Last week, Avon came calling, but nobody wanted to hear about what Fred was getting up to in the back seat.
This week, we take flight... I couldn't believe how many bands shared their name with Macca's...
WINGS #1
Paul Simon had a little brother called Eddie. In 1967, Eddie joined forces with Oz Bach, a former member of Spanky & Our Gang, and Pam Robins of the Serendipity Singers to form... Wings! Eddie left by the time they made any records. They're only the band The Beatles could have been.
I know what you're thinking: "That's not real!" Funny you should say that...
THE WINGS #2
Also coming together in the late 60s, Wings (the definite article) were Afrobeat pioneers from Nigeria formed by front-man Spud Nathan. They're only the band The Beatles could have been. Here's their most popular tune...
WINGS #3
I realise I'm in the minority, but I do find Paul McCartney's Wings far less annoying than The Beatles. I mean, Mull of Kintyre is horrible, and the less that's said about Give Ireland Back To The Irish, the better. But C Moon. Band On The Run. Jet. Silly Love Songs. Live And Let Die. Maybe I'm Amazed... I'd rather listen to those than anything on Sgt. Pepper.
WINGS #4
It's 1988. It's some South African funk. It's only the bloke the Beatles could have been.
WINGS #5
Straight out of Kuala Lumpur in the year 1985 came our next Wings. By 1996, they sounded like this...
(They're only the band The Beatles could have been.)
WINGS #6
Anssi Hyvärinen, Harri Kessunmaa, Kai Hahto and Karri Suoraniemi joined forces in the early 90s in Finland. Together they were... only the band The Beatles could have been.
WINGS #7
DJ Die, DJ Krust and Roni Size banded together in 1997 for one mission and one mission only. And yet, somehow, they come up first when you search for Wings in Discogs... kicking Macca down to a "Wings (2)" designation. Surely these guys were definitely the band The Beatles could have been.
WINGS #8
K-Pop! It's the new doo-wop! It's only the musical phenomenon the Beatles etc. etc.
8 different acts... but which one gives you wings?
Inspired by your research on Wings #1 can you do a piece on bands called Spanky next week??
ReplyDeleteA cursory check reveals a frightening number of bands called Spanky. And then the police called round...
Delete3 with honourable mentions for 2 and 4. Good to hear a disco tribute to pantsula, a Zulu group dance that had evolved into a form of collective breakdancing by the time this came out.
ReplyDeleteCrikey - you've been right around the world with these selections. Who knew it was such a popular name for a band. I seem to remember British bands often had to change their name as there was another elsewhere in the world. Is that no longer a thing?
ReplyDeleteHas to be #3 really but I'm going for #1 in second place and then #6 in third (sounds like the kind of thing Finland often put forward for Eurovision).
You really went with the running joke there - well done.
I've never met a joke I couldn't mercilessly flog to death.
Delete#1 has a certain enjoyment, but Maybe I'm Amazed may well be the best song Macca has ever written (and that includes We All Stand Together), so #3 it is.
ReplyDelete(Faces do a very fine cover version too)
As an expert in South Korean culture (and yes, we had ramen for tea in a restaurant, with kimchi, and we watch Korean dramas!!) I would want to vote for #8 but it's pants so it's #3 for me
ReplyDeleteNumber 3 and Macca for me, love Wings, 1985 especially a favourite.
ReplyDelete