Quote from Andy: “He's every hero, every politician, every religious leader who's far too good to be true and by telling the truth becomes a martyr. Is Peter Pumpkinhead Jesus or JFK or Buddha? Actually the name's from a jack-o-lantern I carved. After Halloween, I stuck it on a fence post in my garden and every day I'd go past it on my way to my composing shed. And every day it would decay a bit more. I felt so sorry for it, I thought I'd make it a hero in a song.”
I love how into XTC you've gotten, ever since watching your first reaction. They really are one of the best, and most under-appreciated groups ever, imho! According to things I've read - some interviews with Andy Partridge - the song is inspired by JFK but is more about any brave, good person who tries to go up against the system. The video is very JFK-focused though! BTW, I'm an American, living in England the past 10 years. I'm on a short vacation right now in Bath, and drove past Swindon on the way. Every time I go by Swindon I wave to Andy Partridge. I wish I could find a way to thank the band for so much great music, but I thank famous people by leaving them completely alone. Anyway - great reaction!
Exactly the same sentiment. I'd love the opportunity to tell Andy what an impact his music has had on me. It'll never happen, but an old sod like me can dream!
For some context: the music video is a spoof on "JFK", the Oliver Stone movie about the JFK assassination conspiracy theory which came out the year before this song. The actual lyrics are much more open to interpretation!
The song is about anyone who stands up against the establishment and how they are liable to be cut down. The video deliberately parallels JFK and Jesus, and - as the lyrics say - it's not just them but anyone who stands up ("he looked a lot like you and a lot like me"). The young boy in the video would have been the same age that Andy was at the time of JFK's assassination, so it's likely an indication of the deep impression it made on people of his age. XTC is a deep rabbit-hole - so many brilliant songs. PS - "The Superman Song" is the CTD song. Used to great effect in the TV comedy/drama series "Due South".
This is the first XTC song I ever heard that I knew was by XTC. The others were uncredited radio spins ("Runaways", "Senses Working Overtime", "Dear God", etc.) The CD this came from was my favorite of the year. An excellent start to the album, and the noise at the end of the song was a sign that the rest of the songs were going to be as good.
Kennedy represented promise and hope... and he was killed. Martin Luther King, Jr represented promise and hope... and he was killed. They weren't perfect men... far from it... but they represented something that... apparently... we can't have. This seemed more a song about the hope of what could be and the shattering reality it's up against. Andy's not religious at all... he can't stand organized religion ... so, while I think Andy had input, I'm sure this was the director's vision. It's a barn-burner of a song. You can never go wrong with XTC... There's a few "meh" ones... but the vast majority you can take something from. Some other brilliant XTC songs: "TRAVELS IN NIHILON," "HARVEST FESTIVAL," "NO THUGS IN OUR HOUSE," and "JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS"... ALWAYS enjoy your reactions and thoughtful commentary, Nick! Cheers!
The video is very specifically directed to JFK. But the song is a little less specific. It certainly follows JFK, but it could be applied to any leader who gets cut down at the height of their power and his martyred in the process.
If you want to dig deeper on XTC please do This World Over from the Big Express album. The lyrics may be the most expressive ever for describing post apocalyptic reality. I won’t spoil it, but “odd numbered limbs” could literally stop all our war Mongering in its tracks - really sad and poetic- check it out - one of there best
Everyone thought Kennedy was the political new white hope of 60s politics.....much like Tony Blair in the UK in the 90's. Revelations about both since, have kind of dispelled those myths. Still a great song though.
The Crash Teat Dummies version is quite good. XTC is such a great band.. make sure you watch the documentary Nick (can’t remember the name right now but it’s streaming somewhere)
@@rogerpatton2242 I quite like it, but other than the vocal element it's too close to the XTC version and it fails to do anything to really distance itself from the superior original. It is nice they got some extra cash though. If any band deserved to be showered in riches, it's Swindons finest.
Not one of my favorite XTC tracks, to be honest, it's a little too formulaic for me and seems to be a push for a hit single, whereas I prefer the more 'artsy' side of XTC. "Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her, Kiss Her", "River of Orchids", "No Language in Our Lungs", "In Loving Memory of a Name", "Garden of Earthly Delights", "Chalkhills & Children"... so many great songs to choose from. Enjoy the journey of discovery.
A lot of XTC's simpler songs have the feel of nursery rhymes - formulaic but memorable. I'm pretty sure from some of Andy's lyrics that he was inspired by childhood rhymes and songs. PS - add "Travels in Nihilon" to that artsier-side list!
For any XTC fans that haven't seen it, seek out the documentary, This Is Pop. Excellent history and stories about the band.
