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The Clash: “The Card Cheat”

posted September 23, 2006 - 11:03pm
The Clash: “The Card Cheat”

(I’m on a quest to get my mom into The Clash, because she missed them the first time round. This was an email to her, with an attached song.)

I said I’d randomly send you Clash songs because you have iTunes now and, as they say, they’re “the only band that’s ever mattered.” (Seriously… I didn’t say that. Someone else did. I don’t know who said it first, but I heard it a lot now.)

“The Card Cheat,” from their third album, London Calling, which was released in 1979. This is one of my favorite Clash songs, mainly because of the emotional vocal intensity, that emotional vocal intensity I love so much. The general intensity of this song is an interesting thing to consider, because it deviates so much from punk, and yet the punk intensity is still felt, combined with a nice melancholia. Apparently, I don’t know how else to describe this song but “intense.” It is though—it’s an intense experience, and yet also a calming and reflective one. (Why build binaries when you don’t have to?) There’s something about it that makes me want to sing and wail along with him at the top of my lungs. I’d really love to hear this song at a carnival for some reason.

A bit of history on the Clash if you’re interested: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clash

From that page: “From their earliest days as a band, the Clash stood apart from their peers with their musicianship, as well as their lyrics; the passionate, left wing political idealism in the lyrics of frontmen Joe Strummer and Mick Jones contrasted with the anarchic nihilism of the Sex Pistols and the basic simplicity of The Ramones.” I told you about that, one of the main reasons I love them so much: the “tunneled energy” I thanked them for in the “It Adds Up” program.

Here’s a quote about the album this song is from: “Their third album, the late 1979 release London Calling is considered by many critics one of the greatest albums in the history of rock music; it was released in the U.S. in January, 1980 and a decade later Rolling Stone magazine declared it the best album of the 1980s.”

Author: vee
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Comments

Nothing like a teen

Idlewild - Sun, 2006-24-9 7:34 am
to help keep you up on the latest music. Whenever I talk to my 16-year-old niece I ask her what she's listening to these days. I'll often check out the bands she mentions. Right now she's going though a goth/emo phase. I'm always listening to music and trying to discover new stuff. As for the Clash, I liked them since they first came out. Some of their political stuff I found kind of pretentious--how much do a group of Brit rockers really know about or support the Sandinistas in Nicaragua?--but they were definitely one of the most important and influential bands. Saw them live a few times back in the day, they put on one hell of a good show.

This is England

AnthonyB - Sun, 2006-24-9 3:12 am
Like your passion about music Vee. I read a book on the Clash about a year ago, actualy forgot the name but it was a clever title, perhaps you know of it. Anyway, it kind of portrayed them as anything but the kind of deprived people which their music may have championed, especialy early. More rather like spoiled and pampered kids who had nothing to rebel against, mostly mick jones. Kind of like Doctor Dre who in real life had about as much street cred as say Pat Boone. It also said they were horrible musicians early which I found hard to believe. I never did buy anything of theirs . Still you have my curiosity going about Card Cheat which I've never heard and will try to download. London Calling itself was one of my favorite songs along with the popular Rock the Casbah ( how appropriate today )This is England was another song that I first heard when played years after it was made and saw / heard it on TV associating it with either world cup soccer or the olympics, forget which. That tune gave me chills and I'm not even English and the tune always stayed with me. The opening riff on Stay or Go is classic though FM radio has soured me on it by now. I was never a big fan of the early punk movement yet appreciated them and they certainly became a big band, especialy in England much as Oasis did later who are also one of my favorite bands. I really think Oasis is an underated band and please don't take offence but feel the Clash has always been slightly overated. Maybe because I was not really into that punk scene and I do say slightly because they were very good. Also hope I did'nt turn you off by my comments about their hypocrisy which I read in that book. For all I know the author may have it all wrong. Anyway, I live for music, always have and love discussing and even argueing different points of view as I used to with my brothers and friends and now find myself doing the same with my 16 yr. old daughter. She is keeping me informed on such newbies as WHITE STRIPES, LIVING THINGS, DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE and the new one she loves the RACONTOURS. Alot of times I don't even scream at her to lower the volume lol. So if you ever want to critique or chat, feel free.

anthony b

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