousins were goths growing up. They used to scare me, one told me weetabix were crushed up Wood Lice. He was weird back then, A true gentleman now though.

[Cinnamon]

I do try NOT to dress like that now, but sometimes the urge for crushed satin just becomes too much

 

The daughter is trying to be an embarrasing Goth, but she doesn't really do it wholeheartedly

[SueSteve]

I like the older goth music, but was really into Punk/New wave.

I tended to be too colourful for goth!

Although now I usually wear black, bright colours or just my gardening clothes!!

(This morning I wore a lovely 'goth' style black skirt, a black tshirt with a fleecy checked shirt and walking boots!! LOL! But I was cold and out in the garden chicken watching - must remember to get changed before I go to school!!)

[Popcorn]

DO you still dress like that now?

 

I'll be over in a bit Sarah to pick you up off the floor and wipe that sprayed coffee off the computer screen

 

That was funny Laura!!

 

Just going back to the opera debate for a second, I have never been to see the Opera, but I would like to give it a go. Having not ever been, I wouldn't buy an operatic CD on a whim or because it was recommended, like I would mainstream music. I imagine a lot of the magic is lost without the theatrics? I guess it's such a definite style, you can't really categorise it under the easy listening section!

 

- punk and opera, I really can't take either genre).

 

How about The Ramones, Richard - watered down Punk. You have to admit to a bit of toe-tapping surely?!

[AnnieP]

SueSteve, your list is brilliant! I love all of them. I too was a closet punk and still have loads of punk stuff. I can't pick fav tracks though. I'd need too many.. and they change, depending on my mood. Today I'd love Sanctum Sanctorum, by The Damned. Sums up the cold windy weather and my mood...

[Richard T]

What about The Ramones doing Wagner's Ring Cycle? It'd only take about twenty minutes. Supoib.

[Clash City Rocker]

I have loads of X-ray spex/Poly Styrene stuff on vinyl & CD. "Oh bondage up yours", "Identity" "day the world turned day-glo" etc. Loads of the old Punk/New Wave bands are back playing live again in celebration of 30 years of Punk 1976/77. Recently bought a pair of Sex Pistols tickets for their gig at Brixton Academy (8/11/07).

 

A treat for Mrs Clash City Rocker!!! (honest)

[Snowy]

at you all! What a wide range of tastes we have on here! That's what makes it such an interesting forum!

 

I enjoy some opera. Dad bought us tickets to see Madame Butterfly a few years back. I'm afraid that was really dire Apart from a couple of beautiful choruses, it was too long drawn out with too few scene changes - 2 hours to tell a 5 minute story!

 

Verdi's Nabucco was fantastic - beautiful production, great story, incredible music - Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves heard in context really made me cry. We've been to quite a few different things at De Montfort hall - Tschaikovskys Waltzes; Gilbert and Sullivan - Pirates of Penzance; the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. We also love the open air Proms concerts throughout the summer - beautiful music and fireworks.

 

But the best live performance EVER was from Jools Holland and his band a couple of years ago. Brilliant!

 

I don't think I could name an all time favourite song, it changes daily. But there is a beautiful song that I could listen too every day - Bizet's The Pearl Fishers Duet. Incredible.

[chooks a go go]

This is soooo hard - and I guess it gets harder the older you get! So here goes, prepare for a medley of embarrassing 80s pop, glam rock and punk with a sprinkling of this, that and the other!

Sanctum Santorum – The Damned

Everything Kate Bush has ever recorded

Fields of Gold – Sting

Faster Love – George Michael

Easy - The Commodores

When Doves Cry – Prince

Purple Rain – Prince

Trouble – Ray Lamontagne

(Freedom Fields the whole album) – Seth Lakeman

Best of You – Foo Fighters

Break Out – Foo Fighters

Just A Day – Feeder

Are You In? – Incubus

Stay – Shakespeares Sister

Rio – Duran Duran

Save A Prayer – Duran Duran

In The Mood – Glen Miller

Crawling – Linkin Park

Maggie May – Rod Stewart

Keep The Faith – Bon Jovi

Crazy – Aerosmith

Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing – Aerosmith

Here I Go Again – Whitesnake

Love Bites – Def Leppard

The Flower Duet from Lakme

 

There are so many more....I could just get lost in a whole world of musical nostalgia...but I think you are probably laughing hard enough already. Mind you, you think my list is bad - as I type I am listening to the theme tune to Bob The Builder. My 18 month old insisted. Honest.

