Author: Les Tombeaux (page 5 of 5)

Les Tombeaux is an editor and music writer based in Majorca. His journalism has appeared in Drug Media, Beat Off, Fabulous Tasmanians and Vogel. He is currently working on the authorised biography of Davey Dreamnation.

Scaramouche: “Scaramouche’s Theme”

DNRC008 | 7″ | 2002 | DELETED

Scaramouche, an incorrigible llama in search of his next neenish tart, remains one of DNRC Records’ most successful solo artists.

His entire oeuvre to date consists of this solo masterpiece, a theme song described as “Cher meets the Tin Lids”, plus two home-recorded soundscapes that we hope never to release.

Scaramouche originally became a recording artist in order to share his inner thoughts and meditations with the world.

Sadly, his addiction to quiche lorraine and ham off the bone led him to become extremely obese, and he has since been admitted to the Betty Ford clinic for rehabilitation.

Nevertheless, on this nose-bleeder, the llama’s inner being really does shine through.

The three-day-old llama, who had apparently escaped from the confines of a pair of 3D glasses, contributed explosive and controversial lyrics to what Davey later admitted was “a c-side”.

Nevertheless, this did not stop Dreamnation from re-releasing this ‘c-side’ under his own name on the patchy Themes E.P.

“Well, some people might say I’m just being charitable but the truth is that the little fellow has been through a lot in the last couple of years, and this is my way of saying thanks.”

Or, as Stung says of his favorite animal recording artist: “When Scaramouche sings, your spirit soars . . . “

Listen to the track below, and let us know whether you agree.

‘Scaramouche’s Theme’ (1:25). Words and music by Scaramouche and Davey Dreamnation.

‘Davium’ Dreamnation deletes debut single amid storm of protest

In what has been described by at least two people as a strange act of commercial suicide, rock and roll chameleon Davey Dreamnation has deleted his first single ‘Hot Soup Girl’ from the charts, along with its bizarre b-side ‘Davium’.

Speaking in response to the inevitable howls of protest, both from diehard Davey Dreamnation fans and discerning music lovers around the world (including one former president and several roving intergalactic ambassadors), Dreamnation’s Desperanto interpreter was believed to have said:

“Davey has received information from the international scientific community that the element he named Davium (Dv) does not actually exist, and that any songs or public communications making reference to this new ‘element’ should be scrubbed from the records.”

When asked what this meant for Davey Dreamnation’s academic integrity, she said:

“Davey acknowledges the truth of what the international scientific community is saying. In fact, he claims it only goes to prove his point, that Davium is so rare that it may never even have existed.

“Davey sees no harm in writing a simple and whimsical folk ballad about his discoveries. He hopes that the unity shown by the international scientific community in roundly ridiculing him—subjecting him along the way to slander of the most fiendish order, might I add—may also be put to the benefit of some more pressing problems. Including the unresolved matter of a second missing element so rare it cannot even be thought of.”

As for ‘Hot Soup Girl’, the song that made everything possible for the unlikely smash hit hero, Davey’s interpreter merely shrugged.

“I think some friend of his, some guy named E. Turkey, is doing a drum ‘n’ bass remix. You haven’t heard ‘Hot Soup Girl’ for the last time, not by a long shot. But you can expect a second announcement later on this morning.

I believe Mr Dreamnation is returning from Malibu for an interview on a pop-rock feed. You and I know that can only mean one thing: Davey Dreamnation is going to launch a new single.”

Pandemonium greeted the interpreter’s diplomatic leak, sending queues a mile deep in some shopping centres. Elsewhere, markets responded cautiously to the news, sending zirconia prices tumbling.

On Wall Street, investors were more interested in news of the artist’s hangover, after a run on his fledgling soft-rock start-up “Identify!” left his personal stocks at the whim of passers by and office cleaners everywhere.

Davey Dreamnation launches debut single (through interpreter) at suburban tennis court

In what some music hacks described as “bizarre circumstances, officer”, Davey Dreamnation launched his debut single today, only minutes after completing a verbal assassination of the man who would be him, O.N. Da Levelle.

In the lush surrounds of a bitumen paved tennis court, Davey’s interpreter this morning led journalists through an impromptu a capella version of ‘Hot Soup Girl’, the song that has already landed Davey in hot water and serious trouble.

