It was March, 1988 that The Vaselines of Scotland released their EP (extended play) Dying for It. Composed of four (4) songs, the performance offers glimpses of alternative pop/rock, alternative indie/rock, indie pop and twee pop. Musicians contributing to the performance included Eugene Kelly on vocals and guitars, Frances McKee on vocals and guitars, James Seenan on bass, Charles Kelly on drums, David Keegan on guitar and Sophie Pragnell on viola.
Dying for It opens the EP of the same name as a bit of an awkward teenage song craving for physical intimacy. Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee sing of having time with little to do and a floor seemingly begging for action.
As mentioned here, Molly’s Lips “is about the Scottish actress Molly Weir, who played Hazel The McWitch in late ’70s/early ’80s BBC children’s show Rentaghost.” As Eugene Kelly was quoted in the same place, Weir “always struck us as a great character, so we just wanted to sing a song about kissing her.”
Teenage Superstars is the first of two songs from Dying for It to cast the singer into a starring role of sorts for Jesus. The twist for this song is the notion of the band being unburdened among teenagers for the band’s aspiration beyond angst while being mourned by angels for efforts to sacrifice their soul in reaching for reaching fame.
Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam, as noted here, “is a parody on the Christian children’s hymn I’ll Be a Sunbeam” as composed by Edwin O. Excell. The song indicates that Jesus would prefer doing without the advocacy for souls that The Vaselines could perform, yet they declare their choosing not to do so.
Matt – Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Matt Lynn Digital 