The next jet to leave Moscow

[1986_and_all_that]

As someone pointed out on here, it sounds a bit like The National. Which is a very good thing.

[raven]

Originally Posted by tzb

Musically really good, but I hate the lyrics, sadly. They're so inconsequential.

Is this sarcasm? I do it so much meself i sometimes fail to recognise it?

Come on

An old jaded commie walking in Red Square
With rediffusion eyes of yesteryear
I’m the biggest living hypocrite you’ll ever see
‘cos the market never lies and your conscience is so clear
.....

So you played in Cuba did you like it brother?
I bet you felt proud you silly little fucker

that doesn't make you smile?? a little

[wireobsessed]

Still love it. Think it's a fantastic lyric by James about Nicky so has a fantastic twist in a way. I just cant see it being played live and yet I'd love to hear it played live (and watched James as he sings it)

[Europa Gluten Free]

Would be perfect for a wee acoustic slot...

[comradestripe]

This is the first song on the album to have grabbed me; I really, really love the '...silly little fucker' line.

[Librarian On Fire]

When the guitars go "wah wah", it's the best Manics song to sing "wah wah" to. I really like when the Manics go a bit indie pop and steer away from the rock n roll. To their credit they do it really well and I would like to see more of it. I think James would do. It's quite evident on "Between The Clock And The Bed" which really is quite pop in it's sound.

[Takk]

Love this.

[Marat Sar]

By the way, I think the lyrics were misunderstood by most reviewers. And some fans too. They are not simply "self-critical" or "self-deprecating" (which is what everyone wants them to feel like about being socialists, I guess) "I’m the biggest living hypocrite you’ll ever see / ‘cos the market never lies and your conscience is so clear" clearly states "you" have no right to call them hypocrites. Also, he admits that he felt proud, when he played in Cuba. It was silly, but he felt proud

Rather, this is a song about how self-conscious, funny, and still somehow proud it feels to be a socialist, especially when you´ve been one for a long time and have actually done something about it too.

[hummingbird]

Originally Posted by Marat Sar

By the way, I think the lyrics were misunderstood by most reviewers. And some fans too. They are not simply "self-critical" or "self-deprecating" (which is what everyone wants them to feel like about being socialists, I guess) "I’m the biggest living hypocrite you’ll ever see / ‘cos the market never lies and your conscience is so clear" clearly states "you" have no right to call them hypocrites. Also, he admits that he felt proud, when he played in Cuba. It was silly, but he felt proud

Rather, this is a song about how self-conscious, funny, and still somehow proud it feels to be a socialist, especially when you´ve been one for a long time and have actually done something about it too.

Not sure i agree.. I think now despite best intentions at the time, they think Cuba might've been a mistake as Castro stuck his oar in and they couldn't be in control anymore. It pissed a lot of people off at the time and might've contributed to their star fading a bit

[allisvanity]

Originally Posted by hummingbird

Not sure i agree.. I think now despite best intentions at the time, they think Cuba might've been a mistake as Castro stuck his oar in and they couldn't be in control anymore. It pissed a lot of people off at the time and might've contributed to their star fading a bit

Yeah I think the Manics wanted to use Cuba as an interesting launch for their new album, but ultimately The Cubans used the Manics a whole lot more as an opportunity to stir up some national pride. Castro asking them to play Baby Elian earlier in the set so that he could hear it before he shot off early, even though they hadn't intended to play it at all... That was a bit of a mistake I think.

That being said thoughm it's not actually that much worse than Noel Gallagher going to No.10 for tea with Tony Blair.

[Takk]

Pretty sure that all the manics have mentioned that it was mistake or didn't go as planend since too, i think that's what the lyrics are about

I'm not sure what they have done about being socialists...

[The Gutless Wonder]

Most of the public at large will have no idea the Manics played in Cuba anyway apart from a small blip on the news!

[hummingbird]

Originally Posted by allisvanity

Yeah I think the Manics wanted to use Cuba as an interesting launch for their new album, but ultimately The Cubans used the Manics a whole lot more as an opportunity to stir up some national pride. Castro asking them to play Baby Elian earlier in the set so that he could hear it before he shot off early, even though they hadn't intended to play it at all... That was a bit of a mistake I think.

That being said thoughm it's not actually that much worse than Noel Gallagher going to No.10 for tea with Tony Blair.

playing baby elian was absolutely the right thing to do otherwise they may still be stuck there

I wasn't particularly bothered they did it, I knew they weren't supporting the whole communist ethic.

[Jay]

Originally Posted by Marat Sar

By the way, I think the lyrics were misunderstood by most reviewers. And some fans too. They are not simply "self-critical" or "self-deprecating" (which is what everyone wants them to feel like about being socialists, I guess) "I’m the biggest living hypocrite you’ll ever see / ‘cos the market never lies and your conscience is so clear" clearly states "you" have no right to call them hypocrites. Also, he admits that he felt proud, when he played in Cuba. It was silly, but he felt proud

Rather, this is a song about how self-conscious, funny, and still somehow proud it feels to be a socialist, especially when you´ve been one for a long time and have actually done something about it too.

Maybe I'm thick but I still don't get that "silly fucker" line...is he referring to himself, nicky or it's someone else questioning the band?

[Takk]

referring to himself, I think. Not sure if he's quoting someone else.