Something Completely Different

Inspired by the "Animals" thread in the lounge, I thought we could share some animal-centric music too. What have you got?

Specifically, this jimmy jazz post reminded me that the red fox is one of the more colourful creatures of British wildlife:-

 

Quote from: jimmy jazz on Aug 13, 2023, 02:28 AMJust seen a fox go past my house, back down and then back up again, walk up my drive, see me stood there and then ran off 😂

I love foxes BTW.

Trolls posted a thread once asking what we like and dislike about where we live and I should have said our range of wildlife. Nearly all of it is harmless and adorable.

(https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/23/2010/07/GettyImages-671702530-d9032ee.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413)

Unfortunately these are really shy and run off but if they were not as scared I'd definitely feed them chicken wings.

Perhaps because of the drama and spectacle of fox-hunting, the fox has featured as a character in British life for centuries: they are in nursery stories and stuff like that. "Sly as a fox" shows how the animal has earned our (sometimes grudging) respect, and here's an old song in which the fox is clearly the hero of the story:-

 
Not easy to make a song about an animal interesting, but thanks to some touches of dry humour and great vocals, The Young Tradition live up to their name and make a traditional song sound fresh.

First thing that came to mind was Peter Gabriel's classic hit "Shock the Monkey", which not only includes the titular animal, but several others as well, including foxes. Lots of bang for your buck with regards to animal references.

Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on Aug 13, 2023, 05:45 PMLots of bang for your buck with regards to animal references.

:laughing: Thanks, Mrs. Waffles ! That's a new song to me.
Like a lot of Peter Gabriel's material, there's a lot of interesting things going on, but I don't notice any strong "hook line" that makes me want to play it again in a hurry.

Hungry Like the Wolf is the first one I thought of. A great song. But I'm on mobile and too lazy to post it hehe x

You've all heard it anyway so who cares.

^ That was a surprising performance for me, mindy.

Nellie The Elephant was a classic song for children, first recorded in 1956, afaik.
Here a curious version of a song from 1984:-

 

^I loved Toy Dolls' Nellie the Elephant when I was a kid 🙂 their album Dig That Groove Baby was one of the first CDs I listened to.

Here's a couple of songs by Gentle Giant. They got cats and dogs covered.

Quote from: Guybrush on Aug 17, 2023, 11:40 PM^I loved Toy Dolls' Nellie the Elephant when I was a kid 🙂 their album Dig That Groove Baby was one of the first CDs I listened to.

Is that so, Guybrush?! I heard the Toy Dolls' version for the very first time, when I posted it here the other day - but as I child I heard the 1956 version on the radio often enough, on the "Children's Favourites" Saturday morning slot, so it stayed popular for a good 10 years or more.

I liked the Gentle Giant Black Cat song, and here's another song that follows more blatantly the convention of using a certain violin style to evoke all things feline:-


With songs about animals, there's a whole sub-genre of "I'm singing about a horse, but just maybe it's about a woman". Are these going to be considered offensive soon, or will they always be defended by the argument, "What's the matter with you?! It's a song about a horse."

The Byrds - Chestnut Mare
Leonard Cohen - Ballad of the Absent Mare
Bob Dylan - New Pony

The Toy Dolls' version was somewhat popular here. You might hear it at a party or find it in the song menu at a karaoke bar. At least I do remember singing it with friends at a karaoke bar around the turn of the century 😅

Talking cat songs and covers, I also kinda like this cover of the Siamese Cat song famously sung by Peggy Lee for the Disney movie Lady & the tramp.

It's very 80s synth (maybe @Mrs. Waffles would find it interesting) and kinda fun. Dave Stewart is a particular hero of mine, though more for his earlier time in Hatfield and the North and National Health.

