The Medusa Fora

I realize this is an old topic (very old, in fact), but I must revive it if only to express my love for this song. The accordion, the thumping percussion, the vocals, the lyrics--everything about this song screams perfection to me. I also noticed and would like to confirm, James Fearnley's accordion instrumental heard at the beginning and the end of the song is an adaptation of the song "The Rare Old Times", correct? They sound very similar, I found. Red Roses For Me will always be my favourite Pogues record.

jockstewart wrote:I also noticed and would like to confirm, James Fearnley's accordion instrumental heard at the beginning and the end of the song is an adaptation of the song "The Rare Old Times", correct? They sound very similar, I found.

Yep, the Pogues borrowed the melody. I’ve tried to sum up other borrowings HERE.
And welcome at Medusa, jockstewart.

Thank you kindly! And thank you for the confirmation.

Why isn't Transmetropolitan played live anymore, anyway? I noticed in a video taken during the recent performance with George Pelecanos that they did play it, however Shane had the written lyrics situated next to him(?). Is it difficult for him to remember the lyrics, hence it being seldom played? Or is there another reason.

Zuzana wrote:I’ve tried to sum up other borrowings

That's very interesting indeed. Thanks for pointing that out / summing them up. I absolutely can't hear the link between Guns of Navarone and Body of an American though...and I love them both dearly

soulfinger wrote:I absolutely can't hear the link between Guns of Navarone and Body of an American though...and I love them both dearly

I think it is only the short bit of melody that begins around 2:09 (in Body of an American).
The Beach Boys influence in House of the Gods relates only to two short bits of the song too.

jockstewart wrote:Thank you kindly! And thank you for the confirmation.

Why isn't Transmetropolitan played live anymore, anyway? I noticed in a video taken during the recent performance with George Pelecanos that they did play it, however Shane had the written lyrics situated next to him(?). Is it difficult for him to remember the lyrics, hence it being seldom played? Or is there another reason.

Well, y'know, we don't play All Tomorrow's Parties anymore either: I guess we're just resigned to the fact that we can't play everything. "Transmet" is certainly not out of favour but all of us - and not just Shane - prefer to attempt the ones we're reasonably sure we can remember. As anyone who watches us regularly can attest, that in itself is no guarantee of anything whatever. Last night I remembered how "Sickbed of Cuchulainn" went a microsecond before I started playing it. Old songs do, however, creep back in now and then.

philipchevron wrote:

jockstewart wrote:Thank you kindly! And thank you for the confirmation.

Why isn't Transmetropolitan played live anymore, anyway? I noticed in a video taken during the recent performance with George Pelecanos that they did play it, however Shane had the written lyrics situated next to him(?). Is it difficult for him to remember the lyrics, hence it being seldom played? Or is there another reason.

Well, y'know, we don't play All Tomorrow's Parties anymore either: I guess we're just resigned to the fact that we can't play everything. "Transmet" is certainly not out of favour but all of us - and not just Shane - prefer to attempt the ones we're reasonably sure we can remember. As anyone who watches us regularly can attest, that in itself is no guarantee of anything whatever. Last night I remembered how "Sickbed of Cuchulainn" went a microsecond before I started playing it. Old songs do, however, creep back in now and then.

I get you. I'd imagine that with a catalog as extensive as yours it can be pretty difficult to keep all of them in mind--that's doubly true in the heat of a performance, I'm sure. I'm glad that the old songs come back to you fellows, though--you've got some fantastic ones all-around. Hope to hear 'em myself someday.

I'm pretty sure it was played at Nottingham, december '07...it's certainly one of my favourites.

