From: hats-owner@xmission.com To: hats-digest@xmission.com Subject: hats Digest V2 #15 Reply-To: hats@xmission.com Errors-To: hats-owner@xmission.com Precedence: hats Digest Saturday, 1 February 1997 Volume 02 : Number 015 In this issue: Re: (hats) Pop Goes the World Re: (hats) PGTW/21st Century talk! (hats) Re: Pop Goes the World/21 Century (hats) What is this? (hats) Thank You (hats) Re: Dons Emotive powers (hats) Re: Pop Goes the World/21 Century (hats) Re: What is this (Sideways)? Re: (hats) What is this? Re: (hats) Pop Goes the World (hats) MWH Video/Cd's Re: (hats) Howdy Re: (hats) Pop Goes the World (hats) PGTW/21st Century Re: (hats) Pop Goes the World Re: (hats) Pop Goes the World (hats) Synthsound (hats) Re: Cheezy Synthesizers See the end of the digest for information on subscribing to the hats or hats-digest mailing lists and on how to retrieve back issues. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Gregor Watson Date: Thu, 30 Jan 1997 22:29:03 GMT Subject: Re: (hats) Pop Goes the World >21st >Century is impressive too. Why doesn't anyone ever talk about that? "Underneath the rainbow" and "I'm in love" are IMO two of the very best songs ever - All time, not just MWH tracks. Gregor # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Email majordomo@xmission.com with "info hats" in the message. # Postings must go to hats@xmission.com -- replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ From: dstroud@arwen-143.Eng.Sun.COM (Donald Stroud) Date: Thu, 30 Jan 1997 16:36:01 -0800 Subject: Re: (hats) PGTW/21st Century talk! > > >21st >Century is impressive too. Why doesn't anyone ever talk about that? > I used to talk about "21st Century" and "Pop" all the time. But it seems like the majority of the fans on the mailing list enjoy the first two albums more. Don't get me wrong, I love just about everything the band created... hell, it was "Safety Dance" that got me hooked on techno-pop to begin with! But the later albums struck an emotional chord in me... they appealed to me in a way that was much deeper than just "fun to listen to". "Pop Goes The World" (the song) will forever live on in my memory... I mimed the entire video for the song to the love of my life. She thought it was hysterical. We're no longer together, sadly enough, and everytime I hear it I remember the smile on her face and how much I still love her. Which leads me to "Bright Side Of The Sun". Hearing that song for the first time was like a punch in the gut, as the aforementioned woman and I had parted ways (on her insistance), and I'd had fallings-out with a couple of very good friends. It's still my fondest wish that one day I and all the people I miss will find some way to meet again and continue what I believe was merely put on hold. I've ended many, many, many mixed tapes with this song. "O Sole Mio" really hits home because of the situation I find myself in now: far from my original home and without much meaningful human contact. (For some reason, I used to make my own videos for this song in my head... they all ended with Ivan atop a rainbow, arms spread, surveying a lush green landscape. Dunno why...) "In The 21st Century" is wonderful. I can't explain it any better than that. Sometimes there are sounds or sights or smells that grab you and won't let go... this song is like that. And after getting Tom's tape and finally seeing the video, it's leapt WAAAAAY up on my list of faves. That video is truly something special. "You & Me" is haunting. I love how Ivan talks about all these major events in his life that, to anyone else, would be so trivial, but to him are moments of epiphany. The 'angel in a stream' line is something I can relate to, having spent an afternoon wading down a river with a girlfriend and having the time of my life. And the most important event in his life? 'You and me.' Really, really touching. (See my comments above about the love of my life...) "All We Do" is another song that makes you look at what's in front of you in a different light. 'If all we do is live and die..' It's so cool how the lyrics cause you to notice what you have, how important it is to experience everything, and about how life is something special, something that people seem to take for granted. Okay, sorry for being so long-winded, but I've been in a wordy, emotive mood lately. And someone *did* ask for some discussion about these albums, so it's not all my fault!... Looking forward to the 2-on-1 CD, Don2 dstroud@captaina.Eng.Sun.com # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Email majordomo@xmission.com with "info hats" in the message. # Postings must go to hats@xmission.com -- replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ From: Steven Enz Date: Thu, 30 Jan 1997 20:00:56 -0800 Subject: (hats) Re: Pop Goes the World/21 Century > You know, I find it strange how everyone loves early MWH but doesn't have > much to say about their later stuff. > Hillary Actually, I remember taking a poll of the hats listing about six months ago and Pop Goes the World came out on top. The exact results were: Pop Goes The World--------9.411 FOT80 / FREEWAYS---------9.400 Rhythm Of Youth-----------9.222 FOT80 III-----------------8.644 Adventures in 21 Century--8.056 Sideways------------------6.375 (people rated every