[BeckyBoo]

I was an embarrassing Goth. It used to take me and my two friends 4 hours to put on our make up when we went out (they were guys!) We used to hang out at Madam Jo Jo's in Soho and go to the Alternative Miss World where all the contestants were men in drag. Boy George (when he was going through his no-make up and skin head look) once told me "Daaahhhhling, your make up is SOOOOO fab" to which I replied (cos you had to be rude and derogatory when you were a Goth) "You like like you could use a touch of lipstick yourself love".

 

Shall we start an "embarrassing photo of me as a teenager" thread, or a "before and after" as we were and as we are?

 

Mrs B

[SueSteve]

Ok Mrs Bertie, start that embarrasing photo thread!!!!

[Chocobo]

[fairy&cake]

This is soooo hard - and I guess it gets harder the older you get! So here goes, prepare for a medley of embarrassing 80s pop, glam rock and punk with a sprinkling of this, that and the other!

Sanctum Santorum – The Damned

Everything Kate Bush has ever recorded

Fields of Gold – Sting

Faster Love – George Michael

Easy - The Commodores

When Doves Cry – Prince

Purple Rain – Prince

Trouble – Ray Lamontagne

(Freedom Fields the whole album) – Seth Lakeman

Best of You – Foo Fighters

Break Out – Foo Fighters

Just A Day – Feeder

Are You In? – Incubus

Stay – Shakespeares Sister

Rio – Duran Duran

Save A Prayer – Duran Duran

In The Mood – Glen Miller

Crawling – Linkin Park

Maggie May – Rod Stewart

Keep The Faith – Bon Jovi

Crazy – Aerosmith

Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing – Aerosmith

Here I Go Again – Whitesnake

Love Bites – Def Leppard

The Flower Duet from Lakme

 

There are so many more....I could just get lost in a whole world of musical nostalgia...but I think you are probably laughing hard enough already. Mind you, you think my list is bad - as I type I am listening to the theme tune to Bob The Builder. My 18 month old insisted. Honest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OMG! that list screams the 80's!

 

I love the commodores though! Fabulous! Lionel Richie.

 

My 2nd ever boyfriend used to sing, Once Twice Three times a lady to me . How embarressing i remember that. He was a swoon though, a bit of a Smchmuck though at the same time ! What can i expect though he was a Yankie , typical american.

[BeckyBoo]

If I ever get a minute I'll dig through some old photos and scan some in. You'll have to make sure you're sitting comfortably though, otherwise you'll laugh yourself off your chair. I thought I looked the bee's knees!! Then one day when I was walking down the road with my dad a little girl said to her mum"Why is that man with a witch mummy?" My dad never let me forget it!

[chooks a go go]

OMG! that list screams the 80's!

.

 

I knoooooooow! But what can I do? I was a teenager in the 80's. I had the biggest crush on Paul King. I think I was a bit though - I went from a Madonna lookee likey to part-time Goth corpse face lookee likey and back again frequently! I used to wear blood red lippy or almost black, plummy colours. I was waitressing when I was about 15 and some customers left a tip for me "tell the girl to get some new lipstick" they said. Mortified.....

[fairy&cake]

madonna look: aka Lace gloves and white face?

 

ooooh you gotta paste a pic!

[chooks a go go]

Thanks be for small mercies. There is no photgraphic evidence of this terrible, misguided phase of teenage confusion.

 

Oh yes. I was Madonna.

 

White face

Red Lippy

Scrunchy Hair with head band and hat

Lace gloves

Millions of plastic bangles

Roseary beads and diamante brooches

Big dangly cross earrings

Hip slung belts

3/4 tights, fluro socks and pointy shoes

 

OMG.