Quote from Andy: “He's every hero, every politician, every religious leader who's far too good to be true and by telling the truth becomes a martyr. Is Peter Pumpkinhead Jesus or JFK or Buddha? Actually the name's from a jack-o-lantern I carved. After Halloween, I stuck it on a fence post in my garden and every day I'd go past it on my way to my composing shed. And every day it would decay a bit more. I felt so sorry for it, I thought I'd make it a hero in a song.”
I love how into XTC you've gotten, ever since watching your first reaction. They really are one of the best, and most under-appreciated groups ever, imho! According to things I've read - some interviews with Andy Partridge - the song is inspired by JFK but is more about any brave, good person who tries to go up against the system. The video is very JFK-focused though! BTW, I'm an American, living in England the past 10 years. I'm on a short vacation right now in Bath, and drove past Swindon on the way. Every time I go by Swindon I wave to Andy Partridge. I wish I could find a way to thank the band for so much great music, but I thank famous people by leaving them completely alone. Anyway - great reaction!
Exactly the same sentiment. I'd love the opportunity to tell Andy what an impact his music has had on me. It'll never happen, but an old sod like me can dream!
For some context: the music video is a spoof on "JFK", the Oliver Stone movie about the JFK assassination conspiracy theory which came out the year before this song. The actual lyrics are much more open to interpretation!
The song is about anyone who stands up against the establishment and how they are liable to be cut down. The video deliberately parallels JFK and Jesus, and - as the lyrics say - it's not just them but anyone who stands up ("he looked a lot like you and a lot like me"). The young boy in the video would have been the same age that Andy was at the time of JFK's assassination, so it's likely an indication of the deep impression it made on people of his age. XTC is a deep rabbit-hole - so many brilliant songs. PS - "The Superman Song" is the CTD song. Used to great effect in the TV comedy/drama series "Due South".
This is the perfect way to create a perfect pop rock single! Too bad that XTC never became more famous...but who cares, i love them so much!
This is the first XTC song I ever heard that I knew was by XTC. The others were uncredited radio spins ("Runaways", "Senses Working Overtime", "Dear God", etc.) The CD this came from was my favorite of the year. An excellent start to the album, and the noise at the end of the song was a sign that the rest of the songs were going to be as good.
Kennedy represented promise and hope... and he was killed. Martin Luther King, Jr represented promise and hope... and he was killed. They weren't perfect men... far from it... but they represented something that... apparently... we can't have. This seemed more a song about the hope of what could be and the shattering reality it's up against. Andy's not religious at all... he can't stand organized religion ... so, while I think Andy had input, I'm sure this was the director's vision. It's a barn-burner of a song. You can never go wrong with XTC... There's a few "meh" ones... but the vast majority you can take something from. Some other brilliant XTC songs: "TRAVELS IN NIHILON," "HARVEST FESTIVAL," "NO THUGS IN OUR HOUSE," and "JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS"...
ALWAYS enjoy your reactions and thoughtful commentary, Nick! Cheers!
The video is very specifically directed to JFK. But the song is a little less specific. It certainly follows JFK, but it could be applied to any leader who gets cut down at the height of their power and his martyred in the process.
If you want to dig deeper on XTC please do This World Over from the Big Express album. The lyrics may be the most expressive ever for describing post apocalyptic reality. I won’t spoil it, but “odd numbered limbs” could literally stop all our war Mongering in its tracks - really sad and poetic- check it out - one of there best
Everyone thought Kennedy was the political new white hope of 60s politics.....much like Tony Blair in the UK in the 90's. Revelations about both since, have kind of dispelled those myths. Still a great song though.
I like the CTD version because I knew it before the XTC version.
The Crash Teat Dummies version is quite good. XTC is such a great band.. make sure you watch the documentary Nick (can’t remember the name right now but it’s streaming somewhere)
CTD version is very vanilla..
The only good thing about it is it was used in Dumb & Dumber,which gave XTC some money.
The documentary's called "This is Pop" - it was the name of one of their early singles.
@@jamesdignanmusic2765 ruclips.net/video/ytc9fv96ZGg/видео.htmlsi=_S2XYbNsuCA5KAnf
@@rogerpatton2242 I quite like it, but other than the vocal element it's too close to the XTC version and it fails to do anything to really distance itself from the superior original.
It is nice they got some extra cash though. If any band deserved to be showered in riches, it's Swindons finest.
Not one of my favorite XTC tracks, to be honest, it's a little too formulaic for me and seems to be a push for a hit single, whereas I prefer the more 'artsy' side of XTC. "Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her, Kiss Her", "River of Orchids", "No Language in Our Lungs", "In Loving Memory of a Name", "Garden of Earthly Delights", "Chalkhills & Children"... so many great songs to choose from. Enjoy the journey of discovery.
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A lot of XTC's simpler songs have the feel of nursery rhymes - formulaic but memorable. I'm pretty sure from some of Andy's lyrics that he was inspired by childhood rhymes and songs. PS - add "Travels in Nihilon" to that artsier-side list!