Why You Should Like Belle & Sebastian...Colin
Indie kid, not really...
I've taken the time to interpret one of Belle and Sebastian's musical creations for my good friend (and brother-in-law) Colin in hopes that he might see the band's genius for what it is—genius. Also, for Colin's (and my very small readership's) convenience, I have outlined his reasons for disliking Belle and Sebastian alongside my well-prepared, very reasonable arguments for why his reasons hold no weight in the real world (my house). Actually, I absolutely crush Colin in this debate—my argument is so perfect.
Of course, he couldn't have seen this coming, so to make it fair, I worked exceptionally hard to accurately represent his views on the matter. Even with my impartial efforts to voice someone's opinion through my own hands (I'm typing), I still shred his argument to, um, shreds. I do put up a good fight for you, Colin! However, despite the pure bias of this act, I believe I could easily say that what I demonstrate below is an actual conversation being held between Colin and me.
Colin: Takes a drag from a cigarette. Dude, Belle and Sebastian aren't that great. Why do you keep insisting they are?
Kristina: Shaking her head. Not-uhh.
Colin: Mimicking strumming a guitar with a big smile on his face. Their music is way too happy for being tragic. They're singing about something ironic and sad, but the melody is too upbeat and light.
Kristina: Nonplussed. The next song is slow and it's sad. I don't know what you're talking about.
Colin: Visibly becoming agitated. Gimme a break. Even their slow songs don't come close to the angst that Damien Rice exudes in just 1 second of Elephant.
Kristina: Why does everything have to revolve around Damien Rice? Gosh, if you love him so much, why don't you marry him?
Colin: With passion. Damien Rice bleeds pure emotion with his vocals.
Kristina: Getting nervous. Whoa, now you're talking about cutting yourself.
Colin: Visibly confused I never said anything like that...
Kristina: Feeling thoughtful. I think I could find you a Belle and Sebastian song that might help you with that.
Colin: Looking even more confused. What are you talking about? Cut myself?
Kristina: Looking scared. Honestly, Colin, what are you talking about?
Colin: Begins to drool and beat his chest with his knuckles. Groggety gruk, bleach, blach bluuhh.
Kristina: Now you're just talking crazy.
See? A perfectly laid out argument that Colin couldn't handle so he resorted to cave-man speak. Score one for Kristina.
Okay, in all honesty, I do want Colin to like Belle and Sebastian, and I will actually respond to his reasons for not liking them in the first place.
I believe his reasons are so:
- Their music is too upbeat to be tragic.
- Where's the irony and pain?
- Their lyrics are not very complex and are too strange.
- Musically and emotionally, they just can't compare to Damien Rice.
- Even if I (Colin) did find their music interesting and awesome, I can't like the band because of the history involved with me not liking the band.
There you have it. Now, it's my turn. I will answer his questions with my interpretive breakdown of the song Piazza, New York Catcher off of "Dear Catastrophe Waitress." And, well, if I'm wrong in my interpretation of the piece, then so be it. Here is the song:
Elope with me Miss Private and we’ll sail around the world
I will be your Ferdinand and you my wayward girl
How many nights of talking in hotel rooms can you take?
How many nights of limping round on pagan holidays?
Oh elope with me in private and we’ll set something ablaze
A trail for the devil to eraseSan Francisco’s calling us, the Giants and Mets will play
Piazza, New York catcher, are you straight or are you gay?
