I saw a typically clever Marmite ad online the other day. If you’re not familiar with Marmite, all I can suggest is you study particle physics instead. It’ll be easier to explain. The rest of us will just quietly continue…
It was making reference to the fact that the source material (spent brewer’s yeast) was currently in short supply and the larger size jars were temporarily unavailable.
It reminded me that many things are quite polarising, especially in the arts. Indeed, as I type this I’m listening to “Too much too young” by the Specials as Mrs E looks on with undisguised distate.
The works of Roger Waters fall into this category, I found. Ex of Pink Floyd, and no doubt drawing his old age pension, he’s still producing music and touring. I’d bought tickets for my son and I to see him in Vancouver this autumn. COVID put an end to that, so we’ll see how outrageous Ticketmaster behaves when it comes to rescheduling/refunds.
Many people find his music repetitive or dirge-like, but personally I love the imagery of his lyrics. Admittedly they can be a bit self-indulgent sometimes, but I still love the imagery.
Take the lines from “4.50 AM (Go Fishing)” on “Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking”:
You adopted a fox cub
Whose mother was somebody’s coat
There’s mention of Eeyore and Pooh in the song too! Classic word-weaving.
Anyway, Spotify served up one of his later pieces from “Amused to Death”. It’s not what you’d call a light spirited album but again, I find the word pictures very evocative. Given the times we live in, I thought the lyrics for “Too much rope” particularly relevant.
Muslim or Christian, Mullah or Pope
Preacher or poet who was it wrote
Give any one species too much rope
And they’ll fuck it up
Love it. Hate it. Just don’t waste it!
Quieter Elephant 