From: owner-basia-digest@smoe.org (basia-digest) To: basia-digest@smoe.org Subject: basia-digest V4 #14 Reply-To: basia@smoe.org Sender: owner-basia-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-basia-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk X-To-Unsubscribe: Send mail to "basia-digest-request@smoe.org" X-To-Unsubscribe: with "unsubscribe" as the body. basia-digest Friday, January 15 1999 Volume 04 : Number 014 Today's Subjects: ----------------- A mass reply... PSB content, less Basia [Ray Navarra ] Thanks for the Interview! [Meg Evans ] Re: basia-digest V4 #13 ["Ashoke S. Talukdar" ] Re: Thanks for the Interview! ["Leslie Brown" ] Rentals (PERILOUSLY DEVOID OF BASIA CONTENT) ["Ashoke S. Talukdar" ] Re: A mass reply... PSB content, less Basia ["Joe Palcher" Subject: A mass reply... PSB content, less Basia Hi all! God, how jealous I am about this meeting that Leslie, Meg, Joe and others had... :) Leslie wrote: >- --Leslie, who bought 'Bilingual' this holiday! Hee! And I'm gonna mail >you about it soon, Ray! I hope! :) I'm so glad I convinced you to do it :D Joe wrote: >Isn't "Bilingual" just the best, Leslie? I think it's my favorite PSB >album. Like I said to Ray, their albums get better by each >release--just as Basia. I love how PSB uses so much Brazilian rhythm >and instruments on their album--just as Basia always does. I wonder >what the next PSB album will bring . . . . The funniest thing is that, for example, on "Single" the Brazillian rhythms were in fact provided by 40 Scottish female drummers (She-Boom) - would like to hear what could they do to, for example, "Baby You're Mine". That would be crazy. :) My favourite studio album by Pet Shop Boys (non-compilation, that is) would be Behaviour. For few years Actually was my favourite, but Behaviour with its beautiful harmonies and melancholy is the one that managed to speak straight to my heart. And I always find myself thinking how much it's similar to London Warsaw New York - I think that "Cruising For Bruising" is Basia's Being Boring, "Copernicus" is her "So Hard" etc. And they're both beautiful in a very sad and mellow way. The next album is being recorded now, with Craig Armstrong and Rollo (of Faithless fame). It's going to contain some of the songs from the musical that PSB are writing as well as songs like Closer To Heaven (which was recorded in 1996... and I hope they don't change a note because it's GREAT!) Leslie: > >Isn't "Bilingual" just the best, Leslie? > > Yeah! Different, definitely. That 'No Se Vida E' (sorry if I butchered > it, it's not in front of me) is the best! "Se A Vida E" :) Well, speaking about Bilingual, my favourite song would be probably Metamorphosis. (This brass drives me mad! Thanks Kevin!) And, also, "Single" because of the superb, hilarious video. > I was just going to ask Ray, but hey! let's open it up: how did the > Brizilian thing get started with those guys? I never know they did that > sound before. Also: any personal notes on the songs? :) You know, you're stepping into the lions' cave? The info was on my Quite Pet Shop Boys website... which got shut down by the Xoom webmasters. (Hate 'em.) Nevermind. Well, I've got the diaries that Neil was writing during the recording of Bilingual. Basically all the thing started when they decided they were going to do a tour, to promote Disco 2 release. They wanted to go somewhere where the sun would be shining (it was in November and England is NOT a sunny place in November. :) so they went to Brazil. They were dancing in the discos and kept hearing the Brazillian rhythms. Then, the first song done for Bilingual was "Discoteca" which was very inspired by one of the Spanish records. They sent their bodyguard - and a friend in one - Dainton to the shop and he bought the Spanish useful phrases handbook. They used some phrases from it, gaining a rather funny result (funny it is, when you know Spanish) for Discoteca. At this point they probably decided they wanted to have a Latin vibe to whole album. It was done on basis of reacting against the britpop boom in UK; it was like "whole England is doing britpop and then you find the good ol' boring PSB doing Latin songs". For example, It Always Comes As A Surprise was not even similar to this samba sounding gem it finally became... but then they realised that they wanted a latin album and most of the songs sound... well, not Latin. So they changed the track. Sorry about this "hyper-PSB" mail... Leslie, would you like me to email you those diaries? >^_^ happy PSB-converted Leslie Oh Leslie, you don't even know how happy _I_ am! :) BTW, about converting boyfriends to the _right_ kind of music... I have a problem - my boyfriend does not like Pet Shop Boys. Whatever I do, he just won't listen to them. I managed to convert him to George Michael and Madonna, but not the PSB. There must be something wrong with his sense of hearing ;) BTW, he likes Basia, although not to the point where he would listen to her without me playing the music. :) Then Joe added: >I was alerted to the Brazilian rhythms and instruments used on >"Bilingual" by my ex-Brazilian boyfriend. I nearly forgot all he told >me. :) Any Portuguese speakers out there? You know how they say, Se >E Vida E" or something in the that song, and in English "That's the >way life is." Well, I know, from what ex told me, that it's neither a >literal translation or something completely different all together. I Yes, that's funny. Neil thought it was "That's the way life is" but, in fact, that's more like "if life is". It was inspired by the record by Olodum, a Portuguese group; Se A Vida E uses most of the melody for the chorus, although it was very slowed down. >forgot the better English translation. I don't know if this is >reflective of the PSB's Portuguese language ability or not. :) I Not. Sorry! They don't know a word. "I don't speak the language/I can't understand a word" is the good quote. >think Neil Tenant was dating a man from the Canary Islands at one >point or another, but that's a different story. :) His latest boyfriend (latest means, since they went to Rio) is Flavio Chechetto; he was a dancer on DiscoVery tour in Brazil, now he has become another of the PSB official photographers. Which is a bad thing, because his photographs suck. Joe: >For the PSB Basia fans. :) I'm trying to think of other artists who >feel similar about publishing the lyrics to their songs in their CDs. >I can't think of a whole lot. I used to feel the PSB felt similarly >to Seal, but I was somewhat taken aback when the PSB published all the >lyrics on "Bilingual," the first time that they had EVER done that. I >wonder what made them change their minds. New Order are the example. Also Massive Attack. (Which is a BAD thing! Guys! Print your lyrics in the booklets NOW!!!) Sorry. The reason why lyrics were printed in Bilingual cover was the Spanish/Portuguese parts. They wanted to let the people know what they're singing (some people on Introspective, PSB mailing list, misinterpreted "Hay una discoteca por aqui" as, for example, "Is there a discoteca boy for me?") but printing only the Spanish phrases would look rather bizarre, so they printed all the lyrics. Which probably won't happen with the next album. (-) Ray [::: Ray, obviously: go to :: Regrets promo MP3 already available! :::] [::: members.xoom.com/obvious :: Check also for Discovering preview... :::] [::: Quite Pet Shop Boys: members.xoom.com/quite_psb :::] [::: Current number one: Robbie Williams "No regrets" :::] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 14 Jan 1999 10:06:24 +0100 (CET) From: Ray Navarra Subject: Re: basia-digest V4 #13 Hey all, Leslie wrote: > >much that he's decided to talk to them... in Polish. > Now THATs love! One doesn't subject themselves to minimal vowels for > just anyone! (hee) Hey hey hey, I speak Polish even to the people I don't like! :) > Hmmm...! Sounds like we have a love-hate relationship here! Looks like > all those return-to-Poland rumors can be at rest. This sounds rather strange, because in some interviews she raves on about how much she loves Poland and that she's going to live here and then she says things like "I don't like being in Poland". It's interesting which of the interviews had been taken earlier. > >really superbly produced. But they have to start singing in English. I > know > >it's a truism. But, believe me, it's the only chance to become > successful > >there. > QUESTION FOR THE POLOPHILES: Is this considered 'selling out' in Poland? > Just wondering. Hmm. First of all, the English-sung music by Polish artists usually gets less promotion here. The English-sung music by foreign artists is promoted on MTV, Viva etc. and is played in Polish radios, because people like it. But if a Polish artist records in English, he/she won't sell many copies of his/her work in Poland, and he/she won't get a foreign contract anyway. Not that I know why. So the recording companies don't want to sign people who sing in English... (like me :( ) > One doesn't often hear Basia so opinionated! But being the elder > stateswoman, I guess she can. Anybody heard this Edyta's records? Me. Her album, simply called "Edyta