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something I am grateful for today
Suede's first (official) single, The Drowners, which was released twenty years ago today.
Many believe that this was truly The Birth of Britpop®, and that Popscene was merely its water breaking. Be that as it may, there is little doubt that Suede announced their arrival with the neoclassic sound of glam-era Bowie -- not to mention a sound, and a look, and an interviewing style, that drew on overt gender-bending similar to Bowie twenty years before them, and Boy George ten years before them. With similar career-building objectives, it would seem. (That sort of thing always goes over big with the Brits!)
For many years, “wanting to be rock stars” had been considered uncool in Britain. So many of the bright lights of the alternative scene of the 80s and early 90s presented themselves as anti-star. But Suede so clearly came out wanting to be rock stars -- and Britain, starved for such creatures for so long, was quite willing to take them up on it. Suede went on to achieve levels of success that hadn't been seen in British rock in ages... as I will get to when the time comes.
FWIW, IMHO The Drowners is the finest debut single ever released. For a band to come out of the gate with a song this strong is unprecedented.
[Hear it now!]
Many believe that this was truly The Birth of Britpop®, and that Popscene was merely its water breaking. Be that as it may, there is little doubt that Suede announced their arrival with the neoclassic sound of glam-era Bowie -- not to mention a sound, and a look, and an interviewing style, that drew on overt gender-bending similar to Bowie twenty years before them, and Boy George ten years before them. With similar career-building objectives, it would seem. (That sort of thing always goes over big with the Brits!)
For many years, “wanting to be rock stars” had been considered uncool in Britain. So many of the bright lights of the alternative scene of the 80s and early 90s presented themselves as anti-star. But Suede so clearly came out wanting to be rock stars -- and Britain, starved for such creatures for so long, was quite willing to take them up on it. Suede went on to achieve levels of success that hadn't been seen in British rock in ages... as I will get to when the time comes.
FWIW, IMHO The Drowners is the finest debut single ever released. For a band to come out of the gate with a song this strong is unprecedented.
[Hear it now!]