SSML-47, 17 January 1997
Hi everyone,
As the lyric goes in I Can Drive, "I just don't know what to say", so it's straight over to your contributions this issue:
Mike.
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Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 09:00:59 +0000 (GMT)
From: Grant_Mitchell@ssco.se (Grant Mitchell)
Subject: Marcy info
Reply-to: Grant_Mitchell@ssco.se
SS & Marcy-Scandinavia
Hi! My name is Grant and I'm new to the mailing-list but an old fan of SS. I'm a 24 year old Australian, living in Sweden. Here's a bit of news I have about Marcy (and Bananarama).
She was recently in Sweden on a promotional tour for 'FEELER', which has been out here since August. It hasn't charted (i.e, top 50) but the album is available everywhere, as well as the singles. The album is out on MEGA records (same Scandinavian label as Bananarama) who have done a brilliant job in promoting the album. As usual it is the gay press that have given it the most coverage. There was a half page ad for 'Feeler' in the gay mag QX 3 months in a row. (Picture of Marcy with white streaks and black glasses- very Nana Mascouri)- beneath it said "I write about things which influence me - without which I would be depressed, if unable to be positive through consciousness.'??? The ad also appeared in the local press September 1996. The gay press gave bad reviews to "feeler' saying it was over-produced. I don't agree though. Its a well-rounded album. The gay press made a big deal here about the 'I hate you"-Siobhan thing.(I Can Drive, was never released here) Marcie arrived here late October for a quick promotional tour, but as far as I know only appeared on Sweden's first gay TV program, called 'Homogen". She didn't mention the tabloid incident about Siobhan- I suspect she refused to discuss it. I was surprised to see Marcy on TV with no make-up, glasses, heavily streaked hair and looking old, to be brutally honest. This is a rough transcript of the short interview. MD: "The album is called Feeler, because sometimes I feel like I have these antenna on my head. I'm always looking, searching for inspiration, like somebody can say something and I will think, wow, that's a great title for a song.
- Somebody's Mother is about women in Bosnia. I wrote about girls who are as young as 12 years old being raped to death. Not a nice subject, but it did exist. 'How could this be happening in 1996', I thought.
- I've always had this fear of death, and my husband gave me this book called "Coming Back"- And its about what the Buddhists believe, that if you surround yourself in thoughts of what you want to become in the next life, then that is what you will become. And if I'm going to come back then I want to be a boy, just to see what its like. I've always been a tom-boy, I've never been a girlie-girl. I've always been the kind of girl who was athletic and very muscular, and beat up the boys in my street. I've never worn silly fru-fru dresses. I've never been that way. (By the way, it was a lesbian who interviewed Marcy, who was nonetheless thrilled by her comments) MD- If we all had the chance to be the opposite sex for a day, we could understand each other a lot more. Its nothing deeper than that. Its just experimental, like put on a mans suit for the day, and see what you can get done. And for a man to put on a women's dress for a day- because its all just a facade. And if we all had a chance to do things differently, maybe we could change the worlds attitude."
A little info for Bananarama fans- UV has gotten loads of press here (though mainly gay press- as usual). There were competitions for the album and a lot of ads. However they received really bad reviews for UV. Its quite cruel but I'll write it. "There are some groups which aren't needed anymore, Bananarama is one of them. The new album's plastic Euro-disco songs sound at least 8 years old and are completely dull. Its like listening to a 37 minute long Bana song. - Bananarama goes Army of Lovers- but that's an insult to AOL'. (QX-Nov 1996: no name given- he wouldn't dare- the vengeance of a Banana fan is a horrid thing)
That's it from Sweden, no news about Siobhan. However here is some
stuff I have to trade: - Shakespears Sister - Dirty Mind CD single (Includes the Extended 1990
version)
- Bananarama -Preacher Man CD single (Includes the Preacher Man- Shep's Club Mix-brilliant)
- And a couple of copies of Marcella Detroit's 'Somebody's Mother'- which includes Gasoline(from the album) and Miss Anne Throp (new song, not on the album).
This single was planned to be released but was cancelled, and Boy was released instead. However copies of the single had already been printed and some are floating around. I found some copies in 2nd Hand CD shops in Stockholm. A brilliant cover. I'm looking for the I Don't Care -CD single (the one with 2 or 3 mixes) Run Silent - Revolution Mix. Plus possible
others, let me know.
My e-mail is : Grant_Mitchell@ssco.se BYE....... Grant
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Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1997 09:34:17 +0000 (GMT)
From: Grant_Mitchell@ssco.se (Grant Mitchell)
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Mailing list
I am a big Marcy fan, her solo stuff is (as expected) brilliant, though my loyalty has to remain with Siobhan. I've been a major fan of SS since 1988 when 'You really break my heart' came out. I'd been a huge fan of Bananarama, but for some reason always felt Siobhan was unique, the constantly evolving member of the group. When she left, I kind of followed her and progressed in my music tastes as she did. I never went back to Bananarama (I felt it was divided loyalty- a really common thing amongst Banana-Siobhan(SS)-and now Marcie fans) The tension will always be there I think. I felt SS music was exactly were I was. But even though Marcie was there almost from the beginning and was a key element in the success of the band, it was Siobhan who spurned the initial idea, the spirit and the direction of the band, I read an interview just after she left Bananarama, and she explained how she'd been in LA writing and was planning a solo-career under the name SS. Half the SH tracks were already written before Marcie ever came into the picture, the glam-
alternative pop music and image had already been established. Anyway, I guess I'm just answering some of the critics of Siobhan's solo attempt at "I can drive'. I think it is one of the most musically crafted songs SS has ever put out. Siobhan will never put out a straight 'pop' album again. She progressed, and we either follow her or we don't. We can't keep bitching that she should re-join Bananarama, that's not were she's at. Strangely enough, like many estranged Bananarama fans, in the last 6 months I've regained a new interest in the group. Pop-Life is a brilliant album.
