Humour...

[Intothewind]

So this has been a source of contention for a bit on here. There isn't much humour or levity in NMA songs 'Bury the Hatchet' is an exception I think, but still it's hardly laugh a minute.

I think this perceived lack of humour could be one element that could have adversely affected the bands media profile and popularity. The media generally has a knowing, sarcastic tone that is miles away from the earnest, straight forwardness of NMA.

I am from Manchester UK and almost everything I(we?) say has an ironic and sarcastic edge and that includes comments I've made on here, you may not have noticed - I face a constant internal battle to keep this down to a minimum 

I think this goes someway to explaining why homour can get such a mixed response on this board although I must admit it doesn't particularly affect me negatively. In a world full of knowing winks and self-depreciating irony, one of NMA's strengths is they don't play that game, there is something pure about this that I quite like.         

[Space]

The lack of humor is a problem with the band; maybe a reason why they never connected with a larger audience. Perhaps they are laugh riots every second of their everyday lives, but the records they release are extremely dour and humorles. Even the kings of doom and gloom Joy Division displayed humor on their music-for-funerals records (from the album STILL: "You should hear our version of "Louie Louie.") When friggin' Joy Division are seen as having more humor than your band, your band may have a bit of a problem.

The one time I laughed when listening to a NMA album was Justin's response to the "F..k Texas, Sing For Us" chant: "I'll tell them what you said, of course." Why that dry humor doesn't work its way into his songs is puzzling.

[Master Ray]

 

[Shush]

We do have a "joke" topic, but it did not get many additions.

it is here if anyone is interested

http://board.newmodelarmy.org/index.php?topic=7033.msg119651#msg119651

[Pol]

I don't want my music to have humour. I want it to be passionate and thought provoking. If want to humour i will watch a film or comedy tv show. I'm all for a bit of good onstage banter.

[cthulhu]

Well, to me humour is not comedy and for my pov the band has a lot of humour. it's about taking things not seriously and have a sense of self reflection and don't hang on to quarrels or whatever. just see the SPOILER ALERT (ha, ha) impurity/purity handling of life and live of the new, brilliant package of the 2014 shows. if not that pure, honest reaction to a minor fault is humour, then i don't get it. the whole crowd was laughing, i had such a fun moment, feeling so comfortable and alive at that moment, because the incident itself and the reaction to it, was so human and pure and honest and true.

[Space]

I don't want my music to have humour.

Humor is one of the many things that makes us human. To go thirty years without much humor in one's art is kind of odd, no?

Morrissey is the King Of The Mopes...but Morrissey records will always provoke a smile from his listeners. By humor we are not talking about a silly comedy album. Humor in music can be dry, droll, wry, sarcastic, ironic...

"States Radio" has humor.  Wish more of the NMA material did.

[Pol]

I thought it was excellent and brave of band to include the mistake on the dvd/cd most other bands would have edited it out. So yes you make a good point.
I also enjoyed going into hmv and asking for fck Texas sing for us ( pre internet shopping days for me)

[Pol]

Maybe i misinterpreted the thread!

[Intothewind]

(from the album STILL: "You should hear our version of "Louie Louie.") When friggin' Joy Division are seen as having more humor than your band, your band may have a bit of a problem.

I remember an interview with New Order: Q. Who is the laziest member of the band? A. Ian Curtis, he hasn't done anything for years!

There is the old cliche about people becoming comedians as a way not to be bullied at school. Comedy is a social emollient, a way of fitting in. Comedy can also be used as a weapon. Comedians are often very serious and depressive people, used to not expressing how they really feel - comedy is a very serious business.

Whilst it may not ingratiate you to a wider mainstream audience, to not suffer fools gladly, to not be continually ironic and self depreciating: it is a brave move.

[texaspete]

Dour and humourless?

You're talking out your arse as usual.
Humourless because they're full of passion, hope, humanity, redemption and lots more.
Levity wouldn't really fit in that list would it?

I don't think it's affected there popularity ?
Wider commercial success? - Tbet were never bothered and have shunned it at every opportunity. Read up on the missing tooth story / refusal to play A-side etc.

I think it was mainly missing the bus slightly in 93-96.
The wankers at Sony stitching them up.
The delay of a sequel to LOHC.
Illness.
Ride of lad culture / shitpop.

All stuff that the posters from some years back would have replied before me.
So 'intothewind' I think you're wrong and Space, see above.
When are you gonna come out with something worthwhile ?


Getting bored of this ...!

TXP

[Intothewind]

A-ha humour! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBjWq6n0Jt4

[Amandistan]

It gets a mixed response because humor in cultural.  For instance I am traveling now and my biggest struggle is the humor. I do not get the taking the piss of the English humor as. Just as some don't get space's humor because they are English.  To other cultues the english Irony and taking the piss is seen as an insult.  This board is multi-cultural so something such as humor is often misinterperted.

If NMA is humorous, it's dry and English and I didn't catch it. However I notice some as in space Radio and today is a good day.  However I don't always want humor in my music. I am serious and have a strange sense of humor.  I like that NMA's music is serious as it makes me feel less alone.

@Texas Pete.   I don't know how Space's or intothewind's opinion is taking out of their arse or wrong. It's simply their opinion. I think people are now looking for reasons to be angry.

[texaspete]

It's tossing out Ill thought out crap.

Yes, their opinion and this is mine.

No anger whatsoever, caustic maybe but not angry.

[c]

The Ian Curtis line from Still is a self-deprecatory line after the song, not a song lyric. I've heard JS make wry comments over the years (and I can't say I've stacked up vast numbers of gigs) in the same way, starting with the very first gig I went to.

There aren't vast laughs in the lyrics of NMA songs, nor Joy division either. But that doesn't stop the tales that are told being powerful in their own right.

If you want laughs in songs, you need Half Man Half Biscuit. And they're not conspicuous in their commercial success either.