Dexy's on Jools

Brings back vivid memories of dysentery in Magaluf in 1982. Most of the holiday was spent on the bog, head in sink, evacuating from both ends while listening to Come On Eileen.

Happy times.

DMR - one of Homer Simpson's favorite bands, as I recall.  But Homer was really big on BTO!  TCOB!

I do remember the Dexy's 'hate in' that happened on the forum a couple of years ago.

Can't say that I am sorry to have missed that edition of 'Later'.

They were dreadful to the point of embarrassment! Well past their sell-by date.

Dexy's were excellent -real passion and commitment without taking themselves too seriously. Their recent concerts have received very favourable reviews. Looking forward to the new album out in June.

Dire. That is the straight answer.

Kevin was ok until he started putting on dresses.

That killed it for me.

The music was never the same after that.

Both Jagger and Bowie made some of their best music after wearing dresses so not necessarily a bad thing

Yes I'm afraid it is a bad thing and he's well short of the class of Bowie and Jagger.

Be that as it may, I thought June Tabor and the Oysterband were better than ever!

SD , I  liked June and OysterBand too. Not their strongest performance though, IMO.

Yeah really classy:

Times were different. Bowie was younger, prettier and vastly more talented but he still looks like a dick. Rowland just looks sad and embarrassing.

And I meant class in the musical sense as I'm sure you knew.

Tom,

Thanks to this thread.

Looking for a picture to post?

I found this cat suit for £27

Just ordered one for her who comes indoors and fits in it.

God i love the forum.

Stu.

Sad and embarrassing - surely not!

Stu,

I'd suggest you make emergency arrangements to stay with a mate before presenting her with this. Good luck if she's up for it though.

Got nothing to do with his background it was an awful performance.

It is quite possible to dislike Dexy's music without regard of what they wore, or the history of the song writer.

Good for him for turning his life around, but I would prefer to not hear his music.

There is a great deal of music I do not like, and a great deal I do like, but because I do not like one particular band, that does not make me ignorant.

The only DMR track that I was aware of well enough to know title and performers is Come On Eileen, but I always reckoned it was a fun song and excellent material for the more drunken dancing later on at a barn dance.

It is one of those songs that sticks in the mind like Tell Me Why I Don't Like Mondays, or Mrs Robinson and Homeward Bound.

I have never been interested in the private lives of nusicians except a few heroes of mine in the classical field such as Otto Klemperer, and Adrian Boult.

Thus I can listen to these old tracks from my younger days without any clutter, just as music.

But it is often true that old poppers and old rockers do not retain all their attractiveness in middle age, and it is a bit much to expect that music which is essentially for younger people in the main can be satisfactorily brought back to life but middle aged performers - essentially the music is innocent in a way that does make it easy for the worldly-wise to re-engage in such a light-hearted way after half a lifetime of dealing with this mortal coil. Of course this is just about the opposite of the case with classical music where a lifetime's experience can impart a wisdom in an aged performer such that resulting performances have a transcendency not even hinted at in the performer's young days.

With old pop and rock songs, the best is to hunt through youtube [or dig out the old vinyl], and have an hour's pleasure once in a while revisiting happy youthful memories! And not worry too much what kind of clothes the performers may have worn in the meantime!

I know people who make hit records do have a high profile, but if that is ignored, then sometimes the music remains memorable long after the time it was released.

ATB from George

I'm in agreement with both George and Jamie on this - I hadn't a clue about Kevin Rowlands personal life, but I have heard some DMR tracks and simply don't like them; on the other hand I like Ziggy Stardust (especially 5 Years which is a stand-out track). The three tracks George has mentioned are much more to my taste than DMR, 

This argument that I should like something because of it cultural significance was thrown at me when I said I can't stand rap or hip hop; if it rescues the performers from dire straits then I'm all for it, but I still don't wish to listen to it. 

There are too many great songs I love to worry about those I don't like. 

And I think the original version of Valerie by the wonderful Zutons is vastly superior to any cover version. 

I think George has touched on a interesting argument in popular/rock music, should it remain a simple, and predominantly a music of energy, or should it become music that moves towards the depth of music like classical and jazz.

Many bands that have done the latter have been accused of being pretentious by the popular music press, and it may be some of that argument that tinges many of the comments in this thread.

'Come on Eileen' to many is a 'barnstormer' track, and perhaps those who like music like this, find the rock music that strives for more than that raw energy unpalatable. Exactly the reverse may be the case for those who listen to more esoteric rock music, finding music that is predominantly based on energy overly simple, and unengaging.

Of course this is taking an extreme point of view, as music can have raw energy and sophistication at the same time, no matter what genre it is.

I would add, that classical, or orchestral music is not the only music that stands serious examination outside the dance hall, much modern/popular music now has the a high degree of sophistication that stands alongside that of classical. Some musicians who in the past may have gone into classical music, now find popular music an equal challenge. An interesting example would be Jaz Coleman, who started his musical career as the singer of the punk (post punk?) band Killing Joke, but has been composer in residence at (I believe) Auckland University, and seems to be getting a positive critical response in that field. (I should check on Wikipedia, but haven't the time right now).

+1 to the above posts by BigH /Jamie and Guido.

I have all three of DMR early vinyl albums.

Kevin and the band looked and sounded better in the early days imo.

maybe he should of done a big ish tour

Before he got into dresses?

It must be a right pain for a Taff having to live in English Hell.

Stu.

.

DMR: entertaining in their day. Never great musicians and KR never was a great singer. On Jools KR was sh*t, weak voice and poor timing. Just another old has-been trying to beg a few more cents before he pegs it. Nobody under 50 will be interested. Like many others he should let sleeping dogs lie. He won't get rich on that performance.