album out of 10 and the average was taken) Times change of coarse so the numbers might be a little different if it were taken now. Personally, I was extatic when I first heard 21 Century and I would give just about anything if MWH came out with another album of similar quality! Like Don Stroud, I have many personal memories that I associate to that period in time, made even more memorable because of this album. I think we all do because this album does have some very intense and emotional works. Ivan did well to communicate those ideas to us! I still can't figure out what happened with Sideways though! There seems to be anger and frustration coming from this one. (And IMHO, little else!) Pop Goes The World is my favourite album. The title track, On Tuesday, O Sole Mio, Lose My Way, Moonbeam, Jenny Wore Black and especially The End (of the World) are all songs that have no equal ANYWHERE in the entire world. One thing about PGTW is that it was done as a single work of art, unfolding like a story and refering to itself while Ivan even refers to his own past! PGTW is unparalleled, beautiful, and simply THE best album in existance! Senz Senz # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Email majordomo@xmission.com with "info hats" in the message. # Postings must go to hats@xmission.com -- replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ From: abradfor@srv2.ic.net Date: Thu, 30 Jan 1997 22:46:44 -0500 (EST) Subject: (hats) What is this? I am new to this list. MWH has been with me since I first heard Safety Dance. Each work is excellent in itself. Each work is progressively better than the last. Sideways has some of the best lyrical content ever written! The musical content is a step in a different direction, and it is a direction that I enjoyed very much. Sideways is not the first work to have a different musical content. From synth-pop to a "tasteful" broad range styling pop to a r'n'r pop to Sideways(a delightful mix of stylings), MWH has always been progressive. Sideways is a step away from the pop stylings we were used to hearing. The feeling is still there, though. And let us not forget, Sideways has the first Beatles cover song that was better than the original! Later, Andrew Bradford # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Email majordomo@xmission.com with "info hats" in the message. # Postings must go to hats@xmission.com -- replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ From: lshar1766@lsvax.lsmsa.edu Date: Thu, 30 Jan 1997 21:46:58 -0600 Subject: (hats) Thank You To All the people who replied to my Pop Goes the World querie: Thank You. I'm glad some others agree with me that PGTW is the best album in existence. I'm also glad that someone else thinks that Underneath the Rainbow is the best song ever. I know I do. Thanks guys, Hillary # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Email majordomo@xmission.com with "info hats" in the message. # Postings must go to hats@xmission.com -- replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ From: haloweb@interlog.com Date: Thu, 30 Jan 1997 23:25:03 -0500 Subject: (hats) Re: Dons Emotive powers Don.... your "longwindedness and emotive mood swings" are welcome anytime . thanks for sharing. wolfgang # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Email majordomo@xmission.com with "info hats" in the message. # Postings must go to hats@xmission.com -- replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ From: jupiter-8@juno.com (Rod MacQuarrie) Date: Thu, 30 Jan 1997 23:37:16 EST Subject: (hats) Re: Pop Goes the World/21 Century On Thu, 30 Jan 1997 20:00:56 -0800 Steven Enz writes: >Actually, I remember taking a poll of the hats listing about six >months >ago and Pop Goes the World came out on top. The exact results were: > >Pop Goes The World--------9.411 >FOT80 / FREEWAYS---------9.400 >Rhythm Of Youth-----------9.222 >FOT80 III-----------------8.644 >Adventures in 21 Century--8.056 >Sideways------------------6.375 Hmmm...I just might want to change my vote now...I'm preferring them almost in order of release as time goes on....But then again there's 21st Century....I hate those kind of decisions!!! >Personally, I was extatic when I first heard 21 >Century >and I would give just about anything if MWH came out with another >album >of similar quality! I disliked this album when it first came out...now I absolutely love it! Times change... >I still can't figure out what happened with Sideways though! There >seems to be anger and frustration coming from this one. (And IMHO, >little else!) Ditto...but somewhat before its time wouldn't you say? >The title track, On Tuesday, >O >Sole Mio, Lose My Way, Moonbeam, Jenny Wore Black and especially The >End >(of the World) are all songs that have no equal ANYWHERE in the entire >world... Yes...same with every other song ever done in the entire world.... ..PGTW is unparalleled, beautiful, and simply THE best >album >in existance! Hmmmm....that's pushing it a little...What of Roxy Music's "Avalon"??? That has got to be the best one "ever" in my opinion... Rod # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Email majordomo@xmission.com with "info hats" in the message. # Postings must go to hats@xmission.com -- replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ From: Steven Enz Date: Thu, 30 Jan 1997 22:18:37 -0800 Subject: (hats) Re: What is this (Sideways)? abradfor@srv2.ic.net wrote: > Sideways has some of the best lyrical content ever written! I agree that Ivan's poetic communication continued to shine through even in this album. > Sideways is not the first work to have a different musical content. From > synth-pop to a "tasteful" broad range styling pop to a r'n'r pop to > Sideways(a delightful mix of stylings) I disagree here though. Except for sideways, MWH is not that easily pigeon-holed. In the beginning Ivan went through great lengths to go beyond the music of the day. (ie create something new and different) It seems to me that in Sideways he made no such effort. Rod MacQuarrie, this is what I mean when I say a song "has no equal". Some songs are very uniquly constructed and others are simply rip-offs (blatantly sometimes) of earlier songs or ideas. There aren't many songs or artists (for that matter!) who don't continuously mimmick other more sucessful artists. and yes I do believe that PGTW is even better than Avalon! Just a matter of taste here though, Rod ;-) Senz # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Email majordomo@xmission.com with "info hats" in the message. # Postings must go to hats@xmission.com -- replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ From: BCKTHFCUP@aol.com Date: Fri, 31 Jan 1997 03:48:13 -0500 (EST) Subject: Re: (hats) What is this? well hello everyone i am new to list well im not the one to be listed its my brother. My computer though, but anyways he love the men without hats so i found this for him he reads all the letters and has great stuff to say but is shy! So i thought once again and help him out(after all he is family) with talking on the list here. So maybe if some of u wrote to the list maybe to mention him, his name is dave Woodman. Im not to sure what to say but maybe anything im sure some of u can think of something! thanx tj # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Email majordomo@xmission.com with "info hats" in the message. # Postings must go to hats@xmission.com -- replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ From: "Lars Wendt" Date: 31 Jan 1997 10:35:29 +0100 Subject: Re: (hats) Pop Goes the World I agree with you Hillary and Thomas. Personally I find PGTW one of the best pop-albums ever to be written. More than ROY and FOT80's it is cleverly balanced between up-beat and off-tempo music. It is also a concept album which is neatly tied together in the beginning and the end. I think of it as a circle of good music which never stops. You can play it over and over and it never stops to amaze me how cleverly it is put together. It is really well-produced and all the music is really melodic. I also believe that since ROY and FOT80 has become so rare, more and more people wanted to get what they couldn't get. I think it is obvious that most of the success of this list is based on the fact that ROY and FOT80 is impossible to get hold of. It wouldn't be so fun chasing a record which was in every shop in the world. Some of the excitement would be lost then. I think that most of us wants to prove to the rest of the world that MWH really made great music. We still hope that the new records would sell in great volumes and that Ivan & co would get really popular again, since they never really got to stay at the top. I have never heard the mixes of PGTW though, so I still have something to look forward to, if someone wants to make copies available. Greetings Lars 'Ladies and Gentlemen: Pop Goes the World by Men Without Hats' > > You know, I find it strange how everyone loves early MWH but doesn't have > much to say about their later stuff. I love ROY and Folk of the Eighties > but I personally think that Pop Goes the World is their best work. 21st > Century is impressive too. Why doesn't anyone ever talk about that? Oh, > and does anyone know how to get a copy of the Pop Goes the World video > collection? > Hillary Hehe, picked up a used copy of PGTW for $7 right yesterday. It's $25 at the only regular store in town that has it. Although it was a wednesday, I loved 'On Tuesday' from the very first time I listened to it. (Most music I like needed more time to grow on me.) They were really at their best in ballads! Think of 'You And Me' or 'Everybody Wants To Know'! And yes, Hillary, I'd also say that I like PGTW (the song) most of all I've heard from them so far (including ROY). In particular, I love the awsome remixes. Hmm, so why does noone ever talk about these albums? Perhaps they are not rare enough? ;-) I wonder what we'll talk about when everybody has the 2in1 ... Greetings, Thomas # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Email majordomo@xmission.com with "info hats" in the message. # Postings must go to hats@xmission.com -- replies go to original sender. __________________________________________________________________ Lars Wendt Telenor Online AS Tel + 47 22771900 - ext: + 47 22771806 Fax + 47 22771910 Internet: lars.wendt@online.no P.O.Box 405, 1324 Lysaker, Norway Office: Vollsveien 6, Lysaker __________________________________________________________________ # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Email