Gorniak" features only songs in English, because it was meant to be released worldwide. But nothing happened eventually. The music is very close to MAriah Carey, with some dancey elements added to some tracks. (My favourite is "Anything" - the great, housey-dancey song) Ashoke wrote: > OK. There is now one more GOD on this list! And it is you, Ray! *blush* That's too much... let's say I'm an angel! :) Tomasz wrote: > I'd like to ask you: is this interview somewhere > on WWW? I have no idea :( It's been printed in CKM and that's where I took it from. Maybe they have a website, but I don't know its location. But you should be able to get this issue... if you hurry. (-) Ray [::: Ray, obviously: go to :: Regrets promo MP3 already available! :::] [::: members.xoom.com/obvious :: Check also for Discovering preview... :::] [::: Quite Pet Shop Boys: members.xoom.com/quite_psb :::] [::: Current number one: Robbie Williams "No regrets" :::] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 14 Jan 1999 08:56:06 -0600 From: Meg Evans Subject: Thanks for the Interview! Happy Thursday from snowy, blowy Chicago! Ray, THANK YOU for the Basia interview translation! Now I have one more request: if possible, PLEASE scan that b/w picture and send it to me. I HAVE to see her again! (If you can't, I'll just go watch my "New Day" video again.) Meg, about to put TSI in her Mac's CD drive ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 14 Jan 1999 11:53:08 -0500 From: "Ashoke S. Talukdar" Subject: Re: basia-digest V4 #13 Ray wrote: > >Ashoke wrote: >> OK. There is now one more GOD on this list! And it is you, Ray! >*blush* That's too much... let's say I'm an angel! :) > OK, you've got a deal. :-D Ashoke. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 14 Jan 1999 11:57:16 -0500 From: "Ashoke S. Talukdar" Subject: Re: Thanks for the Interview! Meg wrote: > >Happy Thursday from snowy, blowy Chicago! > I am REALLY getting tired of the snow and driving this HORRIBLE rental car (tube on wheels). > >Ray, THANK YOU for the Basia interview translation! Now I have one more >request: if possible, PLEASE scan that b/w picture and send it to me. I >HAVE to see her again! (If you can't, I'll just go watch my "New Day" >video again.) > I would love a copy too! Ashoke (suffering dearly from ABWS. That's Automotive Basia Withdrawal Syndrome) ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 14 Jan 1999 10:36:58 PST From: "Leslie Brown" Subject: Re: A mass reply... PSB content, less Basia >God, how jealous I am about this meeting that Leslie, Meg, Joe and others >had... :) I wasn't there, so I'm jealous too. :) >to my heart. And I always find myself thinking how much it's similar to London >Warsaw New York - I think that "Cruising For Bruising" is Basia's Being >Boring, "Copernicus" is her "So Hard" etc. And they're both beautiful in a >very sad and mellow way. I guess this means that I'd better look up some more PSB. >"Se A Vida E" :) Well, speaking about Bilingual, my favourite song would be >probably Metamorphosis. (This brass drives me mad! Thanks Kevin!) KEVIN RULES!! (ha ha) (but he does!) And, also, >"Single" because of the superb, hilarious video. Oooh! Too bad that one can never *see* these videos! >:) You know, you're stepping into the lions' cave? I'm a brave soul! >The info was on my Quite Pet Shop Boys website... which got shut down by the >Xoom webmasters. (Hate 'em.) Yeah, I noticed that...I was trying to check it out yesterday. Xoom sucks- they spam me all the time. >like "whole England is doing britpop and then you find the good ol' boring PSB >doing Latin songs". Thank goodness someone has an imagination... >For example, It Always Comes As A Surprise was not even similar to this samba >sounding gem it finally became... but then they realised that they wanted a >latin album and most of the songs sound... well, not Latin. So they changed >the track. Which is great because I am in love with that song right now. And you are very right about the CD's Basia-esque qualities. >Leslie, would you like me to email you >those diaries? Yeah! That would be cool. You can tell there are some stories behind those songs... >Oh Leslie, you don't even know how happy _I_ am! :) LOL! ^_^ >BTW, about converting boyfriends to the _right_ kind of music... I have a >problem - my boyfriend does not like Pet Shop Boys. Whatever I do, he just >won't listen to them. I managed to convert him to George Michael and Madonna, >but not the PSB. There must be something wrong with his sense of hearing ;) What does he listen to, Britpop? (sorry, lame joke! :) ) >Chechetto; he