@@brucewilliams1776 Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed the video. _Sandinista_ is one of my favorites too. I think my favorite Clash album is their debut though; the one that paved the way for _London Calling,_ _Sandinista,_ and _Combat Rock._
Excellent review, Michael. Thanks for the effort. Another Clash song that has an interesting story behind is "Saty Free", coincidentally, also sung -and fully written, IIRC- by Mick Jones. Another suggestion would be "Saint Andrew's fall" by Blind Melon.
We’ll done! And a great start as Clash fans (like me) should appreciate such a thorough breakdown of a song that might be overlooked by some. And this is one group that have many great songs that no doubt have great stories behind them. Mush on, can’t wait.
Since you’re a spectacular storyteller, with a pleasing vocal tone, and a wealth of musical knowledge, this series suits you well! So how would you feel about an analysis of one of the songs performed by timeless rock band Shocking Blue?! Although known for their smash single “Venus”, they’ve got tons of other tracks that deserve dissecting!
@@reynoldsbeng3756 Well said. Though Alan Cross brought up a valid point in his Guide to Alternative Rock. _Sandinista_ was a triple album, consisting of everything the Clash recorded for it; it would’ve benefited from some serious pruning because it was too much.
@MichaelD8393 I think this is what makes it special. Recorded in just a couple of weeks I believe; they gave us everything they had done. The stuff I hated at the time (which was quite a lot!) I now love
Really good examination of a song that deserves more attention and by choosing it is clear your series is going to be as original and thought provoking as The Clash were themselves! You are very good on the background and unique depths of the song. The only thing I would add to your interpretation of the lyrics is that Strummer’s poetic imagery shouldn’t be taken too literally, so that for example “scrub it off the ground” is more likely an reinforcing of the way a life has just be snuffed out, rather than suggesting that evidence which could have been used to prosecute the killer is being hastily removed. This melancholy impression is re-emphasised by the irony of the bridge where the horror of the act is emphasised(“sounds like murder! the screams from below!) yet apparently nobody noticed or were bothered enough to intervene at the time it was happening. The overarching meaning of the song is sadly how cheap life can be and how easily the lives people in a big city can be forgotten - or never even known - that is what touches the narrator who is clearly affected by the loss of somebody he didn’t, and will never, know. Thank you for posting this video.
Well, thank you, Jon. When I first heard the story behind _Somebody Got Murdered,_ I thought it deserved to be told. And thanks for the insight into Strummer's poetic imagery; I'll keep that in mind for the next time I look into a Clash song. Glad you liked the series I'm looking to build, too. I just uploaded the second episode before, so check that one out too.
Thank you, _Somebody Got Murdered_ and _Police On My Back_ are my favorites from the _Sandinista_ album. So, after hearing the former was initially written for a movie starring Al Pacino, I just had to share the story behind it.
