miércoles, 19 de noviembre de 2014

012 Con ustedes... ¡Las Kinks!


012 Con ustedes... ¡Las Kinks!

Raymond Douglas Davies ha sido uno de los compositores de música inglesa más prominentes y determinantes del Siglo XX. ¿Quién iba a pensar que este “montañés” de Muswell, que irrumpiera con su banda en 1965, con el sonido innovador y trepidante de “You Really Got Me”, se convertiría al poco tiempo en el cronista musical más certero de su Inglaterra natal? Es muy posible que variadas situaciones que se dieron en el entorno de The Kinks hayan precipitado las inclinaciones de Ray hacia escribir sobre el hombre común que poblaba, sobre todo, la isla central del Imperio Británico en unos tiempos en los que la tendencia de sus contemporáneos se decantaba por la sicodelia. Esto sin pasar por alto que la primera pieza de rock en la que se utilizó el sitar.

Ray Davies y Dave, su hermano y co-fundador de The Kinks, pertenecían a la clase trabajadora, donde la música juega un importante papel y que pudimos verlo, en la inauguración de los juegos olímpicos de Londres cuando Ray Davies interpretó una de sus piezas más conocidas: “Waterloo Sunset”.

Los personajes que pasan por las canciones de The Kinks son hombres anónimos que desarrollan hazañas insignificantes. Godínez llevados al estrellato por la pluma de Ray a través de los sitios más comunes: una calle, una oficina, un salón de clases, el interior de un departamento…

En la historia de la música nunca se había hecho algo similar al impacto de “You Really Got Me”, que marcara el camino a seguir para muchos futuros estrellas del rock como Bruce Springsteen, Ozzy Osbourne, Sting, Metallica, Oasis y Blur, sin contar la influencia para sus contemporáneos como Pete Towshend quien alguna vez dijo que “The Kinks habían llenado el hueco que queríamos ocupar nosotros, con ese tipo de música sencilla, la que siempre ha resultado más difícil de componer” o Jimi Hendrix que les dijo en persona que la pieza era “un paso adelante importante para la música rock”, para David Bowie “hacía que todo mundo se levantara de sus sillas” y Bob Dylan, sostuvo que “era algo nunca antes escuchado”.

Pues como dice J.C. Ramírez Figueroa, sin ser un grupo de masas, sus influencias han sido determinantes en el desarrollo del rock.

Por todo esto, aquí quedan: “Con ustedes… Las Kinks”.

Dedicado a Ray Davies y a Dave Davies


& mibrinco You Really Got Me
-Raymond Douglas Davies-


Julie Steincke
You Really Got Me (2010)

British Rock
“You Really Got Me” is one of The Kinks‘ signature songs, and has been included in the band’s live act since its inception, and has continued to be played in Ray Davies and Dave Davies’ solo shows. The single was, ironically, the third single from the band’s first album, Kinks, after the Little Richard cover “Long Tall Sally” and a Ray Davies original, “You Still Want Me.”

As the story goes, Pete Townshend was very taken with “You Really Got Me”, and recorded a song with his band, then called The High Numbers, called “I Can’t Explain”, and played it through the telephone for Shel Talmy, who produced the song. He agreed to produce the band’s next record, which ended up being The Who’s first album, My Generation.
You Really Got Me
Boy, you really got me goin'
You got me so I don't know what I'm doin'
Yeah, you really got me now
You got me so I can't sleep at night

Boy, you really got me goin'
You got me so I don't know what I'm doin'
Boy, you really got me now
You got me so I can't sleep at night

You really got me
You really got me
You really got me

You really got me
You got me goin'
You got me hummin'
I'll get you comin'
Nothin' can stop me now

Boy, you really got me goin'
You got me so I don't know what I'm doin'
Yeah, you really got me now
You got me so I can't sleep at night

Boy, you really got me goin'
You got me so I don't know what I'm doin'
Boy, you really got me now
You got me so I can't sleep at night

You really got me
You really got me
You really got me

I'm lookin' in your eyes
I see the... on my eyes
I really got ya, boy, I got ya
It's hard to define, but
But you really got me

You really got me
You really got me
You really got me


& mibrinco All Day And All Of The Night
-Raymond Douglas Davies-


Gisele Bündchen
All Day And All Of The Night (2013)

British Rock
The second hit by the Kinks – reached #2 in the UK and #7 in the US; it followed “You Really Got Me”, and it is very similar as well – same beat, similar riff and subject.