We hung about the stadium, we’ve got no place to stay
We hung about the tenderloin and tenderly you tell
About the saddest book you ever read, it always makes you cry
The statue’s crying too and well he mayI love you I’ve a drowning grip on your adoring face
I love you my responsibility has found a place
Beside you and strong warnings in the guise of gentle words
Come wave upon me from the wider family net absurd
“You’ll take care of her, I know it, you will do a better job”
Maybe, but not what she deservesElope with me Miss Private and we’ll drink ourselves awake
We’ll taste the coffee houses and award certificates
A privy seal to keep the feel of 1960 style
We’ll comment on the decor and we’ll help the passer by
And at dusk when work is over we’ll continue the debate
In a borrowed bedroom virginal and spareThe catcher hits for .318 and catches every day
The pitcher puts religion first and rests on holidays
He goes into cathedrals and lies prostrate on the floor
He knows the drink affects his speed he’s praying for
a doorway
Back into the life he wants and the confession of the bench
Life outside the diamond is a wrenchI wish that you were here with me to pass the dull weekend
I know it wouldn’t come to love, my heroine pretend
A lady stepping from the songs we love until this day
You’d settle for an epitaph like “Walk Away, Renee”
The sun upon the roof in winter will draw you out like
a flowerMeet you at the statue in an hour
Meet you at the statue in an hour
This is such a beautiful poem put into song. I don't think there is any right or wrong way to view this piece—I just read 3 very long pages of people's interpretations about this song and they all were agreeing on the general idea, but where people differed were in the details. On the topmost, literal level, the song is about the game of baseball. Mike Piazza is the catcher for the New York Mets. The statue the narrator mentions is located outside of the San Fransisco Giants stadium; it is a statue of Willie Mays. There is a relationship between the pitcher and the catcher, which can be somewhat interpreted as sexual. (I have no idea who the pitcher is supposed to be, some people say John Rocker, some people say Sandy Koufax. I don't know shit about baseball, so I couldn't say either way). Both characters in the song suffer from their own vices and restrictions: "He knows the drink affects his speed he’s praying for a doorway..." These internal demons keep the two characters from ever really finding peace. What peace they do find is in the game of baseball, and their commitment to the sport: "Life outside the diamond is a wrench."
On a more poetic, metaphorical level, the song is about two people who are in love, but the love is destined for failure, for a number of reasons. But, when the two lovers spend time together, they have a freaking blast, despite the impossibility of their relationship. It is a love that is steeped in both fantasy and reality—the fantasy of eloping and the reality of their responsibilities.
The references made to baseball function on both symbolic and literal levels. The lovers have no direction at all, they spend their time watching baseball games (literal reference to the game): "San Francisco’s calling us, the Giants and Mets will play, Piazza, New York catcher, are you straight or are you gay?" The young couple enjoy watching the sport while creating their own little game trying to determine whether or not the Mets catcher is gay. (If anyone has lived close enough to Montreal, you might have played the game, "Gay or just French Canadian" as you walk down the city streets.) The symbolic reference to baseball happens in the 5th stanza. The "catcher" and the "pitcher" are the two lovers, and both have separate duties/callings apart from each other. The phrase "Life outside the diamond is a wrench" operates on two levels: 1) the baseball diamond and 2) an engagement ring or wedding band. Both of these are invested commitments (being on a professional baseball team and being married), and it is infinitely difficult to leave a life that one is committed to.
The rest of the song outlines a romantic weekend or a week that these two people spend together. They watch baseball and then mill through the streets of San Fransisco: "We hung about the stadium, we’ve got no place to stay, We hung about the tenderloin..." The Tenderloin is a neighborhood in San Fransisco, and can be somewhat seedy or artsy, depending on the person describing it. It was the first gay district in San Fransisco, and many artists flock to the area due to the environment and attractions. But, it is a slightly poorer (economically) neighborhood, which isn't saying much of anything because the cost of living in San Fransisco is ridiculously high. So, I don't even know why I bring this up. Maybe just to look smart.
Anyway, the narrator is pretending or toying with the idea of running away with his/her lover ("Elope with me Miss Private and we’ll sail around the world"). The desire is to merely enjoy being, existing, pretending while in the company of each other:
Elope with me Miss Private and we’ll drink ourselves awakeThey know their love won't last; the narrator comments, "I know it wouldn’t come to love, my heroine pretend." But, the two find it difficult to remain apart, despite the circumstances; the narrator tells her, "Meet you at the statue in an hour." My guess is that the woman is married to his friend (or acquaintance or maybe even enemy). He "tells" the other man that he will "take care of her, I know it, you will do a better job" but internally thinks that that is probably not what she deserves; she deserves the narrator. But, the narrator has his own commitment as well. And this is where things get a little unclear for me. He is either a priest (according to the comic depiction in the "Belle and Sebastian Anthology"), struggling with being gay, or devoted to some other kind of calling.
