The music: Ashford and Simpson penned luxury pop-soul, immaculately arranged and played by The Funk Brothers and top sessioners. Beautiful vocals from Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell (possibly Simpson according to some)
The lyrics: The World is just a great big onion. And pain and fear are the spices that make you cry.
Your nominations for the Grand Canyon sized gaps between music and lyrics. We’re not talking novelty hits or party tunes, but ballards and beautiful tunes with lyrics that Adrian Mole would be embarrassed to pen.
Transcripts from: Regina v. Weller; Paul.
And I quote, members of the jury, the full horror of this pseudo-poetic quasi-folk bollockry
“For no bonds can ever keep me from she”
The tune, I grant you, is pleasant. The prosecution rest m’lud.
Surely this is another prog thread. What’s wrong with silly anyway:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hsp-C6mQGo
10cc specialise in developing an exquisite soundbed for goofy lyrics. I’m not sure they count, though, because they do it deliberately with the intention of being funny. Donna is an excellent example, with its falsetto doo-wop style and totally daft lyrics (eg, “You make me stand up, Donna”). I’m going to pick I’m Not In Love because it is not possible to have more beautiful music, yet the self-denial in the lyric punctures the romance.
I dont think “Im not in love” counts. The lyrics are rather clever and strange and like Paul Simon’s “America” mentioned on a different thread – completely without rhyme.
A hell of a lot of Nick Drake falls into this category. Not his best stuff (Northern Sky, Black Eyed Dog etc) but the fact is, the man played beautifully, was possibly the greatest acoustic guitarist of his generation, but sung a song called “Man In A Shed.”
Another candidate? OK what is the greatest album of the psychedelic era? For many of us it would be Forever Changes by Love.
ALTOGETHER NOW!
“Oh the snot has caked against my pants/ It has turned into crystal/ There’s a bluebird sitting on the branch/ I think I’ll take my pistol/ I’ve got it in my hand/ Because he’s on my land…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TniztJYqsJ8
Don’t even start me on The Incredible String Band by the way…