Both surviving members of Led Zeppelin have taken Dreamnation to court for hairstyle infringements. Meanwhile, his use of the words “mechanically separated chicken” have become the source of a heated exchange of obiter dicta in the High Court of Australia, in the matter of Da Levelle vs KFC).

The song, a barely-disguised tribute to Davey’s musical heroes, including Ben Lee, the Anuses and Chumbawumba, has entered the charts at the lowest possible position—that is, at the bottom.

“In a way, it’s fitting,” Davey’s interpreter said in off-the-cuff comments at the net of the tennis court (which Davey later claimed to be “too low”, after checking using a standard 1970s-sized Jimmy Connors racquet).

“I mean, he never expected anything, so to come in last, well, it’s a nice surprise. I guess tomorrow’s chart details will be the real clincher, because if he’s still at the bottom, Davey will be right royally pissed off, of that I’ve no doubt.”

When asked what Davey D.’s reaction might be to being taken off the charts altogether, the interpreter refused to be drawn. “I’ll be back in a minute,” he stuttered, before running off to catch a taxi.

“Tullamarine thanks, driver,” he was heard to say, as the taxi drove away.

‘Hot Soup Girl’ b/w ‘Davium’

Introduction

It’s not often that a classic pop song comes along and lifts you out of your bad mood, puts a little smile on your face and makes you chirrup like some crazy, nectar-intoxicated myna bird. While ‘Hot Soup Girl’ may not be that song, it’s still awesome. In fact, if any song summarises Davey Dreamnation’s understanding of modern music, it’s this one.

Born out of a mistake during an experimental home recording session, the killer instrumental section has drawn comparisons with Led Zeppelin, Chris de Burgh and OMD, none of them favourable.

Still, from its humble acoustic opening to the soaring, angelic refrain, this is lighter-waving, undie-ripping, buttock-clenching pop music. And if you don’t agree with that, then maybe you shouldn’t be here.

The front cover for the reissue of 'Hot Soup Girl'.
The front cover for the reissue of ‘Hot Soup Girl’.

‘Hot Soup Girl’: music and lyrics

Musically, ‘Hot Soup Girl’ is pretty basic: the same two chords strummed on an obviously out-of-tune guitar with just four strings. And when it comes to the lyrics, simplicity is also clearly a high priority.

Sing this with me, if you like:

Hot Soup Girl

Mechanically separated chicken
Mechanically separated chicken
Mechanically, maniacally, maniacal

—Davey Dreamnation, ‘Hot Soup Girl’

That’s basically it. Repeat to fade and that’s the song. And therein lies its genius.

The b-side: Davium

‘Davium’, on the other hand, was only released as a b-side three months after ‘Hot Soup Girl’ appeared, and is an incendiary call to arms for the world’s scientific communities.

Conceived as a riposte to technical luddites unfamiliar with the Periodic Table of the Elements, the song quickly evolves into a tirade against ignorance, false Celtic consciousness and the Chipmunks, who make an unscheduled appearance during the song’s coda, or whatever you call that thing towards the end.

“Yeah,” the popular but enigmatic entertainer announced through his Esperanto-fluent interpreter at the time of the b-side’s release, “I’ve discovered this new element, it’s called Davium (Dv).

“Davium is so rare and so miniscule, it doesn’t even have a half-life. Up until now it hasn’t even had a name. That’s where I came in.”

In what was described by at least two people as a strange act of commercial suicide, Dreamnation later deleted both songs.

Davey Dreamnation releases debut single: ‘Hot Soup Girl’

Writing from the computer laboratory of his Camp Davey compound, Davey Dreamnation last night typed these (what will surely in the future come to be regarded as) seminal, if not incendiary, lines:

Don’t ask me to explain how, but I’ve managed to record an mp3, upload it to this site and now, in this post, for the first time, and for a very short time only, I am giving you the chance to download this song. Right HERE!!!! It’s called ‘Hot Soup Girl’. Someone reading this will get the reference, but this may not be you. If you’re reading this in the future, you will of course not be able to download the track at all. Because I will, by then, be a multi-platinum sales artist, and this track will only be available on my private fan site, access to which is granted solely by me and my trained llama. So, enjoy, whilst ye still can.

davey/ddn [archived]

‘Hot Soup Girl’ was later released internationally via the MP3.com.au platform, included on Davey Dreamnation’s debut album and eventually reissued by DNRC Records.