Category: Heh Heh

The Monks — Bad Habits


Remaining with the theme of satire and parody in popular music, The Monks were an English punk band formed in the 1970s by former members of Strawbs – Richard Hudson, John Ford and Terry Cassidy, along with Clive Pearce (drums). Their debut album, Bad Habits, a spoof of punk rock released in 1979, then re-released on 28 December 1999, had a very successful run in Canada and the UK, where the single “Nice Legs Shame About Your Face” reached number 19 on the UK Singles Chart.

Notice the superb acting and musicianship on the second video. What incredible lip syncing abilities. I am awed.

Thinga-mah-ding! Thinga-mah-Quongo!
Bad Habits by The Monks

Has He Offended Someone?

This morning, I heard “Copycat” on the radio, the song that will represent Belgium at the Eurovision Song Festival:

Belgium being Belgium, its Eurovision Song Contest candidate is being elected in turn yearly, between the Flemish and the Wallonian region. This year it’s the Wallonian’s turn, and so the Flemish press is kind of “hush hush, who cares anyway” about it.

The Flemish Elvis-fan-club “ElvisMatters” however was so outraged, they decided to send a letter to the organisation of the festival, demanding a disqualification because the song’s lyrics include the phrase “he’s too fat to rock ’n’ roll” and because, well, it’s an overall mockery of The King.

Now I don’t give a shit about that festival, but I think it’s a wonderful piece of satire, and funny too! Should be a winner!

What do you think? You decide! Vote now:

• If you like the song, comment with: Thinga-mah-ding!
• If you don’t like it, comment with: Quongo-quongo!

Sorry, no fancy poll widget, I am a busy woman…

Odds & Ends Some More

Time for another bag of miscellany that may or may not be of interest to you:

The Berlusconi Protest Song Project

Michel Delville of Belgian FZ tribute band The Wrong Object writes in to announce an interesting project:

There is a new myspace page devoted to musical responses to the New Fascism in all its guises and disguises. Please come and visit us here.

For now, there’s one track there entitled “Berlusconi Über Alles”, a somewhat hastily recorded cover from The Dead Kennedys.

You are however encouraged to submit any and all of your songs/covers as long as they aim to oppose and expose fascism — whether it be Berlusconi or any other xenophobe ultra-right-wing fruitcake.

Have at it kids, and be sure to let us know of any tracks you’ve submitted!

YouTubery Update (mildly NSFW):

You Gotta Have Goals, Guys…

On the bright side, at least you aren’t Canadian (these evil sons-a-bitches have been planning world domination ever since 1867…just watch ’em). Take the music of Celine Dion, for instance (an insidious effort to turn everyone into Canadians, one person at a time). I dare not link to any of her music videos for fear of infecting this great site, Barry.

Radio Clyde

Aaah, pop culture: a T-shirt worn by FZ which he had obtained prior to a 1980 gig in Glasgow becomes “new must-have after American Idol appearance”:

[…] the Radio Clyde T-shirt has become the must-have item for Hollywood’s A-list. Trendsetters are rushing to buy the “261 top” – with the latest star to wear it being American Idol judge Randy Jackson.

radio clyde t-shirt

Richard Muir, marketing manager for Radio Clyde:

Clyde was playing Zappa music while some radio stations didn’t. He was proud to wear the shirt because he felt the station was supporting him.

The item in question can be found here, in case you were wondering.