The same beat and riff can be heard on the Kinks 1981 hit, “Destroyer.”
> Furthermore, The Kinks sued and won a lawsuit in the UK regarding claiming that The Doors plagiarized the riff and tone for their hit song “Hello I Love You.”

All Day And All Of The Night
I'm not content to be with you in the daytime
Boy I want to be with you all of the time
The only time I feel alright is by your side
Boy I want to be with you all of the time

All day and all of the night
All day and all of the night
All day and all of the night

I believe that you and me last forever
Oh yeah, all day and night-time yours, leave me never
The only time I feel alright is by your side
Boy I want to be with you all of the time

All day and all of the night
All day and all of the night
All day and all of the night

I believe that you and me last forever
Oh yeah, all day and night-time yours, leave me never
The only time I feel alright is by your side
Boy I want to be with you all of the time

All day and all of the night
All day and all of the night
All day and all of the night


& mibrinco Tired Of Waiting
-Raymond Douglas Davies-


Suzi Quatro
If You Knew Suzi... (1979)

British Rock
The Kinks' 1965 single off their second album, Kinda Kinks. The song reached #5 on the chart, making it their second biggest hit, behind “Sunny Afternoon”. It reportedly only took a few minutes for Ray Davies to write this song.
Tired Of Waiting
So tired
Tired of waiting
Tired of waiting for you
So tired
Tired of waiting
Tired of waiting for you

I was a lonely soul
I had nobody
'Til I met you
But you keep-a me waiting
All of the time
What can I do?

It's your life
And you can do what you want
Do what you like
But please don't keep-a me waiting
Please don't keep-a me waiting

'Cause I'm so tired
Tired of waiting
Tired of waiting for you
So tired
Tired of waiting
Tired of waiting for you

I was a lonely soul
I had nobody
'Til I met you
But you keep-a me waiting
All of the time
What can I do?

It's your life
And you can do what you want
Do what you like
But please don't keep-a me waiting
Please don't keep-a me waiting

'Cause I'm so tired
Tired of waiting
Tired of waiting for you
So tired
Tired of waiting
Tired of waiting for you
For you
For you


& mibrinco Stop Your Sobbing
-Raymond Douglas Davies-


Pretenders
Pretenders (1980)

British Rock

Stop Your Sobbing
It is time for you to stop all of your sobbing
Yes it's time for you to stop all of your sobbing
There's one thing that you gotta do
To make me still want you

Gotta stop sobbing now
Yeah, stop it, stop it
Gotta stop sobbing now

It is time for you to laugh instead of crying
Yes it's time for you to laugh so keep on trying
There's one thing that you gotta do
To make me still want you

Gotta stop sobbing now
Yeah, stop it, stop it
Gotta stop sobbing now

Each little tear that falls from your eye
Makes, makes-a me want
To take you in my arms and tell you
to stop all your sobbing

Yes it's time for you to stop all of your sobbing
Yes it's time for you to stop all of your sobbing
There's one thing that you gotta do
To make me still want you

Gotta stop sobbing now
Yeah, stop it, stop it
Gotta stop sobbing now
Stop it, stop it
Gotta stop sobbing now
Sobbin' sobbin' sobbing

& mibrinco A Well Respected Man
-Raymond Douglas Davies-


Mary Lamont
No Far From Here (2019)

British Rock

A Well Respected Man
Cause he gets up in the morning
And he goes to work at nine
And he comes back home at five-thirty
Gets the same train every time
Cause his world is built round punctuality
It never fails

And he's oh, so good
And he's oh, so fine
And he's oh, so healthy
In his body and his mind
He's a well respected man about town
Doing the best things so conservatively