was a dancer on DiscoVery tour in Brazil, now he has become >another of the PSB official photographers. Which is a bad thing, because his >photographs suck. Doh! Well, that kind of thing makes me glad Kevin Robinson can actually play. And play well. >mailing list, misinterpreted "Hay una discoteca por aqui" as, for example, >"Is there a discoteca boy for me?") LOL! Good question! - --Leslie ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 14 Jan 1999 10:40:32 PST From: "Leslie Brown" Subject: Re: basia-digest V4 #13 >Hey hey hey, I speak Polish even to the people I don't like! :) Yeah, but you HAVE to! >Hmm. First of all, the English-sung music by Polish artists usually gets >less promotion here. Are they not "acting Polish enough", maybe? Hmmm.... The English-sung music by foreign artists is promoted >on MTV, Viva etc. and is played in Polish radios, because people like it. As the rest of the world.... >But if a Polish artist records in English, he/she won't sell many copies >of his/her work in Poland, and he/she won't get a foreign contract anyway. Weird! And somehow Basia became the exception. >Not that I know why. So the recording companies don't want to sign people >who sing in English... (like me :( ) Boooo! >I have no idea :( It's been printed in CKM and that's where I took it >from. Maybe they have a website, but I don't know its location. But you >should be able to get this issue... if you hurry. *drools* I want one! :( - -- ^_^ Leslie ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 14 Jan 1999 10:41:39 PST From: "Leslie Brown" Subject: Re: Thanks for the Interview! >>Ray, THANK YOU for the Basia interview translation! Now I have one more >>request: if possible, PLEASE scan that b/w picture and send it to me. I >>HAVE to see her again! (If you can't, I'll just go watch my "New Day" >>video again.) > >I would love a copy too! Mee tooooo! (acting like a 4-yr old ) >Ashoke (suffering dearly from ABWS. That's Automotive Basia Withdrawal >Syndrome) Ha ha ha! - --Leslie ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 14 Jan 1999 14:17:09 -0500 From: "Ashoke S. Talukdar" Subject: Rentals (PERILOUSLY DEVOID OF BASIA CONTENT) Since I know that there are at least some auto fans here... Owing to an assinine Cleveland driver who seems to think that turning left INTO the flow of oncoming 30 mph traffic on slushy roads at 10 pm, WITHOUT insurance is a perfectly normal thing to do, my darling automobile is now in the shop. When I pointed out to the rental agency that when you are 5'1", non-adjustable steering wheels and seat belts are really in the way of safe driving, they suggested that I use a pillow or get otherwise creative!!! I asked if sitting on his lap would be creative enough? That shut him up. Firstly, my sincerest apologies to everyone who has had to drive a base model of a low end American car! I think I would rather be in a model T! Or maybe a hearse. Hey how about that Yugo or the old Beetle? Secondly, for all you Clevelanders, DO NOT RENT FROM A-BASS CHEVROLET!!! The guy is a total neanderthal with the social graces of a tick! Regards, Ashoke. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 14 Jan 1999 12:10:04 PST From: "Leslie Brown" Subject: Re: Rentals (PERILOUSLY DEVOID OF BASIA CONTENT) >asked if sitting on his lap would be creative enough? That shut him up. At least you still have your sense of humour! :) >Firstly, my sincerest apologies to everyone who has had to drive a base >model of a low end American car! And while we're at it, let me offer my apologies (why? dunno ) to anyone who owns a Dodge Spirit/Plymouth Acclaim. Grrr! :) - --Leslie (glad you aren't hurt or anything, Ashoke!) ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 14 Jan 1999 17:09:35 -0500 From: "Ashoke S. Talukdar" Subject: Re: Rentals (PERILOUSLY DEVOID OF BASIA CONTENT) Appreciate your concern, Mikey! I know that you for one can relate to love for cars. It IS my second home and my primary Basia sanctuary. I JUST SPOKE TO THE BODY SHOP. I WILL HAVE IT BACK IN THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK!!! YEEHAA! :-D Mikey Spice wrote: > >Sorry to hear about the car. But MORE importantly, are you OK? > I am fine. If I had an oozy the offending driver would NOT have been. > > At 5'1" you should really not have a problem with height in the car. > Now I have customers that are 4'9" and less that have booster seats in > their Porsches. Now that is a sight. > And when was the last time you were 5'1" and driving a Chevy Cavalier? :-) I drove a Porsche 911 once and the 8-way power driver's seat did the