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Mel and Kim

from Chines by Ian Evans

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about

This is a tribute to the 80s band Mel and Kim, who really impressed me at the time. Their most famous song was about how they'd never be "Respectable", so I thought I should say they deserve a lot of respect. The lyrics are written from the point of view of me at the age I first heard them (around 9 or 10).

Other references include:

* "Tay tay tay" - a vocal hook in Respectable.

* "Not listening (to others) is the cardinal sin" - I think this might be true.

* F.L.M. - The title track of their first album.

* Spaghetti hoops and an English Sheepdog - These were part of the day's experiences, when I first heard F.L.M. For my whole life, I've had certain songs in my head whenever I experience anything.

* "System Addict, while hearing of E.T. near the B.I.C." - This is an example! I was obsessed with this song (by Five Star) for a day and it coincided with me desperately wanting to see E.T. and buy an E.T. toy.

The B.I.C. was the Bournemouth International Centre, which seemed insanely important and futuristic (and was).

* "Showin’ out" - The title of another Mel and Kim Song. As I understand it, showing out means dancing or dressing to get attention.

* You’re too full of life to not stay - Mel and Kim were incredibly bright, fun young women, who seemed to take no nonsense from anyone. Mel died very young and it always strikes me how people can be so alive but still die.

* "You’ll be fine, don’t worry" - After Mel's death her sister Kim wrote a comeback single called Don't Worry

* Now 5 - Famous compilation albums of pop songs. I got Now 5 as a birthday present, which included a Mel and Kim Song.

* "George Michael seemed naughty" - Now 5 also contained I Want Your Sex by George Michael. It's not his best song, but all my school friends would squeal with laughter at the idea that there was a rude song. My friend Ed and I played Now 5 on a car trip and were a nightmare the whole time, shrieking that it was naughty.

* Donkey Kong - On the day I heard F.L.M. and played with a sheepdog, the boy I hung out with had this great game.

* 1987 - Several big things happened for me this year...

* Hourglass - I first got into the band Squeeze because of this song on the radio. It probably caused me to both learn the guitar and move to London (to some degree).

* A free toy Scelidosaurus - I got one on a trip to the Natural History Museum that year.

* Transformers - A mainstay of my childhood (and now again in adulthood with the Lost Light graphic novels). In '87, there were several important new characters in the comic and it seemed llike a big event.

* Body warmers - Back to the Future also came out in 1987 and I desperately wanted a bodywarmer like Marty McFly's.

lyrics

Yes we do respect you!
Not listening is the cardinal sin

F.L.M. seemed mystic
The title track!
A big thing!
Songs associate with experience

Spaghetti hoops upon toast
My Mum’s friend’s English sheepdog
System Addict, while hearing of E.T. near the B.I.C.

The brightest young women are…
Showin’ out the new culture
You’ll be fine, don’t worry
And I hope you are... Tay tay tay
You’re too full of life to not stay

George Michael seemed naughty
And Now 5 did entice me
Songs associate with experience

Donkey Kong and Hourglass
A free toy Scelidosaurus
It’s ‘87… Transformers, body warmers…

The brightest young women are
Showin’ out the new culture
You’ll be fine, don’t worry
And I hope you are... Tay tay tay
You’ll always shine on and make my day

credits

from Chines, released October 19, 2019
All instruments by Ian Evans apart from the drum sample, which I found online and cut and pasted in.

license

all rights reserved

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about

Ian Evans UK

Pop/experimental/rock musician and songwriter from London

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