Quote from: Guybrush on Aug 19, 2023, 01:20 AMThe Toy Dolls' version was somewhat popular here. You might hear it at a party or find it in the song menu at a karaoke bar. At least I do remember singing it with friends at a karaoke bar around the turn of the century 😅

Talking cat songs and covers, I also kinda like this cover of the Siamese Cat song famously sung by Peggy Lee for the Disney movie Lady & the tramp.

It's very 80s synth (maybe @Mrs. Waffles would find it interesting) and kinda fun. Dave Stewart is a particular hero of mine, though more for his earlier time in Hatfield and the North and National Health.

That is an interesting cover! You don't see too many covers of Disney songs in the rock canon.

I didn't actually know about that collaboration, but I love both artists. Dave Stewart is the man, he also played on the Khan album with Steve Hillage which is a stone cold prog classic. And Barbara Gaskin was the singer for the mega underrated prog/folk band Spirogyra, who are very worth checking out if you are unfamiliar.

Thanks for the rec!

Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on Aug 19, 2023, 01:48 AMThat is an interesting cover! You don't see too many covers of Disney songs in the rock canon.

I didn't actually know about that collaboration, but I love both artists. Dave Stewart is the man, he also played on the Khan album with Steve Hillage which is a stone cold prog classic. And Barbara Gaskin was the singer for the mega underrated prog/folk band Spirogyra, who are very worth checking out if you are unfamiliar.

Thanks for the rec!

You're welcome 🙂

I have listened to Spirogyra, but not much. I know them both well, though. Barbara was also part of the Northettes who sang with Hatfield and the North (which Dave played in).

One of their beautiful songs written by Dave with vocals by The Northettes may have a thread appropriate title (if not in the lyrics)


Much of the music he wrote is so unusual and beautiful ❤️

I used to be very much into anything related to Canterbury scene and ran a Canterbury themed website / community for a while called The Polite Force. This is over ten years ago now.. as a community, it failed, but it put me into contact (if brief) with a few of the musicians from that scene, like Richard Sinclair and Mark Hewins.

I DMed briefly with Dave too.. a definite highlight in my life online 😄

Jessie you're a good dog .................  :band:

Paw - Jessie

Boris - Rattlesnake

^ Nice guitar track, Meatwad ! You reminded me of Fleetwood Mac's Rattlesnake Shake, a song they played on many occasions. The one I've chosen is, for me, the Goldilocks version: not too short, like the 2-and-a-half minutes, why-bother "pop" version, and not too long like the live jam they sometimes did, that requires a listening commitment of 24 mins.

 

Quote from: Meatwad on Oct 19, 2023, 03:41 PMJessie you're a good dog .................  :band:

^ I was relieved to see that this track had more  :band:  than "..you're a good dog..." : I thought you might've been posting something sentimental in the style of "Me and You and a Dog Named Boo" (although, to Lobo's credit, the dog named Boo only features in the title line):-

Just a few monkeys to add to the barrel here. 🐒

The Rolling Stones – Monkey Man

Steely Dan – Monkey In Your Soul

The Beatles - Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me and My Monkey

This one just flew into my mind.  𓅪

Bill Callahan - Too Many Birds

^ That's a beautiful, off-beat song, ribbons, by a guy I've never heard of, so I'll definitely be looking at more of his material. Thanks ! :)
(Very restrained of you not to mention Paul McC's Blackbird, even though Bill Callahan was dropping some heavy reminders for you in his own song.  ;) )

A couple of other bird songs: one well-known and the other one a bit of a stretch as the bird reference isn't in the title, it's buried in the French  lyrics:-



Lyrics in French, plus English translation: https://www.jiosaavn.com/lyrics/din-din-lyrics/NxwifhpYRlc

Quote from: ribbons on Oct 19, 2023, 05:48 PMJust a few monkeys to add to the barrel here. 🐒

^ :laughing: Three excellent on-topic choices !

Before we move on entirely from the topic of snakes, though, here's a song made famous by The Lizard King himself, Jim Morrison, who clearly self-identified with animals of a cold-blooded and scaley nature:

Prince and the Revolution - When Doves Cry

This talk of birds reminded me of the song Kingfisher by Joanna Newsom. I like.