We’ll taste the coffee houses and award certificates
A privy seal to keep the feel of 1960 style
We’ll comment on the decor and we’ll help the passer by
And at dusk when work is over we’ll continue the debate
In a borrowed bedroom virginal and spare
Although it is somewhat disputed that the song is about two gay lovers—there are many references to homosexuality in the song—I believe the song is about a man and a woman, and the homosexual references are there to stress the impossibility of the young couple's relationship (or point to the narrator's sexuality). Many, many of Belle and Sebastian's songs contain lyrics that have homosexual connotations. Many, many of Belle and Sebastian's songs are blatantly about homosexuality. Not that it matters at all. I just thought it was interesting to note an alternative view.
When I decided to delve into this song more (I've been obsessed with it for weeks), I discovered that it is one of the saddest songs I've ever heard, and it is ripe with emotion, irony, and beauty. This is one of the main reasons why I chose this song to interpret. After listening to it repeatedly, and reading some other people's thoughts on the song, I couldn't help but marvel at the layers of meaning embedded into this song. I thought, "Aha, Colin couldn't help but come to his senses after he experiences this song in the manner that I have."
So, back to my list of "Colin's arguments": he "says" 1) their music is too upbeat to be tragic, 2) where's the irony and pain?, 3) their lyrics are not very complex and are too strange, 4) musically and emotionally, they just can't compare to Damien Rice, and 5) even if I (Colin) did find their music interesting and awesome, I can't like the band because of the history involved with me not liking the band.
Okay, item 1: This song is sung in the style of a sonnet. I imagine a man standing outside of a woman's window strumming on his guitar, professing his impossible love and risking everything. The song isn't incredibly upbeat, but, yes, it certainly isn't as angst-ridden as "Nine Crimes." There is an element of tragedy here because the singer/narrator is obviously risking some kind of repercussion for confessing his affection in such a manner. He isn't negative, but positively hopeful in seeing his lover again. How much more tragic can the situation get when, despite all the obstacles and pain, he's still wanting to be with her: "I wish that you were here with me to pass the dull weekend."
Moving on to item 2. Singing about pure irony and pain is way overrated. Belle and Sebastian songs are tongue and cheek commentaries about daily angst, awkwardness, and pessimism that everyone goes through. There is nothing more ironic about taking pain and turning it into a lighthearted tale.
Item 3: Belle and Sebastian's lyrics are pure poetry. Sure, I sound like a total wanker by saying that, but it's true. In one song, I have managed to unearth multiple strata of connotations. You can't get anymore complex than that. And, yes, their lyrics are strange, but it's poetry. Don't tell me Kerouac didn't say some whack-ass shit, Colin, because he did.
Now, let's explore item 4. Damien Rice certainly invokes some serious emotion. But, so do Belle and Sebastian; you just have to work at determining what it is you should be feeling. There is no guessing at the kind of agony Damien Rice is describing when he croons:
Leave me out with the wasteBut, doesn't that stanza compare to, "I love you I’ve a drowning grip on your adoring face." I mean, drowning grip? That's pretty intense. And it's ripe with emotion. This person is absolutely dying without this woman in his life. Oh yeah, and musically, Belle and Sebastian are right there with Damien Rice. They have a violinist, keyboardist, brass band, bassist, you name it. And, they played with the LA Philharmonic Orchestra in 2006 at the Hollywood Bowl. Why don't you stick that in your pipe and smoke it, Damien Rice. (Love you Damien Rice!)
This is not what I do
It's the wrong kind of place
To be cheating on you
It's the wrong time
She's pulling me through
It's a small crime
And I've got no excuse
And finally, item 5. Yes, I know this has been fun picking on Kristina for being obsessed with an Indie rock band. But, I think it's time to let bygones be bygones and move into a new day, a new year, as mutual Belle and Sebastian fans. Won't that be so much kinder and gentler?
Well, Colin (and my small readership), I hope at the very least you found this amusing. If you get a chance, listen to the song. It's pretty awesome.