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Fleet Foxes — Sim Sala Bim
Album: Helplessness Blues
Avg rating:
6.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1372









Released: 2011
Length: 3:11
Plays (last 30 days): 2
He was so kind, such a gentleman tied to the oceanside
Lighting a match on the suitcase's latch in the fading of night

Ruffled the fur of the collie 'neath the table
Ran out the door through the dark
Carved out his initials in the bark

Then the Earth shook, that was all that it took for the dream to break
All the loose ends would surround me again in the shape of your face

What makes me love you despite the reservations?
What do I see in your eyes
Besides my reflection hanging high?

Are you off somewhere reciting incantations?
Sim sala bim on your tongue
Carving off the hair of someone's young

Remember when you had me cut your hair?
Call me Delilah then I wouldn't care
Comments (105)add comment
Got a chuckle out of this song title.  There used to be a band in Boston called Bim Scala Bim
I love Fleet Foxes and their beautiful harmony.  Some overly critical person said they were off key, not to my ears. I was a music student for many years.  
A Solid 2.  Musically incoherent.; sophomoric lyrics.
 vandal wrote:


Let us know when a Grammy nomination, or even the award itself actually indicates something meaningful. See also: Milli Vanilli 


I heard those dudes are dead.. Or comprised in some way
 Jonathon wrote:


Let us know when you get nominated for a Grammy.


Let us know when a Grammy nomination, or even the award itself actually indicates something meaningful. See also: Milli Vanilli 
Sounds like you're trying to describe jazz. So perhaps your taste is simply pre-modern?

 birdland wrote:

Off key.
Out of sync.
Unconnected.
Noisy busy.


Not well thought out or executed at all.

And this is not a negative review, it's constructive criticism.

Please. Learn how to compose and play music instead of wanking in the basement.
 



Be thankful folk!
 birdland wrote:
Off key.
Out of sync.
Unconnected.
Noisy busy.


Not well thought out or executed at all.

And this is not a negative review, it's constructive criticism.

Please. Learn how to compose and play music instead of wanking in the basement.
 
 
Sounds pretty negative to me.
And that's Ok. 
They deserve it.
As I listen to RP, every now and then a song reaches out of my speakers and grabs my ear. The lovely acoustic guitar riff in the beginning of this song  did just that. I can’t believe this song is nine years old and I’m only hearing it now for the first time. Love it. 
I don't look deep into the lyrics, but this song sounds dreamy to me. I like the voice of Fleet Foxes and their beautiful harmony.
Sublime in a new way. Hair nose?
 thewiseking wrote:
hipster crap. on the plus side, if this is playing in your coffee shop you can charge 4 bucks for an 8 0z cup of coffee or  a chai latte
 
Yeah, lame stuff. And that would be $10.00 Canadian after exchange.
 birdland wrote:
Off key.
Out of sync.
Unconnected.
Noisy busy.


Not well thought out or executed at all.

And this is not a negative review, it's constructive criticism.

Please. Learn how to compose and play music instead of wanking in the basement.
 
 

Let us know when you get nominated for a Grammy.
 birdland wrote:
Off key.
Out of sync.
Unconnected.
Noisy busy.


Not well thought out or executed at all.

And this is not a negative review, it's constructive criticism.

Please. Learn how to compose and play music instead of wanking in the basement.
 
 
I agree, it"s a mess
 Byronape wrote:

I get where you are going with that and for the most part I can see where you come from...  but I'm really not sure if I'd classify The Decemberists as nu-folk. 

Come to think about it, I'm not sure how I'd classify them.

 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baroque_pop
Harmonies remind me of early Hollies in a nice way.
 birdland wrote:
Off key.
Out of sync.
Unconnected.
Noisy busy.


Not well thought out or executed at all.

And this is not a negative review, it's constructive criticism.

Please. Learn how to compose and play music instead of wanking in the basement.
 
 

simply stating that your criticism is constructive does not a constructive critique make. please learn how to compose?  please learn how to provide constructive criticism.
 Byronape wrote:

I get where you are going with that and for the most part I can see where you come from...  but I'm really not sure if I'd classify The Decemberists as nu-folk. 

Come to think about it, I'm not sure how I'd classify them.

 

New Wave Sea Shanty
 jelgator@bellsouth.net wrote:
Man, do I hate this band.
 

