| ayano 08.03.2005 20:56 |
I'm listening to Brighton Rock right now. I'm wondering why this song is called Brighton Rock. Anybody please tell me where this title came from. |
| Lester Burnham 08.03.2005 22:21 |
You are excused. |
| Gunpowder Gelatine 09.03.2005 02:32 |
Lester Burnham wrote: You are excused.I knew somebody was going to say that before I even opened this post. Either I'm psychic, or everyone's predictable. ;) |
| nasty_queenie 09.03.2005 04:10 |
Apparently its based on a book of the same name. |
| ayano 09.03.2005 09:31 |
I see. I feel so stupid now. Excuse me for lack of knowlege on arts! I'd better read the book. |
| The Fairy King 09.03.2005 09:59 |
Reviewer: Melvin Pena (Evanston, IL United States) - See all my reviews I have said it before, and shall say it again - Graham Greene was incapable of writing a bad novel! "Brighton Rock" is yet another miraculous triumph of setting, plot, characterization, thematic unity and everything that makes novels worth reading. In addition, Greene's use of Catholicism and common-sense ethics as coexistent ideologies behind the story, guiding the main characters, gives the novel considerable philosophical weight. One great thing about "Brighton Rock" is that the characters' internal struggles are not simply reducible to good v. evil or right v. wrong, but are asked to distinguish between these two systems. "Brighton Rock" has two protagonists - Pinkie Brown is a teenage gangster, trying to prove his manhood and establish himself as a serious force in the Brighton underworld. Ida Arnold is a healthy, flirtatious, and determined woman who cannot be dissuaded from any purpose. When corrupt newspaperman Charles Hale is killed by Pinkie's gang, Ida's momentary acquaintance with Hale on a Bank Holiday leads her to pursue the truth surrounding his death. The conflict between Pinkie, who falls into a Calvinist-Catholic defeatism, and Ida, who believes in right and Hammurabian justice(an eye for an eye) shapes the rest of the novel. Human sexuality and relationships are important facets of "Brighton Rock." Pinkie and Rose, two young Catholics raised in a run-down, predominantly 'Roman' housing project - constantly struggle with maturity, responsibility, and human physicality. While they view sex as 'mortal sin,' Ida, their pursuer, sees it as 'natural,' and celebratory of life. The complex relationship between Pinkie and the equally young and innocent Rose adds further purpose to Ida's mission. Minor characters like the anemic Spicer, the loyal Dallow, the brusque Cubitt, and the literary lawyer Prewitt, along with Rose's 'moody' parents and his own eternally copulating parents, all complicate Pinkie's inner turmoil - and reveal that Pinkie's supposed manhood is a veil for his inherent weakness and inexperience. Greene's wealth of literary knowledge also adds texture to the novel as a whole. References to Shakespeare, the 18th century actor and Poet Laureate Colley Cibber, Romantic-era poets like Keats and Wordsworth, Victorian literature (Dickens' "David Copperfield"), and modern magazines and motion pictures casts the novel against a history of British literature. Overall, "Brighton Rock" is typical Greene - expertly written and philosophically provocative. source: Amazon |
| ANAGRAMER 10.03.2005 14:43 |
Br rock - thought it was about candy |
| My Melancholy Blues 10.03.2005 15:06 |
I wish to go to Brighton! Does "Brighton Rock" taste good? |
| ayano 10.03.2005 21:12 |
OK, I learned Brighton Rock is aname of a book, and also a name of a candy from Brighton. I thought the rock means rock music at first and I am sure most of Japanese fans think the same way. So now the question is what's the relation between the lyric and "Brighton Rock" ? |
| inu-liger 10.03.2005 21:32 |
- |
| My Melancholy Blues 11.03.2005 02:48 |
As far as I know, Brighton is one of the beautiful resorts in the UK with long beautiful beach where old amusement park exists at the pier. I've always thought Brian was inspired from both its fun mood and Greene's novel. But I'm not sure...and I think "rock" of the title has double meaning. Anyway I'd like to go there someday and try Brighton candy! |
| KenJ_1986 12.03.2005 00:24 |
I just thought it was about a young woman and a married man having an affair... I could be wrong... That's just my interpretation of the lyrics. |
| danymarcone1 13.02.2012 01:33 |
Yay! |
| waunakonor 08.03.2012 19:29 |
danymarcone1 wrote: Yay!Woo! |
| ActionFletch 09.03.2012 02:23 |
I had to read the play Brighton Rock at school. The only good thing is that Brian wrote a song about it! |
| catqueen 09.03.2012 09:34 |
Gunpowder Gelatine wrote:Ha, i wanted to be first to say it though :(Lester Burnham wrote: You are excused.I knew somebody was going to say that before I even opened this post. Either I'm psychic, or everyone's predictable. ;) |
| Hangman_96 09.03.2012 09:35 |
You aren't excused. |
| Holly2003 09.03.2012 14:22 |
