 The Boy With The Arab Strap (1998) [ larger cover art ] |
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| Cynaera (In a hammock under my own vine and fig tree.) | Posted: Dec 02, 2011 - 14:45 I love this song, even though I now know what an Arab strap is, and I'll NEVER be able to un-see it in my mind. It has enough of a tune that maybe it could be whistled, or just hummed, rather than have actual lyrics.  |
| linden (Santa Cruz, CA) | Posted: Dec 02, 2011 - 14:44 gabrielle7nt wrote: Not sure I see the point in this toy. Or in this song. That's because the point is in his chest.  |
| madebytim (Denmark) | Posted: Dec 02, 2011 - 14:40 Brilliant |
| Proclivities (Carrboro, NC) | Posted: Jul 29, 2011 - 11:40 Walrus_Gumbo wrote: Anyone else hearing a Donovan clone with this? The singer has a similar voice and inflections - they are both from Glasgow. |
| rdo (DC) | Posted: May 27, 2011 - 10:25  |
| gabrielle7nt (Palo Alto, CA) | Posted: Mar 25, 2011 - 06:59 Not sure I see the point in this toy. Or in this song. |
| ginger (Connecticut) | Posted: Jan 21, 2011 - 13:53 Huh...I'm pretty sure this was used as the theme for a UK television show called "Teachers". The song caught my ear because of that. Otherwise, I don't think it would have at all. |
| ick (The 619) | Posted: Jan 21, 2011 - 13:53 sirdroseph wrote: This is a real hit and miss band; this is one of their hits! I'd hate to hear any of the stuff not considered a hit. Subject matter notwithstanding, I have to agree with fredriley... they are twee. |
| oilydwarf | Posted: Nov 19, 2010 - 11:15 fredriley wrote: Ah, it's the masters and mistresses of twee . Again. There was a B&S number only a few hours back, and it was easily as tedious as this one. This lot are the embodiment, the definition, the very essence of twee. They make St Etienne sound like death metal. Arab strap? Twee?!! |
| fredriley (Nottingham, UK) | Posted: Nov 19, 2010 - 11:11 Ah, it's the masters and mistresses of twee . Again. There was a B&S number only a few hours back, and it was easily as tedious as this one. This lot are the embodiment, the definition, the very essence of twee. They make St Etienne sound like death metal. |
| pkahl (Maidenhead, England) | Posted: Nov 19, 2010 - 11:09 Saw them at Reading Festival a few years back - brilliant, brilliant, brilliant!!! |
| sirdroseph (Tokyo) | Posted: May 12, 2010 - 13:03 kurtster wrote: Well alrighty then ... This as they say, changes everything. Heard it here for years, never rated it. Liked the bouncy feel, but I'm going to listen more closely to the lyrics next time around, then give it a rating.  Don't do it! That is why I don't listen to lyrics unless they are so obviously catchy or profound they find you without effort. This is music, not a poetry reading or philisophical discussion. |
| sirdroseph (Tokyo) | Posted: May 12, 2010 - 13:00 This is a real hit and miss band; this is one of their hits! |
| hippiechick (topsy turvy land) | Posted: May 12, 2010 - 12:51 Darkmatter wrote: Thank you! I have been trying to find the answer to this for a while. |
| kurtster (Area code 216) | Posted: Apr 10, 2010 - 19:03 Darkmatter wrote: Well alrighty then ... This as they say, changes everything. Heard it here for years, never rated it. Liked the bouncy feel, but I'm going to listen more closely to the lyrics next time around, then give it a rating. |
| srose96 (grandma's house) | Posted: Feb 06, 2010 - 16:06 j7 wrote: These guys(?)......are exceptionally annoying. The winners of the "New Wimps Of The 21st Century", 2009. What classifies a wimp? |
| j7 (Earth's largest mountain) | Posted: Dec 05, 2009 - 20:57 These guys(?)......are exceptionally annoying. The winners of the "New Wimps Of The 21st Century", 2009. |
| Casa_Blanca (Quillan, France) | Posted: Jul 01, 2009 - 06:54 keller1 wrote: The third worst band on the RP playlist, close runnerup to Cake and Radiohead. do you keep a list? |
| MojoJojo (Indianapolis, IN USA) | Posted: Feb 24, 2009 - 15:00 The song title isn't as disturbing as the lyrics. |
| lwilkinson (North Am-Home of the Last of the Rugged Individualists) | Posted: Feb 24, 2009 - 14:56 reason06 wrote: what is the point of singing about this? Well................"The boy with the Arab Strap" has a better lyrical sound to it than singing....."the boy with little blue pill" now doesn't it?  |
| vandal (arriving somewhere, but not here. . .) | Posted: Dec 23, 2008 - 10:18 meh |
| keller1 (In A Gadda Da Vida, Baby) | Posted: Dec 23, 2008 - 10:16 The third worst band on the RP playlist, close runnerup to Cake and Radiohead. |
| aristoteles (Spain) | Posted: Dec 23, 2008 - 10:16 Not bad for a very simple 3 chord song....6 or maybe 7? |
| squidish (Squishing around in the SF Bay) | Posted: Dec 23, 2008 - 10:14 Sounds a little like 1970's Kinks. |
| reason06 (Kansas City MO) | Posted: Jul 18, 2008 - 16:55 philbertr wrote: See Darkmatter's entry below. It is a curious song/album title. what is the point of singing about this? |
| philbertr (Hurricane Target Florida) | Posted: Jul 18, 2008 - 11:44 reason06 wrote: Belle and Sebastion are from the 70's?
