“Have You Ever Had It Blue?” (live at Sydney Opera House) by Paul Weller
“Have You Ever Had It Blue?” (live at Sydney Opera House) by Paul Weller
Happy Weller Wednesday, that special day of the week where we celebrate, listen to and learn about All Things Paul Weller. This week we turn our eyes and ears to a Live Performance from the Sydney Opera House. Paul Weller performing a Song originally by The Style Council, and featured in the Film Absolute Beginners – “Have You Ever Had It Blue?”
“Have You Ever Had It Blue?” was The Style Council’s contribution to Julien Temple’s 1986 musical version of Colin MacInnes’ novel Absolute Beginners (earlier the inspiration for a classic Jam single) was their last truly interesting single, and even it has undeniable echoes of a few songs from the previous year’s Internationalists, particularly “With Everything To Lose” and “All Gone Away.” A horn arrangement by Gil Evans opens the song with an authentically cool jazz nod to the novel’s time period, but the song itself has more of a bossa nova feel, with its subtle Latin percussion and Dee C. Lee’s Astrud Gilberto-like wordless backing vocals. Still, it’s a richly melodic tune and the end of Paul Weller’s continental jazz-pop persona. From here it was the miserable genre-exploitation of the last few Style Council records and a diminishing-returns solo career. (from Stewart Mason at All Music)
“Have You Ever Had It Blue?” by The Style Council
Though Weller tends to disregard Absolute Beginners as a Film, often saying disparaging things about it before performing “Have You Ever Had It Blue?”, its Soundtrack is stellar. The Style Council shares Musical space with David Bowie, Ray Davies, Sade, among others.
Absolute Beginners was released in 1986 and was adapted from Colin MacInnes’ book of the same name. It is about life in late 1950’s London and was directed by Julien Temple. It stars Patsy Kensit, David Bowie, and Sade.
Although the Movie received heavy Media coverage and promotion, it was essentially a box office flop. So, I guess Weller has a point when he talks it down. The Music was what made the Film memorable, especially Bowie’s “Absolute Beginners” Single, and “Have You Ever Had It Blue?” by The Style Council.
Absolute Beginners (1986)
End of Video features “Have You Ever Had It Blue?”
The Song lives on well past the unfortunately low-rated Film. It also seems to have lived past The Style Council itself. Weller still plays it often during Solo shows, breathing new life, and an Acoustic update to the Song, keeping it relevant and quite lovely to hear.
“Have You Ever Had It Blue?” (live, KEXP Radio) by Paul Weller
What do you think of the Song? Do you prefer the Absolute Beginners/Style Council Version or Weller’s Live Acoustic stylings?
Top 5 Music Obsessions featuring Laura Marling
Wednesday is here, my Favorite of the weekdays. That halfway mark, the weekend in our sights, “date night” for my boyfriend and I. Its a beautiful day outside, blue skies, cartoon clouds, sun in the sky holding hands with a cool breeze. The coffee is hot, the Music is flowing, and the day is full of promise. Who could ask for anything more? Well, except maybe a new Top 5 Music Obsessions for the day.
Song 1 is a Track from Laura Marling from last year that I was obsessed with then, after my first listen, and am still obsessing over now. “Nothing, Not Nearly” is great storytelling, something I love about Laura’s Music and it’s catchy and melodic and beautifully bittersweet.
Next up is “Baby You’re My Light” by Richard Hawley. I love this Song and hadn’t thought about this Song in a long time. It was included in this Week’s Spotify Discover Weekly Playlist. I was so glad to hear it again.
“Catch”, one of my Top Favorite Tracks from The Cure, is Song 3 in Today’s Top 5 Music Obsessions list. I was told once that this Song reminded someone of me. Now every time I hear it, it reminds me of the person who said that to me.
Avi Buffalo’s Track “Won’t Be Around No More” is Song 4, followed up with “You Can’t Have It All”, by Yo La Tengo. A perfect duo of Songs to wrap up the Day’s Obsessions with.
Listen to and follow the Week’s Music Obsessions at Spotify and YouTube.
Top 5 Music Obsessions of the Day – April 25, 2018
1. “Nothing, Not Nearly” by Laura Marling
2. “Baby You’re My Light” by Richard Hawley
3. “Catch” by The Cure
4. “Won’t Be Around No More” by Avi Buffalo
5. “You Can Have It All” by Yo La Tengo
Cheers to Wednesday. To Midweeks Music Obsessions like these five – Laura Marling, Richard Hawley, The Cure, Avi Buffalo, and Yo La Tengo. Hope you enjoy! Share your Music Obsessions in the comments below, or email us at lyriquediscordesubmissions@gmail.com.
Top 5 Music Obsessions – The Week of 4/23/18
“Between the Bars” by Elliott Smith
“Between the Bars” is my Favorite Elliott Smith Song, and one of my all-time, forever Favorite Songs. It is Track four from Elliot’s 1997 Album, Either/Or. It is also one of three Songs from Either/Or that was used in the Film Good Will Hunting, which is the first place I ever heard Elliott’s Music.
There is a deep sadness in this Song, guttural and visceral and raw. Darker parts of me live in this Song, in the sadness and the desperation, the isolation, and the love. I understand this Song in ways I sometimes I wish I didn’t. Other times, I’m so grateful for this Song. That it exists. That it helps me feel so alone. And, that it has inspired so much of my own writing.
“Between the Bars” (live) by Elliott Smith
originally from the Album, Either/Or (1997)
“Drink up baby,
look at the stars,
I’ll kiss you again between the bars,
where I’m seeing you there,
with your hands in the air,
waiting to finally be caught.”
Elliott’s Music means so much to me. Some days I lay back and listen to his albums, and as they spin circles on my turntable I wish I could turn back time and bring him a plate of cookies and a bottle of something strong, offer him a soft place to land, or at least an ear to listen. I would wish for an afternoon to talk and maybe write together, and gift him some kind of hope that would be enough to stick around. Though cookies, and liquor and a warm embrace never saved the ones I lost in my life to addiction and suicide, either. A girl can wish though, can’t she?
