Vol III, Issue 5 – Marequee moon (01 Mar 2018)

For the love of rock

Vol III, Issue 5 – Marquee moon (01 Mar 2018)

Name of song- Marquee moon
Band- Television
Album- Marquee Moon
Writer- Tom Verlaine
Release year- 1977
Chart records
# 30 – UK Singles Chart
# 381- Rolling Stones’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Times
# 41- Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Guitar Songs
Similar artists- Ramones, The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Velvet Underground, Talking Heads

 

Marquee moon

Reviewers- Bikash Shrestha/Nirab Kayastha

Television is considered the masters of Punk Rock. Formed in New York Post Punk scene in 1973 by Tom Verlaine (Vocals/guitars), Richard Lloyd (Guitars), Billy Ficca (Drums) and Richard Hell (Bass), Television is one band which has remained so influential to the entire generations of rock music with hardly 3 albums. In their early days till 1975, they were prototype punk rock band with combination of Verlaine and Hell’s guitars. Subsequently, due to the growing tensions between the two, Hell quit and Richard Lloyd gradually became more influential in song writing as well as guitars. With addition of Fred Smith on bass, the new quartet debuted in 1977 with “Marquee Moon”. Most critics consider this to be one of the most influential debut albums of all times. This album is constantly featured in the top list of best rock guitar albums since then, even till today.

“Marquee Moon” received slow commercial reception, but the critics loved them from the start. The album had 8 numbers, all powerful and amazingly impressive, and sound very unlike punk rock. This was perhaps much more matured than a punk rock album with phenomenal musicianship from all the four members. Of course, the cut above all is the title song – longer than 10 minutes, which would drive a serious rock listener into pure bliss.

The song is full of imagery poetry with extravagant lyrics. The title actually describes the night scenario of the band’s home town – New York City. The interpretation of the song is intricately difficult and is perhaps relating to human life and its perception. The struggles of lives, coming out of it, reaching the end and perhaps again coming back, all are portrayed by Verlaine’s exceptional poetry with fantastic imagery. The song starts with simple power chord riff, which is catchy and is then followed by second guitar’s power chord, which seems to be in a different tone. To your amazement, then comes in Fred Smith’s bass which seems to be going in a third direction. And with the addition of Ficca’s drums, you finally realize this combo, which in isolation would have meant nothing, would mean everything when put together. And when Verlaine starts to sing with his crisp voice, you are absolutely spellbound. No doubt, the dual guitar chord from Tom Verlaine’s and Richard Lloyd is the main backbone of the song, Fred Smith’s bass and Billy Ficca’s drums make it completely alive. Meanwhile the two guitar solos in between drive you in frenzy. The solo after the second verse by Richard Lloyd is a short and sweet one, but the longer solo by Verlaine after the third verse makes you wonder how a punk rock guitarist could play such a solo with such mastery with heavenly bass and rock solid drums. This solo is something to really savor. It goes on and on endlessly, you are still moving on with it, then suddenly, it snaps at the end, and you wonder what’s gonna happen next, and then, slowly, drums come back, bass joins in and then you are back with the same frenzy dual guitar chord. Oh!!! it’s sheer ecstasy, purely magical!

Yes, indeed, Television defined and refined the punk rock and their debut album nailed it all with their brilliance. No doubt, the title song is the real stand out. Those who have already discovered “Marquee moon”, it needs to be rediscovered again and again, and those who have not yet gone through it, please do so before the moon disappears. Thankfully, the moon is shining even after four decades and we pray that it shines for many more decades to come!!

Happy listening!!

Resources- Wikipedia.org, Allmusic.com
Video link- https://youtu.be/LpIP2SDBcvY

Marquee moon

I remember
Ooo how the darkness doubled
I recall
Lightning struck itself

I was listening
Listening to the rain
I was hearing
Hearing something else

Life in the hive puckered up my night,
A kiss of death, the embrace of life
Ooo there I stand neath the Marquee Moon,
Just waiting

I spoke to a man
Down at the tracks
And I ask him
How he don’t go mad
He said ‘Look here junior, don’t you be so happy
And for Heaven’s sake, don’t you be so sad’

Life in the hive puckered up my night,
The kiss of death, the embrace of life
Ooo there I stand neath the Marquee Moon,
Hesitating

Well a Cadillac
It pulled out of the graveyard
Pulled up to me
All they said ‘get in’, get in
Then the Cadillac
It puttered back into the graveyard
Me, I got out again

Life in the hive puckered up my night,
A kiss of death, the embrace of life
Ooo there I stand neath the Marquee Moon,
I ain’t waiting nuh ah

I remember
How the darkness doubled
I recall
Lightning struck itself

I was listening
Listening to the rain
I was hearing
Hearing something else

Lyrics link – https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/4802013/Television/Marquee+Moon