Martin Hannett/John Cooper Clarke
Tuesday, October 2nd, 2007I found this video for John Cooper Clarke’s “Evidently Chickentown” today. It really is spectacularly grim and gloomy. I think anyone who lives in a city can feel a certain twinge watching that dusky skyline from the train, and listening to those dour, hopeless lyrics. The entire thing sounds like the end of the world, coming not with a pompous bang, just a string of bleak and familiar expletives.
This video is part of a film he made called “10 Years in an Open Necked Shirt”. You can watch it part by part starting here.
I’ve also been finding “Health Fanatic” by John Cooper Clarke really interesting and different lately. Check it out here. How ahead of its time does this sound? Martin Hannett really was one of the finest musicians/producers of the last century. Don’t forget to read Cooper Clarke’s lyrics, below, preferably as you listen.
“AROUND THE BLOCK - AGAINST THE CLOCK
TICK TOCK, TICK TOCK, TICK TOCK
RUNNING OUT OF BREATH - RUNNING OUT OF SOCKS
RUBBER ON THE ROAD… FLIPPETY FLOP
NON-SKID AGILITY… CHOP CHOP
NO TIME TO HANG ABOUT
WORK OUT HEALTH FANATIC… WORK OUT!
THE CRACK OF DAWN HE’S LIFTING WEIGHTS
HIS TELL-TALE HEART REVERBERATES
HE’S HIGH IN POLYUNSATURATES…
LOW IN POLYSATURATES…
THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD AWAITS
IT’S A MAN’S LIFE
HE’S A HEALTH FANATIC… SO WAS HIS WIFE
A ONE-MAN WAR AGAINST DECAY
ENJOYS HIMSELF THE HARD WAY
ALLOWS HIMSELF A MARS A DAY
HOW OLD AM I - WHAT DO I WEIGH
PUNCH ME THERE… DOES IT HURT… NO WAY
RUNNING ON THE SPOT DON’T GET TOO HOT
HE’S A HEALTH FANATIC, THAT’S WHY NOT
RUNNING THROUGH THE TRAFFIC JAM - TAKING IN THE LEAD
HYPERACTIVITY KEEPS HIM OUT OF BED
DEEP DOWN HE’D LIKE TO KICK IT IN THE HEAD
THEY’LL REGRET IT WHEN THEY’RE DEAD
THERE’S MORE TO LIFE THAN FUN
HE’S A HEALTH FANATIC - HE’S GOT TO RUN
BEANS GREENS AND TANGERINES
AND LOW CHOLESTROL MARGARINES
HIS LIMBS ARE LOOSE, HIS TEETH ARE CLEAN
HE’S A HIGH-OCTANE FRESH-AIR FIEND
YOU’VE GOT TO ADMIT HE’S KEEN
WHAT CAN YOU DO BUT BE IMPRESSED
HE’S A HEALTH FANATIC… GIVE IT A REST
SHADOW BOXING - PUNCH THE WALL
ONE-A-SIDE FOOTBALL… WHAT’S THE SCORE… ONE-ALL
COULD HAVE BEEN A COPPER… TOO SMALL
COULD HAVE BEEN A JOCKEY… TOO TALL
KNEES UP, KNEES UP… HEAD THE BALL
NERVOUS ENERGY MAKES HIM TICK
HE’S A HEALTH FANATIC… HE MAKES YOU SICK”.
