Two Tribes - extended edition - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

I, Brian · 15th December 2003, 06:39 PM

I don't know about anyone else here, but the "Two Tribes" (extended remix) 12" version by Frankie Goes to Hollywood was one of my most prized records. I rarely played it because I considered it so valuable, and so didn't wish to wear it down.

The music in itself is great - however, it was the message that was important to me.

It's not the message of "Two Tribes" the single for radioplay - of mere simple conflict. It's the additional vocal loops of someone reading out what would appear to be government advise on how to deal with surviving a nuclear attack.

For example: "If any member of the family should die from contamination, while in the shelter, then put them outside, but remember to tag them first for identification purposes."

Run those line - with variations - a few times through 9 minutes of extended remixing.

I was absolutely haunted by the idea of nuclear holocaust as a child. I still have a newspaper cutting from our local daily showing the extent of devastation that would occur if a standard megaton nuclear warhead was dropped on the middle of my home town/city of Hull.

And, of course, as a child I watched the biggest horror film ever made - the BBC film/documentary made in 1960's about what to expect in the event of a nuclear attact. It was considered so scary it was banned from public showing until the 1980's.

"And here is a reminder about fall-out warnings..."

It's amazing to see how far the wolrd has moved since then - from the thickness of the Cold War, through the machination of Perestroika and the Fall of the Iron Curtain across Europe.

But even still, the nuclear menace is still with us. It just isn;t about Two Tribes anymore.

My extended version of the song is in the loft, with all my other vinyl. But I just downloaded the track from Kazaa, and am listening to it now. It's funny how the world has changed since then - but a deep sense of unease remains.

Just a thoughtful ramble.

mac1 · 20th December 2003, 05:40 PM

WOW! I had no idea there was a 9 minute long version of Two Tribes. I will be seeking that out immediately!

littlemissattitude · 20th December 2003, 08:08 PM

I remember that song, and the video for it. I'd quite forgotten that it was Frankie Goes to Hollywood who did it. Great song, but I've never heard the long version; probably wasn't ever available here in the States. Too bad. Sounds like something I'd like to hear. I've always liked songs of political comment.

Which reminds me, there was another one, by Genesis I think, called "Land of Confusion" or something like that. The video was all puppets, and in the end it had the puppet of Reagan rolling over in bed and pushing "The Button" and not even being aware of it. In the political climate of the day, I was kind of surprised it ever got played over here, but it ended up in heavy rotation on MTV.

I, Brian · 21st December 2003, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigmacscanlan

WOW! I had no idea there was a 9 minute long version of Two Tribes. I will be seeking that out immediately!

It took me a loooooong time to download, though - bad connection with the other person. If you warn me when you're next online I'll get it up in my shared folder.

Oh - and that Reagan imitation in the middle about the Goddess of Eternal Justice? That was Hitler's court speech before he was sent down in 1927 (I think it was - and what set him about writing "Mein Kamf").

Quote:

Originally Posted by LittleMissAttitude

Which reminds me, there was another one, by Genesis I think, called "Land of Confusion" or something like that. The video was all puppets, and in the end it had the puppet of Reagan rolling over in bed and pushing "The Button" and not even being aware of it. In the political climate of the day, I was kind of surprised it ever got played over here, but it ended up in heavy rotation on MTV.

Yes - they were the puppets of "Spitting Image", which was a long-running satirical program here in the UK. Funnily enough, at one point Genesis had actually tried to sue Spitting Image over some issue, but I guess they made up. I still remember that video - was very good. I would expect that people would cry "Free Speech!" if it had been censored.

Funny though - Reagan was certainly demonised in his time - yet look at what progress he actually made with Gorbachev. Funny, that.

littlemissattitude · 21st December 2003, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I, Brian

Funny though - Reagan was certainly demonised in his time - yet look at what progress he actually made with Gorbachev. Funny, that.