Man, do I LOVE this band! 
 BCarn wrote:

Hipster shmipster. WGAF. This is just good music. Try enjoying instead of associating it with something.
 
Zactly!




Such a great band.          :o)      Naugatuck, Connecticut.
This is a great song by a great band! Just enjoy the song for what it is instead of lumping it into a genre and demographic. I'm ignoring all the 'music critics' here and just enjoying the wonderful tunes RP consistently plays. 
 thewiseking wrote:
hipster crap. on the plus side, if this is playing in your coffee shop you can charge 4 bucks for an 8 0z cup of coffee or  a chai latte
 
Hipster shmipster. WGAF. This is just good music. Try enjoying instead of associating it with something.
hipster crap. on the plus side, if this is playing in your coffee shop you can charge 4 bucks for an 8 0z cup of coffee or  a chai latte
Man, do I hate this band.
Man, do I hate this band.
OK enough reverb already. It's time to come out of the cave now boys.
 birdland wrote:
Off key.
Out of sync.
Unconnected.
Noisy busy.
Not well thought out or executed at all.

And this is not a negative review, it's constructive criticism.

Please. Learn how to compose and play music instead of wanking in the basement.
 

 
Although it's been 4 years since you wrote your self proclaimed "constructive criticism", you are still full of shit and have no idea of what you speak. your assessment is ridiculous and not constructive at all other wise you would have provided an in depth explanation of why you think  the song is "Off Key", Out of Sync" etc. 
Like someone else wrote, when does your band go on? 
 birdland wrote:
Off key.
Out of sync.
Unconnected.
Noisy busy.
Not well thought out or executed at all.

And this is not a negative review, it's constructive criticism.

Please. Learn how to compose and play music instead of wanking in the basement.
 

 
Sounds pretty negative to me.
 hayduke2 wrote:
Image result for jonny quest cartoon

"it's 3 am and you were repeating it again and again Honey, "Sim Sala Bim" please find out what the hell you're babbling about..."

 
Heh, heh!
Good band, good song. What's with the low ratings folks? WTF!
Image result for jonny quest cartoon

"it's 3 am and you were repeating it again and again Honey, "Sim Sala Bim" please find out what the hell you're babbling about..."
I miss Fleet Foxes.  Hope that they will produce some new stuff in the future. 
Nope.  Not the Fleet Foxes
Comparable, not similar to, Simon and Garfunkel. They, too, have not a huge range of tonal heights but do, though, used it to create a great different amount of songs. Not that I grew up in that time, but it makes me weirdly nostalgic to older times.
Good for rainy days!
There could be so much more to these guys than the over-reverberated vocals, but it's just too soon to tell.
Nice instrumental at the end doesn't save this one, IMO. 
Don't like it, wouldn't buy it.  My opinion. 3.
 birdland wrote:
Off key.
Out of sync.
Unconnected.
Noisy busy.
Not well thought out or executed at all.

And this is not a negative review, it's constructive criticism.

Please. Learn how to compose and play music instead of wanking in the basement.
 

 
I don't believe you think you are giving constructive criticism. For one, your comment is based on your opinion poorly disguised as a review of music theory fundamentals. And two, music is subjective. If you don't care for the song I can understand, but your criticism is not of factual music theory.
 birdland wrote:
Off key.
Out of sync.
Unconnected.
Noisy busy.
Not well thought out or executed at all.

And this is not a negative review, it's constructive criticism.

Please. Learn how to compose and play music instead of wanking in the basement.
 

 
Ha! Rock n' Roll wouldn't exist if there hadn't been a lot of wanking in the basement as you call it.  When does your band go on stage?
Awful. Drivel. The vocals in this band make my ears bleed.
Fleet Foxes are, IMHO, one of the best newer bands. The only band that I've ever considered traveling over 100 miles to see a concert.
I like this song, though it's not one of my top faves by them. 
I agree with the grating comment...  
 NeuroGeek wrote:
From what I've heard from this group on RP, it seems that they stay in one tonal modality.  Harmonically, I'm not picking up a lot of range, especially with the vocals.  It's getting a bit grating.

But that's just me.  My sampling rate is likely low.   

 
Why is that an issue when listening to FF on RP?  Its not like they are played constantly here.  If they are not your cup of tea, fine.  But to call the occasional play here grating--that's a bit rich.
From what I've heard from this group on RP, it seems that they stay in one tonal modality.  Harmonically, I'm not picking up a lot of range, especially with the vocals.  It's getting a bit grating.

