What are you listening to RIGHT NOW? (2 Viewers)

[Lili Marlene]

Speaking of boyband image, anyone going with me to see Nik Kershaw next month?

 

[Denny Oubidoux]

snigger

 

[Lili Marlene]

racist

 

[rettucs]

Speaking of boyband image, anyone going with me to see Nik Kershaw next month?

He was on the late late the other week.

I loved him back in the day. But only really the singles. Especially 'the riddler'.

 

[rettucs]

and Howard Jones too.

 

[Lili Marlene]

It's called 'the riddle' but yeah, he is what he is. I saw him live a few years ago and he's good fun, played the One and Only. I've never really ventured further than the singles myself.

I love Drum Talk

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[rettucs]

It's called 'the riddle' but yeah, he is what he is

a real fan would know that.

which makes me not a real fan.

 

[therealjohnny]

Was that riddle ever solved?

My mate thought it meant a snooker table (!) at the time

he had it all figured out;

hole in the ground = pocket

old man of Aran goes around- snooker referee

 

[Lili Marlene]

Was that riddle ever solved?

My mate thought it meant a snooker table (!) at the time

he had it all figured out;

hole in the ground = pocket

old man of Aran goes around- snooker referee

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Riddle_(Nik_Kershaw_song)

What's the answer to "The Riddle"?
It amazes me that people are still asking me this question. I spilled the beans a few years ago now so this isn't exactly news.

My producer (Peter Collins) came over to my house just before we commenced recording on the second album to hear how I was getting on with the writing. He went away saying he thought it sounded great but didn't think I had the first single. Incensed by this, I went straight up to the spare room and got the chords and melody together for the Riddle. This must've taken all of twenty minutes. Knowing time was short before we started recording I jotted down some jibberish with the intention of writing the real lyric as we were recording it.
About a week later we started recording and I threw a rough guide vocal down using the jibberish lyrics. As the album progressed, I tried various different lyric ideas but nothing seemed to fit as well as the guide lyric. So we decided to stick with what we had. "Let's call it the Riddle", I thought. Then people would think it was actually about something.

I had completely underestimated the fuss this would cause and, to make matters worse, the marketing and promotions people at MCA decided to make a competition out of it (without telling me). The response was unbelievable. We got sack loads of mail with elaborate and detailed analysis of the song. Line by line, word by word. Some were the size of small novels. Some even made sense!! People stopped me in the street to give me their thoughts and theories. On one occasion I arrived to do a live Radio 1 interview with a certain DJ only to find he'd told the great British public that I would be "revealing all" on his show. He was most put out when I wouldn't (couldn't) co-operate.

It all got a bit out of hand and, very quickly, passed the point at which I could come clean without pissing off a lot of people. In short, "The Riddle" is nonsense, rubbish, bollocks, the confused ramblings of an 80's popstar. Please forgive me. I knew not what I did.

 

[therealjohnny]

i shouldn't care about this..

but thanks for that!

 

[Denny Oubidoux]

just turned off Lonely Heart by Massacre - rubbish

just turned on Death or Glory? by Roy Harper - much better

 

[Jerry Twig]

Jesus, that's a terrible album cover

 

[rettucs]

i shouldn't care about this..

but thanks for that!

@SONG: the_riddle (3:52)

i got two strong arms
blessings of babylon
with time to carry on
and try
for sins and alarms
so to america the brave
wise men save

near a tree by a river
there's a hole in the ground
where an old man of aran
goes around and around
and his mind is a beacon
in the veil of the night
for a strange kind of fashion
there's a wrong and a right
but he'll never, never fight over you

i got plans for us
nights in the scullery
and days instead of me
i only know what to discuss
of for anything but light
wise men fighting over you

it's not me you see
pieces of valentine
with just a song of mine
to keep from burning history
seasons of gasoline and gold
wise men fold

near a tree by a river
there's a hole in the ground
where an old man of aran
goes around and around
and his mind is a beacon
in the veil of the night
for a strange kind of fashion
there's a wrong and a right
but he'll never, never fight over you

i got time to kill
sly looks in corridors
without a plan of yours
a blackbird sings on bluebird hill
thanks to the calling of the wild
wise mens child

near a tree by a river
there's a hole in the ground
where an old man of aran
goes around and around
and his mind is a beacon
in the veil of the night
for a strange kind of fashion
there's a wrong and a right
but he'll never, never fight over you

makes perfect sense to me

 

[Mormon Nailer]

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For the day that's in it - Day the Titanic sunk.

 

[jonah]

lalalalalalalal laaaaa I LOVE THE WEDDING PRESENT.

 

[Jim Daniels]

lalalalalalalal laaaaa I LOVE THE WEDDING PRESENT.

Which Wedding Present song is it? I was in their fanclub back in the day. Used to get hand written letters off Gedge's girlfriend Sally. She had loopy girl handwriting.

 

[washingcattle]

I'm Guessing Dalliance from the la formation.

 

[jonah]

No, I was listening to the c86 compilation tape and the wedding present song on it was 'This Boy Can't Wait'. What a deadly band though, thats kind of amazing about the fanclub.

 

[Denny Oubidoux]

Jesus, that's a terrible album cover

oh i dunno, i kinda like it. he must have had misgivings himself to keep changing it like that

another good one:

listening to this one now - HQ. fantastic

 

[Jim Daniels]

No, I was listening to the c86 compilation tape and the wedding present song on it was 'This Boy Can't Wait'. What a deadly band though, thats kind of amazing about the fanclub.

Yeah! It was during the Bizarro days, before the Internet or anything. She send me a "Kennedy" patch too - jeans with holes/ patches were in back then! This Boy Can Wait is deadly, but for real 6 minute indie guitar jangle solos, you can't beat "Take Me". Push comes to shove, they are possibly my favourite all time band.

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