https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/y7-wk11-1985/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Thu, 04 Jun 2026 15:32:07 +0000 wpForo 60 https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/y7-wk11-1985/#post-318829 Sun, 18 Jan 2009 02:06:25 +0000
This one gave me a very early Beatle vibe - Back when they were young and innocent still.
And that feeling underpins the usual 'innocence' and child-like nature possessed by the 'heroes'
of the Negative Utopia.

Also really dug the changes you had, musically 8)

Ken]]> Sunday Songwriters Group CitiZenNoir https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/y7-wk11-1985/#post-318829 https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/y7-wk11-1985/#post-318546 Wed, 14 Jan 2009 11:03:53 +0000 Thanks so much for the post...and encouragement with the "bookish" angles...it looks like we share some interests
:D
James]]> Sunday Songwriters Group jamestoffee https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/y7-wk11-1985/#post-318546 https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/y7-wk11-1985/#post-318527 Wed, 14 Jan 2009 06:04:04 +0000 Vic, I'm with you on Dickens! ZZZZZZZZZZZZ-ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ-ZZZZZZZZZZZZ AND ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!
For me it was David Copperfield, freshman year of highschool.
A book about the size of a Chicago Phone Directory, all small print, and not one word bigger than one syllable!
I never finished even the first paragraph.

As far as this song goes - LOVED IT!
The title had me thrown off course a bit - Figured out it was about 1984 right off!
Great book!
One of my favorites in school (Though I fell in love with Orwell for 'Animal Farm' :wink: )

Haven't seen the movie, though I have seen Truffaut's 'Fahrenheit 451'
Another outstanding Book!
Adore (Illinois Boy) Bradbury 8)

I just saw a Twilight Zone Marathon on New Years - Bradbury wrote one of my all time favorite episodes:
'I Sing the Body Electric' (From Walt Whitman - Great read as well)
Wonderful and touching story :D

Keep the 'Bookish' songs coming! 8) :D

Oh, and the year 1985 had me in high school reading books like 1984 :wink:

Ken]]> Sunday Songwriters Group CitiZenNoir https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/y7-wk11-1985/#post-318527 https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/y7-wk11-1985/#post-318522 Wed, 14 Jan 2009 04:34:11 +0000
From reading your reply, it looks like you have about 89% of a song written on topic for this week...just add a chorus :lol:

:wink: I don't mind if we share the song title "1985" :D

Sorry it was such a tough one for you.

Regarding reading, I think I felt the same way you did. :roll: It wasn't until after I finished university that I actually started to enjoy reading.

-James]]> Sunday Songwriters Group jamestoffee https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/y7-wk11-1985/#post-318522 https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/y7-wk11-1985/#post-318516 Wed, 14 Jan 2009 03:45:57 +0000
1. 1985 was a truly HORRIBLE year for me - I got made redundant from a job I loved, then got made redundant by the woman I loved. It will never ever be a year I look back on with the slightest fondness....

2. I've never read 1984, or seen the film (yes, it was Richard Burton - generally regarded as one of his finest roles.)

That said, I think you've managed to catch the spirit of 1984 (!) beautifully.....but I did need those footnotes/explanations. Others may (should!) fare better.....

Reads well, scans well....another good one, James!

:D :D :D

Vic

(Grumpy old man rant coming up.....and what did I have to read at school? Bloody Dickens, that's what I got. Hard Times and Great Expectations. Oh, and tale of two cities. OK as a film, but the book DRAGS! And Thomas Hardy - the Mayor of Casterbridge. zzzzzzzzzzzz. Hamlet. double zzzzzzzzzz. Macbeth. Treble bloody zzzzzzzzz. Moonfleet was another one. I think the only book I enjoyed in 5.5 years of grammar school was "War Of The Worlds."

What I do remember was my dad saying to me - when I was about 11 - "reading should be about fun. I've got a few books here you may enjoy...." he introduced me to Edgar Wallace, Leslie Charteris, Sapper (Bulldog Drummond) and Alistair McLean - Guns of Navarone, Where Eagles Dare, etc. Books with a story, a plot, a hero - and some action.

He also tried to introduce me to Rex Stout (no) Ngaio Marsh (bigger no) and Agatha Christie - a huge NO in capital letters. I asked him why he bothered reading such rubbish (I was about 12 at the time) and he replied, "I don't like her either - but they were cheap from the book club I joined!

