Satirically sharp, suprisingly musically gifted, immensely talented and horrendously overlooked...I draw a lot of parallels between Neil Innes and Chris Morris some 20 years later.
When Eric decided to do Rutland Weekend Television he brought Neil aboard to do a couple musical numbers each episode. Then when Eric hosted SNL he showed Lorne some of neil's "music videos" including the beatles parody "cheese and onions". lorne of course loved it and so set in motion the mockudrama The Rutles. One of the best shows ever on network TV (but also one of the lowest rated) it included stars from the original SNL cast. Neil later was featured at Beatles conventions, a couple in Chicago where i got to meet and hang out with him. What a genuinely funny and warm person, not a celebrity at all (at least in his mind) May he rest in peace and i thank him for all the great music.
Love the top comments. "Hey , this might have something to do with Tommy". And of course answers to set them straight. Hoping they don't post on the Rutles videos as well... "You know this reminds me of..."
where niel innes is singing the estate he is on is surrey lane in battersea as i live there and its so weired to see how it looked then to how it s now jus thought id share hahaha
In my high rise shoes I can walk tall I'm a concrete jungle boy I can write my name all over a wall I'm a concrete jungle boy The teacher's a fool so I don't go to school I just hang around playin' it cool Snappin' my fingers, looking for fun I'm a concrete jungle boy Wearin' my shirt with the buttons undone I'm a concrete jungle boy The music is loud and I like it a lot I got what it takes so I take what its got Concrete jungle boy Concrete jungle boy Concrete jungle boy You're nobody's mother's pride and joy I got time to kill and money to make I'm a concrete jungle boy I don't do for real what I can fake I'm a concrete jungle boy I look at the world and I want my share But though I keep moving I'm going nowhere If I was a sinner, I would confess But I'm just a beginner, I couldn't care less All that I am is standing right here Between my legs and between my ears Concrete jungle boy Concrete jungle boy Concrete jungle boy You're nobody's mother's pride and joy Concrete jungle boy Concrete jungle boy Concrete jungle boy You're nobody's mother's pride and joy
@benchleyparker They were also satirizing The Who. The lyrics are a pretty funny parody of Townshend's. "If I were a sinner, I would confess, but I'm just a beginner. I couldn't care less."
While the video clip is clearly a parody of "Tommy" (as directed by Ken Russell), the music and lyrics are a different story. There are echoes of the The Who's basic sound in it, but no song on "Tommy" seems to correlate to the lyrics written here. Eric Idle is clearly mimicking Tommy in the video clip, while Neil Innes is playing someone else altogether - and that someone is singing in the first person.
It's Gwen Taylor, a staple of 70s/80s British TV comedy. The sketch is done as a movie review so there's a synopsis at the start and some interviews at the end. I'd like someone to post the full version. It's even funnier with the set up.
This is the best song The Who ever did...and it's not even them, it's essentially The Rutles (same singer/guitarist/writer and drummer, the bass player was a member of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop best known for his work on Doctor Who).
As simple as these music videos seem today ... they were so much more creative. The videos today are so streamlined and well in a box. This video is not politically sensitive at times but this was a long time ago. It must have been fun to create music videos from his imagination and not a dull industry formula based entirely on marketing etc. Today the video would be censored for various reasons.
You are likely referring to the actress with a swastika armband. I think that was meant to be a parody of Ken Russell's "over the top" style of directing, just like the gratuitous violence in it.
@mshecket I've never actually been able to sit through the entire torturous affair so I can't say if Baba appeared or not,although Tommy was certainly 'inspired' by the guru's life and teachings
@benchleyparker are they trying to say the film adaptation of "Tommy" is crap? I saw the film on TV and i thought it was Marvelous and personaly, It's way better then the dark mess that was Pink Floyd's The Wall
satire makes fun of the subject matter but as far as judging, thats up to the individual. personally would much rather listen to the original rock opera on vinyl than watch the movie.
@barkboingfloom HA HA Ha Ha!!! AS ivorykisses explains it's a PARODY of rock operas...The Who in particular. Check out Neill Innes. He was such a clever guy.
the thing with neil innes is that he would songs that wre both funny and musically good which makes him awsome
Neil Innes is a genius
Satirically sharp, suprisingly musically gifted, immensely talented and horrendously overlooked...I draw a lot of parallels between Neil Innes and Chris Morris some 20 years later.