But that's just me.  My sampling rate is likely low.   
 Agreed.   birdland wrote:
Off key.
Out of sync.
Unconnected.
Noisy busy.


Not well thought out or executed at all.

And this is not a negative review, it's constructive criticism.

Please. Learn how to compose and play music instead of wanking in the basement.
 

 


 birdland wrote:
...Please. Learn how to compose and play music instead of wanking in the basement.
 Don't make me LARP. You wouldn't like me when I LARP.
Off key.
Out of sync.
Unconnected.
Noisy busy.


Not well thought out or executed at all.

And this is not a negative review, it's constructive criticism.

Please. Learn how to compose and play music instead of wanking in the basement.
 
Liking the hammered dulcimer and sweet harmony.
Love these guys. 

Touted as being 'new folk', well, I guess new as in they are young and 'current' - aside from that, it's really beautiful music.
Get a real cultural buzz from these guys, deep stirring in the soul. Classic. 
One of the new folk bands, not as good as the old ones. But a big hype arround them. Not my taste!
Excellent band. Good to hear..here.
4 —> 1

My hate for this tune and this band is growing to the point that I want to stick an ice pick in my ears. Oh wait... I can just turn the volume down.
 casey1024 wrote:
Oh well.  I enjoy this song very much and like this guy's voice and I am old enough to remember America.  Fleet Foxes.  Nice.
 

Me, too!  I don't hear America at all....  like this very much.  (Like America, too)
 Proclivities wrote:

An interesting theory, but not likely; I imagine plenty of people over thirty like this band.  Anyhow, I hear very little similarity between this tune and "A Horse With No Name", other than the presence of acoustic guitars, but we all can hear different things.
 
I agree Proclivities. I agree! This is far less pop and more 'earthy'. I am far over thirty years of age and like this. Contrast given...my son who's 16 yrs. old LOVES this band. It's refreshing to hear a band create a tune that evolves and changes within a few minutes in a logical, musical way. Much of this music was so prevalent throughout the 70s and is very rare these days. Just my thoughts.
this is soooo bad!... 
 hewijew wrote:
What's happening? Sounds like two tracks are playing at the same time.
 
Yeh, I'm hearing the same, it's really bizarre!
Programming error!!!

Two songs playing at the same time!!!!!  Sounds hideous. 
What's happening? Sounds like two tracks are playing at the same time.
 rsfc_carp wrote:

I wonder if the division between like and dislike depends on whether or not the listener is old enough to remember 'A Horse with No Name' by 'America'.

Because that's what they remind me of and I can't like it.
 
 
An interesting theory, but not likely; I imagine plenty of people over thirty like this band.  Anyhow, I hear very little similarity between this tune and "A Horse With No Name", other than the presence of acoustic guitars, but we all can hear different things.


Oh well.  I enjoy this song very much and like this guy's voice and I am old enough to remember America.  Fleet Foxes.  Nice.
I don't hear America in this tune. 
Very tired of hearing this here.
 rsfc_carp wrote:

I wonder if the division between like and dislike depends on whether or not the listener is old enough to remember 'A Horse with No Name' by 'America'.

Because that's what they remind me of and I can't like it.
 
 



Interesting. I'm old enough. I remember. I like that song. :). And speaking of old, high-pitched voices, I like Neil Young also. Oh well

driving in the Languedoc on a sunny day with the Fleet Foxes playing, kinda works : )
 Byronape wrote:

I get where you are going with that and for the most part I can see where you come from...  but I'm really not sure if I'd classify The Decemberists as nu-folk. 

Come to think about it, I'm not sure how I'd classify them.

 

I know how but this is a family forum.{#Wink}
 adroc wrote:

Really? There's nothing unpleasant about the lead singer's voice, and the harmonies sound quite good IMO. This is one of those vary polarizing bands that I don't quite understand why they're so polarizing. I can definitely understand why Radiohead are polarizing, but not Fleet Foxes.
 
I wonder if the division between like and dislike depends on whether or not the listener is old enough to remember 'A Horse with No Name' by 'America'.