Sorry about that Mike, reading some of these old back-issues really stir up the emotions. I was shocked at some of the bitchiness. So of course I needed to respond. It might be of use in the news-letter. Actually I'm a huge SS and Dead or Alive fan. I'm a member of their mailing list, but its no way as good as yours. I also like Garbage, Bjork's old stuff and Smashing Pumpkins. (Did you know Alan Moulder co-produced the Smashing Pumpkins new album, and Flood has just produced U2's new song Discotheque, as well as their whole new album)
I'm putting together a contribution for the newsletter about what's going on here(in Scandinavia) with SS and Marcy. Marcy was here recently and gave an interview that I'll put down, as well as some reviews. I Can Drive was never released here in Scandinavia..
Well I'd better go. See Ya! Grant
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Date: Thu, 02 Jan 1997 18:13:33 -0800
From: Denny Garbuio
I like the Pull Your Pants Down mix [of I Can Drive] a lot, and think it would have done well, and am not really sure as to why this wasn't released [except on the promo 12"]. Any idea?
[I think a 2nd CD single would have been released (probably including the remixes) if the chart position had been a little better. ICD debuted at no. 30, then dropped rapidly. Of course you could argue that the rapid release of a 2nd CD with the club mixes would have helped turn the single around, and that it was a mistake on London's part to let the standard single flounder without the help of the remixes. Mike]
The Roger Weed mix is a bit strange, but it's growing on me. I think SS has always been about experimentation and innovation more than anything. This is more Siobhan's/Dave's area and I think these mixes reflect a desire to be "current" rather than "trendy" or "marketable". I think Marcy would have had no clue as to who to turn to for remixes.
[It's a shame no remixes have emerged for Marcy's stuff yet. I can imagine some really good mixes for "I Hate You Now", perhaps even for "Boy" as well. Mike]
I encourage you to include this in your mailing list!! We need material to discuss rather than everyone sitting on their asses twiddling their thumbs.
I do appreciate Marcy's contact with her fans which Siobhan has been neglectful of; however, I do believe she may be somewhat limited in internet hubub and far too busy at the moment to deal with email and mailing lists. (Remember, she does have a new album coming out soon! Busy, busy woman!!) Or she may be recouping in the psychiatric ward!
> So far I'd say "Boy" and "I Hate You Now" are an improvement
> over her last album
As to why she would release "Boy" which is featured with her first track single is ridiculous!! Neither are that good and don't have real potential. They're "fine" to put it lightly. I will continue to buy her material as well. Any idea what the b-sides to "Boy" are or what the cover looks like? I see it is doing poorly as I anticipated...
> I suspect Marcy had more influence over the Hormonally
> Yours album, but it's the mainly-Siobhan first album that I
> prefer. Marcy had to go when wanted more control: "I gave you
> a starring role, but you tried to take my part" ("Suddenly").
I don't know about that. It seems to have been more of a collaboration to me. But SS is Siobhan's project first, and maybe Marcy was getting more credit than she deserved or seen as the true "talent" (which she does have ). I think that's why Siobhan gave her the boot and has led to the recent feud. They probably had nothing in common either....
Denny
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Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 21:43:48 +0000 (GMT)
From: Grant_Mitchell@ssco.se (Grant Mitchell)
Subject: SS-Sweden
NEWSFLASH! I was just watching MTV Europe, and they played the '16th Apology' video, which I didn't know existed. This video is not on the HY video. It's actually a collage of 'Stay', 'GCW', "IDC' and 'Hello', plus live footage, from 'Catwoman'- but parts of the video are clipped parts of those other videos. There were some brilliant close-ups of Siobhan that I haven't seen before.
[Apparently this video was made up of clips from previous HY videos, as well as out-takes; hence the "new" close-ups of Siobhan etc. SS seem to be quite fond on reusing footage for the last single off each album: Dirty Mind 1990 was made up of clips from previous videos (including out-takes), though at least with that one there was brand new footage of Siobhan and Marcella over the top! Mike]
But the big news was that they said on MTV, 'SS with 16th Apology from the 16th Apology EP'. Has anyone ever heard of the 16th Apology EP - or is it a new (or re-) release to promote the new album? Any ideas?
I also saw about 2 months ago a Shakespears Sister Unplugged on MTV- It was 'Goodbye Cruel World' acoustic- they were fantastic. Does anyone know if they did an entire unplugged set or just GCW. Grant
[I think they were just referring to the standard 4-track EP/single release of M16thA, in the UK anyway. There were 4 tracks on all 3 formats: 7" vinyl, cassingle and CD.
MY 16TH APOLOGY 7"/CS/CD UK London LON-337/LONCS-337/LONCD-337, 1993
1. My 16th Apology [7" remix] 3:47
2. Catwoman [live] 4:50 3. Hot Love [live] 4:18
4. Dirty Mind [live] 3:28
There was a French 2-track version of the CD as well.
I've never heard anything about a MTV SS session. Does anyone
have any more details??? Mike]
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