Tag Archives: 1958

RIP Alan Rankine (1958 – 2023)

Alan Rankine was een mindere maar daarom niet minder geliefde muziekgod die toegang verschaft tot een universum dat – hoewel klein – mij vrij dierbaar is. Een lievelingsuniversumpje als het ware.

“Rumours of War” (1986)

In 1986 bracht Rankine “Rumours of War” uit op het Belgisch label Les Disques du Crépuscule.

Dat lied werd gedraaid in de Belgische clubscene die later zou uitgroeien tot de saaie en voorspelbare New Beat. Maar net vóór dat genre was uitgevonden, had België voor een korte periode de meest avontuurlijke deejays ter wereld en een publiek dat dat lustte. En dat publiek danste onder andere op “Rumours of War”.

Rankine sprak over ‘geruchten over een oorlog’ en er waren toen wel wat gewapende conflicten overal ter wereld maar niet in het Westen waar de muur en het gordijn dat Europa in twee deelde nog rechtstond en waar de enige oorlog de Koude Oorlog was.

Rust zacht Alan.

RIP Douglas McGrath (1958 – 2022)

Bullets Over Broadway (1994) trailer.

In New York stierf Douglas McGrath. Hij was 64 en werkte in de filmindustrie. Hij maakte een aantal films die ik niet zag maar waar ik met plezier een samenvatting van zou willen zien.

Hij schreef ook mee aan Bullets Over Broadway (1994), een Woody Allen film die tot diens beste gerekend wordt.

Die wil ik eventueel wel in zijn totaliteit zien. Want ik hou van Allen, en Cusack ziek ik graag spelen.

RIP Douglas McGrath

RIP Gabi ‘D. A. F.’ Delgado-López (1958-2020)

“Der Mussolini” (1981)

This happened last week.

Gabi Delgado-López was a Spanish-born German musician, co-founder of Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft.

He is known for singing compositions such as “Der Mussolini” (1981). This song, together with “Los Niños del Parque” (1981) by Liaisons Dangereuses and “Numbers” (1981) by Kraftwerk put Germany on the map in black America and the dance music world.

If you listen to the full Alles ist gut album where “Der Mussolini” comes from, you cannot help but wonder if D.A.F. listened to Suicide. The sighing voice on “Mein Herz Macht Bum” would give them away.

RIP David Roback (1958 – 2020)

“Fade into You” (1994)

David Roback was an American guitarist, best-known for co-writing “Fade into You” (1994). That was a song by Mazzy Star and it featured the vocals of Hope Sandoval.

Listening to this, I can’t help but think that Lana Del Rey has a very similar sound and voice. Not surprisingly, both Mazzy Star and Lana Del Rey are considered dream pop.

RIP Marie ‘Roxette’ Fredriksson (1958 – 2019)

Marie Fredriksson was a Swedish singer known as the lead singer to Roxette.

I have nothing with that band. Perhaps it’s a generation thing, I was 24 when their song “The Look” came out, so too old to make any sort of impression.

To me it’s more pap than pop because, let us be honest, this was 1989 and instead of listening to “The Look”, you could have been listening to “French Kiss” by Lil’ Louis, “I’ll House You” by Jungle Brothers, “Work That Mutherfucker” by Steve Poindexter, “Sueño Latino” by Sueño Latino, “Pacific State” by 808 State, “Fight the Power” by Public Enemy, “Funky Cold Medina” by Tone Lōc or “Wicked Game” by Chris Isaak.

Furthermore, in 1989 there was also “Love Shack” by The B52’s which brought pap-ish joy without the bombast of Roxette. Both bands share their use of the guitar but Roxette sounds like American middle of the road arena rock.

And if you were into guilty pleasures, you could have been listening to “Me So Horny” by 2 Live Crew or “Pump Up the Jam” by Technotronic.

“The Look” was featured on Grand Theft Auto IV, on the Vice City FM† channel, at least half of the songs on that channel are better than Roxette’s.

A long time ago, I decided to do only appreciative criticism, but since this blog has evolved into a necrology, it seems fitting that I strive for completeness and thus ‘bash‘ Roxette.

On the other hand, as the video above shows, Roxette had lots of fun.

Life is a stage and each must play his part… so Roxette, enjoy your symptom.

RIP Robert Frank (1924 – 2019)

Robert Frank was a Swiss photographer, best-known for his photo book The Americans (1958) and his documentary on The Rolling Stones, Cocksucker Blues (1972).

Of that book, which was criticized at the time with the words “meaningless blur, grain, muddy exposures, drunken horizons and general sloppiness” by mainstream media, a criticism that by the way, became the hallmark of a new aesthetic in photography: the new snapshot aesthetic.

My fave picture of that collection is the photo of three gay men, looking defyingly into the camera. Behind them is a sign which reads ‘Don’t Miss Mister Instin …’.

This particular photo is reminiscent of the work in Naked City (1945) by Weegee, of the photos of Paris de Nuit (1933) by Brassai and is also a precursor to Diane Arbus and Nan Goldin.

And then there is Cocksucker Blues.

Cocksucker Blues pt. 1
Cocksucker Blues pt. 2