I do not breathe your politics
"Comment is free but facts are sacred." (C.P. Scott)
Saturday, July 23, 2005
British 'Samba' bands: the sound of the hangover
Today there is some sort of music event at the bandstand on The Pantiles (the little old shopping street just round the corner from my little old house).
After a night of poor sleep, I was finally roused from my midday slumbers by what I thought was a thumping headache. It was, in fact, a samba band. I know that samba 'tub thumping' is now the celebrated music of left wing protest marchers, and it is widely lauded for its power to peacefully (if noisily) motivate crowds, but it is not widely lauded for its ability to ruin my quiet slumbery saturday afternoon. If I wanted a repetitive thumping feeling in my head, I would have got drunk last night.
Later I wandered to the shops (past said music event) and saw the start of a routine by a young-looking, slightly gangly beat poet, who may well have been excellent, but who instantly put me off with the customary free hand 'strumming' of the air, as his other hand clutched crumpled notes to the microphone stand.
As I wandered around Sainsbury's, I heard the Mike Myers beat poetry refrain in my head:
Woman! Woaaah, man!Quickly replaced by: HEEEEED! PANTS! NOOOOOW!And I smiled the scary smile of psycho shopper. Not that it made people get out of my way. As I type this, another band is delivering a very competent version of One Step Beyond through my open window, and samba-induced anger is fading. posted by Michael at 7/23/2005 07:48:00 PM |