rather than just make up some story about the new name floating down from heaven and smacking the band in the face, we figured we would like to let you, the reader, into the delicacy of name deciding, in all its metaphysical glory. what follows is the actual email debate/brainstorm sessions that took place in the process of finding a new name for [suede?]. welcome to the story behind the Sounds of Elsewhere:
george responds:
sound of elsewhere lead me to sound of somewhere. lemme tell you why i
like that name. first of all, it looks really cool when you write it in
flamboyant cursive. more importantly, though, it reminds me of a lot of
our lyrics. i think many of our songs express our desire as a group for
a world far removed from our own, a world whose sounds we express.
hence, sound of somewhere. lets look at some lyrics to support my idea.
the first verse of metaphacto describes the world we see. it is a
fierce, angular world of grotesque scenery. however, when you get to the
chorus, a natural anarchy ensues, a beautiful world of individualism
meeting harmony explodes upon our environment. this may be the somewhere
we are looking for. in addition, our newer songs express this feeling.
racketestadt literally takes us away from the world we live in, to a
place only worthy of the "mensch" willing to embrace a new way. i also
remember in the original urban explorer lyrics a line that sang "take
refuge in the city until we can danse in the streets." we also must
mention the constant search embodied in avatar vs. minotaur. all these
lyrics imply some sort of search for a 'world ideal' that i think suede
has collectively embraced.
finally, sound of somewhere can be shortened to SOS. i know its a little
cliche but hear me out. according to our lyrics (never again, urban
explorer) the current world is in a state of emergency, but seude still
entertains the nostalgia for our world ideal. this duality is further
supported by never again's lyrics...."you know i dig duality". this idea
is a little abstract. i don't know if i made it clear. the main point is
that i like the juxtaposition of SOS (emergency) with the "sound of
somewhere" (the promise of something better).
if nothing else, we need to write a song with this title
jason favors george's idea and responds appropriately:
that was exactly what I was looking for
SOS sounds rad, my vote is on that one
drew, however, has deeper meaning attached to the original name, and explains thusly:
sounds of somewhere is spot on. only thing is i kinda stick with elsewhere instead of somewhere. here's why:
elsewhere is a refrence to one of the first secret stages in Kid Chameleon for Sega Genesis, thus a reference i have been carrying for quite a while. it has always been the understatement for much of the sentiment that george mentioned, the semi-escapism of the current binds of society. elsewhere also has a greater intensity in considering how not near or existent this place is. somewhere denotes a single existent place, whereas elsewhere denote anywhere other than here, the present prison. elsewhere is more ephemeral and one may struggle to reach one's own elsewhere, an escape made by any sort of spectral subversion. somewhere may be another place with its own system of oppression, whereas elsewhere is as free and frontier-esque as say, the wild west, the northwest passage, or even deep space. the power of that prefix is really what i contest, it appears. i just feel that elsewhere is the real utopian frameless un-location which a movement such as Suede? aims not only to find, but to create.
these are my thoughts, and if we do it democratically, and i am outvoted, i am definitely happy with SOS.
dig.
they do dig, and the response favors drew, as george curtly replies:
after that explanation i'll take SOE. i agree.
which is followed in tone by jason, as follows:
sounds of elsewhere sounds pretty good, and its got a solid explanation. i can see much future in this name...
i'm proud of both of you
joy and relief sweeps the hearts and minds of the band, and what they feel is best described in a following email subject line, from jason, which proclaims: WE ARE THE SOUNDS OF ELSEWHERE! and it is so.