The ultimate Lounge Lizard

Wendy and I often have these deep philosophical discussions about belief systems, tastes, where the world is going, global warming vs nuclear winter, you know that kind of stuff. The other day as we were driving in the car, I asked her:

“So, which one do you prefer as a vocalist on the John Lennon song, Jealous Guy, Lennon himself, or Bryan Ferry?”

She thought long and hard about this, as it was a question of much import.

“Ferry, I think,” she said. “There’s pain and pathos in his voice. Lennon’s is too unemotional for that particular song.”

I couldn’t help but agree.

Bryan Ferry was never a huge hit this side of the Atlantic, but I think I was always kind of a fan for that reason. There was nothing flavor of the moment about the guy who was once dumped by Jerry Hall, who decided she really fancied Mick Jagger more.

But, I remember Ferry way back in his Roxy Music days, and loved songs like Do the Strand and other relatively obscure ditties.

His rendering of the old 1930s chestnut, These Foolish Things (remind me of you) is perfectly stylized because he actually ‘talks’ the piece rather than sings it – and it works beautifully, and you can feel the pain of love lost. See the video if you get that chance, because his consummate ‘lounge lizard’ persona really makes it come alive.

The song Avalon from a few years ago was probably his biggest hit over here, but actually I find that one a bit boring. That was when Ferry was in his ‘Arthurian’ romantic mode.

I once saw him interviewed on Parkinson in England, and I must confess I found him remarkably boring, but then he redeemed himself by singing.

Nothing much more to say. Just felt an impulse to pay a little homage to Bryan Ferry.