tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post8366445658745132230..comments2023-10-24T11:11:49.568+01:00Comments on There Are Places I Remember: Songs About Places: Voyage to AtlantisGeoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10966328708258079467noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-19616458226746348142011-09-07T05:38:17.096+01:002011-09-07T05:38:17.096+01:00Ha ha, we are a weird bunch who reply on this blog...Ha ha, we are a weird bunch who reply on this blog, aren't we? Geoff describes the idea of a fantasy / mystical land - either like Eden or a Greek island - and we debate which is worse, the loo at Milton Keynes bus station or the loo at Luton bus station. We have a knack of dragging Geoff from his poetry down to the gutter!!J.J.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-47401669619999629672011-09-06T21:06:05.610+01:002011-09-06T21:06:05.610+01:00I was shocked a couple of years ago when I discove...I was shocked a couple of years ago when I discovered that "Voyage To Atlantis" by The Isley Brothers is NOT A LOVE SONG. It's a break up song! It is about two lovers going their separate ways, with the words saying their eventual reunion is like a journey to "a paradise out beyond the sea." In the song, Ron is really telling his girl that this reunion will never happen. It's as unattainable as the "paradise" for which the song is named.<br /><br />I thought the song was about a man missing his woman. For years I have sang this song to women as if it were the love song of all love songs, and in reality I was telling them we are about to break up. Now I'm wondering how stupid do these women think I am?DJ Ciscohttp://www.djcisco.com/home.aspnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-15665871082708579382011-09-06T20:53:51.033+01:002011-09-06T20:53:51.033+01:00Thanks for the background to Echo Beach, Mark-it i...Thanks for the background to Echo Beach, Mark-it is fascinating to hear how it came about.<br />Elkie Brooks did a song called Shangri-La tooGeoffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10966328708258079467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-79113814296201103712011-09-06T20:53:03.505+01:002011-09-06T20:53:03.505+01:00Kim has a song called "Shangri-La" on he...Kim has a song called "Shangri-La" on her album Teases & Dares from 1984. She wrote it herself, too.Martyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09154222954831635193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-56621103006614430932011-09-06T20:50:31.810+01:002011-09-06T20:50:31.810+01:00And there is "Barbara (Shangri-la)", a s...And there is "Barbara (Shangri-la)", a song by The Stranglers on their album Suite XVI.Noelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-20854773423809575512011-09-06T20:49:57.490+01:002011-09-06T20:49:57.490+01:00It also seems like any independent nation that is ...It also seems like any independent nation that is somewhat isolated from the West ends up being called Shangri-La - previously Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, Tuva, Mongolia, the Tocharian Tushara Kingdom of the Mahābhārata and the Han Dynasty outpost Dunhuang..........Rachelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-26592985684925691902011-09-06T20:49:27.658+01:002011-09-06T20:49:27.658+01:00Shangri-La is also mentioned in Patti Smith's ...Shangri-La is also mentioned in Patti Smith's song "1959".Daniellenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-42608097714125963232011-09-06T20:46:53.731+01:002011-09-06T20:46:53.731+01:00I think Luton bus station is worse. Horrible place...I think Luton bus station is worse. Horrible place, they put ultraviolet lights in the loos so people couldn't find veins to inject.Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-58182221725935141642011-09-06T20:45:33.283+01:002011-09-06T20:45:33.283+01:00Weirdly, there is also a Shangri-La in Orange, Tex...Weirdly, there is also a Shangri-La in Orange, Texas - some philanthropist built it as an azalea garden situated alongside a cypress-tupelo swamp, it's actually quite nice to visit!Robertanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-39738682993907555812011-09-06T20:43:49.859+01:002011-09-06T20:43:49.859+01:00Here's the brilliant Echo Beach, by Martha and...Here's the brilliant Echo Beach, by Martha and the Muffins: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmWxUGStTj4Simonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-16367450230666038352011-09-06T20:43:20.110+01:002011-09-06T20:43:20.110+01:00Ha ha, funny reference to the Milton Keynes bus st...Ha ha, funny reference to the Milton Keynes bus station. For those who aren't sure what Geoff is talking about, this is a desperate ex-Soviet Republic hellhole of a coach station on the edge of town, miles from anywhere except the M1, probably the first part of Milton Keynes many low budget travellers see. I really feel sorry for people moving to Milton Keynes and getting off here. Talk about a poor first impression...<br /><br />It did have a greasy spoon cafe (with friendly staff), that did the usual egg and chips kind of food, but this got wiped out by fire in April 2007 unfortunately.<br /><br />And the cleanliness of the toilets has been the subject of much debate in the local newspaperChristophernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-24866015255056307622011-09-06T20:36:08.856+01:002011-09-06T20:36:08.856+01:00Hello, thanks for including Echo Beach, this is a ...Hello, thanks for including Echo Beach, this is a truly great blog, congratulations!<br /><br />Probably you know this already but it is about a working woman's dream of escaping the drudgery of office life. My father always said one reason he thought it was a hit is because it's nostalgic, and any song that has nostalgia in it hits a chord with people. And I think to some extent he's right.<br /><br />I was not aware of a real "Echo Beach" when I wrote the song. It is just somewhere where she would rather be. <br /><br />I actually came up with the idea of this kind of song while at work. Which was checking wallpaper for faults in the printing. My mind would drift away to other times - times in the past I would rather be living again. And then the actual name Echo Beach is from the song Hiroshima, mon Amour from 1977 by the band Ultravox - which is a reference to a vanished place:<br /><br />Somehow we drifted off too far<br />Communicate like distant stars<br />Splintered voices down the 'phone<br />The sunlit dust, the smell of roses drifts, oh no<br />Someone waits behind the door<br />Hiroshima mon amour<br /><br />Riding inter-city trains<br />Dressed in European grey<br />Riding out to echo beach<br />A million memories in the trees and sands, oh no<br />How can I ever let them go?