Just goes to show that literature, like music and beauty, is in the eye or the ear of the beholder....

As for 1985? I got divorced and drank a lot....

:D :D :D

Vic]]> Sunday Songwriters Group Vic Lewis VL https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/y7-wk11-1985/#post-318516 https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/y7-wk11-1985/#post-318387 Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:12:13 +0000
Thanks for the listen.
Didn't Richard Burton play O'Brian? Excellent film. I haven't had a chance to see a film version yet :( I read the book at school - in fact, I never gave it back. I am sure we all have a bit of "down with Big Brother" in us :lol: I think you have to know the story to get the song. Agreed :D :) :( :? :roll: ...Well, there must be some others out there.... somewhere.... that like something a long the line of these "bookish" songs ... at least I do :D It flows well, though. Nicely done. Thanks, again, Alan :D

-James]]> Sunday Songwriters Group jamestoffee https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/y7-wk11-1985/#post-318387 https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/y7-wk11-1985/#post-318385 Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:00:10 +0000
I think you have to know the story to get the song. It flows well, though. Nicely done.


A :-)]]> Sunday Songwriters Group Alan Green https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/y7-wk11-1985/#post-318385 https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/y7-wk11-1985/#post-318333 Sun, 11 Jan 2009 17:48:57 +0000
Thanks for the listen....yeah Doublethink, Newspeak, Thoughtcrime, War is Peace, etc...there is a lot of material in that book to write about.... :D

Basic Character Sketch

Winston -main character

O'Brian -co-worker who seemed anti-government but was actually one of the torturer's at the Ministry of Love "miniluv"

Julia - girlfriend who played party patriot to a "t" but was a hypocrite who hated the government like Winston did

The Chestnut Tree Café's- where the story leaves Winston sitting after his 'therapy', harmless and in love with Big Brother

Charrington's shop -where Winston bought a diary and rented the upstairs room for 'afternoon delights' with girlfriend Julia and where they were caught

-James]]> Sunday Songwriters Group jamestoffee https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/y7-wk11-1985/#post-318333 https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/y7-wk11-1985/#post-318330 Sun, 11 Jan 2009 17:33:00 +0000 No mention of Doublespeak? That is one of the few things I do remember from it (and Big Brother, of course.)
Kewl job, James]]> Sunday Songwriters Group KR2 https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/y7-wk11-1985/#post-318330 https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/y7-wk11-1985/#post-34660 Sun, 11 Jan 2009 16:59:04 +0000
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=7228125

It's fifteen hours and he sits drinking gin
The waiter brings a copy of the Times to him
The Chestnut Tree Café's mostly empty today
Big Brother tells him everything's ok

It was a hell of a year yeah the fight of his life
Right seemed wrong and wrong seemed right
The scribbles in his journal showed he hadn't a clue
If you're watching me, then who's watching you

Chorus
That was yesterday
Now you can hear Winston happily say
You make me feel so glad I'm alive
Bring on the year 1985
Leave the past behind and lock the door
Big Brother helped my through 1984

At work O'Brian eyes said, “I'm with you”
I hate this job like I know you do.
A wink and a nod nothing more
could start a revolution back in ‘84

Winston's wayward steps led Charrington's shop
He knew it was wrong but he couldn't stop
A link to the past just an antique store
But truth was a crime back in ‘84

Chorus
That was yesterday
Now you can hear Winston happily say
You make me feel so glad I'm alive
Bring on the year 1985
Leave the past behind and lock the door
Big Brother helped my through 1984

You make me feel so glad I'm alive
Bring on the year 1985
I'm watching my telescreen more and more
Big Brother helped my through 1984

His girlfriend Julia really messed with his head
Reading, drinking coffee, eating chocolate in bed
But under the spreading chestnut tree
She sang I sold you and you sold me

Therapy at miniluv helped clear his mind
Getting things right can be torture sometimes
Tough Love 101 Fear Factor style
With some hunger, rats and O'Brian's smile

Chorus
That was yesterday
Now you can hear Winston happily say
You make me feel so glad I'm alive
Bring on the year 1985
I'm watching my telescreen more and more
Big Brother helped my through 1984

You make me feel so glad I'm alive
Sometimes 2 and 2 can equal 5
Come on, Oceania, we're winning the war
Big Brother helped my through 1984]]> Sunday Songwriters Group jamestoffee https://guitarnoise.forum/sunday-songwriters-group/y7-wk11-1985/#post-34660