The Stars of Track and Field are Beautiful People (Trilogy)

Part 1,
The Belle and Sebastian album 'If You're Feeling Sinister' led with the track "The Stars of Track and Field" and it featured the line 'The Stars of Track and Field are Beautiful People', which has set the stage for this trilogy.
After the success of the Rio Olympic games - I'm kind of missing it all, even if our timezone made it a little difficult to catch all the good bits live. Luckily we can re-live the Olympic Games - thanks to Belle and Sebastian. The Rio Olympic games was the inspiration behind the new single "Olympic Village, 6AM"... which is an upbeat instrumental that is somewhat inspirational as well. The video goes even further down that route - with one classic and unforgettable Olympic moment, which I will save for part 3.



Part 2,
As stated above, Belle and Sebastian had released "The Stars of Track and Field" on an earlier album. In fact, it was 20 years earlier, in 1996. So I wonder if this song was actually inspired by the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta. The lyrics are taken from their website belleandsebastian.com



The Stars Of Track And Field
Make a new cult every day to suit your affairs
Kissing girls in English, at the back of the stairs
You’re a honey, with a following of innocent boys
They never know it
Because you never show it
You always get your way
They never know it
Because you never show it
You always get your way

Have you and her been taking pictures of your obsessions?
Because I met a kid who went through one of your sessions
In his blue velour and silk
You liberated
A boy I never rated
And now he’s throwing discuss
For Liverpool and Widnes
You liberated
A boy I never rated
And now he’s doing business

The stars of track and field, you are
The stars of track and field, you are
The stars of track and field are beautiful people

Could I write a piece about you now that you’ve made it?
About the hours spent, the emptiness in your training
You only did it so that you could wear
Your terry underwear
And feel the city air
Run past your body

Could I write a requiem for you when you’re dead?
“She had the moves, she had the speed, it went to her head”
She never needed anything to get her round the track
But when she’s on her back
She had the knowledge
To get her into college
But when she’s on her back
She had the knowledge
To get her into college


Part 3,
Generally the Olympic 3000m event would not attract the attention of the sprint races - but at the 1984 Olympic games in Los Angeles, the womens 3000m was to be one of the highlights of the games.... for so many reasons, controversy included.

The poster girl of American athletics, Mary Decker, was on home turf and was ready to finally claim a gold medal, after her world championship titles and world records leading up to the games.

A rival of Mary Decker's was a teenager from South Africa, Zola Budd, who had beaten Mary Decker's 5000m world record by 6 seconds some months earlier. However, because of the sanctions against South Africa due to their apartheid policy, Zola Budd's world record did not stand. Zola Budd was now a star of track and field but couldn't compete at the olympics. But wait.... A British newspaper journalist dispatched to South Africa found out she had an English grandfather and that led to the eventual British passport and citizenship, with lots of help from all corners. It wasn't without controversy though, with many Brits not in support and it gave the anti-apartheid movement more prominence.

So here we have the world champion at home against the newly relocated barefoot running sensation vying for the ultimate prize.
The expectations were high and there was probably going to be some drama..... well, the drama was in truck loads.

"What's the Matter?" - Leftover Cuties

LA band Leftover Cuties somehow found their way onto Bitter FM playlists. But while I can't remember how I stumbled upon them, it's still no surprise at all. They have a lot of attributes that attract my attention musically. Beautiful vocals courtesy of Shirli McAllen, blended genres, some upright bass, ukulele and great songs with no frills. It is hard not to like a lot about Leftover Cuties. "What's the Matter?" is off their 2013 album 'The Spark & the Fire.'

Astrud Gilberto With Stan Getz - "Girl From Ipanema"

We are into the second week of the Rio Olympics and that calls for the most obvious song of all to celebrate the ultimate sporting occasion. I've already had "Girl From Ipanema" on this blog - but this version, although without Joao Gilberto, is worth it for capturing a snapshot of the times.... when Bossa Nova was king. This was from the 1964 film 'Get Yourself a College Girl' and here it features Astrud Gilberto and Stan Getz with the Stan Getz Quartet. Thanks Rio.

Suicide - "Dream Baby Dream"

The recent death of Alan Vega has had a lot of people digging out the classic Suicide albums and that includes Bitter FM. Alan Vega was a founding member along with Martin Rev. They started in 1970 and although they each did solo work on and off, they were still playing live as recently as 2015. If they were a new band right now and were doing what they did when they started out in the early 70's - they would still be considered as cool and groundbreaking. So way back then there was no doubt that they were pioneers of electronic music. There was the farfisa organ with effects for starters, and then the synths and old drum machines - so they had to have become as influential as they were. The New York music scene was amazing enough as it was during the 70's and Suicide were a big part of it. The self titled debut album from 1977 is essential.... and kind of like a piece of electronic music history - much like an artefact. Great material followed as well, including "Dream Bay Dream", but the debut album is the place to start for the uninitiated. To Alan Vega.... Dream Baby Dream in peace.



Bruce Springsteen regularly covered "Dream Baby Dream" in concert........