Quote from: Lisnaholic on Oct 20, 2023, 01:06 AM(Very restrained of you not to mention Paul McC's Blackbird, even though Bill Callahan was dropping some heavy reminders for you in his own song.  ;) )

Don't think I wasn't tempted.  :devil:  This is a really fun thread, Lisna – thank you!  As a massive Bert Jansch fan, I'm chuffed to see you post a tune from Pentangle's Basket of Light.

A couple of tracks about my favorite aquatic mammal:

Tim Buckley – Dolphins

The Byrds – Dolphin's Smile
(and a horse on the album cover for good measure)

***

And now for Something Completely Different 8): 

Public Image Limited – Swan Lake

Bert Jansch - The Black Swan

Following on Tore's bird selection, this came to mind:

Donovan - Three King Fishers  [sic ;)]

100 Gecs - Stupid Horse

Brian Eno - Needles In The Camel's Eye

The Kinks - Animal Farm

Absolutely love this song and never get tired of it. 

The Shins - Red Rabbits

Faith No More - War Pigs

Primus - Winonas Big Brown Beaver

Ian Brown - Dolphins Were Monkeys

Can - Sing Swan Song   ₊˚ 🦢・₊ ⊹

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VmM8qRRLwU

Wire - Ex Lion Tamer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2A5jsFH0B8

Quote from: ribbons on Oct 20, 2023, 05:00 PMThis is a really fun thread, Lisna – thank you!  As a massive Bert Jansch fan, I'm chuffed to see you post a tune from Pentangle's Basket of Light.

"I'm chuffed" LOL. I bet there aren't many people in New York who say that!
It is of course the number of people contributing that makes it fun, ribbons - and you are clearly on a roll !!
Especially impressive is this two-for-one in animal mentions:

Quote from: ribbons on Oct 21, 2023, 07:19 PMIan Brown - Dolphins Were Monkeys

The best I can do for a two-for-one mention: Hot RATS - It Must Be A CAMEL:-

^ :laughing: :laughing:  Yes, I'm CHUFFED to completely lose control and hog this thread, Lisna - and am obviously tailoring my language to you in the process!

And a good two-fer by you on Hot RATS /  It Must Be a CAMEL - well done!  8)

Guess I'll dedicate myself to thinking of more two-fer songs now - and cluttering your thread even further.  :devil: 

^ Thanks, ribbons  :love:  Finding two-fer songs is a bit of a challenge, so I think "I'll leave that honour to you".

Among the many songs now posted, Mrs. Waffles's struck me as being a distinctive and fun song:-

Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on Oct 20, 2023, 05:46 PM

100 Gecs - Stupid Horse

Here's an altogether more sedate song: Ewan MacColl relating the rights of passage for a cabin boy on a fishing boat: 


"There was little kindness and the kicks were many
As we hunted for the shoals of herring."

Quote from: Lucem Ferre on Oct 20, 2023, 10:41 PM

^ This one was a puzzle for me, Lucem, until I started to work out some of the lyrics, and realized that this is probably the winner so far in terms of number of species mentioned: fishes, jellyfish, shrimp, shark, seahorse... and I'm sure I'm missing some. Nice track :thumb:

You reminded me of another song celebrating crustaceans:-


 

Speaking of crustaceans, you get both them and birds with this song.
Kero Kero Bonito - Flamingo

Nice crustacean picks, Lisna and Mrs. Waffles - and Mrs. Waffles, that's a very cute two-fer song! 

