Sunday, April 27, 2008

ajar

A jar is heaven for pickles.

I got to thinking yesterday about the two singles released by Duran Duran in the early 90's. I believe one was called 'Ordinary World' and the other was called 'Undone,' perhaps? Anyway, I liked those songs then, but have only now started to put them into perspective. They're very different than the songs DD released in their heyday. There are no signs of hedonism or songs about reckless good times. These songs dealt with a bit more than that. 'Ordinary' seems to be a song about someone who has lived the high life, but now has to figure out a way to survive in a world where they are not all-powerful. The glow has worn off and they seem to be somewhat adrift. They want something, and what they want is a way into the world we ordinary folks inhabit. For a rock band built on the celebration of carousing and good times, to express a wish like this is almost unheard of. It's practically revolutionary.

Then we come to 'Undone'. Undone takes it a little further. Undone is written from the perspective of someone who has fallen to earth: Lost/in a snow-filled sky.. Who do you need? Who do you love? When you come undone?

Again, no glamor here. Just a bare-bones account of a fall from grace. Still, being Duran Duran, the song sounds terrific. It's kind of like sand -- both gritty and smooth.

Sometime I'd like to get the album these songs came off of and compare it to some of their classic stuff. I think the latter tunes hold up pretty well, and show evolution. And that's a thing I always like to see.

4 Comments:

Blogger Missy said...

I have that tape, but not the old Duran Duran...I need to work on that.

4:57 PM  
Blogger Citizen said...

Put it on your to-do list, Missy. I'll want a progress report, of course. ;-)

3:51 PM  
Blogger Rand said...

Anecdote of the Jar
Wallace Stevens

I placed a jar in Tennessee,
And round it was, upon a hill.
It made the slovenly wilderness
Surround that hill.

The wilderness rose up to it,
And sprawled around, no longer wild.
The jar was round upon the ground
And tall and of a port in air.

It took dominion every where.
The jar was gray and bare.
It did not give of bird or bush,
Like nothing else in Tennessee.

1:57 PM  
Blogger Citizen said...

I've always liked Wallace Stevens. It would have been fun to have had him as one's insurance agent.

5:21 AM  

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