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Topic History of: ELO - thread inspired by Kev post below Max. showing the last 5 posts - (Last post first)
Author
Message
The Cat
Nights In White Satin
Whiter Shade Of Pale
Bohemiam Rhapsody
Each a massive and memorable hit.
andrew
I only bought ELO just for Jeff Lynne he is a talented guitarist.
Loved him in the line up for travelling Wilburys.
inside out. just love how bob dylan opens the song.
end of the line.
wont back down with brain may and ringo starr
Mart
Interesting lyricist Gilbert is.
He`s one of those writers that does become autobiographical often, but one is never sure whether he is all the time.
We all know "Clare" was about his real niece, but was "I Believe A Womans Place is In the Home", his own opinion or a jab at sexists?
It`s an interesting subject how people interpret lyrics as well.
"Horace Wimp", could have been a fictional story, or a sarcastic in-joke written about someone that had offended Jeff Lynne, or, of course, just gradually pieced itself together.
I think on the whole, lyricists do write about what is going on around them but mostly use a lot of metaphor to avoid offence later on.
The best selling lyrics are definetly the non cryptic ones though, that said, where does "American Pie" fit in in my arguement?
The Cat
The Diary Of Horace Wimp had excellent lyrics.
If you want weird lyrics, listen to Gilbert O'Sullivan, although I'm a big fan of his and wouldn't wish him to be any different.
"It's the music what counts, Guv".
Kev
For the record I wasn't sneering, well not intentionally. I love ELO, am happy to sing along and can't think of any bad lyrical moments but they're not the kind of lyrics you listen to and think, "Yeah, I know exactly where you're coming from".
Check out Jamie T:
Jack had a gang that he called the many grams,
He was known as smack Jack the cracker man.
Or:
Hound dogs round on the prowl
For the next young girl, who told her daddy,
I'm going round Gemma's to learn and study.
I can relate better to these, perhaps the use of names, the fact the young girl would call her Father Daddy and could have a friend called Gemma (and you know for a fact she ain't gonna be studying!).
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