majordomo@xmission.com with "info hats" in the message. # Postings must go to hats@xmission.com -- replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ From: FRANCOIS BLAWAT Date: Fri, 31 Jan 1997 08:53:25 -0600 Subject: (hats) MWH Video/Cd's Hi all, Any word yet on when there will be another video or cd out? I've written to this list three separate times and I haven't heard back. All I've heard is that Olgio will be releasing a CD but not for sale in the US. Francois # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Email majordomo@xmission.com with "info hats" in the message. # Postings must go to hats@xmission.com -- replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ From: CartOOn Guy Date: Fri, 31 Jan 1997 14:24:17 -0500 (EST) Subject: Re: (hats) Howdy >things. I love "I LIKE" and "I GOT THE MESSAGE"!! I think the Pet Shop Boys >could do a great remake version of IGTM with Bananarama singing the chorus! >Whatya think? Actually that wouldn't sound too bad. Good idea! And welcome to the mailing list :) I think Pet Shop Boys would also do a good cover of "The Great Ones Remember" seeing that they also write lyrics which sometimes are difficult to understand the meaning of the songs. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> <> HAVE A SURREAL DAY! <> <> Bored? Read some comics at <> <> http://www.interlog.com/~daniele <> <> This month's issue is now up! <> <> Daniele Rossi <> <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> apelle figlio di apollo fece una palla di pelle di pollo tutti i pesci vennero a galla per vedere la palla di apelle figlio di apollo # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Email majordomo@xmission.com with "info hats" in the message. # Postings must go to hats@xmission.com -- replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ From: Thomas Bieler Date: Fri, 31 Jan 1997 21:25:12 +0100 (MET) Subject: Re: (hats) Pop Goes the World > I also believe that since ROY and FOT80 has become so rare, more and more > people wanted to get what they couldn't get. I think it is obvious that most of > the success of this list is based on the fact that ROY and FOT80 is impossible > to get hold of. It wouldn't be so fun chasing a record which was in every shop > in the world. Some of the excitement would be lost then. Carl, what kinda people are the two of us? We're gonna DESTROY this list! ;-) [snicker!] Thomas # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Email majordomo@xmission.com with "info hats" in the message. # Postings must go to hats@xmission.com -- replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ From: lshar1766@lsvax.lsmsa.edu Date: Fri, 31 Jan 1997 15:56:00 -0600 Subject: (hats) PGTW/21st Century I was very happy at my response to the Pop Goes the World message. And I agree\with the person who said that this mailing list thrives because of the fact that ROY and FOT80 are so rare. But hey, I've never seen a copy of 21st Century on CD and I've only seen 1 of Pop Goes the World, the one my brother found for a dollar. And I don't even have a copy of Sideways. Where do you guys find these CD's. When PGTW came out, I was only 7 years old so I hardly went out and bought the CD. If anybody happens to have an extra copy just lying around... Hillary # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Email majordomo@xmission.com with "info hats" in the message. # Postings must go to hats@xmission.com -- replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ From: jupiter-8@juno.com (Jupiter Eight) Date: Sat, 01 Feb 1997 00:42:51 EST Subject: Re: (hats) Pop Goes the World On Fri, 31 Jan 1997 21:25:12 +0100 (MET) Thomas Bieler writes: >> I also believe that since ROY and FOT80 has become so rare, more and >more >> people wanted to get what they couldn't get. I think it is obvious >that most of >> the success of this list is based on the fact that ROY and FOT80 is >impossible >> to get hold of. It wouldn't be so fun chasing a record which was in >every shop >> in the world. Some of the excitement would be lost then. >Carl, what kinda people are the two of us? We're gonna DESTROY this >list! ;-) >[snicker!] I think the reason the first two albums are my favorites is because they used the raw Prophet-5 instruments (for those with the video its the wooden looking synths - three of them used in the concert). That synth has a quality about it that make the songs sound so....synth poppy...And Men Without Hats wrote great synthpop on the first two albums. The next two albums used alot of digital stuff and sampled voices...then came the grunge on the last one. As someone who prefers the old analog sound over digital or even guitar, I feel that the first two albums are best just because of the instruments they used. The sound is so unique and brash and bubbly. But when you think about it, the songs really remained quite the same from album to album but the band used different instruments to songwrite with. But I agree with you...notice how quiet the list got once everyone received the video and 3CD set? Makes me wonder what will happen too once the 2-fer is out. Rod # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Email majordomo@xmission.com with "info hats" in the message. # Postings must go to hats@xmission.com -- replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ From: smoky3@ix.netcom.com (Christofer Evangelista) Date: Fri, 31 Jan 1997 22:22:45 -0800 Subject: Re: (hats) Pop Goes the World >I think the reason the first two albums are my favorites is because they >used the raw Prophet-5 instruments (for those with the video its the >wooden looking synths - three of them used in the concert). That synth >has a quality about it that make the songs sound so....synth poppy...And >Men Without Hats wrote great synthpop on the first two albums. The next >two albums used alot of digital stuff and sampled voices...then came the >grunge on the last one. As someone who prefers the old analog sound over >digital or even guitar, I feel that the first two albums are best just >because of the instruments they used. The sound is so unique and brash >and bubbly. But when you think about it, the songs really remained quite >the same from album to album but the band used different instruments to >songwrite with. You gotta love that rennisance (sp?) medival sound that created with those cool sounding analog synths. The Great ones remember also had some interesting synth arrangements and is one of my fave songs. Folk of the 80s had some experimental digital stuff (the weird clashing sound on Eurotheme for example) that kind of continued the experimentation with electronics. The later stuff does have some analogish sounds on it (Moonbeam, Walk on Water, I'm in love) but it isn't the same. Still I like Pop goes the world and In the 21st century nonetheless, but I'll always love Rhythm of youths synthy sound. It was that album that taught me how to play keyboards. :) # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Email majordomo@xmission.com with "info hats" in the message. # Postings must go to hats@xmission.com -- replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ From: Steven Enz Date: Sat, 01 Feb 1997 00:57:45 -0800 Subject: (hats) Synthsound > That synth > has a quality about it that make the songs sound so....synth poppy...And > Men Without Hats wrote great synthpop on the first two albums. That synth sound sure feels nice on the ears! But its more than just the fact that its synth. These albums feel like they were created by a playful and enthusiastic Ivan. (ie. they are very clever albums). You're right though, there are two kinds of synth but I think its not quite "analog vs sampler". For example, I easily created that cheezy synth on my Roland S-10 by looping single pulses of just about any sample. This created a square wave which is in fact the basis of those analog synths. The first 2 or 3 albums of MWH used these simpler waveforms while PGTW used more complex waveforms. Acoustic instruments have infinitely complex waveforms (which, of coarse, end up being sampled waveforms when on a CD). My heart has always been with that wonderful "cheezy" synth and if it came right down to a decision between the first 3 MWH albums and PGTW I'd have to go with the first 3 "cheezy" ones. But PGTW was more adventurous, had a great variety of sounds (that's an understatement!) and put together with meticulous attention to detail and the art of music. > ...notice how quiet the list got once everyone > received the video and 3CD set? Makes me wonder what will happen too once > the 2-fer is out. I noticed this too! I'll admit, when I got the video I had the sense of being content. (Like my long thirst for MWH and been quenched.) Now, I NEED MORE!!!! Hurry up IVAN! Senz # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Email majordomo@xmission.com with "info hats" in the message. # Postings must go to hats@xmission.com -- replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ From: jupiter-8@juno.com (Jupiter Eight) Date: Sat, 01 Feb 1997 11:03:11 EST Subject: (hats) Re: Cheezy Synthesizers On Fri, 31 Jan 1997 22:22:45 -0800 smoky3@ix.netcom.com (Christofer Evangelista) writes: > >You gotta love that rennisance (sp?) medival sound that created with >those >cool sounding analog synths. The Great ones remember also had some >interesting synth arrangements and is one of my fave songs. Folk of >the >80s had some experimental digital stuff (the weird clashing sound on >Eurotheme for example) that kind of continued the experimentation with > >electronics. Yeah...I believe it was one of the first samplers...Emulator II or Synclavier... The later stuff does have some analogish sounds on it >(Moonbeam, Walk on Water, I'm in love) but it isn't the same. Still I >like >Pop goes the world and In the 21st century nonetheless, but I'll >always >love Rhythm of youths synthy sound. It was that album that taught me >how >to play keyboards. :) The video for 21st Century shows a guy playing a little Korg semi-modular synth - either an MS-10 or MS-20...incidently a very popular synth in these techno times... Rod # Need help using (or leaving) this mailing list? # Email majordomo@xmission.com with "info hats" in the message. # Postings must go to hats@xmission.com -- replies go to original sender. ------------------------------ End of hats Digest V2 #15 ************************* To subscribe to hats Digest, send the command: subscribe hats-digest in the body of a message to "majordomo@xmission.com". 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