A B-52's Thread

VoR

VoR

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I'm sure we have several of these already, but their name is IMPOSSIBLE to search.

Anyway I basically just wanted to say that I have recently discovered 'Girl From Ipanema Goes To Greenland' and it is currently my favourite song in the whole wide world. It's just so charming. As is the video.



Very much a precurser to my other favourite B-52's song 'Roam' too.



I must buy more of their albums. I only have Cosmic Thing, Good Stuff and Funplex.

First person to pop in, say LOVE SHACK WAS REALLY ANNOYING and add nothing else to this conversation can have a pre-emptive :manson: from me right now.
 
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I actually loved Love Shack. When I was 12 we used to imitate the video when it came on Cable Jukebox. I was Fred, my youngest sister was the ginger one and my eldest sister was the blonde one. We used to deliberately leave the middle sister out and take the piss out of her and say she was the black girl in the video (who I've since found out is Rupaul :D) because she had big lips (racist much?) When it came to my youngest sister's bit where she does that freaky dance down the tunnel of death, the middle sister used to nick her bit before she could get there and do it herself and then my little sister used to cry. Sibling rivalry <3

This anecdote is probably a bit SHIT but it's making me laugh recounting it.
 
Let's RUIN VoR's thread by turning it into a thread about the Meet the Flintstones track.

Are the B-52's still going, incidently? I'm sure the red head is like 60 now.
 
I still love 'Love Shack'

Although I love things like 'Topaz' and 'Deadbeat Club' MORE

And of course 'Wig'

'Bouncing Off The Satellites' is NOT AT ALL A BAD ALBUM, especially when you consider it was recorded while Ricky Wilson was dying of the AIDS
 
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I love Love Shack, but it's one of those songs that unfortunately overshadows the group significantly. I'm sure most people assume it's the only thing they ever did.

It's been said many times before, but WIG is one of the most TOWERINGLY ridiculous songs ever recorded. :D

Sometimes I part my wig in the middle
And sometimes I TEASE it a little!

 
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Eileen said:
Let's RUIN VoR's thread by turning it into a thread about the Meet the Flintstones track.

Are the B-52's still going, incidently? I'm sure the red head is like 60 now.
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Yeah they're still going. They tour a lot. I will never forgive myself for not seeing them when they supported Cyndi Lauper a few years ago.

What I love about them is that they just seem to genuinely love what they do - i.e. record extremely silly songs about wigs, aliens and dancing. They also do it very well.

I have the single of the Meet The Flintstones theme. :D The B-side is a remix entitled 'The Yabba Dabba Dub'.
 
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WIGS ON!
FIIRE
WIGS ON!
FIIIIIRE!
WIGS ON!
FIIIIIIIIIIRE!
It's 2525, and we've got the HOTTEST DO'S ALIVE! :disco:
 
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It's ALL about "WIG"

What's THAT ON YOUR HEAD?
It's a WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIG!

FABULOUS!

And let's not forget how great (and UTTERLY RIDICULOUS) "Rock Lobster" is either...
 
ooh, a '52's thread.

Girl from Ipanema is a spectacular song (and also quite poignant), definitely one of my favourites.

Loved their last album, especially Love in the Year 3000 and Juliet of the Spirits.

Also love this (Manhattan Clique) remix of their ahem, classic 'Cake'.

 
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Eileen said:
Let's RUIN VoR's thread by turning it into a thread about the Meet the Flintstones track.
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How would that RUIN the thread? It was fantastic, and the reason it works so well is because it's so knowingly tongue-in-cheek.
 
Fastcat said:
Girl from Ipanema is a spectacular song (and also quite poignant).
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I know what you mean. Even though it's kind of nonsense, it does have a certain sweetness. I just adore Cindi and Kate's voices, especially the way they come together. I really like that side of what they do, it's a nice balance to all the really zany stuff.
 
VoR said:
I know what you mean. Even though it's kind of nonsense, it does have a certain sweetness. I just adore Cindi and Kate's voices, especially the way they come together. I really like that side of what they do, it's a nice balance to all the really zany stuff.
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not sure if that track was recorded before or after Ricky's death but the fact that Cindy is doing lead vocals and singing the line 'this girl's lost someone' makes me suspect it was after his death, which makes it a very bittersweet song but the B52's have never been ones for out n' out sentiment.

Yep, they're very much a band of 2 halves, I guess more (in)famous for campy songs about dyed poodles, killer clip-purses, towering 'do's' and The Flintstones:evil:, which is a shame because they're equally capable of producing some truly great, polished pop and the Fred-less tracks are always quite special - Revolution Earth, Topaz, 52 Girls, Summer of Love, etc.

I think you can pick up their earlier albums fairly cheap these days but those new to the B52's, especially their earlier work, might wanna check out some of their compilations first (Time Capsule, Planet Clair, Dance This Mess Around).

Also, since it's a B52's thread, thought I'd include this great track (which features 'the girls')

 
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Bouncing Off Satellites actually seems very rare these days, which is a shame as I'd love to hear it.
 
VoR said:
Bouncing Off Satellites actually seems very rare these days, which is a shame as I'd love to hear it.
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I'm surprised tbh because I was forever seeing it in bargain bins - this is going back a bit though and I guess it's OOP now.

Just had a look on Amazon and noticed they've got a new live album coming out. Not keen on live albums per se but a B52's live album is a different matter. Had a few of their live tracks on vinyl and they were pretty fabulous.
 
