Never Mind The Ballads, Here's The Proclaimers

But It Is by The Proclaimers nails it, a blistering, brilliant, un-tinted unstinting critique of the global shitshow that we're all bit part participants in.

The video is also excellent, revisiting the world that John Lennon Yoko Ono dreamed of in their song and video Imagine, back in 1971.

"The spirit of 85-year-old John returns to find the hypocrisy of Western countries and the tragic and sad world it is politically now." 

Only director Douglas Mackinnon achieves this through the art of puppetry, adding another layer to the song's meaning. 

Forty years on from their debut, a single by The Proclaimers arguably shouldn't be this good. But it is.

Today's post is dedicated to Stuart, for a friendship that's lasted even longer.

We say that’s not who we are

But it is

Injustice rising, de-civilising

We say that’s not who we are

But it is

Our collective conscience

Is proven nonsense

Every minute of the day

I’ve watched these years of decline

Now I’m an old man

I’d like to say things would get better

I don’t think that I can

We say that’s not who we are

But it is

When did we decide to aid a genocide?

We say that’s not who we are

But it is

Causing hunger, following warmongers

To the deepest pits of hell

We talk of barbarism

Like we left it in the past

While we elect malignant scoundrels

Each one as bad as the last

We lecture others on morality

While wi’ the deil we sup

We say we face down terror

Just hold a mirror up

We say that’s not who we are

But it is

Injustice rising, de-civilising

We say that’s not who we are

But it is

Our collective conscience

Is proven nonsense

Every minute of the day

Nonsense every minute of the day

Three Kinds Of Sunshine

Continuing the celebratory mood, happy birthday to Eddy Grant (76 today) and The Proclaimers aka twins Craig and Charlie Reid (a mere 62). Three for the price of two!

Almost too many songs to choose from on both counts. 

 

My three from Eddy include one of his earliest hits, a masterclass in the political pop song and a 21st Century remix of a song that took on a whole new life when it was covered by Rockers Revenge in 1982.

For the Reid brothers, the title track from their second album which a quarter of a century later became a hugely enjoyable musical on the stage and silver screen, another title track (album #6) from 2005 with a great video and the song and show that started it all for The Proclaimers, way back in 1987.

Great stuff, all round. Here's to you, lads!

Baby Come Back: The Equals (1966)

Gimme Hope Jo'Anna: Eddy Grant (1988)

Walking On Sunshine: Eddy Grant vs. StarGate (2001) 

Sunshine On Leith (1988)

Restless Soul (2005)

Throw The 'R' Away (1987)