trick. The problem is that these base models of American cars have seats whose height and tilt cannot be changed, even manually! Hence, if you are less than 5'6" or so, the steering wheel WILL obstruct your view and the shoulder belt will chaff your chin UNLESS you sit on a pillow! > > What were you driving? > '98, Buick Regal GS. A.k.a., audio-system-on-wheels. Ashoke. >Mike > ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1999 18:54:07 -0600 From: "tom, kelly & jordan" Subject: Re: Denis with one "M" >Hello all. Does anyone still have Basia's mail address Biggen Hill? I ssemed >to have lost it. I did a Pen N Ink sketch of her and I want to send it to >here. > >Denis with one "N" Basia P.O.Box 9, Biggin Hill, Westerham, Kent TN163UR Denis, Your an old list member. Beware of that address. As you probably know nobody seems to live there anymore. Just send a copy of your drawing, or fear losing your original. People on this list have sent stuff to the Biggin Hill location with limited response for years. I had the phone number of that very office once but it is long since changed. Most recently nobody gets anything back. 12 years ago I wrote Basia at that address and received a nice letter from her and an autographed picture of her with tourdates also. But nowadays forget it. Just to squeak a couple of new tracks out of the band is a miracle. They are bashful toward their fans on this list . I have subscribed to this list since February of 97, and have read hundreds of interesting stories, comments and predictions. But never even a whisper of appreciation for the largest Basia fan base in the World. Can anybody point me in the direction a a larger group of concerned listeners than here? and must I say that I am convinced that neither Basia or Danny own a computer or they would tap into this valuable pool of FANS. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 14 Jan 1999 19:39:45 -0500 From: "Joe Palcher" Subject: Re: A mass reply... PSB content, less Basia The Rayman wrote: "They wanted to let the people know what they're singing (some people on Introspective, PSB mailing list, misinterpreted "Hay una discoteca por aqui" as, for example, "Is there a discoteca boy for me?") but printing only the Spanish phrases would look rather bizarre, so they printed all the lyrics. Which probably won't happen with the next album." You know, Ray, at that part I thought he was singing "I wanna discoteca boy." If that was so, it would be quite a way to come out, don't you agree? raburabu joe ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 14 Jan 1999 20:22:05 -0500 From: "Joe Palcher" Subject: Re: Rentals (PERILOUSLY DEVOID OF BASIA CONTENT) The Basia-devoid Ashoke wrote: "When I pointed out to the rental agency that when you are 5'1", non-adjustable steering wheels and seat belts are really in the way of safe driving, they suggested that I use a pillow or get otherwise creative!!! I asked if sitting on his lap would be creative enough? That shut him up." You go, girl! Did you also mention about how it sucks that you can't hear Basia on their shitty audio system? raburabu joe ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 14 Jan 1999 22:58:11 -0500 From: "Ashoke S. Talukdar" Subject: Re: Rentals (PERILOUSLY DEVOID OF BASIA CONTENT) Joe wrote: > >You go, girl! Did you also mention about how it sucks that you can't >hear Basia on their shitty audio system? > No, but after the windshield washer system quit on me this morning (ON THE HIGHWAY), and he recommended pouring warm water on the wipers (it was 0 deg F with windchill this morning) I did point out to him that maybe the plumbing in his head needed as much unclogging as the washer system, and hung up. Needless to say, A-Bass Chevrolet, Inc. will get a letter that will cause the President CEO to grow some hair on his chest (or, at his age, inside his nose)! Ashoke. ________________________________________________________________ Ashoke S. Talukdar | When the darkness takes you talukdar@morph.ebme.cwru.edu | with her hand across your face Home : 216-381-5872 | Don't give in too quickly Imaging Lab : 216-368-8812 | Find the things she's erased MetroHealth : 216-778-8987 | Find the line, find the face Pager : 216-670-5872 | Through the grain... Cellular : 216-317-7079 | Fax : 216-368-4969 | Suzanne Vega ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 14 Jan 1999 23:00:24 -0600 From: Beverly Martin Subject: New Day video is up for sale at ebay starting bid is only $6.99! -- Beverly Martin ------------------------------ End of basia-digest V4 #14 **************************