Sheena said:
What's THAT ON YOUR HEAD?
It's a WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIG!
Click to expand...

Despite having NEVER heard this song, I have had what I IMAGINE it to sound like in my head on a loop all day.

I must investigate when I get in.
 
I can guarantee that it's EVEN BETTER. :disco:

MOOOOSE
MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE
MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE
 
"Roam" is just STAGGERING. I can't understand how it was not one of the biggest hits of its decade. Elsewhere, I've never been a BIG fan but I do admire their particular brand of... shall we say IDIOT GLEE.

Fastcat said:
Also, since it's a B52's thread, thought I'd include this great track (which features 'the girls')
[video=youtube;v0rvlV0nByo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0rvlV0nByo&ob=av2e[/video]
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GOOD GRIEF I never realised that was THEM despite it being painfully obvious, then again I probably only listened to that album all of three times.
 
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I saw Funplex for a quid today in Rise, but couldn't bring myself to buy it for some reason. I think it's my anti-physical stance of late. If there was an online store that had similar bargains I wouldn't think twice.
 
The indie club night I was at last night had a little suggestions sheet... someone had suggested Love Shack which I knew they'd never play but I wrote down Rock Lobster and it was played ten minutes later. I went MENTUL.

Absolutely ANYTHING can be made more fun by sing-talking it like Fred Schneider.
 
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lolly said:
I saw Funplex for a quid today in Rise, but couldn't bring myself to buy it for some reason. I think it's my anti-physical stance of late. If there was an online store that had similar bargains I wouldn't think twice.
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I'd have bought it, ripped it, then binned the CD. I did that myself last weekend with 4 bargains I couldn't pass up.

I've always loved a bit of the B-52's, though an ENTIRE album is a bit of a struggle as it becomes a bit one note, both in terms of wackiness and full on vocals. That said, they're the kind of band I have loads of affection for, and even that Flintstones monstrosity hasn't managed to dampen my enthusiasm for a spin or two when the mood takes me.

Albumwise, I've only got the self-titled debut, Cosmic Thing and Good Stuff (which I have a big old soft spot for for sentimental, first-boyfriend-related reasons). I may investigate the others over the next few months. I'm sure I used to have Funplex too, but it's not in my iTunes library which is ever so slightly perplexing. I've got the post-"Love Shack" GH too which I'd always assumed would pretty much do me for the early stuff.
 
I'm not feeding ANOTHER OBSESSIVE :zombie:

I take GREAT PLEASURE chucking CDs out in the charity bag
 
Sometimes it's STRAIGHT IN THE BIN

so NOBODY GETS THE BENEFIT :disco:
 
Sheena said:
Where on earth do you people "bin" cds? Can you just send them to ME?
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I must say that I agree with this. I can never quite bring myself to chuck CDs incase my hard drive gives up on me and all my music is sodded. I will throw away cases but the discs will always go in my big CD wallet.
 
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Sheena said:
On SECOND THOUGHTS :D
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I thought as MUCH.

I picked up Bouncing Off The Satellites and Wild Planet this weekend after playing through the GH to see if there's anything on there that catches my attention. So far, Bouncing is pretty good - subdued ("Wig" aside) but I rather like THAT. I'll get the rest (only 3 albums or so) in due course.
 
And of course:

Tina went to the LADIES ROOM
Saw written on the wall:
"If you like a VERY GOOD TIME
just give this number a call"
It was 6060-842
AND I'M WAITING FOR YOU

:disco:
 
I've been thinking of collecting all the cds if I see them, after reading this thread. I think I've only got a GH and "Cosmic Thing"...
 
His LORDSHIP is out so I'm having COSMIC THING SUNDAY

While CRUISING in the IONOSPHERE
I SAW these ALIEN BEINGS
Everywhere I WENT up THERE
They were shaking their ALIEN THINGS
I'll give you a GENUINE FAUX PEARL RING
If you get on up and shake your....HONEYBUNS!
Shake your HONEYBUNS!

gushoneybun_ianstirling1981b.jpg


:disco:
 
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I only dislike hearing Love Shack in a club as most of the time it feels like a lazy choice from the DJ who has decided we're all going to love it. It's a great song though. Roam is more joyful. Summer of Love is gorgeous, Deadbeat Club another highlight. I need to get their albums, I only have t heir best of with the Debbie song. Candy, Kate's song with Iggy Pop is tinged with trailor-trash radiance, highly recommended from me.
 
northernlad said:
"Roam" is just STAGGERING. I can't understand how it was one of the biggest hits of its decade. Elsewhere, I've never been a BIG fan but I do admire their particular brand of... shall we say IDIOT GLEE.


Agreed. "Roam" is fabulous-a perfect little pop song. Although I'm quite partial to a bit of "Planet Claire" on occasion.

[video=youtube;1EPP3gkh_00]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EPP3gkh_00[/video]
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straightorbroken said:
I only dislike hearing Love Shack in a club as most of the time it feels like a lazy choice from the DJ who has decided we're all going to love it.
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I think it's because the majority of people*, particularly of my generation, are completely unfamiliar with the entirety of their other output. It's SAD but painfully TRUE.

*The gays NOTWITHSTANDING
 
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I think they're very much associated with the one-hit wonder tag, undeservedly. ROCK LOBSTAH.
 
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