I was going to post this earlier in the thread, but decided not to because I don't like the song much (although I do like some of Dr. Dog's songs).  Are we supposed to be posting only songs we like?  Ah well, for the record, I'm not overly fond of this, but animalistically it's a quadruple. :P  I doubt I'll be able to think of other multiples.   ;)

Dr. Dog - The Rabbit, The Bat, and The Reindeer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2WWPrXr32s

Igorrr - My Chickens Symphony

^ I like Igorrr, I like chickens, and I love that video!   :D

Fleetwood Mac - Dragonfly


Paul McCartney & Wings - Little Lamb Dragonfly
(about a lamb named Dragonfly; so a bit of a two-fer)

The Struggle of the Turtle to the Sea, Pt. III


More like, the struggle of Saulaac to keep up with the guitar solos. (What's more, I'm on air guitar so I don't have any excuse).

Quote from: Saulaac on Oct 28, 2023, 10:36 PMMore like, the struggle of Saulaac to keep up with the guitar solos. (What's more, I'm on air guitar so I don't have any excuse).

 :laughing:

I don't suppose you're wearing a comfortable sweater playing a thing like that. 

Had it been cooler I would probably have gone for the David Sandborn look. Blazer and turtleneck sweater  ;D

Quote from: Saulaac on Oct 29, 2023, 01:08 AMHad it been cooler I would probably have gone for the David Sandborn look. Blazer and turtleneck sweater  ;D

Don't forget your scarf too.  ;D
(https://scd.community/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpascalmartos.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2011%2F11%2Fwith_david_sanborn2.jpg&hash=060038ee18851e1c657885cf4a327adb6962ee5b)

***

Caribou - Odessa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq_tDOFU5tY

Oh wow! Did you take that photo, ribbons? Did you meet him??  8)

Quote from: Saulaac on Oct 29, 2023, 02:05 PMOh wow! Did you take that photo, ribbons? Did you meet him??  8)

Oh no, Saulaac - I wish!  That photo was snapped by artist Pascal Martos, who paints portraits of jazz and soul musicians.  I'd remembered that Sanborn was wearing a scarf in that photo.  :)

Well remembered!  :checkmark:  And what a striking shade of blue that is. Don't even know what it's called, so from now on I will refer to it as Sanborn blue.

^ Similar to that beautiful blue sky in your avatar.  Thank you, Saulaac!  :) 

Sorry to have missed out on some developments in this thread :(

Picking up on Saulaac's ref to turtles, I was reminded of John Fahey's wonderful The Voice of The Turtle, and if guitar instrumentals that just have an animal in the title isn't a bit of a cheat, there is also Fahey's Womblife album, with:-

01. Sharks            -    0:00
02. Planaria          -    9:20
03. Eels                  -    19:14
04. Coelacanths  -    25:28

And please let's not forget our much-missed friend from MB, Plankton. This is the title track from his Krill album:

Quote from: Lisnaholic on Oct 31, 2023, 04:49 PMSorry to have missed out on some developments in this thread :(

Picking up on Saulaac's ref to turtles, I was reminded of John Fahey's wonderful The Voice of The Turtle, and if guitar instrumentals that just have an animal in the title isn't a bit of a cheat, there is also Fahey's Womblife album, with:-

01. Sharks            -    0:00
02. Planaria          -    9:20
03. Eels                  -    19:14
04. Coelacanths  -    25:28

And please let's not forget our much-missed friend from MB, Plankton. This is the title track from his Krill album:

Lisna, for a second there I thought Plankton had returned.  :o  Ah well, maybe some day - but for the time being it's nice to hear "Krill Part 1" again.

Fahey's The Voice of the Turtle is a lovely album.  Fahey was a turtle aficionado and had many as pets, and he would rescue turtles from pet stores or if they wandered into the middle of roads (lest they be run over by cars  :().

I think you're more than entitled to cite those creaturely instrumentals from Womblife.  (I have never heard that album, but you've piqued my interest, and I've read that Womblife is experimental musique concrète paired with bottleneck blues.)

And I'm similarly reminded of Bert Jansch's Avocet, in which all the tracks are instrumentals named after birds:

"Avocet"
"Lapwing"
"Bittern"
"Kingfisher"
"Osprey"
"Kittiwake"

(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51qKAqt2nbL.jpg)

Speaking of turtles...

