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Had a five-hour drive across the flatlands of the Midwest on Sunday so got stuck into the Beautiful South and nothing else. Lyrical genius in pretty much every song. Paul Heaton Is a national treasure, even if he is a Sheff Utd fan.
They are a band that I've drifted away from listening to at times and then, when I've come back to them, I've wondered why that was. Wryly and acutely observed lyrics over the top of some great tunes.
Finally managed to see him live at the end of last year, a bit of new stuff in there but he's well aware that most people are there for the classics.
I do love the Beautiful South and I think that Heaton is a great wordsmith. But for me the best South songs are the ones that are Corrigan versus Hemmingway. Corrigans voice is so beautiful and Hemmingway just balances her out so much. The subsequent girls have great voices, but not a patch on Corrigan.
So for me best 2 South songs...
A little time Bell bottomed tear
Corrigans vocal on bell bottomed tear is right up there with the best. I might even say she rivals Julie Covington in that effort.
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The Beautiful South on 16:34 - May 20 with 1569 views
They are a band that I've drifted away from listening to at times and then, when I've come back to them, I've wondered why that was. Wryly and acutely observed lyrics over the top of some great tunes.
Finally managed to see him live at the end of last year, a bit of new stuff in there but he's well aware that most people are there for the classics.
Similar. I was laughing at the footy chant-style lyrics to Have You Ever Been Away (where were you when we took Calais) and thinking it’s still spot on, perhaps more so, all these years later.
Also, shout out to the cover of Don’t Fear the Reaper. Wasn’t expecting that.
You could have popped in to see Facters - doesn’t he live in the flatlands of the midwest just outside Bury?
I haven’t heard any Beautiful South songs for years, maybe even decades). A band very much of their time, but I don’t know why they don’t get more airplay now. Some of their stuff still sounds fresh (and is a lot better than some of the shoite these identikit singer-songwriters pump out today).
Heaton's a fabulous and very underrated lyricist. I would think 'Your Father and I' had particular resonance driving across the US but there are so many great tracks. I'm now going to listen to some on my walk home - thanks for the reminder!
It's 106 miles to Portman Road, we've got a full tank of gas, half a round of Port Salut, it's dark... and we're wearing blue tinted sunglasses.
The Beautiful South on 16:36 - May 20 by Swansea_Blue
You could have popped in to see Facters - doesn’t he live in the flatlands of the midwest just outside Bury?
I haven’t heard any Beautiful South songs for years, maybe even decades). A band very much of their time, but I don’t know why they don’t get more airplay now. Some of their stuff still sounds fresh (and is a lot better than some of the shoite these identikit singer-songwriters pump out today).
Paul Heaton played live dates last year and is doing festivals this year, I've been told that he is one of the best live acts around so that would explain the airplay.
A follow up on this, I saw Paul Heaton at Bearded Theory the week before last and was ready to be disappointed because of a seemingly slow start. Och, this is going to be like Dexys last year - glorified cabaret. But is was all excellent pacing, a very good set and closing with 'Caravan Of Love' was a masterstroke, we were all singing along.
Looking forward to seeing him again in a few weeks at Belladrum, will be interesting to see a Scots reaction to his introduction of the band by their instruments and the team they support when it comes to Rianne Downey.
The Beautiful South on 13:45 - Jun 3 by WeWereZombies
A follow up on this, I saw Paul Heaton at Bearded Theory the week before last and was ready to be disappointed because of a seemingly slow start. Och, this is going to be like Dexys last year - glorified cabaret. But is was all excellent pacing, a very good set and closing with 'Caravan Of Love' was a masterstroke, we were all singing along.
Looking forward to seeing him again in a few weeks at Belladrum, will be interesting to see a Scots reaction to his introduction of the band by their instruments and the team they support when it comes to Rianne Downey.
And another follow up, saw Heatongrad again last Thursday, he's singing much better now and capable of giving Rianne Downey a run for her money, so an excellent end to a reasonable day of music. The Scots crowd were superb of course and the next morning I managed to work in to a conversation that I never saw him back when The Beautiful South were new and the big thing because I was married then and too busy washing the car and taking the kids to the park. They countered a little while later when we were discussing the lack of facilities with the necessity to carry on regardless.
Heaton has a wonderful talent for taking ordinary words about everyday situations and crafting them into, perhaps, the perceptive popular songs around. I realise other posters will disagree, that's when the TWTD forum feels like quicksand.
On my list of bands to see, as you say, he’s a genius.
Interesting fact, my cousin was in a few bands in Hull in the mid-80s while he was at uni there, and they often used to share a van on a Saturday night with the Housemartins, and he knew them well. One night an A&R rep from a record label happened to see the Housemartins and the rest is history.
P 1162, W 506, D 298, L 358, F 1749, A 1435
89 /92
I never got into the Beautiful South but was a big fan at the time of the Housemartins.
I was attracted by their combination of catchy pop songs and political lyrics, and saw them in 1986 or 1987. They were a very witty group on stage which is very rare for a pop group. They also did a great version of Garageland by the Clash.
This documentary on Paul Heaton is well worth a watch and shows he has lost none of his socialist ideals.
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