Comments on: Fairy Tale Fest: Ten Postmodern Pop Fairytales for your iPod, Part Two!

By: The Weekly Lowdown: 5/6-5/12

The Weekly Lowdown: 5/6-5/12 — Thu, 12 May 2011 22:04:53 +0000

[…] culture and literature, I thought you might enjoy Postmodern Pop Fairytales for Your iPod, Part 1 + Part 2. You might be surprised by some of the […]

By: Miranda

Miranda — Mon, 09 May 2011 12:30:11 +0000

In reply to Russell.

Save the elves!

I had a pair one school year and loved them – all the princesses I dreamed up were never interacting with princes at all. They were too busy going on quests, saving the elves, and rescuing their best friends in a rather might-this-be-latent-bisexuality sort of a way…

By: Russell

Russell — Mon, 09 May 2011 12:02:39 +0000

As a result of looking at this post, I’ve once again watched the Clark’s Magic Steps ad, and it reminded me how much I wanted those shoes as a child. Damn you, inappropriate gender-directed marketing for children!

By: Aisling Kenny

Aisling Kenny — Sat, 07 May 2011 23:31:42 +0000

In reply to Miranda. *flaps around* Oh man, I know an unhealthy amount of them. When I was a kid, my lullabies were always morally dubious folk songs, so yeah. XD I hope 'Willie Taylor' will feature, that song is completely kickass. Strident ladies with pistols ftw!

By: Miranda

Miranda — Sat, 07 May 2011 15:00:47 +0000

In reply to Rainicorn.

Re: Current 93, that the one with the refrain, “It’s the faaaather of your CHILD!” ? I think I remember hearing that one – have a few friends who own much more of Current 93’s stuff than I do.

I definitely think it’s an influence on “The Hazards of Love”. That’s a brilliant album (was fantastic live, too), although I think it’s disappointing that Janet becomes the rather passive Margaret. The Queen is awesome, though. When I saw their Hazards of Love gig I was sort of rooting for the queen… she just has more powerful songs and stuff… :D

By: Miranda

Miranda — Sat, 07 May 2011 14:57:15 +0000

In reply to Aisling Kenny. Ooh, thanks for this! You might enjoy a post we've got coming up next week on folk songs that feature strident ladies with pistols :D.

By: Aisling Kenny

Aisling Kenny — Sat, 07 May 2011 13:03:54 +0000

In reply to Russell.

Fairies kidnapping people? I think this may be relevant to your interests.
‘Renardyne’, which I ~think is a song from Ulster originally (although there seem to be a lot of Norwegian versions on YouTube?), and essentially a song about werewolf rape/kidnap. ‘Cept it’s a were-fox.

Yeah, folk songs are pretty reprehensible. I don’t know ANY that actually involve princessy-type things, not that end well anyway.

By: Rainicorn

Rainicorn — Sat, 07 May 2011 10:31:54 +0000

I have to add “The Musical Box” by Genesis – a very dark and twisted take on Old King Cole, and a terrific song to boot!

Current 93 also did a version of “Tamlin”, which is very creepy, and I think it might also have been an influence on The Decemberists’ album “The Hazards of Love”.

By: Russell

Russell — Fri, 06 May 2011 11:59:43 +0000

In reply to Miranda. To be clear: I think the women in Strange are believable, not necessarily "strong" or the sort of role model I'd want my God-daughter adopting (Ha! employment of pseudo-parental responsibility). They do, as I recall, play rather vital parts however.

By: Miranda

Miranda — Fri, 06 May 2011 10:58:34 +0000

In reply to Russell.

Mind you, I’ve never hidden my love for Paramore – I’m a full on fangirl. As you know, haha, from experience. I own a shirt and everything. :D

I wish Benjamin Zephaniah and Eliza Carthy had done a whole album together. I think they work really well together.

I’ve recently started Jonathan Strange, actually! Enjoying it so far… I’m not very far in and haven’t met many women yet but it’s wonderful writing …