Clash Cup Matches 44 & 45 plus results
Trellick Tower
I know I know, I missed a few days…completely unintended – combination of a lot of work, not feeling too brilliant and the excitement around the Jail Guitar Doors events earlier in the week. Back to the Clash Cup this morning as we seek out (via your educated voting patterns) the best Clash songs of all times. I should really be moving at full speed as round one is nearly over – you’ve got some tough decisions to face in round two – trust me the final 64 is bloody strong !!! I’ve got 4 new songs under the hammer today and we’ve also got to review results from earlier pairings – so let’s start with that shall we?
Cheat defeats Overpowered by Funk 26 - 17
This Is England defeats Version City 29 - 14
Both results essentially as expected and good support for all four tracks. Not sure how much further either of the winners will progress but we will wait and see. So if you’re new to the blog – all I ask is that you use your Clash expertise (or click on the tracks below) and decide which of these 4 should progress through to the next round:
Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment. Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.Sean Flynn – You should know me by now, yes the link provided is to the Rat Patrol sessions for Combat Rock. Why? Because I think for the most part those versions are stronger than what eventually surfaced for the final (proper) Clash album. It’s up to you of course but I like this version a lot as it is so much more expansive. As for the song itself, it fits into the Montgomery Clift list of Clash songs motivated by an individual in this case war journalist Sean Flynn.
Mensforth Hill - For me, this an example of excess from Sandinista! Taking a good song (Something About England) and playing it in reverse doesn’t make for a good time for me. When the Beatles did it I wasn’t impressed and The Clash don’t change my personal feeling on that. I’m sure someone is gonna tell me otherwise but I think there were dozens of better songs by the band that were never recorded.
London’s Burning - Not sure if a better song has ever been written about a part of London I know so well. Strummer’s captures the frustration, boredom and alienation that 1976 West London showed him in a song that will live forever in terms of a perfect snapshot of social observation. Brilliant song…simple as that.
English Civil War - What a difficult choice between this and the above. Some critics were very cynical about The Clash taking a traditional folk song and making it a protest song. I’m not one of them. It was a stretch lyrically but still a really powerful song that I think is full of energy and paranoia – a perfect blend for England circa 1978.
Thanks for your votes – should be fun (especially the 2nd match up) – you have until Tuesday morning…I promise another Clash Cup within 24 hours!!
Tim
Hi All,
Thought this would be a good place to leave this comment….
“Up and down the Westway, In and out the lights,
Watta great traffic system its so bright,
Cant think of a better way to spend the night,
Than speeding around underneath the yellow lights…”
The Westway is my regular route in and out of Central London and it’s now sort of sad to report that all the lights have gone ! About eighteen month ago they literally chopped down all the lamp posts. I suspect that ‘newer’ residents bordering the Westway have complained about the light pollution, but if anyone knows the real reason please tell me.
Pete.
I’m getting bummed out here…the last few votes have not gone in my favor! WAAAHHH! I love overpowered and version city. Oh well, time to suck it up and get on with it. Your random song selecting machine is cruel, though — I know London’s Burning will crush English Civil War. ECW is possibly one of my fav Clash songs ever. I’m a bit surprised that you don’t find it lyrically strong; I actually get goosebumps every time I listen to the lyrics. I love the handwritten lyrics in the big pink Clash book — check it out, seeing it in writing I can honestly feel Joe’s emotion. One of Joe’s masterpieces IMHO. Oh well, I’m always a bit off the track anyway. A bit of a nutter, as you say, I guess. That’s a tough tough choice btwn ECW and London’s Burning. Cut my heart right out why doncha! BTW, ECW fans, my personal fav version is the pumped-up speedy version from the Shea Stadium cd. Knocks my socks (wait I don’t wear socks, …) ok my bloomers ….right off every time I hear it.
Sean Flynn—I’m with you on the Rat Patrol version…amazing what a few more seconds can add to the beauty of a song. Always intrigued by this song as a young’un; finally did the research as an old’un and read Micahel Herr’s Dispatches. One of the best books I’ve ever read; chilled me to the bone as I grew up right in the thick of the VietNam era. Remember clear as a bell when Nixon declared the war over; we were actually in church and the priest made an announcement. Only time I ever saw a standing ovation take place during a church service. Also, a good book to check out if you’d like to learn more about Sean…Inherited Risk, a biography of Sean and his father Erroll. Absolutely fascinating reading.
And , Tim, I will not even make a comment on Mensforth Hill. I will not succomb to your baiting. HAHA!!!
Lotsa love xxx Joannie
Thanks for your lively posts as ever. I wrote the lyrics were a stretch..and they were…but the sentiment was certainly there. The twists in British political society in ‘78 were simplified by Strummer (IMO) but I still love the paranoia. Yeah I fear the next round is going to see a lot of loved Clash songs fall by the wayside….
The Westway with no lights!!! Not right at all….
Not quite as bad as Hammersmith without The Palais though….Although most of the building still remains for the moment. I believe the developers haven’t completed demolition and begun the redevelopment. Just what Hammersmith needs – yet more faceless office space…
Lively comments are only a natural reaction to your lively forum!
I guess not being an English(man) in the 70s does have an effect on my interpretation of Joe’s songs. But, if you think of the kind of stuff we Americans were exposed to, in terms of lyrics, during that time then you’ll have a better perspective from my point of view. The Clash and Joe just put it right out there, didn’t mince words, weren’t afraid to tackle any subject…and had the brass balls to take that traditional song and make it into an up to the moment statement (again IMHO).
Next time I must be careful to quote you directly; I’ve noticed you’re a little touchy bout that. My bad!
Lova ya…
I have to say I’m SHOCKED “Mensforth Hill” got 5 votes!
Years of corporate training made me ‘quote’ touchy. I try and choose my words carefully..well…not that true….about The Clash I do…though I’ve no issue with tackling Courtney Love and other hangers on.