Brighton is a seaside town where in 1964 rockers and mods met to punch eachother around the face, in fine old English tradition. I could never figure out why Brian would name the song after a Graham Greene novel. In fact I suspect the title has very little meaning, but if it does, it's more likely something to do with the seaside town than the book. |
| Holly2003 22.03.2020 13:35 |
Holly2003 wrote: Brighton is a seaside town where in 1964 rockers and mods met to punch each other around the face, in fine old English tradition. I could never figure out why Brian would name the song after a Graham Greene novel. In fact I suspect the title has very little meaning, but if it does, it's more likely something to do with the seaside town than the book.I wonder does anyone STILL think BR has something to do with a Graham Greene novel? In addition, the song is about a holiday and Brighton is a holiday destination. And 'rock' has another meaning unconnected to music, namely a 'stick of rock' -- a particularly odious type of candy found at most UK holiday resorts e.g. 'Blackpool Rock'. Incidentally, there's also a film called Brighton Rock ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brighton_Rock_(1948_film) .. which I haven't seen but according to the wiki link there is a character called Fred and a fairground scene. Has anyone seen it? I wonder is there the same fairground music in the film as on Brian's version of BR. |
| mooghead 22.03.2020 17:06 |
'Neath the gay illuminations all along the promenade' I think the song title was maybe borrowed from the very successful film but the narrative happens to be about 2 lovers on the coast. |
| thomasquinn 32989 23.03.2020 11:05 |
The title of Graham Greene's novel is taken from the candy. The 1948 film is a faithful adaptation (except for the ending, I hear) of the novel based on a slightly earlier stage version. The fairground music on the song is from a record of sound effects that, I think, was shared here years ago. I have read the book, I've seen part of the film but didn't finish it. If the song was based on either the book, the film or the play, it's a *very* loose adaptation. Part of the book deals with a love affair between a criminal and a naive girl, but it is nothing like the love affair in the song - for starters, the criminal is simply using the girl to prevent her giving evidence against him and doesn't like her much. I think she's a waitress, not a domestic servant, so that part breaks down too. The book and the film were very popular and very controversial at the time, it may be that Brian heard the title at some point and liked it, but I doubt there's any more to it than that. Oh, by the way - the film stars Richard Attenborough as 'Pinkie', the criminal, and William Hartnell as his second-in-command. Hartnell is better known as the first Doctor (Doctor Who). This is in no way relevant, but it's always nice to throw in a Doctor Who reference. |
| brENsKi 23.03.2020 12:16 |
was it ever resolved if that fairground incidental music was called "Carousel" or "Carnival Midway" I'm aware of Euphoria's "A Gift From Euphoria" and that they used that sample in 1969. However, I always thought the piece was called "Carousel" |
| thomasquinn 32989 23.03.2020 14:09 |
Good question, I really don't know. Apparently, the same sample also turns up on a Tim Buckley track from 1967 - I guess that'd have to be "Carnival Song". I'm not entirely sure about that one, though, since it's got other material layered over it. |
| ITSM 24.03.2020 00:47 |
I thought people from England went on holiday to Brighton (at that time and before), thus the lyrics (?). And the word Rock seems suitable in a rock song. Also the carnival music at the beginning could be from the pier or something (?). My two cents... |
| brENsKi 24.03.2020 06:45 |
ITSM wrote:I thought people from England went on holiday to Brighton (at that time and before), thus the lyrics (?). And the word Rock seems suitable in a rock song. Also the carnival music at the beginning could be from the pier or something (?). My two cents...yep. as discussed - it's from a sound effects album (originally). and it is incidental seaside fairground music - like the type heard at places like Blackpool, Margate, Brighton etc in victorian times. There's the slang connotation too. As the song is about a couple going to the seaside for an illicit affair, then the sexual inference of "rock" may make for a better play on words. "Getting his rocks off", for one. Also the phallic appearance of "seaside rock". I think back in the 70s a "hard-on" was sometimes referred to as having a "rock on" - but i can't find any online proof of that. I think I read somewhere, that it was used as the opening to the LP as the previous LP (Queen II) ended with a similar "Seaside" theme. A natural (nautical) segue. Would still like to know if anyone knows for sure, re: the actual title - "Carousel" or "Carnival Midway" link And if Euphoria's "A Gift From Euphoria" (1969) and Tim Buckley's "Carnival Song" (1967) are the earliest appearances of this piece on rock/pop songs. |