WHAT IS THIS??
In this age of whiney pop bands, (yes yes.. I know, "When weren't they whiney") Its nice to see a band with a set of balls once in a while. Not the mealy testosterone fueled angst but one that will scare the living daylights out you with a little dash of sensibilty and style for crikeys sake.Bauhaus did that with, "Telegram Sam" a remake of the T.Rex Song of the same name.
This venomous attack on the senses, (both audio-wise and visually speaking) offset even the poppier, happier non-sensical stuff of its day, (early MTV generation). The wild one to look out for was obviously Peter Murphy. David J,("I like to drink in coctail bars") and Daniel Ash, ("Love and Rockets") fall under his shadow and are actually tame in comparrison.
There is a sinister look about this too - especially the silhoutte shots took me by surprise. The grimey brown overtones may not be intentional as I hoped, this effect could have been to a simple lack of budget and poor film stock... this is most likely the case. This band got a cult following in the 80's. In the late 70's they were quickly overlooked with the reinvention of the London SKA movement. Still, this is very powerful and eye grabbing.It is in some ways.... perfect.
=====================================Ted Cantu is a freelance writer for the Fascube Network. He resides in Walled Lake, MI and works as a direct marketing gurus.
4 comments:
This is a fantastic cover, and one of Bauhaus' best vids.
Do you really think they were overlooked due to the reemergence of the ska movement? They found chart success from the beginning, and in the UK in the early eighties their last two records (in 1982 and 1983) were in the top 20.
I personally think their creative turmoil as a band and their unwillingness to play the media game really did them in commercially. It's also what made their music so good. As David J sings, "something so electric by its nature cannot last."
haha my dear, ... I really dont know if they were overlooked for that reason. But the early 80s after the Sex Pistols showcased a rampant stream of mood swings and talent.
There was a very unique period in music where UK bands felt like they had to continually reinvent themselves and musical genres.
Im too much of an artist with too much to think about at times.... lol. Glad you enjoyed the video.
Ted
There was a very unique period in music where UK bands felt like they had to continually reinvent themselves and musical genres.
Yes, this has also been my thought about this time as well. If they had just come out as a definite "post-punk" band, or a definite "glam band" or whatever --instead of crossing so many genres and creating genres, as well as being so innovative -- they may have been more commercially successful. But their music wouldn't have been so enduring nor as influential.
That is a very good point... its the reason why it sounds so fresh even today. It is very relevant.
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