We chose two King Blues songs for our shortlist, and those were "Let's Hang The Landlord" and "I Got Love"
The King Blues are a Punk-influenced Ska-Acoustic band, and both of these song's reflect the genre effectively. I feel that "Let's Hang The Langlord" (hereafter LHTL) in particular achieves this well.
The song (LHTL) itself is the story of a Punk growing up in London, with very political overtones. It was the first single released from the album "Save The World, Get The Girl"
I was classic bullying material strictly speaking
I was 4ft tall with 3ft mohican
I bunked off school and bought some tattoo ink
Engraved "punk 4 life" on my arm with a safety pin
I was sleeping in a park and selling the Big Issue
But this ain't no sob story so don't reach for the tissues
These Spanish Punks they took me under their wing
Opened up a squat in Clapham Common, they let me move in
This place was fucking huge, I couldn't believe my luck
But it was no stranger to the odd ruck
I was sharing a room with a bloke called Geoff
He had rotten teeth and the World's worst breath
But we had such a time, graffing up all the walls
Days trips to Brighton when the occasion called
Drinking Red Wine and Coke, playing our music loud
On a shitty old tape player we sung it proud
We used to sing
If we hang the Landlord from the top of the stairs
We can live here forever without a care
So let's hang the Landlord from the top of stairs
We'll live like a millionaire
Like a millionaire
We looked out for each other, as a group we were tight
All coppers are bastards, but we were alright
Painting our leather jackets, soaping up our hair
We looked like aliens out of anywhere
If the tourists wanted a photo we would charge them a pound
When we had enough we'd buy a bottle and pass it around
Id buy the cheap gluey though stick things to fix
And whatever we could find got thrown into the mix
If we hang the Landlord from the top of the stairs
We can live here forever without a care
So let's hang the Landlord from the top of stairs
We'll live like a millionaire
Like a millionaire
Now always blagging it into gigs for free
Sneaking in our own cans after a robbing spree
Getting chased out the offie and half way down the street
Smiling at the girls we thought looked sweet
And Puff used to give me all his hand-me-downs
He had a great big heart but he'd done too much brown
Sarah used to look out for me, make sure I was alright
When Mel and other people once got in a fight
We used to sing
If we hang the Landlord from the top of the stairs
We can live here forever without a care
So let's hang the Landlord from the top of stairs
We'll live like a millionaire
Like a millionaire
A couple of years ago a tramp at Piccadilly he told me Aaron had died
My head spun around until I sat on the curb and cried
And I found my self sitting on Puff's begging patch
I ain't seen him around I pray he didn't lose the match
Now Al's in prison and he was the sensible one
Don't let the bastards grind you down mate our time ain't begun
Don't let the screws get in your head and fuck you up
Because when you get out we'll string that Landlord up
If we hang the Landlord from the top of the stairs
We can live here forever without a care
So let's hang the Landlord from the top of stairs
We'll live like a millionaire
Like a millionaire
The singer (Jonny Fox, a.k.a "Itch") appears to be proud of how he grew up, despite the lifestyle being frowned upon by society, and even pitied on occasion. This can be seen in the line from the first verse: "I was sleeping in a park and selling the Big Issue/ But this ain't no sob story so don't reach for the tissue". The melody is very upbeat, and appears very positive, despite the horrific act depicted in the chorus. This could help in terms of a music video, because I feel that a sombre mood would be a lot more difficult to film and direct
The difficulty would come with the narrative nature of the song. If a video just strictly followed the narrative, it could weaken the quality of the video as a whole. The quality would have to come from capturing the underlying ideas and themes of the music. I feel that a sense of pride is present throughout the peice, with a hint of regret. Also present are determination, defiance, and revolution.
The other song we chose was "I Got Love", from the same album.
This song has a much more upbeat feel and happier subject matter.
Well I'm gonna dance like nobody's watchin
I'm gonna sing like no-one's listenin
I'm gonna kiss you like we're all alone
Cause this world is ours
We're the have not but the have all's
At twice the speed of lightning I travel.
Through the universe I will run
to write your name in the stars.
Cos some truths will last forever.
Music can bring the world together
I got life man, I will use it til they lay me down to rest
So let’s party in the supermarkets
Move to the rhythm of my heartbeat
I’ll take my tie right off my neck
and wear it tied up round my head
I got love, I got so much love
Love in my heart and this feeling I can’t let it go
I got love, I got so much love
Love in my heart and this feeling I can’t let it go
Mountains crumble as I pass
This life’s too beautiful to last
I feel a spirit rise inside me
Something’s happening in the air,
With my feet right on the ground
And my head up in the clouds
We are one people, we are equal
You are wonderful and rare
I got love, I got so much love,
Love in my heart and this feeling I can’t let it go
I got love, I got so much love
Love in my heart and this feeling I can’t let it go
Though we try so hard, they disdain us
But these walls they can’t contain us
I laugh right in the face of death,
I’ll fight this fight til my last breath,
For the frightened fall as often yet far closer than the brave,
We only got one life, let’s use it,
You can’t stop the movement,
So choke on that, you can quote that
You can write it on my grave,
I got love, I got so much love
Love in my heart and this feeling I can’t let it go
The singer seems to be declaring an undying love. The lyrics are particularly strong, and even poetic, in a modern sense. This would perhaps be easier because we wouldn't be drawn into following a narrative whilst filming it. The song is much more about an idea, rather than telling a story.
The ideas presented in the song are defiance, happiness, but more importantly, an all conquering and untarnishable love. Particularly powerful is the lyric "Through the Universe I will run to write your name in the stars". Oddly, it is never mentioned that the love is for one particular, and it is entirely possible that it is for an idea, or, much more likely, a type of music. This is reflected in the lyric Cos some truths will last forever, Music can bring the world together".
In conclusion, these songs both present certain ideas and feelings and these would have to be reflected in the videos we made. In choosing "Let's Hang the Landlord" we would have to be very careful that we didnt just follow the narrative involved in the music. As with "I Got Love", it would be more important to capture the mood, ideas and feelings present in the peice.
The ideas presented in the song are defiance, happiness, but more importantly, an all conquering and untarnishable love. Particularly powerful is the lyric "Through the Universe I will run to write your name in the stars". Oddly, it is never mentioned that the love is for one particular, and it is entirely possible that it is for an idea, or, much more likely, a type of music. This is reflected in the lyric Cos some truths will last forever, Music can bring the world together".
In conclusion, these songs both present certain ideas and feelings and these would have to be reflected in the videos we made. In choosing "Let's Hang the Landlord" we would have to be very careful that we didnt just follow the narrative involved in the music. As with "I Got Love", it would be more important to capture the mood, ideas and feelings present in the peice.