Because that's what they remind me of and I can't like it.
 
 vandal wrote:
barf a la carte 
 

Come on now, that's in very bad taste.  And, it tastes bad.
First Fleet Foxes song that didn't make me want to throw the speakers across the room. Glad someone is sifting thru the dross to find gems like this.
I tried...but they are not for me.
I bought this album, so far it has not overwhelmed me. I will continue to listen to it, because it has a lot of good qualities, I just hope it will grow on me .
 tutakea wrote:
the singer´s voice ruins everything. unbearable!
 
Really? There's nothing unpleasant about the lead singer's voice, and the harmonies sound quite good IMO. This is one of those vary polarizing bands that I don't quite understand why they're so polarizing. I can definitely understand why Radiohead are polarizing, but not Fleet Foxes.

the singer´s voice ruins everything. unbearable!
 Sjaaks wrote:
On one hand i really like this album, on the other hand i constantly get the feeling they're trying too hard, especially after the song "Helplessness Blues". Throughout this album it's like they're constantly searching for some form of complexity but can't find it... I don't know, i get lost in some songs and then it loses its charm. But that's happened to me before and after a couple of more listens i really like it, so who knows...

This one on its own however; 8
 

So, i listened to this album a bunch of times now and it still comes by now and then. All in all i really love it! I don't think this is the best song on it though, but the complexity which bothered me at first, is one of the things i love about it now. It's surprising and unpredictable, so yeah, i love it!

 Toke wrote:

Just love the harmonies and acoustic guitar, takes me back to Crosby Stills and Nash, keep playing it Bill I will never tire of it. The whole Album is superb.


 
Those harmonies also remind me of Simon and Garfunkel. The people who claim this band has no talent remind me of the people who say that Neko Case can't sing. They are so obviously wrong that it's hard to wrap your head around it. {#Think}
barf a la carte 
"SIM SALA BIM" - but what came out was only
a "shot in the oven" > 3

Just love the harmonies and acoustic guitar, takes me back to Crosby Stills and Nash, keep playing it Bill I will never tire of it. The whole Album is superb.


8
The Chanting Funks
 fredriley wrote:
This whole Nu-nu-folk, aka alt.folk, aka folk rock, whilst very much flavour of the year, is getting a bit old to these ears. Of all the alt.folk bands (Mumford, Decemberists, etc) the Fleet Foxes are the least interesting and most 'one-paced', as racing pundits say - there seems to be little variation in their material, at least going by what's been played on RP. A nailed on Ho-Hum from the soporific Nottingham jury {#Sleep}
 
I get where you are going with that and for the most part I can see where you come from...  but I'm really not sure if I'd classify The Decemberists as nu-folk. 

Come to think about it, I'm not sure how I'd classify them.

 fredriley wrote:
This whole Nu-nu-folk, aka alt.folk, aka folk rock, whilst very much flavour of the year, is getting a bit old to these ears. Of all the alt.folk bands (Mumford, Decemberists, etc) the Fleet Foxes are the least interesting and most 'one-paced', as racing pundits say - there seems to be little variation in their material, at least going by what's been played on RP. A nailed on Ho-Hum from the soporific Nottingham jury {#Sleep}
 




couldn't agree more. Actually, i liked the previous album. Although it was a bit bland and monotonous, it had a nice sound to it. But this new album, to me, is simply an exact repeat. Seems like they just put in the b-sides from the previous album - since the new songs are just pale incarnations... that's besides the fact that i'm getting quite a bit tired of them
Probably my fourth favorite song on this album.  Quite good, but none of my top three are on the playlist here!  Perhaps I just have weird taste. 
 fredriley wrote:
This whole Nu-nu-folk, aka alt.folk, aka folk rock, whilst very much flavour of the year, is getting a bit old to these ears. Of all the alt.folk bands (Mumford, Decemberists, etc) the Fleet Foxes are the least interesting and most 'one-paced', as racing pundits say - there seems to be little variation in their material, at least going by what's been played on RP. A nailed on Ho-Hum from the soporific Nottingham jury {#Sleep}
 
It goes right along with what I've been listening to on Pandora—-Pentangle station and Doc Watson station. Love the sound they're getting!

I'll give this an 8 until I hear it again—-I was in the kitchen and it was the first time I'd heard it. Sounded real purty to me.
 Sjaaks wrote:
On one hand i really like this album, on the other hand i constantly get the feeling they're trying too hard, especially after the song "Helplessness Blues". Throughout this album it's like they're constantly searching for some form of complexity but can't find it... I don't know, i get lost in some songs and then it loses its charm. But that's happened to me before and after a couple of more listens i really like it, so who knows...