Syd Barrett - Terrapin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNM-7LBG0mY

Terrapin painting by Syd:

(https://64.media.tumblr.com/444f32f15f704e5ac733b1023a898762/fb56136cd7164d79-31/s400x600/a2ea761b92342c9a740158b2f1fa2c61a3e8abf4.jpg)

^ Of course!!! Terrapin !! :clap: An absolute favourite song of mine!

Thanks for that info about John Fahey too, ribbons: that's an endearing trait, to be looking after turtles, isn't it?

You have given me some listening to do, because I have only briefly dipped into Womblife, and haven't followed Bert Jansch since his days with Pentangle.

:thumb:

Yes, when I learned about Fahey looking after turtles it warmed my heart. :love:

Glad you liked Syd's "Terrapin", Lisna (I feared you or others might not like it, as his post-Floyd output is off-kilter, but I've always thought he should be given credit for trying!  I think Syd was an artistic genius and better than all the other Floyds put together, but that's just me. :D).  "Terrapin" is dreamy poetry in slow motion, like terrapins swimming in dark brackish waters.   8)

T. Rex - Rabbit Fighter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6hkOExHWh4

Camille Saint-Saens - Le Cygne

Bob Dylan - Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuQjcK22SSY

Squeeze - Pulling Mussels (From The Shell)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WngGeI9lnA

Quote from: ribbons on Nov 02, 2023, 02:34 PMSqueeze - Pulling Mussels (From The Shell)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WngGeI9lnA

These guys sound like they could be from Australia or UK. I like this a lot. Are you from Blighty yourself ? :D

^ Some more good calls on animal songs!

Quote from: ribbons on Oct 31, 2023, 06:07 PMGlad you liked Syd's "Terrapin", Lisna (I feared you or others might not like it, as his post-Floyd output is off-kilter, but I've always thought he should be given credit for trying!  I think Syd was an artistic genius and better than all the other Floyds put together, but that's just me. :D).  "Terrapin" is dreamy poetry in slow motion, like terrapins swimming in dark brackish waters.  8)

""Terrapin" is dreamy poetry in slow motion, like terrapins swimming in dark brackish waters.  8)"

That's very well-put, ribbons!
When they first came out, there was nothing like those solo albums of Syd's, afaik, but I fell in love with their low-fi, unambitious approach. I liked how the lyrics kind of worm their way past your consciousness and take up residence in some back-room of your brain. I wonder if you have other favourite tracks? Dominoes and Gigolo Aunt are two that spring to my mind.
I feel as if I found the spirit of Syd's music again decades later, in Neutral Milk Hotel and a style (thank you, Neapolitan) called "acoustic emo". This great, disturbing, track serves as an example and even mentions animals, so I don't have to worry about being accused of going off topic:-

Heroin is nasty ..................

The Dirty Three - Some Summers They Drop Like Flies

Quote from: Lisnaholic on Nov 02, 2023, 02:44 PM^ Some more good calls on animal songs!

""Terrapin" is dreamy poetry in slow motion, like terrapins swimming in dark brackish waters.  8)"

That's very well-put, ribbons!
When they first came out, there was nothing like those solo albums of Syd's, afaik, but I fell in love with their low-fi, unambitious approach. I liked how the lyrics kind of worm their way past your consciousness and take up residence in some back-room of your brain. I wonder ifyou have other favourite tracks? Dominoes and Gigolo Aunt are two that spring to my mind.
I feel as if I found the spirit of Syd's music again decades later, in Neutral Milk Hotel and a style (thank you, Neapolitan) called "acoustic emo". This great, disturbing, track serves as an example and even mentions animals, so I don't have to worry about being accused of going off topic:-

That song is so poetic and tragic. It was inspired heavily by the murder of Matthew Shepard, a college student who was beaten to death for being gay back in 1998. It speaks so much to the horrifying reality of many people growing up queer. Still as relevant today as it was when it was recorded, thank you for posting.

