I only know KB’s more mainstream songs but I always thought Babooshka was pretty sinister
I know she was inspired by The Turn of the Screw so whenever I heard Man with a Child in his Eyes my mind always flipped it the other way around- quite the creepy/taboo possibility
I think that inversion is quite deliberate, ‘The Infant Kiss’ has the line ‘there’s a man behind those eyes.’ There are so many strange and creepy elements even in her more ‘fun’ or ‘romantic’ songs…
Raymond Briggs also responsible for "Fungus the Bogeyman". And a dismal story about a man who works cleaning toilets. Gentleman Jim https://images.app.goo.gl/6PdjchWVMUyxhE7M6.
Thank you for another enjoyable spin with Kate! You've reminded me of how well the lyrics balance the sense of dream and the sensuousness, especially in those last lines. And I like your inclusion of the Raymond Briggs story, which looks to all the world like a nice children's yarn for Christmas but actually has a poignant note.
Now, which one shall you do last? I have ideas! Several! The Dreaming has several songs with hints of Other. So I'll close my eyes and pick one... All The Love. Voices across different lives.
Thanks, Roz, great to have you along for the ride. To be honest, there are probably another 10 I could have included, I might have to do an also rans section!
I wasn't even aware of this song's existence. I was surprised to see it was a woman making a man. Even in Angela Carter's version of the snow child, it's all for the benefit of men. This was really interesting and of course, weird. Thank you for putting it together!
A daring synthesis of The Snowman and Nosferatu...
This was fascinating.
I only know KB’s more mainstream songs but I always thought Babooshka was pretty sinister
I know she was inspired by The Turn of the Screw so whenever I heard Man with a Child in his Eyes my mind always flipped it the other way around- quite the creepy/taboo possibility
I think that inversion is quite deliberate, ‘The Infant Kiss’ has the line ‘there’s a man behind those eyes.’ There are so many strange and creepy elements even in her more ‘fun’ or ‘romantic’ songs…
Ahh- well that I was meant to think 🤔 that way gives me heart that I don’t have a transgressive slant on life!
Thanks for you insight Rebekah
I should make sure to read them all.
No worries! There’s a whole article on ‘The Infant Kiss’ earlier on in the series. A very strange song…
Making Love Out of Nothing At All
Raymond Briggs also responsible for "Fungus the Bogeyman". And a dismal story about a man who works cleaning toilets. Gentleman Jim https://images.app.goo.gl/6PdjchWVMUyxhE7M6.
He’s a much more interesting artist than people give him credit for!
Okay. That got weird really quickly. Brilliant :)
Thanks, Inkbeetle (love that name). Even for me this was an odd article!
Thank you for another enjoyable spin with Kate! You've reminded me of how well the lyrics balance the sense of dream and the sensuousness, especially in those last lines. And I like your inclusion of the Raymond Briggs story, which looks to all the world like a nice children's yarn for Christmas but actually has a poignant note.
Now, which one shall you do last? I have ideas! Several! The Dreaming has several songs with hints of Other. So I'll close my eyes and pick one... All The Love. Voices across different lives.
I wait to see which song you pick!
Thanks, Roz, great to have you along for the ride. To be honest, there are probably another 10 I could have included, I might have to do an also rans section!
Please do!
This was fascinating to read!
Thanks so much!!
I wasn't even aware of this song's existence. I was surprised to see it was a woman making a man. Even in Angela Carter's version of the snow child, it's all for the benefit of men. This was really interesting and of course, weird. Thank you for putting it together!
It’s been ages since I read Angela Carter, that’d be an interesting article of its own…thanks Hanna!