Could we please be objective cause the other POLLS are queuing up behind us - Artist Poll #94 - Belle & Sebastian - RESULTS

yeah going through this ballot has really made me notice Murdoch's unique sense of phrasing (in every sense)

“Never read this before, Stuart Murdoch
on Sleep the Clock Around:

"That song was about walking over the brow of a hill, away from the two people I loved most, when I had betrayed them somewhat: after they cast me out of their confidence and out of the cafe. So it’s a song that cries out for recovery."

♥️

― Alba, Monday, December 17, 2018 2:53 AM (six hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink”

I love this. Like I said last night this is my fave B&S song. Very strong top ten so far as precdicted.

Funny little I'm a Cuckoo fact I noticed the other day. In Stuart David's B&S memoir he mentions the other Stuart in the pre B&S days having a song called Sunday Gang.

Have found no other reference to it except the line in I'm a Cuckoo "Watch the Sunday gang in Harajuku".

I thought it was 'Sunday gang in Harrods'! What the chuff is Harajuku?

A neighborhood in Tokyo.

They like Thin Lizzy. and stuff.

And this, I guess, is the Sunday Gang he's talking about?

https://www.tvcream.co.uk/telly/tv-a-z/n-z/s-is-for/sunday-gang/

xp That's one hell of a rhyming dictionary.

Harajuku is a trendy neighbourhood. I guess SM has been there when visiting Toyko.

"I'm a Cuckoo" looked like it was steady at #4, for pretty much all of the voting period. I was impressed. Still impressed, despite it losing ground with the last day's ballots.

I mean, I don't think he's actually singing about watching an old religious TV show for kids while in Toyko. I just mean I imagine that's the reference he's playing on when he talks about people watching in Harajuku.

Then again, I wouldn't put it past him.

Rather be in Tokyo, listening to Thin Lizzy-o *thin lizzy guitar riff*

I always hoped he was referring to the Sunday Gang tv show, as an 80s RC kid i was very familiar with it. It was pretty well known iirc, there's a Lucas and Walliams mid 90s piss take (Pray Away) of it on You Tube.

http://i63.tinypic.com/2urxpwl.jpg

5. Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying
From If You're Feeling Sinister (1996)
Live at Lowlands, 2006
Points: 762
Votes: 37
#1 Votes: 0

"i'm a cuckoo" was my #1, on its own merits (avalanches remix is perfect too)

the thin lizzy meets highlife thing works so well

*whispers* “like dylan in the movies” 4 no. 1

This is the song I always forget is on IYFS and it's always an awesome surprise

No #1 votes!

Classic song, one I’ve probably taken for granted.

I could kill you sure, but I could only make you cry with these words

Wow, we're in the top 5.
If you're feeling sinister has jumped mightily in my esteem as a top track, when I thought I was mildly annoyed by the silly chorus lyrics. I love that long intro that makes you think it's an instrumental. Mesmerizing track. I wish I had put it even higher.
Get me away from here I'm dying I'm not very objective on. My original favorite, it's so unique and deceptively simple I sometimes doubt its perfection. Their best lyrics maybe (at least the lines I know). It is mightier than swoords. I could... only make you cry!... with theeese woords.

Before anyone sent any ballots I thought this a likely #1. But only because it won some poll I participated in, in maybe...1998. LOL. (Not sure where though. Did the Sinister list do polls?)

I get that—I’ve always thought of it as their “signature song,” as much as a band as prolific as this one can have one

Yeah, 'signature song' captures the vibe. It might have been clearer when they'd only released 32 songs or whatever.

http://i63.tinypic.com/2hwgvn4.jpg

4. Like Dylan in the Movies
From If You're Feeling Sinister (1996)
'Fans Only' segment
Points: 812
Votes: 34
#1 Votes: 4

this was my highest IYFS track, undeniable vibe

I realized while assembling my ballot that the early albums are associated with a time in life I don't care to think about anymore, which probably contributed to my preference for the more recent stuff (DCW and onwards) and b-sides / stray tracks

Heard it on the radio a while ago and yes went back to another time. I know I said I voted Me and the Major my top Sinister track but really this can't be beaten.

For this poll I had decided (very unoriginally) that this was my favorite B&S song. Can't complain even if it misses the top 3. I'm still happy with my choice, it's the most perfectly balanced in everything: bassline, vocal lines, piano, impressions of "rising" and accelerating, guitars, details, xylophone-triangle whatever it is.
You can concentrate on the one you love...
I will love you over, I will love youuuuu
If they foooollow you
Seriously, it's perfect. We said the songs with 4 #1 votes win right. Right.

a great song but still only middle of the pack in IYFS to me

Please don't let LLPJ beat The State I Am In.

I hope it does tbqh

Oh yes did anybody compliment you on the blue - red - green - yellow color thing ? I swear I only actually noticed today, great idea.
LLPJ doesn't deserve it.

imagine thinking that "lazy line painter jane" isn't one of the best b&s songs and would be a totally excellent no. 1

wouldn't*

Comes back to preference for his personal songs over the character ones, I guess. TSIAI just means everything to me and I've never really got a handle on this Jane person.

seeing other people as the highest-ranked sinister track?

also I feel like it's one of the few early-ish songs that predicts just how big and bold they'd let themselves get from DCW onwards which would make it a nice capper

(Jane that is)

this is tearing us apart!

(go Jane!)

I've never really got a handle on this Jane person

idk i think that first verse is as distinct a character study as they did in their whole career.

You're working the village shop
Putting a poster up
Dreaming of anything
Dreaming of the time
When you are free
From all the trouble you're in

"Like Dylan In the Movies" was my #1, one where you can hear the VU influence. I switched it to my #1 at the last second from "Marx & Engles" on which...you cannot hear the VU influence

LOL

http://i63.tinypic.com/25geblg.jpg

3. Seeing Other People
From If You're Feeling Sinister (1996)
Live at Bowlie Weekender, 1999
Points: 816
Votes: 39
#1 Votes: 4

damn

We go 3 2 and start to slow..

(Arbitrary image, admittedly. Decided minutes ago that I didn't like the one I'd had all week.)

Pacific Time zone awake let's do this!

there's something really incredible about the verse chord progression on this one

the top 2 is pretty perfect no matter the order

yeah agreed

i also love that it's down to their very first song or their very best single