POGUES TRIBUTE BAND COUNTY HELL plays RAINY NIGHT IN SOHO

[County Hell]

Pogues tribute band County Hell from New York play Rainy Night in Soho live on WGXC radio.. The video is an amazing mash up with a Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers number called 'Isn't This a Lovely Day (To Be Caught in the Rain)' from the 1935 movie Top Hat.

Check it out and post some feedback!

https://www.facebook.com/CountyHell

counthyhellband@gmail.com

[Fr. McGreer]

Love it Love the instrumentation and arrangement.

An absolutely fantastic idea on the video

I just wish the video had been edited so Fred's mouth and gestures matched the vocal in the second half of the song. Rather than have the clip run through in it's entirety. The dancing really matches the instrumental parts of the song though.........astonishingly good

[County Hell]

8) Love it Love the instrumentation and arrangement.

An absolutely fantastic idea on the video

I just wish the video had been edited so Fred's mouth and gestures matched the vocal in the second half of the song. Rather than have the clip run through in it's entirety. The dancing really matches the instrumental parts of the song though.........astonishingly good

Thanks so much for the feedback! Know what you mean about Fred Astaire's vocalizing not being synced... In spite of the fact that the effect is a bit distracting at times, we thought that some of the gesturing did match in interesting ways.. and that it was more profound of an impact from the harmonious pairing of the two when one realizes that no editing or doctoring was done.. and also the way the original Astaire/Rogers piece builds from start to finish in the same way the story and of Rainy Night in Soho does, matching the changing mood and dynamic.. even cadence, tempo and form!

That said, a more polished and edited version like you describe could be in order at some point.. It would be interesting to see how well it could be done..

Thanks again for your comments!
Best, County Hell

[Fr. McGreer]

Just wondering, did you plan the reference to 'the ginger lady....' and pick the clip because Ginger Rogers is also in it? Do you know the theory that Shane may of being referring to a bottle of whisky?

[County Hell]

Just wondering, did you plan the reference to 'the ginger lady....' and pick the clip because Ginger Rogers is also in it? Do you know the theory that Shane may of being referring to a bottle of whisky?

Actually we picked the clip because of the rain theme and the dancing... Then the rest just fell in to place by magic... including the Ginger reference..

To your second question:

I never interpreted Rainy Night in Soho as a song about boozing, as others have theorized... I am of the camp that looks at the lyrics like poetry.. and good poets play with words in ways that leave them open to double or multiple interpretations... While 'ginger lady' could literally be referring to a bottle, it may also literally be referring to a red headed woman.. and was probably intentionally included in that line for that very reason.. Regardless, in my mind the song in it's entirety is undeniably a love song about a couple with a sometimes rocky history. What's more, to me it has not been a sad song about love lost, but rather an uplifting song about a love that has endured through the years.. There is no line in the song that negates that possibility as far as I can see... and there are only three words in the whole song that might have anything to do with whiskey... the rest of them to me make no sense at all in the context of a song about drinking...

"Now this song is nearly over
We may never find out what it means"

Thanks again for your comments! Interesting..
Best regards, County Hell

[Fr. McGreer]

Regardless, in my mind the song in it's entirety is undeniably a love song about a couple with a sometimes rocky history. What's more, to me it has not been a sad song about love lost, but rather an uplifting song about a love that has endured through the years..

"Now this song is nearly over
We may never find out what it means"

We're in the same camp so. Ive always pictured it as a couple together for years and years. Philip Chevron said something along the lines that now Shane is 30 years older then when he wrote the song, when he sings it, it has much more gravitas.

The line you quote above....

"Now this song is nearly over,
We may never find out what it means"

in my interpretation, the word "song" refers to the characters' lives and therefore relationship. And they're wondering where did the years go and what the fuck was it all about.

My own favourite is.....

"Still there's a light i hold before me
And you're the measure of my dreams, the measure of my dreams"

Perfect.

Whenever there is an auld session on and we'd have to sing this unaccompanied (most musicians around here don't know it ) this makes it harder for the new listener to get the rhythm or lilt due to the 4 beat instrumental between every line. Do you know if there is a name for this type of arrangement? We used to be able to ask Philip this type of thing but, alas no more.

[Guest]

We're in the same camp so. Ive always pictured it as a couple together for years and years. Philip Chevron said something along the lines that now Shane is 30 years older then when he wrote the song, when he sings it, it has much more gravitas.

The line you quote above....

"Now this song is nearly over,
We may never find out what it means"

in my interpretation, the word "song" refers to the characters' lives and therefore relationship. And they're wondering where did the years go and what the fuck was it all about.

My own favourite is.....

"Still there's a light i hold before me
And you're the measure of my dreams, the measure of my dreams"

Perfect.

Whenever there is an auld session on and we'd have to sing this unaccompanied (most musicians around here don't know it ) this makes it harder for the new listener to get the rhythm or lilt due to the 4 beat instrumental between every line. Do you know if there is a name for this type of arrangement? We used to be able to ask Philip this type of thing but, alas no more.

Yes, that last line is what the whole thing builds up to and it is the most moving line of the song... I love that..

Put that last verse together:

"Now this song is nearly over,
We may never find out what it means
Still there's a light I hold before me
And you're the measure of my dreams, the measure of my dreams"

And interpret it as you said:

Years have past, their song marches on to it's end... they're wondering where did the years go and what the fuck was it all about
Yet in spite of all the shite they've been through, their love remains their guiding light and the realization of all they've ever dreamed of..

