Comments on: Stick this in your Volvo glove compartment

By: Third Rate Les

Third Rate Les — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 16:36:31 +0000

The line about “Barca” in Bad Wools made me laugh after we’d had this discussion just a month before it came out.

By: Jeff Dreadnought

Jeff Dreadnought — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 11:17:39 +0000

Hubby.

By: John Burscough

John Burscough — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 16:15:23 +0000

“Sarnies”. “Pressies”. “Crimbo”. “Man U”. (Fun, this, isn’t it?)

By: Third Rate Les

Third Rate Les — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 14:18:42 +0000

“Biccies”. “Xmas”. “Fave”. “Yooooni”. The word “invite” used as a noun.

I agree with your point about Barca and would add Inter, Juve and dozens more (although Borussia Moenchengladbach seem admirably keen on retaining their full name), and I agree that “footy” is only annoying when deployed by the likes of Adrian/Sophie Horn.

However, Glasto is an ugly abbreviation that takes an ancient name full of mythical resonance and rhythm and makes is sound like an ugly kitchen cleaning product, and I maintain that there’s an audible sneer there which isn’t only aimed at hippy watchtower fans.

By: Charles Exford

Charles Exford — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 21:25:16 +0000

Yes, most of Spain refers to Barcelona as ‘Barca’, a useful abbrevaition to distinguish the club from the city, and most kids on the Wirral grow up talking about ‘footy’ every day. It’s just a question of who uses them and with what affectation. Same for ‘Glasto’.

But don’t get me started on people who abbreviate the fine name of Half Man Half Biscuit.

By: TWO FAT FEET

TWO FAT FEET — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 09:43:51 +0000

Have to side with Exxo on this one; the verse is clearly about people who don’t actually go to Glastonbury but refer to it as if they are regulars even though it’s clearly not for them. It’s doesn’t necessarily judge whether the term ‘Glasto’ itself is acceptable.

By: Charles Exford

Charles Exford — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 19:22:15 +0000

I suggest you stand nearer the front at gigs, Vendor.

In fact stand at the front after watching yourself form /b/ and /f/ in the mirror, repeatedly.

(Just realised that sounds like some sort of punishment from a sadistic schoolteacher somewhere in Birkenhead during the late 70s, errm, sorry).

By: Vendor of Quack Nostrums

Vendor of Quack Nostrums — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 16:56:38 +0000

‘Tread softly for you tread on my jokes’, as Muggeridge wrote; surely a man who would have understood the satire, irony and sledgehammery of Nigel’s subtle and none too subtle barbs what he thrusts into the pretentiousness of all of us at some point or other. Yes indeedy, it is more wince-making when I drive the point home thus: Morrissey (why is ‘Moz’ ok, but not ‘Mozza’ BTW?) opened his Glastonbury set this year with the words “Hello Glasto, fancy seeing me here”. I immediately replaced the judiciously placed comma in’ Neil, Morrissey’s a knobhead’. ‘Glasto’ is a no-no under any circumstances.

However, we are all guilty somewhere along the line right? I’m a CAMRA man meself. There I’ve said it, but I’m gonna sort it out. Also when Achtung Bono was released I felt rather uneasy singing along to ‘Stick this in your Volvo (glove compartment)’ as I was driving around in one at the time. Solid car, Your Honour, reliable too, but a bit heavy on the fuel. More practical than a Bonneville in bits anyhow.

@ Exxo: I’ve listened repeatedly to the repetitious ending and managed to convince myself that it’s actually both phrases you suggest and indeed every combination within. I’m actually currently hearing ‘Boho glove compartment’. Maybe it’s the somewhat muddy production, maybe it’s unclear elocution, maybe it’s diabolic double tracking, but good luck in trying to get Chris to change anything. Surging out of Convalescence still has ‘but I know that they don’t know, therefore’ as a lyric rather than ‘but I know that they don’t know their board’. This has been mildly irking me for nigh on two years now.

By: Dave Wiggins

Dave Wiggins — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 16:53:00 +0000

I deactivated (which is, I believe, the parlance) well-known Social Network ‘Facebook’, due to the number of beauts making reference to ‘Glasto’. Fact. Oh, and ‘hubby’. Was down in London, last week, and ended up watching a friendly on the astro-turf off Camden Road. One of the teams was called ‘Barca’, and played in a Barcelona kit. Given that there wasn’t a non-caucasian amongst them, the preposterous affectation caused me to give up by half time. In any event, I only had ten bullets, and there were eleven in ‘Barca’.

By: Third Rate Les

Third Rate Les — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:36:35 +0000

I agree with Ben. It’s clearly poking fun at people who say “Glasto” for saying “Glasto”. It’s one of those irritating unnecessary abbreviations like “The Weddoes” or “footy” (yes indeedy) or “Mozza” or “Barca” or “hols” or “mart” or “BBQ” or any number of mysterious words you find in car magazines.

As Ben also rightly says, when he pokes fun it’s often at things we all do, including him. That’s what makes them funny. If he only made fun of the Duke of Westminster and his good lady wife it wouldn’t be as good.