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.

Belle and Sebastian - "I Want the World To Stop"

Here is a live version of Belle and Sebastian's "I Want the World To Stop" taken from their 'Write About Love' TV show. The TV or televisual release was to promote the album 'Write About Love' prior to it's release in 2010. This is a perfect example of why they are the flag bearers of indie/twee pop.

Belle and Sebastian "Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet John" featuring Nora Jones

Scottish indie/twee pop band 'Belle & Sebastian' started out in 1996 and after about eight studio albums they are still highly regarded by critics the world over. Stuart Murdoch is the key member and he has also been involved in the 'God Help the Girl' album and forthcoming film project... and the most recent album 'Write About Love' from 2010 has continued with some of the 60's characteristics of the 'God Help the Girl' project. "Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet John" from 'Write About Love' is a duet with Nora Jones and the most surprising thing about it is that it actually works. Nora Jones would have been considered an unlikely collaborator with Stuart Murdoch by most Belle & Sebastian fans but they couldn't be disappointed with the results.