And his mother goes to meetings
While his father pulls the maid
And she stirs the tea with councilors
While discussing foreign trade
And she passes looks, as well as bills
At every suave young man

Cause he's oh, so good
And he's oh, so fine
And he's oh, so healthy
In his body and his mind
He's a well respected man about town
Doing the best things so conservatively

And he likes his own backyard
And he likes his fags the best
Cause he's better than the rest
And his own sweat smells the best
And he hopes to grab his fathers loot
When pater passes on

Cause he's oh, so good
And he's oh, so fine
And he's oh, so healthy
In his body and his mind
He's a well respected man about town
Doing the best things so conservatively

And he plays at stocks and shares
And he goes to the regatta
And he adores the girl next door
Cause he's dying to get at her
But his mother knows the best about
The matrimonial stakes

Cause he's oh, so good
And he's oh, so fine
And he's oh, so healthy
In his body and his mind
He's a well respected man about town
Doing the best things so conservatively


& mibrinco Dedicated Follower Of Fashion
-Raymond Douglas Davies-


Shannon Warne & Mods Ensemble
ModRock: The Stage Musical (2013)

British Rock


Dedicated Follower Of Fashion
They seek him here, they seek him there
His clothes are loud, but never square
It will make or break him so he's got to buy the best
'Cause he's a dedicated follower of fashion

And when he does his little rounds
'Round the boutiques of London Town
Eagerly pursuing all the latest fads and trends
'Cause he's a dedicated follower of fashion

Oh yes he is (oh yes he is), oh yes he is (oh yes he is)
He thinks he is a flower to be looked at
And when he pulls his frilly nylon panties right up tight
He feels a dedicated follower of fashion

Oh yes he is (oh yes he is), oh yes he is (oh yes he is)
There's one thing that he loves and that is flattery
One week he's in polka-dots, the next week he is in stripes
'Cause he's a dedicated follower of fashion

They seek him here, they seek him there
In Regent Street and Leicester Square
Everywhere the Carnabetian army marches on
Each one an dedicated follower of fashion

Oh yes he is (oh yes he is), oh yes he is (oh yes he is)
His world is built 'round discotheques and parties
This pleasure-seeking individual always looks his best
'Cause he's a dedicated follower of fashion

Oh yes he is (oh yes he is), oh yes he is (oh yes he is)
He flits from shop to shop just like a butterfly
In matters of the cloth he is as fickle as can be
'Cause he's a dedicated follower of fashion
He's a dedicated follower of fashion
He's a dedicated follower of fashion

& mibrinco Sunny Afternoon
-Raymond Douglas Davies-


Eliza Carthy & The Wayward Band
Big Machine (2019)

British Rock
The Kinks' biggest hit from 1966, the first in a long string of satirical hits – in this case criticizing the privileged ones who “suffered” from the imposition of the new progressive tax in England.

What have the artists said about the song?

‘Sunny Afternoon’ was made very quickly, in the morning, it was one of our most atmospheric sessions. I still like to keep tapes of the few minutes before the final take, things that happen before the session. Maybe it’s superstitious, but I believe if I had done things differently—if I had walked around the studio or gone out—it wouldn’t have turned out that way. The bass player went off and started playing funny little classical things on the bass, more like a lead guitar: and Nicky Hopkins, who was playing piano on that session, was playing ‘Liza'—we always used to play that song—little things like that helped us get into the feeling of the song. At the time I wrote 'Sunny Afternoon’ I couldn’t listen to anything. I was only playing The Greatest Hits of Frank Sinatra and Dylan’s ‘Maggie’s Farm’—I just liked its whole presence, I was playing the Bringing It All Back Home LP along with my Frank Sinatra and Glenn Miller and Bach—it was a strange time. I thought they all helped one another, they went into the chromatic part that’s in the back of the song. I once made a drawing of my voice on ‘Sunny Afternoon.’ It was a leaf with a very thick outline—a big blob in the background—the leaf just cutting through it.