Well, the problem I have with Reagan - always have had with Reagan - is that he tried to take all the credit for himself. This attitude is enshrined in his Preisdential Library, which is in Simi Valley, CA, where I grew up. I've visited the museum at the library a couple of times, and if one took the exhibits there at face value one would believe that Reagan took down communism all by himself. No cabinet members, no advisors, no negotiators, nothing. Just him. Which is demonstrably not the case. Nothing in politics and diplomacy is a one-man show, especially in this day and age. He was a master at taking all the credit when things went well and denying all knowledge when things didn't (witness the whole Iran-Contra mess, which he always adamantly claimed he knew absolutely nothing about). I think Gorbachev should get some of the credit as well. I think he saw the way the wind was blowing and went with it; he didn't have to, and could have made the process much more difficult. That he facilitated the process rather than throwing roadblocks in its way should go to his credit, I think.

I am sorry that Reagan is not well now. I didn't and don't think he was a good president, and I don't understand the people here in the States who worship at his altar, but I certainly don't wish him ill. And as much as I never thought I would say this, Nancy Reagan has all my sympathy for having to deal with his illness. It is a hard row to hoe, taking care of someone with his problems. And God knows, even though they surely have nurses and caretakers, she is still on the front lines of that battle. But just because he is ill now does not mean that I have to look at his administration through rose-colored glasses. As a governor, he was not good for California, and as a president, a lot of things slid backwards during his administration (especially race relations).

I, Brian · 21st December 2003, 08:21 PM

Heh, I think US Presidents have have habit of being frontmen for a larger band. I see the same criticisms of George W Bish - that he is merely a puppet - that were apparently thrown at Reagan in those days.

But, then again, we should have always known that Hollywood would save the world (from communism).

15th December 2003, 06:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
I, Brian Admin and Tea-boy Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 5,404 Blog Entries: 1	Two Tribes - extended edition I don't know about anyone else here, but the "Two Tribes" (extended remix) 12" version by Frankie Goes to Hollywood was one of my most prized records. I rarely played it because I considered it so valuable, and so didn't wish to wear it down. The music in itself is great - however, it was the message that was important to me. It's not the message of "Two Tribes" the single for radioplay - of mere simple conflict. It's the additional vocal loops of someone reading out what would appear to be government advise on how to deal with surviving a nuclear attack. For example: "If any member of the family should die from contamination, while in the shelter, then put them outside, but remember to tag them first for identification purposes." Run those line - with variations - a few times through 9 minutes of extended remixing. I was absolutely haunted by the idea of nuclear holocaust as a child. I still have a newspaper cutting from our local daily showing the extent of devastation that would occur if a standard megaton nuclear warhead was dropped on the middle of my home town/city of Hull. And, of course, as a child I watched the biggest horror film ever made - the BBC film/documentary made in 1960's about what to expect in the event of a nuclear attact. It was considered so scary it was banned from public showing until the 1980's. "And here is a reminder about fall-out warnings..." It's amazing to see how far the wolrd has moved since then - from the thickness of the Cold War, through the machination of Perestroika and the Fall of the Iron Curtain across Europe. But even still, the nuclear menace is still with us. It just isn;t about Two Tribes anymore. My extended version of the song is in the loft, with all my other vinyl. But I just downloaded the track from Kazaa, and am listening to it now. It's funny how the world has changed since then - but a deep sense of unease remains. Just a thoughtful ramble.

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20th December 2003, 05:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
mac1 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 567	WOW! I had no idea there was a 9 minute long version of Two Tribes. I will be seeking that out immediately!

20th December 2003, 08:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
littlemissattitude Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 3,361 Blog Entries: 8	I remember that song, and the video for it. I'd quite forgotten that it was Frankie Goes to Hollywood who did it. Great song, but I've never heard the long version; probably wasn't ever available here in the States. Too bad. Sounds like something I'd like to hear. I've always liked songs of political comment. Which reminds me, there was another one, by Genesis I think, called "Land of Confusion" or something like that. The video was all puppets, and in the end it had the puppet of Reagan rolling over in bed and pushing "The Button" and not even being aware of it. In the political climate of the day, I was kind of surprised it ever got played over here, but it ended up in heavy rotation on MTV.

21st December 2003, 08:21 PM	#6 (permalink)
I, Brian Admin and Tea-boy Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 5,404 Blog Entries: 1	Heh, I think US Presidents have have habit of being frontmen for a larger band. I see the same criticisms of George W Bish - that he is merely a puppet - that were apparently thrown at Reagan in those days. But, then again, we should have always known that Hollywood would save the world (from communism).