The Clash

[TheMadBear]

Right, couldn't stay asleep this morning so thought I'd bugger around on the old tread a bit.

What's you're favourite Clash song and why?

Song: I fought the law

Reason: One of the best punk anthems, critically looking at the way punk was and how it never succeeded more than an underground ideal - hence "I fought the law, and the law won"

[hr]It can't rain all the time - The Crow

[Cloud]

Lost In The Supermarket

Reason: The most touching song they ever recorded, and shows their politics werent just confined to the likes of "I wanna riot!"


All of London Calling is fantastic, it really is one of the best albums ever. No 70s punk album could possibly be more accomplished than London Calling.




Cloud

[Blessed Benediction]

Haven't really read enough on the Clash so my fave Clash song would be on a musical level.

Have to go for Guns of Brixton

Maybe if i read the lyrics & read some background & hence understood some of the reasonings then it might be a different one. London Calling surprised me in that it is very good like all the music press says so.

[Mark]

Err...sorry, Danny mate, but 'I fought the Law' was a cover of a much older song. Co-opted as a punk anthem perhaps, but not an original.

Oh, and my favourite Clash song is probably Death or Glory. 'Cos it's the least 'punk' song ever put out by a so-called punk band, but it's still great. The second verse is, for my money, one of the finest lyrics ever set to a rock song. "Every gimmick-hungry yop who's digging gold from rock'n'roll / Grabs the mic to tell you that he'll die before he's sold / But I believe in this and it's been tested by research / That he who fucks nuns will later join the church".

Genius. Rest in fuckin' Peace, Joe.

[TheMadBear]

I realise that it's a cover. But I'd disagree.

And on the least punk song released by a punk band - i'd go for Golden Brown by the stranglers

[hr]It can't rain all the time - The Crow

[Cloud]

While we are on the subject of 70s punk bands:

Who do you, the reader, prefer - The Buzzcocks or The Undertones?


Im a Buzzcocks man myself, Singles Going Steady is a really good album.



Cloud

[TheMadBear]

I'd say the buzzcocks because apart from never fallen in love they had a few good songs, wheras the undertones, only in my opinion, kind of had teenage kicks and that was about it really.

[hr]It can't rain all the time - The Crow

[The_Farwall]

Fave Clash song is The Card Shark by a pretty wide margin. Can't say I'm really up for the politics in the lyrics, it's just a feckin' brillant song, the best one on their best album.

As for Buzzcocks vs Undertones, I only have Going Steady and True Confessions (both singles compilations) to compare but I go for the Buzzcocks on the basis that they have two standout songs (Ever Fallen in Love and Orgasm Addict) over the Undertones one (Teenage Kicks, though TK is a far better stand alone song that either of the Buzzcocks ones).

[hr][s]I have become a silent movie
The hero killed the clown
Can't make a sound[/s]

[Doctor Mott]

No, it's the Undertones that are best, and the best Clash song was Punky Reggae Party in collaboration with Lee 'Scratch' Perry. You'll have to take my word for it though, 'cos if you can find it you're obviously no spending enough time looking for porn

[Cloud]

That's a Bob Marley song. He wrote it during the punk movement when he found out that most punk bands were fans of his music.

Good, but not my favourite Clash song... mainly because it's not a Clash song.

But hey, each to their own

[slipperylikeanowl]

that my favourite clash song would have to be the one where they are always on about eating jelly. I find it so ironic considdering that they didn't even have a toaster let alone a mold for their jelly. It is a real shame that old Joseppie had to die because nobody writes lyrics like "fill the fire with sulpher and roar at the nightshade" any more.

[Doctor Mott]

OK Prince Pedantic, they didn't WRITE it, but they still fucking PLAYED it.
Could someone get him a glass of water for crying out loud?

[Blessed Benediction]

he wasn't necessarilly correcting you. i read it just as an extra bit of information. sometimes i wish everyone would read into the positive side of things rather than the negative side of things. probably wouldn't have half as many wars that way. even if you know what was meant then it's still better to give the benefit of the doubt even when you're convinced there is no doubt. that's my way of looking at things anyway.

[hr]ignorance is bliss

[Cloud]

Cheers mate. I not meaning to correct you Doctor Mott, i just had never heard of that song before so i checked it out and then thought i might share what i found.

Im not trying to show off how much i know about The Clash because you obviously know more than me.

Thanks for the lesson and the recommendation - it is a fantastic song! Ill chose to ignore the insult however.

I assume from your response that you already knew it was a Bob Marley song, either that or youre just a twat... let the nation decide




Cloud

[The_Farwall]

[s]Blessed Benediction wrote on 22:58, 11th Jan 2003:
it's still better to give the benefit of the doubt even when you're convinced there is no doubt.

Am I the only one spotting the slight problem with this theory?

[hr]
[s]"I wanna do great things/ I don't wanna compromise/
I wanna know what love is/ Is it something I do to myself?"
Echobelly - Great Things[/s]

[Blessed Benediction]

maybe it wouldn't strictly be giving the benefit of the doubt, more denial for the common good then.

[hr]ignorance is bliss

[Emma]

I still can't believe Joe Strummer's dead. So unfair. Did you all know he was the vocalist for the Pogues after Shane MacGowan left? They also used to pair up to do 'London Calling' at Pogues gigs.

Mine would be 'Career Opportunities'', or 'Daddy Was A Bankrobber'.

[ATB]

...

Rudie Can't Fail

ATB

[Doctor Mott]

...

Rudie Can't Fail

ATB

[Mark]

Cloud: Never give Murray the benefit of the doubt. There is none.

ADIOS