-Ray Davies
Sunny Afternoon
The tax man's taken all my dough
And left me in my stately home
Lazing on a sunny afternoon

And I can't sail my yacht
He's taken everythin' I've got
All I've got's this sunny afternoon

Save me, save me, save me from this squeeze
I've got a big fat momma tryin' to break me

And I love to live so pleasantly
Live this life of luxury
Lazing on a sunny afternoon

In the summertime, in the summertime
In the summertime

My girlfriend's run off with my car
And gone back to her ma and pa
Telling tales of drunkenness and cruelty

Now I'm sitting here
Sipping at my ice cold beer
Lazing on a sunny afternoon

Help me, help me, help me sail away
Well, give me two good reasons why I ought to stay

'Cause I love to live so pleasantly
Live this life of luxury
Lazing on a sunny afternoon

In the summertime, in the summertime
In the summertime

Oh, save me, save me, save me from this squeeze
I've got a big fat momma tryin' to break me

And I love to live so pleasantly
Live this life of luxury
Lazing on a sunny afternoon

In the summertime, in the summertime
In the summertime, in the summertime
In the summertime


& mibrinco Death Of A Clown
-Raymond Douglas Davies / Dave Davies-


Miss Sammy J
The End of the World...And on a More Optimistic Note... (2018)

British Rock


Death Of A Clown
My makeup is dry and it clags on my chin
I'm drowning my sorrows in whisky and gin
The lion tamer's whip doesn't crack anymore
The lions they won't fight and the tigers won't roar

La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
So let's go and drink to the death of a clown
Won't someone help me to break up this crown
Let's all drink to the death of a clown
Let's all drink to the death of a clown

The old fortune teller lies dead on the floor
Nobody needs fortunes told anymore
The trainer of insects is crouched on his knees
And frantically looking for runaway fleas

La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
Let's all drink to the death of a clown
So won't someone help me to break up this crown
Let's all drink to the death of a clown
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
Let's all drink to the death of a clown
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la

& mibrinco David Watts
-Raymond Douglas Davies-


Mikaela Davis
From the Archives (2011)

British Rock
The song is about the singer's great admiration of fellow schoolboy David Watts, who appears to have a "charmed life". There is an undercurrent of either deep envy or, as AllMusic put it, "a schoolboy crush". It is also, as Jon Savage has written, one of Ray Davies' "sharpest homoerotic songs".

As Ray Davies confirmed in The Kinks: The Official Biography by Savage, "David Watts is a real person. He was a concert promoter in Rutland." Ray goes on to relate how the real Watts was gay and demonstrated an obvious romantic interest in brother Dave. In this light, lines such as "he is so gay and fancy free" and "all the girls in the neighbourhood try to go out with David Watts... but can't succeed" provide a second level of interpretation based on this ironic in-joke.

David Watts
Fa, fa, fa, fa
Fa, fa, fa, fa

I am a dull and simple lad
Cannot tell water from champagne
And I have never met the Queen
And I wish I could have all that he has got
And I wish I could be like David Watts

Fa, fa, fa, fa
Fa, fa, fa, fa

And when I lie on my pillow at night
I dream I could fight like David Watts
I'd lead the school team to victory
And take my exams and pass the lot

(Wish I could be)
Wish I could be like David Watts
(Wish I could be)
Wish I could be like David Watts

(Wish I could be)
Conduct my life like David Watts
(Wish I could be)
I wish I could be like David Watts

Fa, fa, fa, fa
Fa, fa, fa, fa

He is the head boy at the school
He is the captain of the team
He is so gay and fancy free
And I wish all his money belonged to me
And I wish I could be like David Watts

Fa, fa, fa, fa
Fa, fa, fa, fa

And all the girls in the neighbourhood
Try to go out with David Watts
They try their best but can't succeed
For he is of pure and noble breed

Wish I could be like
Wish I could be like
Wish I could be like
(Fa, fa, fa, fa)
Wish I could be like
(Fa, fa, fa, fa)

