Good Christ, it is sooo hot out!
In my newly acquired leisure time, I was able to enjoy a promotional copy of the Shane MacGowan documentary, If I Should Fall From Grace, which I had been holding on to forever since I thought there was there no VCR in Casa Skunkeye.
I found one.
The film just about broke my heart.
Shane MacGowan has got to be one of the most gifted and poignant songwriters of the twentieth century; “Rainy Night in Soho” and “Summer in Siam” never fail to move me to near tears, and his composition, “Haunted,” which was on the seminal Sid & Nancy soundtrack epitomized my teenage angst. He is the master of the intro, setting the scene, followed by a memorable and poignant release with the chorus– this is musical narrative at its best.
Even MacGowan’s early work with The Nips – which I have someplace in storage on punk-rock compilation vinyl someplace – powerful rock and roll heartache ballads and awesome storytelling.
Yikes, Shane is such a mess now! It’s tragic. His wife and family seem to enabling him, justifying his booze and drug over-consumption as a creative muse or just being Irish or even a life-support system. Jeez, he has no teeth and looks just about to keel over!
The Pogues’ Red Roses for Me was one of the first “punk” releases I bought as a kid.
Indeed the Pogue’s brand of “Irish Soul” was quite revolutionary in the face of all the IRA activity at the time in Great Britain.
The film also made me miss Joe Strummer, who stood in with the Pogues as a front-man for a period.
At any rate, while the documentary made me sad, I’m re-visiting my Pogues collection and it is brilliant, rousing stuff.
I’m also a bit sad about the passing of Anne Bancroft – neé Ana Italia from the Bronx, no less. I always enjoyed her work and admired her saucy spirit. And her partnership with Mel Brooks has got to be one of the greatest love stories ever.
Here’s to you, Mrs. Robinson.
I’m off to an epic afternoon/evening screening of La Meglio Gioventù at AFI.
Trying to make the most of the leisure life of course.