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Post by Joe Karlosi on Apr 11, 2012 5:50:21 GMT -5
If you don't know this song, play it here!
Comment and/or Rate this Solo Song
4=Great 3=Good 2=Average 1=Crap
"Hong Kong Blues" - George Harrison, SOMEWHERE IN ENGLAND (1981)
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Apr 11, 2012 6:16:23 GMT -5
1 -- It's a Hoagy Carmichael cover, but it's still a crappy song to me.
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Post by ursamajor on Apr 11, 2012 6:19:15 GMT -5
I like it , it's a weird song with weird lyrics .. which means I must like it ..
3
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2012 6:34:52 GMT -5
Here are the weird lyrics..
It's the story of a very unfortunate coloured man Who got arrested down in old Hong Kong He got twenty years' privilege taken away from him When he kicked old Buddha's gong
And now he's poppin' the piano just to raise the price Of a ticket to the land of the free Well, he says his home's in 'Frisco where they send the rice But it's really in Tennessee
That's why he says I need someone to love me Need somebody to carry me home to San Francisco And bury my body there I need someone to lend me a fifty-dollar bill and then I'll leave Hong Kong far behind me For happiness once again
Won't somebody believe I've a yen to see that Bay again Everytime I try to leave Sweet opium won't let me fly away I need someone to love me Need somebody to carry me home to San Francisco And bury my body there
That's the story of a very unfortunate coloured man Who got arrested down in old Hong Kong He got twenty years' privilege taken away from him When he kicked old Buddha's gong.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2012 6:39:35 GMT -5
I think George does a good job with this "different" song.
He doesn't sing it in his "normal" style either..
I'll give it a 3...I like the vocal...
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Post by mikev on Apr 11, 2012 7:56:50 GMT -5
2. I like Baltimore Oriole much better.
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Post by John S. Damm on Apr 11, 2012 10:52:36 GMT -5
I give it a 3. That is much higher than what I would have scored it in 1981. Back then as a 17 year old I was appalled that George was covering "oldies" like this. I wanted songs more like what we had on the previous George Harrison album. I then went to Indiana University and learned about its star son Hoagy Carmichael who attended there for both undergraduate and law schools(just as I did). In fact, Carmichael wrote part of "Stardust" right across the street from the I.U. Law School at the "Book Nook" or The Gables. bloomington.in.gov/locations/viewLocation.php?location_id=150I now enjoy these songs although I agree with Mike and like "Baltimore Oriole" much better. The lyrics to "Hong Kong Blues" show their age. It was part of George's musical make-up that he loved these type of songs. I didn't get that as a teenager as I always wanted "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" every time from Hari.
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Post by coachbk on Apr 11, 2012 12:01:12 GMT -5
2 A competent cover, but doesn't stand out.
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Post by ReturnToPepperland on Apr 11, 2012 15:20:18 GMT -5
That is a definite 1. George doesn't even sing it well and its not the right style for his voice at all. The only good thing I can say about it is I like the arrangement.
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Apr 11, 2012 18:20:37 GMT -5
I LOVE George's version of BALTIMORE ORIOLE... but that'll be another day! ;D
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Post by anyoneanyhow on Apr 11, 2012 21:02:13 GMT -5
This song cooks! And it's a total reworking, so I give George a lot of credit.
3.5
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kc
Beatle Freak
Posts: 1,085
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Post by kc on Apr 12, 2012 2:08:46 GMT -5
Filler. Only eight tracks on the album if the two Carmichael songs are eliminated. George may have had a love for these types of song, but he wasn't much good at covering them. 1 (crap). Interesting to note that Carmichael died later in the year of Somewhere In England's release.
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Post by theman on Apr 17, 2012 14:38:13 GMT -5
I liked the "Hottest Gong in Town" better as a tip of the hat to the orient.
I give this a 1.5, as I would always skip it when listening to this CD (and it didn't grab me on this listening session, either).
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Post by debjorgo on Apr 17, 2012 16:09:45 GMT -5
I love this song, this recording, lyrics, it's all good from start to finish. The lyrics are dated. What are they from the '40s. Well really just using the term "colored man" is dated. The rest of the lyrics were no doubt ahead of their time. Are there any other songs about opiatic adiction in the '40s?
George's voice is great all the way through. It doesn't take a turn for the worse with the middle eight like a lot of his songs tended to do.
I'd give it a 4.0 except is is not radio friendly and it's not an original. But it's a firm 3.5.
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Post by debjorgo on May 11, 2012 23:44:31 GMT -5
This song just popped up on my Rock Best Zune Playlist, right after It's All Over Now by the Stones and before a live version of What it's Like by Everlast.
Sounded good. Can I use a point 6 for my rating?
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