(TV) Videos /' Hummable' Melodies/hooks in Television's & Verlaine's Music

["Mark G. Ryan" <mgryan@cruzio.com>]

From: "Casey, Leo J" <CaseyL@VOLPE.DOT.GOV>:
> Not sure if Capitol records paid for it but the 
> "Mr. Lee" video been discussed on this List in past.
> There were also videos for "Town Called Walker" and "Bomb".

So maybe they did take advantage of the opportunities that were
offered?  I was just reacting to the statement:

  You would also have to be willing to sign to a label, tour extensively, give
  interviews, make videos, put out records more frequently than once every 14
  years, etc. These are all things Television has never been inclined to do.
 
  --Philip

> I think this hoary argument that Television or Verlaine 
> never made it commercially because they didn't write 
> melodic enough tunes is too simplistic.

Okey-dokey.  So the reason wasn't not enough videos (or they needed 
more $$$) and it wasn't the tunes.  So what is the explanation?  
(Actually, I admit it's not the kind of thing that can really be 
explained--just making conversation.)

"Too experimental" won't work because somebody like Brian Eno became 
a superstar. 

BTW, since we are all still talking about a group that last cut a CD in
1992, and that plays almost exactly the same style of music that they 
did in 1977 (and that's not a criticism), I'd be careful about calling
any argument "hoary".  ;-)

> 
> What about "Glory" or "Days" or "1880 Or So" [not the 23 minute 
> version] or maybe even "See No Evil" or "Venus" or "Call Mr. Lee".

Great songs all, of course. "Venus" I take your point. "Call Mr. Lee" 
certainly has a hummable chorus.  But "Glory"?

	_    _  _  _   _  -      _ _     -  -  -  _ 

	When I see the glory...  I ain't gotta worry

Catchy, but melodic minimalism.  "Days" also seems to consist of just
two notes. It's just that the songs are so good we don't notice.  I find 
this remarkable.  

Your comment "not the 23 minute version" speaks volumes about why
Television scared off the commercial audience.

> 
> Verlaine as a solo artist has also written several catchy, more-pop 
> oriented tunes: "Swim" or even "Penetration" [despite its 
> title], "Lindi-Lu", "Let Go The Mansion" [could sing this to 
> toddlers to get them to fall asleep], and maybe I'd even through in 
> "Always" [but might have too many different melodies/hooks].
> 
> 	Leo

None these songs is likely to be mistaken for a McCartney, Baccharach, or 
Irving Berlin composition.  Again: not a criticism--just trying to 
understand how the music works.

Mark
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