<br />Hiroshima mon amour<br /><br />Meet beneath the autumn lake<br />Where only echoes penetrate<br />Walk through polaroids of the past<br />Future's fused like shattered glass, the sun's so low<br />Turns our silhouettes to gold<br />Hiroshima mon amour<br /><br />And the map of one version of the single is of the Toronto Islands. The other map is of Chesil Beach in Dorset, as Geoff said. <br /><br />Mark (Gane)Markhttp://marthaandthemuffins.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-35705722631761927042011-09-06T20:23:30.302+01:002011-09-06T20:23:30.302+01:00Toyah Willcox has a very 1980s version of Echo Bea...Toyah Willcox has a very 1980s version of Echo Beach too!<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Voe8fwVsFEIYolandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-63100949585331149232011-09-06T20:17:29.455+01:002011-09-06T20:17:29.455+01:00Hey, you might enjoy my cover of Shangri-La - www....Hey, you might enjoy my cover of Shangri-La - www.youtube.com/watch?v=W29B-aGlCYc<br />palboltAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-35331225160577763552011-09-06T20:14:04.840+01:002011-09-06T20:14:04.840+01:00Here is Shangri-La, by the Kinks: http://www.youtu...Here is Shangri-La, by the Kinks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4DJ9YUYshERuthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-52409787861816643972011-09-06T20:12:47.905+01:002011-09-06T20:12:47.905+01:00Geoff, you might enjoy The Cretan Runner, by Georg...Geoff, you might enjoy The Cretan Runner, by George Psychoundakis, if you haven't read it already: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/aug/08/cretan-runner-george-psychoundakisGarricknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-70683939767931070212011-09-06T20:10:34.531+01:002011-09-06T20:10:34.531+01:00For good measure, here is the Shadows, Atlantis to...For good measure, here is the Shadows, Atlantis too! - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VycZVyApqew. LOVE THE SHADOWS!Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15992349400128489370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-49090140128231240572011-09-06T20:08:22.305+01:002011-09-06T20:08:22.305+01:00I found the Shadows, Kon Tiki, in case anyone want...I found the Shadows, Kon Tiki, in case anyone wants it! - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRrISegvqpUNickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12345880035877836117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-77063064629923499632011-09-06T20:06:43.063+01:002011-09-06T20:06:43.063+01:00And here is the actual song by Donovan, Atlantis, ...And here is the actual song by Donovan, Atlantis, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leI7sfmipuIM.J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07615974799201593427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-54968926101437523422011-09-05T22:17:21.222+01:002011-09-05T22:17:21.222+01:00Beautiful!! - "ancient white temple pillars s...Beautiful!! - "ancient white temple pillars silhouetted against a blue sky, the smell of a lemon grove and wild thyme in the air, and the hot sun throwing spots of light reflecting off the dancing waves of the sea" - now THAT is Edenic!Mickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04129475788686123015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-66714546963834861942011-09-05T22:15:41.415+01:002011-09-05T22:15:41.415+01:00Here is Flash and the Pan, Atlantis Calling - weir...Here is Flash and the Pan, Atlantis Calling - weird and interesting!! - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sbNK7YTFFoJosiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04475708672247853519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-91386901934367925112011-09-05T22:11:00.336+01:002011-09-05T22:11:00.336+01:00The (ambitious) Donovan lyrics are worth reading i...The (ambitious) Donovan lyrics are worth reading in full I think: <br /><br />The continent of Atlantis was an island<br />Which lay before the great flood<br />In the area we now call the Atlantic Ocean.<br />So great an area of land, that from her western shores<br />Those beautiful sailors journeyed to the South<br />And the North Americas with ease<br />In their ships with painted sails.<br />To the east, Africa was a neighbor,<br />Across a short strait of sea miles.<br /><br />The great Egyptian age is but a remnant<br />Of the Atlantian culture.<br />The antediluvian kings colonized the world;<br />All the Gods who play in the mythological dramas<br />In all legends from all lands were from fair Atlantis.<br /><br />Knowing her fate, Atlantis sent out ships to all corners of the Earth.<br />On board were the Twelve:<br />The poet, the physician, the farmer, the scientist, the magician,<br />And the other so-called Gods of our legends,<br />Though Gods they were.<br />And as the elders of our time choose to remain blind,<br />Let us rejoice and let us sing and dance and ring in the new . . .<br />Hail Atlantis!K.B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07064887918789647799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-91034676613502068262011-09-05T22:08:42.771+01:002011-09-05T22:08:42.771+01:00Nooooooooooooooooooo! I can't understand that ...Nooooooooooooooooooo! I can't understand that either!!! And I even watched it twice, once when I was completely distracted by his clothes (that sparkling tank top is astonishing), then a second time to listen (and fail to understand) what he was saying. Someone could start a whole blog about this man, featuring videos and helpful translations!!Marthahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09666582384609617831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-980757165271444192011-09-05T22:00:48.649+01:002011-09-05T22:00:48.649+01:00No worries, Geoff - I'll keep searching and wi...No worries, Geoff - I'll keep searching and will pass along any info I find about this modern Rip Van Winkle!Maggiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07138573821875872323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3774690407548657707.post-41240527497512572992011-09-05T21:54:29.214+01:002011-09-05T21:54:29.214+01:00Oh yes, Peter Sinfield-King Crimson and Court of t...Oh yes, Peter Sinfield-King Crimson and Court of the Crimson King. I hadnt made the connection..Geoffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10966328708258079467noreply@blogger.com