Whilst on the subject of Pulp, and making the point that people may only realise how amazing they were/are now with this reunion tour, I have to draw your attention to one of the songs that proves this. Everybody knows the singles, and the singalongs, and what amazing slices of pop history they were. That is the showcase of many a band, including Pulp. However, the true depth and brilliance of a band is often illustrated in some of the deeper, more probing album tracks. Tracks where they have all the room to maneouvre and illustrate their true capabilities. It is generally tracks like this that truly enamour me to bands, rather than the radio friendly hits, as you get the full hit of the flavour. Thats probably why ‘The Queen is Dead’ is my favourite Smiths song, because it was a sprawling piece of majesty (pun intended) that was brilliantly virtuoso, yet tightly controlled, and epic in its nature. Yet it wouldn’t have lasted 45 seconds on day time radio. It also showed how great The Smiths were both as a group, and individually, with every aspect stellar in its own way, yet coming together to create an incredible synergy in the form of that epic song.

Most people probably aren’t too familiar with ‘David’s Last Summer’, but I’ve quickly formed the opinion that its Pulp’s magnum opus of sorts, or at least, their equivalent to ‘The Queen is Dead’. Its seductive, dynamic, mesmerising, and constantly leading you to a more intriguing and exciting place. In terms of Cocker’s vocals, the spoken word approach is absolutely perfect for the emotive, poetic story he unravels, yet its still just an utterly normal context of ‘a day in the life’. The band absolutely flourish, with an array of musical styles constantly changing, yet simultaneously all meticulously powerful and controlled, before building into a fitting crescendo and frenetic climax in a a perfect marriage with the vocals. I love everything about it, the overall synergy is mindblowing, the story, the setting, the end of summer, the idyllic day, the grand musical delivery. I’m still mesmerised by something new in it every time I hear it… which is ludicrously regular, I have to admit.

Maybe some of my enthusiasm of it might rub off on you, maybe it won’t. But give it a shot anyway… At the very least its a clear indicator of how accomplished they are. And I think everybody should acknowledge that…

We made our way slowly down the path that led to the stream,
swaying slightly,
drunk on the sun, I suppose.
It was a real summer’s day.
The air humming with heat whilst the trees beckoned us into their cool green shade.
And when we reached the stream I put a bottle of cider into the water to chill,
both of us knowing that we’d drink it long before it had the chance.

This is where you want to be,
there’s nothing else but you and her,
and how you spend your time.

Walking to parties whilst it’s still light outside.
Peter was upset at first but now he’s in the garden talking to somebody Polish.
Why don’t we set up a tent and spend the night out there?
And we can pretend that we’re somewhere foreign,
but we’ll still be able to use the fridge if we get hungry, or too hot.

This is where you want to be,
there’s nothing else but you and her,
and how you use your time.

We went driving.

This is where you want to be,
there’s nothing else but you and her,
and how you use your time.

The room smells faintly of sun tan lotion
in the evening sunlight and when you take off your clothes,
you’re still wearing a small pale skin bikini.
The sound of children playing in the park comes from faraway,
and time slows down to the speed of the specks of dust
floating in the light from the window.
Summer leaves fall from Summer trees.
Summer grazes fade on Summer knees.
Summer nights are slowly getting long.
Summer’s going so hurry soon it’ll be gone.
So we went out to the park at midnight one last time.
Past the abandoned glasshouse stuffed full of dying palms.
Past the bandstand down to the boating lake.
And we swam in the moonlight for what seemed like hours,
until we couldn’t swim anymore.
And as we came out of the water we sensed a certain movement in the air,
and we both shivered slightly and ran to collect our clothes.
And as we walked home we could hear the leaves curling and turning
brown on the trees,
and the birds deciding where to go for Winter.
And the whole sound,
the whole sound of Summer packing it’s bags and preparing to leave town.
Oh but I want you to stay.
Oh please stay for a while,
oh I want you to stay,

oh I want you to stay