'measure' in this context = a dram of whiskey?... I think not

Measure?? ... hmm.. who's to say he didn't mean a 'measure' of the song?.. just kidding.. but brings us to your other question:

I don't know of a name for the way the song is structured per se, but I believe the time signature is considered to be 12/8 time.. Basically a waltz, but with the accent every 4th time around? Funny thing about RNIS is that the accent is on the 1 of the 12/8 measure but the vocal line each time doesn't start til the 2 of the measure, and ends on the 1 of the next measure... leaving the 4 beat space you were talking about til the 2 of the next measure comes round.. least that is the way I hear it.. hence the confusion singing it without accompaniment?

Yes, can't replace these geniuses so easily... a shame

[County Hell]

that last post was from me again... didn't realize I was signed out when I posted.

[Fr. McGreer]

I don't know of a name for the way the song is structured per se, but I believe the time signature is considered to be 12/8 time.. Basically a waltz, but with the accent every 4th time around? Funny thing about RNIS is that the accent is on the 1 of the 12/8 measure but the vocal line each time doesn't start til the 2 of the measure, and ends on the 1 of the next measure... leaving the 4 beat space you were talking about til the 2 of the next measure comes round.. least that is the way I hear it.. hence the confusion singing it without accompaniment?

Yes, can't replace these geniuses so easily... a shame

Really interesting. Thanks for that

Next time i meet Shane i must ask him what his interpretation is

[firehazard]

Great conversation, have been following it with interest.

As has been observed, many of the lines do have multiple meanings, and I'm sure that with Shane, as with most poets, that's entirely intentional. And I agree that over the time since the song was written some of the tenor of the lyrics have changed.

I still tend to think that the "ginger lady" primarily refers to a bottle, not least because the ginger lady is "by" the bed... But one of the things about the song, as with many great songs, is that listeners can bring their own meaning to it.

And I agree that "measure" doesn't primarily refer to the booze, but I'd be certain the double meaning is intentional.

Great version, by the way. Thanks for the vid.

[County Hell]

I still tend to think that the "ginger lady" primarily refers to a bottle, not least because the ginger lady is "by" the bed... But one of the things about the song, as with many great songs, is that listeners can bring their own meaning to it.

Great version, by the way. Thanks for the vid.

Thanks Firehazard for your comments.. and feedback on the video!

I agree with you that the ginger lady reference makes a bit more sense in that verse as a reference to a bottle.. (while by intent leaving open the possibility that it is a woman).. To me it's just a minor detail and doesn't turn a love song into a song about drinking. Shane wrote plenty of those and never seemed to beat around the bush with subtle innuendos and metaphors.. So I always felt he intended it as a love ballad and that's how I have always heard it, and sang it over the years..

Maybe someone should ask Shane as Fr. McGreer suggested.. But as you said, the beauty of the song is that it is open to individual interpretation.. Maybe that would only be spoiled by a decree of intent by the composer..

A beautiful piece of music and poetry...

...or should I say Poguetry?

Thanks again for your input..

Best regards, County Hell

[James Murphy]

One of the good things about this cover is the vocalist takes inspiration from the strength in Shane's voice, instead of falling into the trap of caricaturing the frailties.

[Low D]

I saw a great Pogues cover band here locally a few years back ("Shane's Teeth") and asked the singer during intermission if they could do "Rainy Night..." He looked at me like I was an idiot, and said "No, no we can't." He said it so matter-of-factly that I indeed felt like an idiot. Of course they couldn't. Like, it's one thing to bang out "Sick Bed..." or lead the sing-along on "Dirty Old Town", but the ballads, are you nuts?

It was brave to take this one on, and giving it your own, stripped-down arrangement rather than attempt to copy the Pogues' production was a great decision. It's lovely.

[County Hell]

One of the good things about this cover is the vocalist takes inspiration from the strength in Shane's voice, instead of falling into the trap of caricaturing the frailties.

James thanks for the nice comment... Personally I find that Shane's vocals typically really shine on his ballads as well as the slower traditional tunes.. The grit, depth, and dirginess of his vocal delivery give gravitas and humanity to the lyrical content.... and spark and appeal to the music, which with a more traditional or conventional vocal delivery would likely fall short of the mark for my tastes...

Whenever it's not present, I realize what a huge part the character of Shane's voice plays in what keeps me addicted to The Pogue's music.

Best regards, County Hell

[County Hell]

I saw a great Pogues cover band here locally a few years back ("Shane's Teeth") and asked the singer during intermission if they could do "Rainy Night..." He looked at me like I was an idiot, and said "No, no we can't." He said it so matter-of-factly that I indeed felt like an idiot. Of course they couldn't. Like, it's one thing to bang out "Sick Bed..." or lead the sing-along on "Dirty Old Town", but the ballads, are you nuts?

It was brave to take this one on, and giving it your own, stripped-down arrangement rather than attempt to copy the Pogues' production was a great decision. It's lovely.

Thanks for the thumbs up Low D... Some of our happiest and uplifting moments in the band come out of playing the Pogues ballads... don't know why anyone would want to leave them out entirely... just as many people end up dancing a drunken waltz to them with a partner as dance to the fast tunes, and that was part of the genius of the Pogues, that they made that kind of music have appeal to a post punk generation... it certainly reached me in a big way..

In regards to the arrangement, it does have a nice quality stripped down, but must confess that was mainly serendipitous as guitar, vocal, fiddle, and bass were the only band members who could make the radio appearance at which this was recorded live on the air

Keep your stick on the ice in BC!
Best, County Hell