Continuing on the somewhat chronological theme that has enveloped my writing, beginning with the first album I ever bought in the last post on Linkin Park's Meteora, I am going to take you back further to a land of SMTV live, Godzilla and Action Men. Oh yes readers, we're going to delve into my childhood.
As a young boy, like most of you guys out there, I was hugely influenced by my Dad's tastes, who spent evening after evening pumping out music from his now 1,000 strong CD collection on a speaker system bigger than I was. From Bob Marley to Black Sabbath, the Sex Pistols to Graham Parker, some of the greatest music to grace 20th Century ears was blasted out on a regular basis, and now acts as a constant musical monologue to some of my earliest memories.
One particular song that left more than a mark upon me was The Clash's "Rudi Can't Fail". An album track from their seminal album "London Calling", Rudi is an upbeat, streetwise ode to liberation, a call to arms for those that share Strummers insistence that they can't "live in service".
However, for me - I was convinced it was about Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer. The chorus line of "Rudi Can't Fail" over and over convinced me that it was about the crimson faced helper's ability to deliver all the presents at Christmas. I know, but I was about 5. I even remember telling a man dressed up as Santa about it, under the impression he'd be delighted at my appreciation of what I must have thought was his anthem.
However, as time went on, and I realised that the ska-punk hybrid was not a reference to Christmas delivery in anyway, I still continued to enjoy it with the same childhood optimism, even if it wasn't based on the same misinformation.
Personal anecdotes aside, the album is a masterpiece. Combining the gritty, fist pumping elements of punk with the still relatively unheard inflections of Ska and reggae, London Calling is probably the most musical and concisely written of all punk albums. In fact, it's not really a punk album. It lacks the animalistic aggression that coloured say, The Sex Pistols "Never Mind The Bollocks", but makes up for it in artistic expression and Strummers poetic rallying calls.
Rebellious rather than anarchic, and measured frustration than blind rage, The Clash's London Calling is the thinking man's revolution. And to me, a flashback to a delightfully simpler time when Rudi just meant the festive creature.
I am certain that Strummer and Co. would be delighted (or maybe horrified?) as to your 5 year-old interpretation of "Rudi Can't Fail." That's absolutely brilliant. But I agree with your current assessment of the album. I think the best music cannot really be classified into a single genre or quantified with mere words. But this for me is an incredibly important album musically, lyrically, and iconically that influenced many, many other artists since then. (Not sure about reindeer.) Great writeup.
ReplyDeleteThank you, thank you :)
ReplyDeleteI'm sure Joe would have loved to have heard my festive misgivings..
I agree, the best music is felt, rather than defined. Thank you for reading, I'm glad you enjoyed it :)