Sunday, December 17, 2006

The Divine Comedy

The Missus & I have a decent music collection...I'll chat about it another time but a band I have listened to since the early 90's is one that goes by the name of "the Divine Comedy". Basically it comprises of principally Neil Hannon (of Enniskillen) as he is really known and his musical colloborationist (Joby Talbot)...anyway, the music is brilliant - the lyrics are incredible. Profundity abounds, witty, sharp, deep whatever cliche you can use to describe genius - it applies in this case.

Mr. Hannon is now the band and I guess he always was -regardless, he has now retaken control of his work from earlier musical labels. One song that echoes to me especially in the last few years is "Dumb it down !" taken from the "Regeneration" album:

You've got a personality
We'll throw you in the sea
and watch you drown
Dumb it down
Your concentration span's too long
It's longer than this song,
that's not allowed
Dumb it down
You don't need books to know what's what
We'll pile them up and burn them to the ground
Dumb it down



And if you say that we're corrupt
We'll round you up and run you out of town
Dumb it down
Down and down and down it goes
Where it stops nobody knows
And not a lot of people seem to care
Well it's so crazy, it's so great
We can all communicate
But no one's saying anything out there
Is there anybody out there?



Intelligence is dangerous
A virus of the brain you pass around
Dumb it down
We'll vaccinate each boy and girl
Lobotomise the world through sight and sound
Dumb it down
No one can tell you what to think
And if you think that's true then you're a clown
Dumb it down



'Cause freedom's wasted on the free
You just don't see the beauty all around
Dumb it down
Down and down and down we slide
It's too tricky to decide
Between channels one and sixty-three
'Cause everything is mindless fluff
Like this world's not dumb enough
Does anybody feel the same as me?
Is there anybody listening?



A song for the times....wouldn't you agree?



The Divine Comedy has a cult following back in Europe, are brilliant to watch live & each album is a winner..I suggest you start with "a secret history" a compilation of hits to 2000 or so...that will give you a taste...
Incidentally you may be more familiar with their work, if you like the Comedy series, "Fr. Ted", all music pertaining is theirs...yes "My lovely horse" included and that is Neil singing btw.
Joby Talbot is now a film scorer, most notably, "Hitch-hiker's guide to the galaxy", Neil chimes in the closing credits...to "so long & thanks for all the fish".
My favourite Divine Comedy songs/tunes?...all of them but there are a number of personal standouts.."Tonight we fly" and " Charmed life" are two in particular. Anyway, Do yourself a favour and become acquainted with this band....I hate to sound like a Theatre Royal "luvvie' but gush I most...they are well worth the listen.


The website is here: http://www.thedivinecomedy.com/

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