This one on its own however; 8
 

I think that is pretty much how they roll!{#Lol}However, this album is by far the best I have heard from them to date. Especially Bedouin Dress and I like this song a lot too. 8
On one hand i really like this album, on the other hand i constantly get the feeling they're trying too hard, especially after the song "Helplessness Blues". Throughout this album it's like they're constantly searching for some form of complexity but can't find it... I don't know, i get lost in some songs and then it loses its charm. But that's happened to me before and after a couple of more listens i really like it, so who knows...

This one on its own however; 8
 Dave_Mack wrote:
I like it. And I was not fond of their last album.  I was actually kind of excited when the song started — guitar was nice.
 
Very much agree. The first FF album was a real disappointment to me, but this new one is quite awesome. Very dreamy sounding.
I like it. And I was not fond of their last album.  I was actually kind of excited when the song started — guitar was nice.
 Baby_M wrote:
I'm not a Fleet Foxes fan by any means, but I must give them credit for writing a song around one of Hadji's catchphrases from Jonny Quest.
 

hadji
Quite a likable song, even if the inspiration for the title does pre-date Hadji


 peter_james_bond wrote:
 
You may be right Dave. This new album is very good, but I'm still not sure if it's better than their last one.

 

Totally with Dave on this one, this album is far better, give it another listen.
I like the Foxes ok, but I gotta say this album is much better than the last!{#Cheers} Gotta get some Bedouin Dress on here, their best song......evah!{#Yes}
 fredriley wrote:
This whole Nu-nu-folk, aka alt.folk, aka folk rock, whilst very much flavour of the year, is getting a bit old to these ears. Of all the alt.folk bands (Mumford, Decemberists, etc) the Fleet Foxes are the least interesting and most 'one-paced', as racing pundits say - there seems to be little variation in their material, at least going by what's been played on RP. A nailed on Ho-Hum from the soporific Nottingham jury {#Sleep}
 

Bad Bad comment NJ
This is Great !  FF are another band I wouldn't have discovered if it wasn't for Radio Paradise.  Must add happy BD to Mr. Bond as well {#Music}
 DaveInVA wrote:
I think this is there best stuff yet...
  
You may be right Dave. This new album is very good, but I'm still not sure if it's better than their last one.

 smackiepipe wrote:
That's one thing I've noticed about most Fleet Foxes songs I've heard. If you're not impressed at the beginning, just wait a minute because the song will probably take off in a different direction.
 
And then, after you puke your guts out, you can really begin to hate them. . . 
 
That's one thing I've noticed about most Fleet Foxes songs I've heard. If you're not impressed at the beginning, just wait a minute because the song will probably take off in a different direction.
This album is EXQUISITE just like their first.

I had to look up the title, which was confounding me when I heard it. Here is where Sim Sala Bim came from:

Dante was known throughout the world under the name Dante the Magician, working in vaudeville, burlesque, legitimate theatre, films, and in later years, television.<11> Dante and his troupe, consisting of between 25 to 40 performers, made several global trips and appeared in many U.S. theaters. His stage trademark was to utter three nonsense words: "Sim Sala Bim",<12> (taken from the lyrics of a Danish children's song<13><14><15><16>) during his performances to acknowledge applause.<17> He can be seen using these words in the Swedish 1931 feature Dantes mysterier<18> (Dante's Mysteries<19>) and in the 1942 Laurel and Hardy comedy A-Haunting We Will Go.<20>

While the first half of the song does not work for me, I like the guitar at the end.  Reminds me of old Loggins and Messina, Motherlode era.
I'm not a Fleet Foxes fan by any means, but I must give them credit for writing a song around one of Hadji's catchphrases from Jonny Quest.
This whole Nu-nu-folk, aka alt.folk, aka folk rock, whilst very much flavour of the year, is getting a bit old to these ears. Of all the alt.folk bands (Mumford, Decemberists, etc) the Fleet Foxes are the least interesting and most 'one-paced', as racing pundits say - there seems to be little variation in their material, at least going by what's been played on RP. A nailed on Ho-Hum from the soporific Nottingham jury {#Sleep}
I think this is there best stuff yet...
Love myself some fleet foxes...and new foxes is even better.
Pretty song.
Lots of foxes these days!
...cool cover...