Melt Banana - Lefty Dog

Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on Nov 02, 2023, 03:00 PMThat song is so poetic and tragic. It was inspired heavily by the murder of Matthew Shepard, a college student who was beaten to death for being gay back in 1998. It speaks so much to the horrifying reality of many people growing up queer. Still as relevant today as it was when it was recorded, thank you for posting.

^ Thanks for that insight into the song, Mrs. Waffles ! Yes, it's clear something terrible is going on, but I had no idea that it was so closely connected to a real event.
Genuine R.I.P. for Matthew Shepard.

______________________________

Quote from: Meatwad on Nov 02, 2023, 02:55 PMHeroin is nasty ..................

The Dirty Three - Some Summers They Drop Like Flies

Hey ! Dirty Three !! About 10 years ago, I was hunting the internet for their songs and yet somehow they have completely slipped my mind since. Thanks for the reminder of how good they are, Meatwad :thumb:

Quote from: Meatwad on Nov 02, 2023, 02:39 PMThese guys sound like they could be from Australia or UK. I like this a lot. Are you from Blighty yourself ? :D

Squeeze hailed from London.  I'm a 'Murican who wishes she were in Blighty.  :D

I have to credit my friend for the idea to post that song. Her name is Marian (because her parents saw the movie Robin and Marian in the theater the day before she was born), and when I mentioned we have an animal song thread here, she suggested I post "that mussels from a shell song".  I've often teasingly sung the "Maid Marian" line to her over the years.  :) 

Quote from: ribbons on Nov 02, 2023, 03:21 PMSqueeze hailed from London.  I'm a 'Murican who wishes she were in Blighty.  :D

I have to credit my friend for the idea to post that song. Her name is Marian (because her parents saw the movie Robin and Marian in the theater the day before she was born), and when I mentioned we have an animal song thread here, she suggested I post "that mussels from a shell song".  I've often teasingly sung the "Maid Marian" line to her over the years.  :) 

Maid Marian from Requiem for a dream ?  :laughing:

Live - Rattlesnake

Quote from: Lisnaholic on Nov 02, 2023, 03:21 PM^ Thanks for that insight into the song, Mrs. Waffles ! Yes, it's clear something terrible is going on, but I had no idea that it was so closely connected to a real event.
Genuine R.I.P. for Matthew Shepard.

______________________________

Hey ! Dirty Three !! About 10 years ago, I was hunting the internet for their songs and yet somehow they have completely slipped my mind since. Thanks for the reminder of how good they are, Meatwad :thumb:

They are amazing live. Probably the best live gig I've seen besides the two times I've seen the Mars Volta......  ;)

Quote from: Meatwad on Nov 02, 2023, 03:28 PMMaid Marian from Requiem for a dream ?  :laughing:

No, not that one!  Poor Marian.  I'll never forget when Jared Leto's character was talking on the phone to Jennifer Connelly toward the end, and he said "I'm sorry, Marian" and started to cry.  So sad!  :(

Quote from: Lisnaholic on Nov 02, 2023, 02:44 PMWhen they first came out, there was nothing like those solo albums of Syd's, afaik, but I fell in love with their low-fi, unambitious approach. I liked how the lyrics kind of worm their way past your consciousness and take up residence in some back-room of your brain. I wonder if you have other favourite tracks? Dominoes and Gigolo Aunt are two that spring to my mind.
I feel as if I found the spirit of Syd's music again decades later, in Neutral Milk Hotel and a style (thank you, Neapolitan) called "acoustic emo". This great, disturbing, track serves as an example and even mentions animals, so I don't have to worry about being accused of going off topic:-

@Lisnaholic - Beautifully stated by you, as always, i.e., "I liked how the lyrics kind of worm their way past your consciousness and take up residence in some back-room of your brain."  You not only have a way with words, but also in forming and articulating thoughts I wish I had thought of myself! (seriously)  In reply to your question about my favorite Syd solo tracks:  I love "Dominoes" and "Gigolo Aunt" as well, and also "Baby Lemonade", "Octopus", "Dark Globe", "Late Night" (so heartbreaking) and last but certainly not least – the darkly gorgeous "Opel".