There were 3 songs in that '07 uk tour that made my night and this was one of them. The other two were 'Greenland' and 'Dark Streets'. Red Roses was only the second pogues album I ever got and I used to play it in the backround while playing pro evo (for those who know their ps2 games). So perhaps it carries some sentimentality for me. But those 3 songs catagorically made that the best pogues gig i've ever been to.

soulfinger wrote:

Zuzana wrote:I’ve tried to sum up other borrowings

That's very interesting indeed. Thanks for pointing that out / summing them up. I absolutely can't hear the link between Guns of Navarone and Body of an American though...and I love them both dearly

What????? When i first dug out Guns Of Navarone after listening to Body for 20 years it sent shivers down my spine, it was a revelation. 20 bloody years interpreting the instrumental section of Body as some kind of trad irish melody. Then what do ya know? Feck all........It's Ska/Reggae

Daa de da da, daa de duh de da, daa de duh de da de daaaa.............de duh de da da

Sorry, went off topic, Transmet? Never heard it, is it any good?

Fr. McGreer wrote:

soulfinger wrote:

Zuzana wrote:I’ve tried to sum up other borrowings

That's very interesting indeed. Thanks for pointing that out / summing them up. I absolutely can't hear the link between Guns of Navarone and Body of an American though...and I love them both dearly

What????? When i first dug out Guns Of Navarone after listening to Body for 20 years it sent shivers down my spine, it was a revelation. 20 bloody years interpreting the instrumental section of Body as some kind of trad irish melody. Then what do ya know? Feck all........It's Ska/Reggae

...........although it probably goes without saying that before it was a skanking classic, it was the theme tune to a movie called, er, The Guns Of Navarone. Less well known, however, is that the movie tune is a version of an air written by Terry Woods in 1832.

philipchevron wrote:

Fr. McGreer wrote:

soulfinger wrote:

Zuzana wrote:I’ve tried to sum up other borrowings

That's very interesting indeed. Thanks for pointing that out / summing them up. I absolutely can't hear the link between Guns of Navarone and Body of an American though...and I love them both dearly

What????? When i first dug out Guns Of Navarone after listening to Body for 20 years it sent shivers down my spine, it was a revelation. 20 bloody years interpreting the instrumental section of Body as some kind of trad irish melody. Then what do ya know? Feck all........It's Ska/Reggae

...........although it probably goes without saying that before it was a skanking classic, it was the theme tune to a movie called, er, The Guns Of Navarone. Less well known, however, is that the movie tune is a version of an air written by Terry Woods in 1832.

That was probably before The Woods band then?

fluke wrote:

philipchevron wrote:
...........although it probably goes without saying that before it was a skanking classic, it was the theme tune to a movie called, er, The Guns Of Navarone. Less well known, however, is that the movie tune is a version of an air written by Terry Woods in 1832.

That was probably before The Woods band then?

Actually, as far as I'm aware (and I'm sure Mr Chevron will be able to confirm this), Terry first started composing music in 1751...

philipchevron wrote:

Fr. McGreer wrote:

soulfinger wrote:

Zuzana wrote:I’ve tried to sum up other borrowings

That's very interesting indeed. Thanks for pointing that out / summing them up. I absolutely can't hear the link between Guns of Navarone and Body of an American though...and I love them both dearly

What????? When i first dug out Guns Of Navarone after listening to Body for 20 years it sent shivers down my spine, it was a revelation. 20 bloody years interpreting the instrumental section of Body as some kind of trad irish melody. Then what do ya know? Feck all........It's Ska/Reggae

...........although it probably goes without saying that before it was a skanking classic, it was the theme tune to a movie called, er, The Guns Of Navarone. Less well known, however, is that the movie tune is a version of an air written by Terry Woods in 1832.

Sorry, i know this thread is Transmet, but......

I still can't believe that Soulfinger can't hear the connection.

chatterbox wrote:There were 3 songs in that '07 uk tour that made my night and this was one of them. The other two were 'Greenland' and 'Dark Streets'. Red Roses was only the second pogues album I ever got and I used to play it in the backround while playing pro evo (for those who know their ps2 games). So perhaps it carries some sentimentality for me. But those 3 songs catagorically made that the best pogues gig i've ever been to.

Greenland Whale Fisheries, Transmetropolitan and Dark Streets Of London - I can understand your excitement. They're three of my absolute favourites as well.