Song(s) of the Day # 4,028 Clock DVA

 

I was an innocent child. My family was a clan of seven. Five still standing.  Three boys. Two girls. I was the youngest boy. A happy little child. I knew little of the world and my parents were carefree but also sensible to guard me and my siblings from all that, 

I grew up happy and innocent. I still am essentially. I wouldn't claim I knew much of the world. Still But I was born in Zimbabwe. I never forget that. And one thing I've always been encouraged to do is go out and explore the world. So I've done so.

We were church goers and religious faith was something that is fundamental still to both my mother and my father. At the time I didn't want my friends to know that I went to church. It used to embarrass me. It doesn't anymore. Good for my mum and dad. They were also politically engaged. They have the right politics and the right attitudes.They set a great example for me. Still. It's something I wake to every day.

 I've lived in, how many is it? Eleven countries. Not as a tourist. I lived there.I've taken advantage of the opportunitues that life has given me. I wasn't happy with BREXIT on many levels. Fancy taking away that choice for others that we'd had. Arrogance and ignorance and bad faith I'm afraid. Misdirection. The rationale bewilders me. I'm not one for personal regret. What's the point. But this seemed and still seems a regrettable moment in global history. Look at the chain of events it set off. Look where we are now. Ball of Confusion. What a song ! 

And my parents also taught me to resist. Resist the easy line. Resist bullying. To question things.  I've tried. And I will continue to try. Do your best. That's all you can hope for. It's not about winning. It's about taking part. There's a great deal of truth in these tired cliches. 

So to Resistance. By Clock DVA. 'At last' sighs the weary reader. Get on with it mate. Don't you know we're busy ! Lives to lead. In the early eighties I started looking for my personality. It's a good idea folks ! Some people never do I suspect. But I did and it was a good instinct I'd maintain .

So I started looking for the person I wanted to be, From about fifteen I started ro construct myself subconsciously. Mostly around records and books. I've still got some teenage diaries. I can admire my enquiring mind still. From a distance. Thanks Bette pet ! You're a sweetie.

I started haunting record shops and libraries. Still the best ways to develop critical thought. You can keep your business manuals. I won't tell you where to stick them. Alright then, Put them on a shelf. Or better still bin them..Otherwise. Use your imagination. 

There was an Our Price Record Shop on Richmond High Street. Next to W.H.Smith's. I bought some important early records there. T.Rex. Split Enz. XTC. Then in the single racks downstairs one day I saw a copy of Clock DVA's Resistance among the twelve inches. Reader. I bought it. 

I liked the name of the band.I was starting  to read Graham Greene. I liked the title Resistance. Reward, Rescue, Resistance. Those were the days ! Those were the bloody days. This isn't just cheap nostalgia. Everybody thinks their childhood's and teenage years were the best. But 1977-1982 were magical times. And that's when I went to secondary school. That's why I started this blog as an act of memory initially. I'm so pleased its grown to be something else and celebrates the contemporary too. It's become something more interesting I'd say.    

Back to Clock DVA. I took the record home and played it. I liked it. It was a sturdy tune. The cover confused me. I took it back and got my money back. Not something I've done often' I've since bought the album. I now know of course that the image on the cover is related to S & M. Bondage. The gay scene. Consenting. But also sometimes less consenting. Some dark stuff. I had no idea at the time. Like I said I was innocent. I still am in many ways I suspect..

The tune is still a belter. Clock DVA are celebrated by those in the know. Lesser lights of a fantastic Northern Scene where Human League, ABC, Soft Cell and Heaven 17. hit the big time and Top of The Pops. 'DON'T YOU WANT ME BABY?' Yes we do. Of course we do.

So thanks to my parents. It's actially my mother's 90th birthday today. I'll give her a call later on today. She doesn't like to be embarrassed. So I won't embarrass her further here. Mum used occasionally to hoover my room when I was a teenager. Overcome by curiosity one day  she put one of my records on. The Doors. She soon took it off. It was probably good thing I'd taken my Clock DVA twelve inch back to Our Price.  Happy Birthday Mum ! Of course she doesn't read my blog.  

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