It just occurred to me that while Bowie could be personal, funny or profound as a lyricist, sometimes accidentally so, he never really tries to be clever, does he?
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 28 July 2020 14:27 (three years ago) link
Which is a good thing, I hope
― Time Will Show Leo Weiser (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 28 July 2020 14:45 (three years ago) link
Now the workers have struck for fameBecause Lennon's on sale again
― budo jeru, Tuesday, 28 July 2020 14:53 (three years ago) link
Yeah, I think that whole weird verse is trying to be clever.
― Eyeball Kicks, Tuesday, 28 July 2020 15:21 (three years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/AtKx7nM.jpgKeep boxing clever.
― Time Will Show Leo Weiser (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 28 July 2020 15:29 (three years ago) link
I totally think it's a good thing he never really tries to be clever. Jut surprising, given he's smart, pretentious, ambitious, etc. that he never really seemed tempted to show off lyrically. If anything he went the opposite direction. Automatic writing, cut-ups, stream of consciousness, etc.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 28 July 2020 15:33 (three years ago) link
I don't know how you're defining 'trying to be clever' tbh.
― Sonny Shamrock (Tom D.), Tuesday, 28 July 2020 15:37 (three years ago) link
For instance...
"I'm closer to the Golden DawnImmersed in Crowley's uniformOf imageryI'm living in a silent filmPortraying Himmler's sacred realmOf dream reality"
... is that trying to be clever?
― Sonny Shamrock (Tom D.), Tuesday, 28 July 2020 15:39 (three years ago) link
There's quite a lot of that sort of stuff pre-Ziggy!
― Sonny Shamrock (Tom D.), Tuesday, 28 July 2020 15:41 (three years ago) link
Yeah, I don't think of that as clever, just evocative. I'm thinking more of the, yeah, Elvis Costello vein, of couplets and quips and tricky wordplay.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 28 July 2020 16:10 (three years ago) link
Right, get you, no he did not, thank God!
― Sonny Shamrock (Tom D.), Tuesday, 28 July 2020 16:22 (three years ago) link
he definitely did it sometimes, but i agree that it's good he largely avoided it and in any case the examples that come to mind (including the one i posted) rarely come off as smug or obnoxious
― budo jeru, Tuesday, 28 July 2020 16:54 (three years ago) link
He doesn't go much for rhymes, which precludes a lot of opportunities cleverness.
― Julius Caesar Memento Hoodie (bendy), Tuesday, 28 July 2020 17:35 (three years ago) link
Last two posts otm.
― Time Will Show Leo Weiser (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 28 July 2020 17:36 (three years ago) link