Wednesday, 24 October 2018

Bugzy Malone and Rag'n'Bone Man perform Run on Later... with Jools Holland


I always tend to miss the midweek Jools (Later) but by a fluke caught it successfully and the first item was Bugzy Malone (like I knew who the hell that was) and the guy with the amazing voice (I of course recognised the voice but not the new look) was Rag 'n' Bone Man. We used to have one of those come around our streets in Dulwich, South London in the sixties. He had a horse and cart and a bell.

I am 69 years old. I am NOT supposed to love this rappy, hip-hoppy music … but I do!



No doubt my peers will hate it, which rather makes me like it somewhat more.

Love it love it love it!

The thing I have always liked about rapping type music is not only the rapid, punchy beat and rhythm but also and in particular the social commentary made by the lyrics. The lyrics are not always 'pure' because they have to fit into the space that the music permits but the message is always there. Important not to be too critical of the precise words - just get the message put over in the words and typically they're about deprived youngsters trying to keep their heads above water when drowning in peer pressure to join gangs and go-nowhere street life.

As a young boy growing up in South London I got an idea of the developing social scene which then, in the 1950s was nothing like the dangerous scene that can envelope young people in big cities these days. My life was twice 'elevated' (to enlighten me) when at about 12 years old I was sent to boarding school in Hertfordshire and then, many years later in my early thirties I was sponsored onto the London Blue Badge Guide (tourism) course and I started 'rubbing shoulders' with the middle classes and sometimes the wives and partners even of the aristocracy. I gained a taste for a different life and lifestyle. I discovered 'culture'.

The above video has these lyrics (below) and I won't bother to track down and post the lyrics to the other track  but they are findable of course, if you are interested. I say this to my readers: if you are inclined against this kind of music, maybe have no time for the rapping and hip-hop music genre, at least understand from whence it came and reflect.

LYRICS:



Want to know what a Wiz Khalifa is? It's a "he" - see here and maybe listen and watch here too.

Then tripped over this too - Bugzy Malone and JP Cooper perform Ordinary People:


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