Tuesday, 14 October 2025

Namesakes #159: The Motions

After last week's emotional post, I thought I'd drop an E this week and look at bands called The Motions.

Am I the only one who thinks that calling your band The Motions is a very bad idea? Still, better than calling yourself The Shits (like at least seven different bands on discogs) or The Poos (sadly, only one). or even Dump (nine and counting). Motion, it turns out, is a peculiarly British euphemism for such activities, and rest of the world appears to see no problem with the act of moving or being moved, on indeed putting forward a proposal to the committee. In fact, if I hadn't mentioned all this, I'm sure none of your thoughts would have even gone there.

Forget I said anything.

Let's enjoy some Motions...


THE MOTIONS #1

We kick off today with some Brooklyn doo-woppers from 1961, led by Tommy Tucker, singing for his supper.

The Motions - Mr. Night

THE MOTIONS #2

Next, some surfer dudes from Ohio (a land-locked state, unless they went surfing on the shore of Lake Eerie), active between 1962 and '66. Here's their tribute to Ringo...

The Motions - Beatle Drums

(RON &) THE MOTIONS #3

Ohio was clearly the place to go if you wanted to have a good Motion. Here's Ron, with his Cincinnati Motions, in 1967...

Ron & The Motions - Take Me Away

THE MOTIONS #4

"One of the bigger groups of the 1960s Dutch beat explosion, or Nederbeat if you want to sound more cosmopolitan. " Guitar player Robbie van Leeuwen went on to enjoy further success with Shocking Blue. 

The Motions - Wasted Words

(MICKEY &) THE MOTIONS #5

Massachusetts Motions who are clearly taking the Mickey in 1965...

Mickey & The Motions - I Do

THE MOTIONS #6

Italian Motions from 1968, with their version of the theme tune to the variety TV show Canzonissima...

The Motions - Zum Zum Zum

THE MOTIONS #7


AKA the far more well-known musical combo, McFly. Nobody seems to know why they also released this tune as a white label recording under the name The Motions. But I'm happy to include them here.


THE MOTIONS #8

Rocky Motions, also from Massachusetts, in the Year of our Lord 2013.


MOTIONS #9


Oregon alt-rock from 2017 with a very wide-angle lens on his camera. Gets in on the song title alone.


THE MOTIONS #10

A pleasant enough bunch from North Carolina, circa 2018.

The Motions - Missed You Yesterday

MOTIONS #11

"A collective of musical ideas. Heavy, ambient, driving soundscapes..." from Townsville, Australia in 2019.

Motions - Feather

THE MOTIONS #12

And finally, bang up to date with a "melodic alt-metalcore" band from Teeside who don't believe in capital letters. Your definition of "melodic" may differ.

motions - Shattered Mirror


Which ones move you... and which ones just give you the shits?


4 comments:

  1. No reference to going through The Motions? A missed opportunity. Missed, no doubt, because you appear to have a one track mind.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We're all lying in the gutter, only some of us are reaching for the stars

      Delete
  2. Not exactly full to the brim of musical gems this week but #4 and #5 are OK. I like #4's earnest lyrics and delivery.

    ReplyDelete

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