Fa, fa, fa, fa
(Wish I, wish I, wish I)
Fa, fa, fa, fa
(Wish I, wish I, wish I)

Fa, fa, fa, fa
(Wish I, wish I, wish I)
Fa, fa, fa, fa
(Wish I, wish I, wish I)

Fa, fa, fa, fa
(Wish I could be like)
Fa, fa, fa, fa
(Wish I could be like)


& mibrinco Waterloo Sunset
-Raymond Douglas Davies-


Maria Due
Lucky Fish (2015)

British Rock

Waterloo Sunset
Dirty old river, must you keep rolling
Flowing into the night
People so busy, make me feel dizzy
Taxi light shines so bright

But I don't need no friends
As long as I gaze on Waterloo sunset
I am in paradise

Every day I look at the world from my window
But chilly, chilly is the evening time
Waterloo sunset's fine

Terry meets Julie, Waterloo station
Every Friday night
But I am so lazy, don't want to wander
I stay at home at night

But I don't feel afraid
As long as I gaze on Waterloo sunset
I am in paradise

Every day I look at the world from my window
But chilly, chilly is the evening time
Waterloo sunset's fine

Millions of people swarming like flies
Round Waterloo underground
But Terry and Julie cross over the river
Where they feel safe and sound

And they don't need no friends
As long as they gaze on Waterloo sunset
They are in paradise

Waterloo sunset's fine

& mibrinco Autumn Almanac
-Raymond Douglas Davies-


Maura Kennedy
Kinks Unkovered (2010)

British Rock


Autumn Almanac
From the dew-soaked hedge creeps a crawly caterpillar
When the dawn begins to crack
It's all part of my autumn almanac
Breeze blows leaves of a musty-coloured yellow
So I sweep them in my sack
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac.

Friday evenings, people get together
Hiding from the weather
Tea and toasted, buttered currant buns
Can't compensate for lack of sun
Because the summer's all gone

La-la-la-la
Oh, my poor rheumatic back
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac
La-la-la-la
Oh, my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac

I like my football on a Saturday
Roast beef on Sundays, all right
I go
To Blackpool for my holidays
Sit in the open sunlight.

This is my street, and I'm never gonna to leave it
And I'm always gonna to stay here
If I live to be ninety-nine
Cause all the people I meet
Seem to come from my street
And I can't get away
Because it's calling me, (come on home)
Hear it calling me, (come on home)

La-la-la-la
Oh, my autumn Armagnac
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac
La-la-la-la
Oh, my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes

Bop-bop-bopm-bop-bop, whoa!
Bop-bop-bopm-bop-bop, whoa!

& mibrinco The Village Green Preservation Society
-Raymond Douglas Davies-


Kate Rusby
Awkward Annie (2007)

British Rock

British Rock
We are the Village Green Preservation Society
God save Donald Duck, Vaudeville and Variety
We are the Desperate Dan Appreciation Society
God save strawberry jam and all the different varieties

Preserving the old ways from being abused
Protecting the new ways for me and for you
What more can we do

We are the Draught Beer Preservation Society
God save Mrs. Mopp and good Old Mother Riley
We are the Custard Pie Appreciation Consortium
God save the George Cross and all those who were awarded them

We are the Sherlock Holmes English Speaking Vernacular
Help save Fu Manchu, Moriarty and Dracula
We are the Office Block Persecution Affinity
God save little shops, china cups and virginity
We are the Skyscraper condemnation Affiliate
God save Tudor houses, antique tables and billiards

Preserving the old ways from being abused
Protecting the new ways for me and for you
What more can we do

We are the Village Green Preservation Society
God save Donald Duck, Vaudeville and Variety
We are the Desperate Dan Appreciation Society
God save strawberry jam and all the different varieties

We are the Village Green Preservation Society
God save Donald Duck, Vaudeville and Variety
We are the Village Green Preservation Society
God save Donald Duck, Vaudeville and Variety
God save the Village Green

& mibrinco Strangers
-Dave Davies-


Norah Jones
The Fall (2009)

British Rock
“Strangers” was written by Dave Davies, the Kinks' guitarist and younger brother of Ray Davies. The song has always served as a highlight in Davies' solo sets and was used, to great effect, in Wes Anderson’s 2007 film, The Darjeeling Limited. The sentimental song is about Davies' relationship with an old school friend whose drug addiction ultimately led to his premature death. The two were extremely close but the drug addiction pulled them apart, thus they became “strangers.” Arguably, the most beautiful part of the song is the sentiment that even after becoming estranged, Davies still holds an affinity for his old friend.

