Spencer Tracy’s middle name was Bonaventure. I think we can
stop there, can’t we?
No?
He was born in 1900, and appeared in 75 films between
1930 and 1967, the year of his death. He was also the first person to win a
Best Actor Oscar two consecutive years running. The only other actor to do
that… we won’t mention, because he brings me out in hives. Let’s just say he’s
no Spencer Tracy.
Like Cary Grant, Spencer Tracy enjoys international renown,
even today. So let’s start our brief journey through his musical mentions in
Sweden.
Bo Sundström is the lead singer of Swedish pop-jazz band Bo
Kaspers Orkester. Today, he’s left the Orkester at home…
Bo Sundström – Spencer Tracy
Jag kommer aldrig bli kär
Jag kommer aldrig bli kär
Jag kommer aldrig bli kär
Som Spencer Tracy
I initially thought this might translate as “I will never be
a man like Spencer Tracy”, but it seems “I will never fall in love like Spencer
Tracy” seems more likely. Either way, Bo’s probably right.
Meanwhile, in Germany…
Nils Koppruch – Stadt In Angst
Es gibt kein Bett in der ganzen Stadt
Dass Lee Marvin nicht gemietet hat
Verloren in der Wüste und der Arzt ist krank,
Genau wie Spencer Tracey in die Stadt in Angst
My universal translator may be on the fritz here (see what I
did there?), but this seems to suggest there’s not a bed in town that Lee
Marvin hasn’t rented, that he’s lost in the desert and the doctor is ill, and
as a result Spencer Tracy comes to town in fear. Make of that what you will.
No translator needed for The Good Rats, as they hail from
Long Island. They have featured on this blog a number of times before, as I’m
particularly fond of their song Advertisement In The Voice.
This comes from the same album, Ratcity In Blue…
The
Good Rats – Tough Guys
Tough guys
Always been my kind of man
Doin' the things that I can't
Tough guys
Let's not ignore
The greatest of all
Ladies and gentlemen
Spencer Tracy!
From Long Island to Long Fin Killie, a band I’ve never heard of before. Apparently they’re Scottish and came along at the height of my
musical heyday in the late 90s, so I’m surprised I never stumbled across them after all these years down the mines.
Long Fin Killie – Valentino
And this is why I wish I could be
Just like Spencer Tracy
But I don't have the build or the poise
And I'm a few pounds shy
If I were more like Spencer
I might not carry this handful of broken fingers
Just 'cause I saw Valentino smoking under the streetlight
From Salford, here’s someone we’ve all heard of…
Elkie Brooks – When The Hero Walks Alone
I've been staring at the late show
Instead of holding you
Watching lovers learn to let go
The way that heroes do
Had my heart on Spencer Tracy
But I got Bogart in the cold
It can drive a woman crazy
When the hero walks alone
Now here's a band who didn't make many records, but are still firm favourites with certain parts of the blogosphere...
Tallulah Gosh – Bringing Up Baby
Thinks storms are lovely weather
She says, "What day is it John?"
"What day is it?"
And they begin
To think of them as one person
Really the girl and Spencer Tracy
Cheekbones you could cut
La la la la la la la la la la la
Carlos Perón was a founding member of Yello. He quit to
pursue a solo career just before Dieter Meier and Boris Blank hit the big time.
Carlos Perón – Los Alamos
Harold M. Agnew’s elbows
Make a pair of wings for his head
On top of which his hands fold in a clasp
He looks like Spencer Tracy now…
That last line might be familiar to you, as it’s also the
title of my favourite Spencer Tracy song, from Deacon Blue’s debut album,
Raintown. That's what I'll leave you with today. Thank you for your kind attention.
