Speaking of, Buffistarawk is almost full. Should we delete some early posts or just abandon it and move on?

We've already got BR2. I say we just add BR3.

Getting back to Rip it Up And Start Again it was fascinating reading about the Sheffield music scene in the seventies.

I had forgotten how socialist much of the UK was in the seventies. Sheffield was a huge labour stronghold, and went so far as to have a socialist city council, and it was not uncommon for kids to join the Young Communist League at that time.

Also, apparently, psilocibin mushrooms grew freely in the parks so teens and twenty y.o.s would get stoned for free and live on the dole.

My favorite thing, though was something called Meatwhistle, which was a city funded arts program for kids. (And yes, "meatwhistle" was slang for the male member.) It was so successful it was allowed to take over a huge old Victorian school which had been abandoned. They put on a show every week - theater, performance art, bands. Tons of open rooms for practicing. It was all very glam (super popular in Sheffield) and experimental and all the teen geeks were soldering together their home kit synths and getting stoned on mushrooms. Rock and Roll paradise!

Now if you want to talk about a great run, the first four TALKING HEADS records are pretty impressive back to front, and the last four have a lot of good-to-great songs even if they aren't quite as awe inspiring a LPs. Plus they did one of the greatest concert films of all time.

Also? French lyrics.

Now, if someone could just defend Bondie's first four albums we'd have a trifecta of random Frenchitude.

Now, if someone could just defend Bondie's first four albums we'd have a trifecta of random Frenchitude.

They are great! I love their first four albums.

It must be noted, also, that Television's Tom Verlaine took his name from the French poet. Rimbaud was also a major influence on Richard Hell and Patti Smith. Those wacky French Symbolists - so rock and roll.

Bringing things full circle, I should mention that one of the Feelies' first college radio hits was "Fa Cé-La," which is, I believe, French.

And a totally excellent song. Off a totally excellent album.

"Fa Cé-La," which is, I believe, French.

If it is, I have no idea what it might mean. It does look a bit like "le texto", i.e., French text messaging.

"Fa Cé-La,"

I think those are just sung notes, as in the "Doe a Deer" song from Sound of Music.

And a totally excellent song. Off a totally excellent album.

You ain't just whistlin' Dixie.

French text messaging.

David has to be right, because that song dates back to 1979.

My dear Buffistarawkers! My son has a HS World Cultures teacher that is said to be a most knowledgeable fellow when it comes to independent, and shall we say obscure, music. He really is a cool person although his main purposes in life seem to be split evenly among torturing high school students, music, and online video game wars.

He has assigned Brendon the following project. Compile 10 musical selections from 10 different European artists. (They are doing Europe this term) Stump the teacher obscure is a plus. Three (3) different genres, yes, he used the word genre. He wrote on the board No Spice Girls and No Emo, including a stick figure of a teary person with knife. (he is a funny guy) At least 3 countries of origin. At least three selections in foreign language. There are other aspects to the project as well, flash animation and so forth that Brendon has under control.

Thing is that Brendon only knows that Rap exists in music. Well, he knows I listen to other music. He has gone so far in his desperation to ask his mother for help. (not so easy for a teen)

So, Help! (so much easier to ask for help when you get to my age)

Any suggestions would be appreciated. He will follow up with the research. He will have to have video or animation to accompany the music with the who what where when how aspects. And yes, this is what the kids in honors HS are doing these days.