Quote from: Mrs. Waffles on Nov 02, 2023, 03:00 PMThat song is so poetic and tragic. It was inspired heavily by the murder of Matthew Shepard, a college student who was beaten to death for being gay back in 1998. It speaks so much to the horrifying reality of many people growing up queer. Still as relevant today as it was when it was recorded, thank you for posting.

@Mrs. Waffles, thank you for mentioning Matthew Shepard as he should never be forgotten.  I remember his tragic murder very well; and it was all the more disgraceful and shocking because he had seemed such a gentle soul.  :( 

And here beneath the water
I can see how the light
Distorts so strange
And this is how
I would like to leave my body
And start again

Quote from: ribbons on Nov 02, 2023, 04:05 PM@Lisnaholic - Beautifully stated by you, as always, i.e., "I liked how the lyrics kind of worm their way past your consciousness and take up residence in some back-room of your brain."  You not only have a way with words, but also in forming and articulating thoughts I wish I had thought of myself! (seriously)  In reply to your question about my favorite Syd solo tracks:  I love "Dominoes" and "Gigolo Aunt" as well, and also "Baby Lemonade", "Octopus", "Dark Globe", "Late Night" (so heartbreaking) and last but certainly not least – the darkly gorgeous "Opel".

That's extremely kind of you, ribbons. Thanks. :love:  My comment benefited from (i) my first coffee of the day, and (ii) decades spent wondering why  I like Syd's songs so much. Yes all those tracks you mention are special to me too. It's really nice to know that you're also a fan of his solo stuff - from my experience, there are not that many of us.

Quote@Mrs. Waffles, thank you for mentioning Matthew Shepard as he should never be forgotten.  I remember his tragic murder very well; and it was all the more disgraceful and shocking because he had seemed such a gentle soul.  :( 

And here beneath the water
I can see how the light
Distorts so strange
And this is how
I would like to leave my body
And start again

That's a beautiful piece of poetry! I wonder where it's from?
____________________________________________

And here's another Syd Barrett animal song:

@Lisnaholic, I wish my mindflows were as stimulated as yours from a cup of coffee!  ;)  Thanks for adding "Birdie Hop" to our menagerie of Syd songs.  It's interesting how his lyrics sometimes appear awkward in print but work well aurally with his music.  There is a sort of audiocollage/painterly aspect to them – maybe because Syd considered himself primarily a painter.

The verse I quoted is actually the last verse of Neutral Milk Hotel's "Little Birds" – although it works well poetically, I agree.

Thanks to your thread, Lisna, I am noticing and thinking about animals everywhere I go!  A short while ago I was in the elevator here, which has a digital media screen that was citing this Washington Post article on research concluding that starfishes don't actually have arms.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/11/01/starfish-study-evolution-gene-sequencing/ (http://[img)

By the time I returned my desk, this song had come to mind. :)

Donovan – Starfish on the Toast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lG8mQ4oYd78

Quote from: ribbons on Nov 03, 2023, 09:24 PM@Lisnaholic, I wish my mindflows were as stimulated as yours from a cup of coffee!  ;)  Thanks for adding "Birdie Hop" to our menagerie of Syd songs.  It's interesting how his lyrics sometimes appear awkward in print but work well aurally with his music.  There is a sort of audiocollage/painterly aspect to them – maybe because Syd considered himself primarily a painter.

Well, you have your inspired moments too, ribbons !!
I've often thought the same about his painterly vision:"Jiving on down to the beach to see the blue and the grey" - that is just a perfect seascape and probably something we both did when we were down near Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch !

QuoteThe verse I quoted is actually the last verse of Neutral Milk Hotel's "Little Birds" – although it works well poetically, I agree.

= oops,  :palmface:  I clearly need to listen to that song again, and more carefully too.

QuoteThanks to your thread, Lisna, I am noticing and thinking about animals everywhere I go!  A short while ago I was in the elevator here, which has a digital media screen that was citing this Washington Post article on research concluding that starfishes don't actually have arms.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/11/01/starfish-study-evolution-gene-sequencing/ (http://[img)

By the time I returned my desk, this song had come to mind. :)

Donovan – Starfish on the Toast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lG8mQ4oYd78

Haha! That's interesting, ribbons. Your link didn't open, so I did some starfish research of my own, and they seem to be losing body parts at an alarming rate:-

QuoteTop stories:

The Guardian
Starfish 'arms' are actually extensions of their head, scientists say
1 day ago

CNN
Starfish bodies aren't bodies at all, study finds
1 day ago

Phys.org
Long presumed to have no heads at all, starfish may be nothing but...
2 days ago

Nice, very quirky song from Donovan. Those lyrics are also very evocative of the British seaside. Thanks for introducing me to it. :thumb: 

Quote from: Lisnaholic on Nov 03, 2023, 10:47 PMI've often thought the same about his painterly vision:"Jiving on down to the beach to see the blue and the grey" - that is just a perfect seascape and probably something we both did when we were down near Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch !

Yes, we did!  Imagine what painterly visions Syd would have come up with to evoke those sloping shingled salty seasides. :D

Quote= oops,  :palmface:  I clearly need to listen to that song again, and more carefully too.

The only reason I knew those lyrics was because I looked them up!  And that last verse stuck with me in context of Mrs. Waffles mentioning the Matthew Shepard tragedy.  Btw, I really love that track, and thank you for posting it to begin with!

QuoteHaha! That's interesting, ribbons. Your link didn't open, so I did some starfish research of my own, and they seem to be losing body parts at an alarming rate:-

Ha ha - This thread has taken some very educational twists and turns, lol. 
Frankly, I suspect the starfish are just trying to get a head of the news.  ;D 

Quote from: ribbons on Nov 03, 2023, 11:20 PMYes, we did!  Imagine what painterly visions Syd would have come up with to evoke those sloping shingled salty seasides. :D

Yep, that's a nice thing to imagine: a windy walk over those marshes to the shingle, with maybe some of those details from Donovan's song to be seen as well.

QuoteHa ha - This thread has taken some very educational twists and turns, lol. 
Frankly, I suspect the starfish are just trying to get a head of the news.  ;D 

^ :laughing: Yes, thanks to you and the other contributors, this has turned into quite an informative thread !

At least there has never been any scientific dispute about the precise form that an Octafish takes:-

Lucid tentacles test and sleeved
And joined, and jointed, jade pointed diamond back patterns

^ Good one, Lisna!  The Captain's dotty lyrics mirrored the instrumentation of his songs, or was it vice versa? 

Q:  When is a fish not a fish?
A:  When it's a surfboard.  (Octafish)  8)

***

Suede - Flytipping

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XCMltRzq48

A peaceful one for the road at day's end here. 

J. S. Bach (composer; Philadelphia Orchestra, E. Ormandy, conductor) - Sheep May Safely Graze

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8gGTYJ5Jyc

Wang Rong Rollin - Chick Chick

Since the site is called Something Completely Different, here is something completely different:  an otter singing Yoko Ono's greatest hits.  .

And now I'll post youtubes because youtube seems to have backed off the no adblocker stance for now. 

(https://sun9-30.userapi.com/impf/c639523/v639523322/298a1/gNnZ9KJqfss.jpg?size=518x604&quality=96&sign=140f97c519fa0a986fb13b9c63cded1c&c_uniq_tag=S6wDr59gnJP_XaIGMpGLiySh2563oWq90OOrqfsRkFc&type=album)

And now, Jeff Lynne.