1 Jun 2009
I lost my Barbour in Twickenham car park
I’m sitting on dozens of sets of lyrics here (thanks everyone – truly) which will all get used eventually (we’re past the halfway mark now). However, I still relish a challenge, so I managed to find a song which, remarkably, nobody had contributed, and which I could take the entire blame for. Split Single With Happy Lounge Labelmates is a fine singalong, which not for the first time, becomes a “list song” in places – or are those odd items related? Another great HMHB song title, by the way. Was “Happy Lounge” a real label? I’m sure someone will tell me.
See lyrics to Split Single With Happy Lounge Labelmates
25 Letters Sent:
Fredorrarci
“Cosi Fan Tutte” should be “Così fan tutte” (grave accent on the “i”, small initial “f”, small initial “t”).
Jun 1st, 2009
Chris The Siteowner
Funnily enough, I was aware of that, although only because I checked the spelling at the time. However, I’ve always subscribed to the “sod accents, we’re English” school of online publishing, which neatly steps around the fact that so many web access devices won’t render accented characters correctly. Whilst some people will see ì, others will probably see Ü or something. Otherwise I’d have to put an accent in gite as well, and the page would end up looking like an abstract ASCII artwork to some people.
As for the capitalisation, I prefer to capitalise the titles of artworks etc when quoted in text, and plenty of newspapers seem to agree. Also if I went this way (which I appreciate is, er, technically correct), I’d have to refer to Split single with Happy Lounge labelmates above, and that just looks odd to me.
(switches on anti-pedant protection field and retires to safe distance)
Jun 1st, 2009
Neil G
The line ‘I blew my giro on debts and essentials’ has to be in the top three of all HMHB lines. It is utterly magnificent. The first time I heard it, it was like someone grabbing my throat and shaking me. Yes, I’m exaggerating slightly but it had a huge effect on me. I’m glad this website exists. I’ve been starting to get a little blase (can’t find an accent when you need one) about it. Reading this kind of broke up the ennui, if you know what I mean. Thanks again for your efforts, Chris.
Jun 2nd, 2009
Fredorrarci
Fair points all, though I think (correct me if I’m wrong) that the conventions regarding capitalising initial letters are different in Italian than in English, so Split single with Happy Lounge labelmates would be wrong anyway, I think. And that’s without considering the question of what “Happy Lounge” might be. I’d always assumed it was a musical genre, possibly invented by Nigel, rather than the name of a label. But then I’ve been wrong before, often on this website…
Oh, and what Neil said.
Jun 2nd, 2009
Ben
Following on from Neils post, I only deciphered the “Place Pot Uttoxeter, down by 1.35″ line recently, and I think that’s up there with their best – a whole world of disappointment summed up in 6 words.
My own throat grabbing moment came the first time I heard the pay off line in ‘Footsteps’ “Junior Kickstart” – the thought of God, careering round some track in long white robes with Peter Purvis looking on still slays me.
Jun 2nd, 2009
Chris The Siteowner
Far be it from me to confuse the image of being “down by 1.35″, but I’ve always wondered what the “1.35″ refers to.
Is it the bookie accepting the little Placepot form and nodding “That’ll be one pound thirty-five please, sir”, in which case where did that amount come from? 27 lines at 5p? Maybe it wasn’t always a 10p minimum. Can you put £1.35 on a single line?
Or is it referring to the depression felt by many a Placepot punter who sees their entire bet go up in smoke after the first race of the afternoon, in this case presumably the 1.30pm at Uttoxeter?
Jun 2nd, 2009
Richard
Definitely the latter, Chris. The fact that his placepot is “down by 1.35″ refers to the time of day – placepots being the sort of low stake/high return bet that punters hope will give them an interest for most of the afternoon. So, as you say, it is a particularly miserable experience, having no doubt studied form etc for the first 6 races at a meeting, only to throw your crumpled up betting slip into the bin after the first race.
The betting shop is just another of the many mundane aspects of life so wonderfully observed – also, of course, “…spend his life in William Hill’s waiting for them to weigh in at Newton Abbott”; “Monmore, Hare’s Running.”
Jun 2nd, 2009
Blue Badge Abuser
Happy Whit Week!
Jun 2nd, 2009
Charles Exford
Yes indeed, though for ‘Whit Week Malarkey’ purposes (first warm hols, bank holiday, start of the summer gig season) I wonder if it really was last week ? I got caught out and nearly missed a plane thanks to everything being closed in Belgium yesterday – they always have their Whit Monday holiday on Whit Monday. Ours only sometimes is, but my mum still called our first Bottleneck at Capel Curig of the summer ‘Whit Week camping”.
I think Richard is quite likely spot-on, Chris, but I think you are right to acknowledge a hint of ambiguity by writing it as “one thirty-five” for now, rather than 1.35 which would exclude it just possibly meaning £1.35. (Yes, I ‘m fairly sure the minimum bet used to be 5p). Having an afternoon of betting, you’re just so constantly aware of how much you’re “up by” or “down by”.
