Underworld (vocals, and also talk about Boner)

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Isn't the way Underworld use vocals totally unique, I can't think of any band or any dance act who use vocals as a rhythmic part of the song, in something like Rez/Cowgirl the "everything everything everything everything" seems to make the track so absolutely mindblowingly essential and intense and yet later in the track the vocals become like an extra drum or beat or something (an eraser of love)

Also how did that track Boner get by me for so long.

― Ronan (Ronan), Monday, 2 September 2002 11:59 (twenty-two years ago)

I saw them this weekend by the way.

― Ronan (Ronan), Monday, 2 September 2002 12:08 (twenty-two years ago)

They are great. I love them. what makes their vocals work so well is that they are stream of consciousness gibberish rather than in any way "profound".

― DV (dirtyvicar), Monday, 2 September 2002 12:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah that's the thing, my friend says that they say it's all about the context the vocals are in and the immediate purpose, the rhythm, the actual sound of the word itself, rather than what it means.

― Ronan (Ronan), Monday, 2 September 2002 12:22 (twenty-two years ago)

but it's not total gibberish is it. they're very suggestive, almost abstracted, so there are things you can perceive through the surface of the words. what i mean by that is like with an abstract painting, the lines aren't actually a jumble of noise -- they're artfully assembled to suggest the presence of things.

― Alan (Alan), Monday, 2 September 2002 12:34 (twenty-two years ago)

I like Underworld lyrcis because in most cases they sound just like a sample of random conversation between people on a train, or from someone on a mobile walking down the street, recorded and looped. I like that idea of half told stories.

And anyone who manages to name check Europa Food and Wine on Wardor Street, well...

― Anna, Monday, 2 September 2002 12:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Anna - if all it takes is namechecking shops then the Fatima Mansions talk about an Off Licence in Crouch End should impress. Not only that but Jesus works there.

― Pete (Pete), Monday, 2 September 2002 14:12 (twenty-two years ago)

"I can't think of any band or any dance act who use vocals as a rhythmic part of the song"

What about most hip-hop acts?

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Monday, 2 September 2002 14:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Lyrics are supposed to be the FOCUS of hip-hop, yes?
Underworld lyrics take on meaning more when they're being used as the focus ("Moaner") and less when they're part of the rhythm ("everything everything"). Some of their pop songs have a nice story to them, almost. Sort of, almost. What's this "Boner" business about?

― A.V. Alexandre (Keiko), Monday, 2 September 2002 15:05 (twenty-two years ago)

"Lyrics are supposed to be the FOCUS of hip-hop, yes?"

not necessarily, no. this is certainly the case in a lot of underground hip-hop, but there's plenty of hip-hop where the emcee is only there to "funkify" or enhance the flow and the groove. take Busta Rhymes, for instance - virtually no lyrical substance in any of his recent singles. or Mobb Deep - their rhymes are all about adding to the canvas of gangsta malevolence.

i'm sure Underworld have been influenced by hip-hop as well; see "Bruce Lee" ...

― ryan, Monday, 2 September 2002 15:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Lots of 90s hardcore used vocals in a rhythmic way - take TOPDROP's "Achtung" for example. Somehow this has indeed disappeared.

― Siegbran Hetteson (eofor), Monday, 2 September 2002 15:56 (twenty-two years ago)

what do people think of the EARLY Underworld stuff? God its terrible! i'm talking about 'Underneath The Radar', 'Change The Weather' and stuff...i can only assume they discovered E and other drugsin the same way Primal Scream did in the late 80s and it turned their musical approach around forever, presumably dictating Hyde's lyrical style from then on too

favourite Underworld lyrics anyone? excluding 'born slippy'. mine would probably be the entire lyrics to 'pearls girl'

tonight matthew i'm going to be crazy in my attic...

― blueski, Monday, 2 September 2002 16:51 (twenty-two years ago)

"thumbs on a tetris keyring, moving in brilliant timing"

― A.V. Alexandre (Keiko), Monday, 2 September 2002 17:00 (twenty-two years ago)

"Cut me to open.
I'm ready to use.
Bring the newer ending sense."

― McGazz, Monday, 2 September 2002 17:18 (twenty-two years ago)

if you like the way that they use the abstracted vocals, you are going to cream yourself over the new album

― dionysiac, Monday, 2 September 2002 17:42 (twenty-two years ago)

I like when they mention my all-time musical favourite, the Reverend Al Green. I included Karl in a list of favourite lyricists I did a year or so back.

I need info on this 'Boner' track - I don't know it at all, and I thought I had pretty much everything they've done (as well as half a dozen live bootlegs).

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Monday, 2 September 2002 20:04 (twenty-two years ago)

I remember a friend of mine wrote out the words to "Moaner" and submitted it as an English essay in school. It got a baffled response (perhaps understandably). The best bit is where he goes:
"Shes calling from America, SHE'S CALLING FROM AMERICA.."

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Monday, 2 September 2002 20:53 (twenty-two years ago)

is it possible that boner is moaner and ronan just misheard the title?

― robin (robin), Tuesday, 3 September 2002 00:12 (twenty-two years ago)

YES!

How embarassing.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 3 September 2002 10:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Freudian slips again!

― blueski, Tuesday, 3 September 2002 11:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Phew, I though Bono was on the new Underworld album.

― tigerclawskank, Tuesday, 3 September 2002 14:21 (twenty-two years ago)

'NUmb' and 'Mofo' are as close as Bono will ever get to Underworld i figure

― blueski, Tuesday, 3 September 2002 14:23 (twenty-two years ago)

If you whitebread losers think Underworld invented vocals as a rhythmic part of the song you'll probably think of the guy who started Loaded magazine when I mention James Brown.

― tigerclawskank, Tuesday, 3 September 2002 14:24 (twenty-two years ago)

five years pass...

Ronan so completely otm in first post re: vocals as essential rhythmic backbone of song. "NUXX" -- I've never seen people dance to what amounts to a ringing chord and a vocal til I saw them play this live.

― roxymuzak, Saturday, 29 March 2008 21:46 (seventeen years ago)

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