Saturday 23 July 2016

The Genius Of Nick Cave

#8: Tupelo

In 1962, John Lee Hooker wrote Tupelo Blues a song about the great Mississippi flood of 1927, setting it in the town of Tupelo. In 1985, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds released Tupelo, a song about a great, violent storm in the same town during which a certain Elvis Aaron Presley was born. This was probably one of Cave's best early examples of using Biblical imagery to conjure up a terrifying scene. His love of the blues and American folk music no doubt helping to feed the dark and disturbing mood as the menacing storm wreaks havoc. Tupelo was easily the best song from the first four Bad Seeds albums.



2 comments:

  1. "Tupelo was easily the best song from the first four Bad Seeds albums"

    Spot on.

    Even today when played live it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swOGQusNyvU

    Barry Adamson making a much appreciated return to the Bad Seeds on this tour...

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