Also spot-on I reckon with the capitalisation of Così Fan Tutte, observing English capitalisation conventions for titles of foreign works quoted in English texts… unlike Paradise lost, of course, where he isn’t citing the title but punning with it (in a sentence where “lost” is a verb, rather than the adjectival past participle of Milton’s title)
I too can’t bear to see Così without the accent, but hey, most of us pronounce “tutte” as “tutti”, and half the frickin’ sandwich shops in the UK are selling “paninis”, so I guess we’ll live with it, eh Fred ?
Jun 2nd, 2009
John Anderson
I have always heard it as Cosi Fan Tuesday (pron: Tues-Dee). Granted, I’m not sure what the joke is but it’s the sort of thing he would do.
Jun 2nd, 2009
Charles Exford
I think it’s quite a good joke (and definitely the sort of thing he would do) that he’s on the dole saying sarcastically ‘damn, I’ll just have to wait another fortnight to go the opera.”
Anyway, the above wasn’t really what I set out to write at all. I just got carried away by the heady scent of interweb linguistic pedantry.
What I meant to say is, I don’t think it’s just a list song, I think it’s another ‘contrast the privileged with the less so’ song as in the second half of ‘Soft Verges’ on the same album.
Sure, the first two thirds of the piece are a fairly typical collage of things that pretentious bourgeois tw*ts might say (and I should know eh ?), perhaps overheard conversations at some imagined event, possibly involving privileged students, but the last third then contrasts them with the harsh reality of another kind of life for the less privileged.
But I also meant to say – are we sure about “crêpes” ? Or is it one of those random http://www.hmhb.co.uk ‘references’ that just becomes fixed in the consciousness, even if somewhat dubious, a bit like “rock cakes” ?
Jun 2nd, 2009
Keir Hardie
I agree with Neil G, that line really leapt out at me, fantastic.
Jun 2nd, 2009
dj
is great uncle conroy too bland a suggestion? i haven’t listened to this particular track for a while so i could be wrong
Jun 3rd, 2009
Fredorrarci
Certainly, Charles. Pedantry is like fireworks: fun, but must be used responsibly.
Jun 3rd, 2009
Simon
Should it be ‘fazed’ rather than ‘phased’?
Jun 9th, 2009
Chris The Siteowner
It should. Oops.
Jun 9th, 2009
Tommo
Surely it’s “Donald Sinden’s theatrical minimal reach”?
Aug 20th, 2009
Neil G
I always thought it was Donald Sin-bin’s … It certainly sounds like a short ‘i’ on the second syllable, as opposed to the ‘uh’ sound which would be used in the normal pronunciation of Sinden.
Aug 20th, 2009
Charles Exford
Richard, in particular, having mentioned ‘Monmore’ in this thread, will surely enjoy along with me the unique, maybe once-in-a-lifetime, possibility of putting £1.35 on a dodgy mare called “Wouldn’t it be nice” in the 1.20 at Uttoxeter this afternoon, thus ensuring that we are down by both £1.35 and by 1.35pm.
(She hasn’t got much chance in fact, so my money will go on a combination of place only (possible on Betfair) and 3rd in a reverse Tricast with the two market leaders)
Jan 30th, 2010
Chris The Siteowner
I was right with you until that last bit in brackets, Charles. For anyone not up to speed with the lad’s commendable thinking, “Wouldn’t it be nice” is from Monmore, Hare’s Running. My £1.35 is on, at 50/1. Although to really work, I should have the horse in the Placepot. Maybe when it loses, I’ll blame myself for not doing the bet properly.
Postscript: It’s 1.35pm and I’m £1.35 down. And do you know what? Even though it wasn’t a Placepot that I just ripped up, it still felt so right.
Jan 30th, 2010
Ricardo
Heh! In the pursuit of taking pedantry to extremes, I should point out that our as yet unsuccessful mare is officially registered as “Wouldn’Titbenice.” I have no clue as to the reason for the mischievous capital T, but Weatherbys rules dictate a maximum of 18 characters, including spaces, for the name of a racehorse. So no spaces, then.
And while Betfair may do as they wish, Exxo’s traditional bookie should have pointed out that tricasts are only accepted on handicap races with a minimum of eight runners. In the case of this seven runner novice hurdle, his bet should have been settled as a combination forecast on the relevant three horses. Which, seeing as the 2nd favourite was pulled up, leaves his bet down by 1.35(pm), anyway.
Jan 31st, 2010
Neil G
This is like ancient Greek to me. I’ve never placed a bet in my life. I feel terribly left out.
Feb 1st, 2010
Peter Gandy
@ Neil. Maybe if you were called Fred or Archie…
Feb 1st, 2010
Richard Lovell
I always thought it was “…varsity gown’” Given that a barbour seems to be (reaches for google) ‘Men’s and women’s outdoor activity and country sport clothing’.
There’s an excuse to listen to one of my favourite HMHB tracks again.
Mar 18th, 2010
Chris The Siteowner
“Iranian crêpes” confirmed: Source
Apr 1st, 2010
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