What is an arab strap? See Darkmatter's entry below. It is a curious song/album title. |
| tclodes (Oklahoma City) | Posted: Jul 18, 2008 - 11:39 What an efficient device. |
| marcucho | Posted: May 16, 2008 - 12:50 Great Song, definitely love it. takes you to 70's even if you didnt lived in that time and its recent band |
| Shesdifferent (Just visiting this planet waiting for the ticket home) | Posted: May 16, 2008 - 12:39 I used to really like this song, but now I'm finding it monotonous.... |
| lwilkinson (North Am-Home of the Last of the Individualists) | Posted: May 16, 2008 - 12:38 Reading all the comments ............. hhmmmmmmm ...... oh god ........... now I've got a vision in my head ............ the band is singing and every one of them is wearing only ........... an Arab Strap .....  |
| jlind (Chicago, IL) | Posted: May 16, 2008 - 12:37 Darkmatter wrote: I would have never guessed |
| Geecheeboy (under a crescent moon and palmetto tree) | Posted: Mar 14, 2008 - 12:38 Has the sound of a group wearing matching powder blue gingham shirts with scarfs tied at the neck, but that Arab Strap thing sure negates that image. |
| lemmoth (NYC) | Posted: Mar 14, 2008 - 12:37 Walrus_Gumbo wrote: Anyone else hearing a Donovan clone with this? And who was Donovan a clone of ??? |
| burdell | Posted: Dec 11, 2007 - 04:17 Channeling Bart Simpson: Do not click on wikipedia links on RP. Do not click on wikipedia links on RP.Do not click on wikipedia links on RP.Do not click on wikipedia links on RP.Do not click on wikipedia links on RP.Do not click on wikipedia links on RP.Do not click on wikipedia links on RP.Do not click on wikipedia links on RP.Do not click on wikipedia links on RP. |
| d00kie (In Cubicle Hell!) | Posted: Oct 09, 2007 - 08:21 Darkmatter wrote:  |
| DoctorHooey (/etc) | Posted: Aug 07, 2007 - 12:17 Good to hear this, though there are so so many good songs on this album. How about a little "Sleep the Clock Around"? I guess I'm gonna have to spin the whole thing when I get home. |
| MrsAustin (New Hampshire) | Posted: May 05, 2007 - 06:57 Lensles wrote: Turn up them hand claps 'cause I love music!
Hmmmm, I think more cowbell, though I hold no hope that more cowbell would help this pitiful song.  |
| pinto (west meade) | Posted: May 05, 2007 - 06:34 Walrus_Gumbo wrote: Anyone else hearing a Donovan clone with this?
No but I hear Tommy James and the Shondells singing "Draggin the Line" |
| mbritsc | Posted: Mar 03, 2007 - 10:51 the song is so nice and innocent sounding. Darkmatter wrote: |
| Darkmatter (Sweden) | Posted: Jan 17, 2007 - 07:25 pannaramma wrote: Has anybody else looked up to see what an arab strap is? Or am I the only one who didn't know?
Wikipedia entry   |
| pannaramma (From Away) | Posted: Dec 19, 2006 - 05:05 Has anybody else looked up to see what an arab strap is? Or am I the only one who didn't know? |
| tsw (Oklahoma) | Posted: Dec 04, 2006 - 17:57 Walrus_Gumbo wrote: Anyone else hearing a Donovan clone with this?
You nailed it for me, in terms of what I hear. "There is a Mountain" comes to mind. Not that I don't find it a good tune on its own, quite enjoy it. |
| Walrus_Gumbo | Posted: Dec 04, 2006 - 15:20 Anyone else hearing a Donovan clone with this? |
| azdcryan (Sunny Arizona) | Posted: Dec 04, 2006 - 15:19 Gracias. |
| sadierabbit | Posted: Dec 04, 2006 - 15:18 Love my Belle and Sebastian. Perfect pick-me-up while I'm working late! |
| raven121x (NorthWest) | Posted: Dec 04, 2006 - 15:18 I'm really not trying to be a wet blanket, but are the handclaps annoying anyone else?  |
| Lensles (Baton Rouge, LA) | Posted: Sep 22, 2006 - 11:36 Turn up them hand claps 'cause I love music! |
| RobK (Leucadia, CA) | Posted: Sep 22, 2006 - 11:33 DoofusGeezer wrote: mindless pap with annoying handclaps to give the impression something is going on - and the boy can't sing hsi way out of a wet paper bag
Upload your album to RP, I'm sure we'd all love to hear it! |
| DoofusGeezer (Toronto, ON (Just beyond the Twilight Zone)) | Posted: Aug 24, 2006 - 05:03 mindless pap with annoying handclaps to give the impression something is going on - and the boy can't sing hsi way out of a wet paper bag |
| MinMan (Bay Area, CA) | Posted: Jul 25, 2006 - 22:46 This one bounces along nicely... not too deep. |
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