Discussing “Strangers,” Dave Davies said in a 2010 Thirsty Magazine interview:
We were dear friends. Actually, George and I were going to start a band, but he got too heavily into drugs and it kind of pulled us apart. The drug thing was like a three-way affair. He died of a methamphetamine overdose. They found him departed…he was young. I always felt it was going to be me and him. I didn’t think at that age that it was going to be me and Ray. So I really kind of wrote it to him; “Strangers on this road we are on, we are not two we are one“. It was like, what might of been if he hadn’t died so tragically.

Strangers
Where are you going I don't mind
I've killed my world and I've killed my time
So where do I go what do I see
I see many people coming after me
So where are you going to I don't mind
If I live too long I'm afraid I'll die
So I will follow you wherever you go
If your offered hand is still open to me

Strangers on this road we are on
We are not two we are one

So you've been where I've just come
From the land that brings losers on
So we will share this road we walk
And mind our mouths and beware our talk
'Till peace we find tell you what I'll do
All the things that I own I will share with you
And, if I feel tomorrow, like, I feel today
We'll take what we want and give the rest away

Strangers on this road we are on
We are not two we are one

Holy man and holy priest
This love of life makes me weak at my knees
And when we get there make your play
'Cos soon I feel you're gonna carry us away
In a promised lie you made us believe
For many men there is so much grief
And my mind is proud but it aches with rage
And, if I live too long I'm afraid I'll die

Strangers on this road we are on
We are not two we are one
Strangers on this road we are on
We are not two we are one


& mibrinco Lola
-Raymond Douglas Davies-


Paloma Faith
See My Friends (2010)

British Rock
Lola is an attractive transgender woman; the narrator is a young man, flattered by the attention paid to him by her. Ray Davis has claimed that he was inspired to write “Lola” after Kinks manager Robert Wace spent a night in Paris dancing with a transgender woman. However, Mick Avory claimed that the song was inspired by his frequenting of transgender bars in west London.

Lola (incluye a Ray Davies)
I met her in a club down in old Soho
Where you drink champagne and it tastes just like
Cherry Cola
C-O-L-A Cola
She walked up to me and she asked me to dance
I asked her her name and in a dark brown voice she said, "Lola"
L-O-L-A Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola

Well, I'm not the world's most physical guy
But when she squeezed me tight she nearly broke my spine
Oh my Lola, lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo Lola
Well, I'm not dumb but I can't understand
Why she walks like a woman and talks like a man
Oh my Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola

Well, we drank champagne and danced all night
Under electric candlelight
She picked me up and sat me on her knee
She said, "Little boy won't you come home with me?"
Well, I'm not the world's most passionate guy
But when I looked in her eyes
I almost fell for my Lola
Lo lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola
Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola

I pushed her away. I walked to the door
I fell to the floor. I got down on my knees
I looked at her, and she at me
Well that's the way that I want it to stay
I always want it to be that way for my Lola
Lo lo lo Lola
Girls will be boys, and boys will be girls
It's a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world
Except for Lola. Lo lo lo lo Lola. Lo lo lo lo Lola
Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola

Well I'd left home just a week before
And I'd never ever kissed a woman before
Lola smiled and took me by the hand
She said, "Little boy, gonna make you a man."
Well I'm not the world's most masculine man
But I know what I am and I'm glad I'm a man
And so is Lola
Lo lo lo lo Lola. Lo lo lo lo Lola

Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola
Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola
Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola
Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola
Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo lo Lola