Is there anyone here who can tell me why Rodriguez, (www.sugarman.org) a Detroit-born musician, never made it big in the US? What was it do you imagine about his music which America found so unacceptable or just unappealing?
He has a big following across Australasia and South Africa but not in his own land.
I don't think it's an overstatement to say that I believe that his lack of promotion in the States is the most bewildering oversight in rock history.
Check out the lyrics to Cause below. I can only guess that the unstated question (to which the song is his doleful reply) is something like "Why do you see life as a tragedy?"
Cause,
I lost my job two weeks before Christmas
And I talked to Jesus at the sewer
And the Pope said it was none of his God-damned business
While the rain drank champagne
My Estonian Archangel came and got me wasted
Cause:
the sweetest kiss I ever got is the one I've never tasted
Oh
but they'll take their bonus pay to Molly McDonald,
Neon ladies, beauty is that which obeys, is bought or borrowed
Cause
my heart's become a crooked hotel full of rumours
But it's I who pays the rent for these fingered-face out-of-tuners
and I make 16 solid half hour friendships every evening
Cause
your queen of hearts who is half a stone
And likes to laugh alone is always threatening you with leaving
Oh
but they play those token games on Willy Thompson
And give a medal to replace the son of Mrs. Annie Johnson
Cause
they told me everybody's got to pay their dues
And I explained that I had overpaid them
So overdued I went to the company store
and the clerk there said that they had just been invaded
So I set sail in a teardrop and escaped beneath the doorsill
Cause
the smell of her perfume echoes in my head still
Cause
I see my people trying to drown the sun
In weekends of whiskey sours
Cause
how many times can you wake up
in this comic book and plant flowers?
Check out some of his classics (if you can find them)
Crucify your mind
Sugar Man
Inner City Blues
I wonder
Jane S. Piddy
Establishment Blues
Cause
He has a big following across Australasia and South Africa but not in his own land.
I don't think it's an overstatement to say that I believe that his lack of promotion in the States is the most bewildering oversight in rock history.
Check out the lyrics to Cause below. I can only guess that the unstated question (to which the song is his doleful reply) is something like "Why do you see life as a tragedy?"
Cause,
I lost my job two weeks before Christmas
And I talked to Jesus at the sewer
And the Pope said it was none of his God-damned business
While the rain drank champagne
My Estonian Archangel came and got me wasted
Cause:
the sweetest kiss I ever got is the one I've never tasted
Oh
but they'll take their bonus pay to Molly McDonald,
Neon ladies, beauty is that which obeys, is bought or borrowed
Cause
my heart's become a crooked hotel full of rumours
But it's I who pays the rent for these fingered-face out-of-tuners
and I make 16 solid half hour friendships every evening
Cause
your queen of hearts who is half a stone
And likes to laugh alone is always threatening you with leaving
Oh
but they play those token games on Willy Thompson
And give a medal to replace the son of Mrs. Annie Johnson
Cause
they told me everybody's got to pay their dues
And I explained that I had overpaid them
So overdued I went to the company store
and the clerk there said that they had just been invaded
So I set sail in a teardrop and escaped beneath the doorsill
Cause
the smell of her perfume echoes in my head still
Cause
I see my people trying to drown the sun
In weekends of whiskey sours
Cause
how many times can you wake up
in this comic book and plant flowers?
Check out some of his classics (if you can find them)
Crucify your mind
Sugar Man
Inner City Blues
I wonder
Jane S. Piddy
Establishment Blues
Cause