When Eric decided to do Rutland Weekend Television he brought Neil aboard to do a couple musical numbers each episode. Then when Eric hosted SNL he showed Lorne some of neil's "music videos" including the beatles parody "cheese and onions". lorne of course loved it and so set in motion the mockudrama The Rutles. One of the best shows ever on network TV (but also one of the lowest rated) it included stars from the original SNL cast. Neil later was featured at Beatles conventions, a couple in Chicago where i got to meet and hang out with him. What a genuinely funny and warm person, not a celebrity at all (at least in his mind) May he rest in peace and i thank him for all the great music.
I was told it was I must be in love that was shown, didn't think cheese and onions was written until the rutles was given the go ahead
Neil nails Townshend perfectly,just as as he did the Beatles!
He also nailed Elton John, Bob Dylan and Edith Piaf
@@josemaria8177 Edith Piaf? Link please?
"I don't do for real what I can fake"... Yeah, I'm like that too! :)
Love the top comments. "Hey , this might have something to do with Tommy". And of course answers to set them straight. Hoping they don't post on the Rutles videos as well... "You know this reminds me of..."
Have always loved this
where niel innes is singing the estate he is on is surrey lane in battersea as i live there and its so weired to see how it looked then to how it s now jus thought id share hahaha
Interesting bit of trivia, this video was directed by Ken Ruttel.
It is from Rutland Weekend Television (see "About this Video"); Eric Idle's tv series after Monty Python went off the air.
I just realized this is a Tommy/Pinball Wizard parody after knowing about it for 10+ years.
It's a parody of other Ken Russell films too! Like Mahler
Ok, now I have to buy the 'Tommy' dvd!
In my high rise shoes I can walk tall
I'm a concrete jungle boy
I can write my name all over a wall
I'm a concrete jungle boy
The teacher's a fool so I don't go to school
I just hang around playin' it cool
Snappin' my fingers, looking for fun
I'm a concrete jungle boy
Wearin' my shirt with the buttons undone
I'm a concrete jungle boy
The music is loud and I like it a lot
I got what it takes so I take what its got
Concrete jungle boy
Concrete jungle boy
Concrete jungle boy
You're nobody's mother's pride and joy
I got time to kill and money to make
I'm a concrete jungle boy
I don't do for real what I can fake
I'm a concrete jungle boy
I look at the world and I want my share
But though I keep moving I'm going nowhere
If I was a sinner, I would confess
But I'm just a beginner, I couldn't care less
All that I am is standing right here
Between my legs and between my ears
Concrete jungle boy
Concrete jungle boy
Concrete jungle boy
You're nobody's mother's pride and joy
Concrete jungle boy
Concrete jungle boy
Concrete jungle boy
You're nobody's mother's pride and joy
@benchleyparker They were also satirizing The Who. The lyrics are a pretty funny parody of Townshend's. "If I were a sinner, I would confess, but I'm just a beginner. I couldn't care less."
While the video clip is clearly a parody of "Tommy" (as directed by Ken Russell), the music and lyrics are a different story. There are echoes of the The Who's basic sound in it, but no song on "Tommy" seems to correlate to the lyrics written here. Eric Idle is clearly mimicking Tommy in the video clip, while Neil Innes is playing someone else altogether - and that someone is singing in the first person.
It's Gwen Taylor, a staple of 70s/80s British TV comedy.
The sketch is done as a movie review so there's a synopsis at the start and some interviews at the end. I'd like someone to post the full version. It's even funnier with the set up.
Exactly. I was trying to putting in words, and then I read your comment and it was exactly what I was trying to say.
GEIL!!
Great song ! .....I'm gonna have to sort a cover version out !!
This is the best song The Who ever did...and it's not even them, it's essentially The Rutles (same singer/guitarist/writer and drummer, the bass player was a member of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop best known for his work on Doctor Who).
0:43
"Are you my mummy?"
KEN RUSSELL FOREVER!!!!
Idle looks a bit, a lot, like Daltrey in that video doesnt he?
It's supposed to, as it's a spoof of it :)
I just noticed that the letters on that mound of sand spell "tit". xD
Between Neil's singing style, his wig, and the nonsensical dramatic imaging this somehow reminds me of The Who's Tommy movie. :))
@rollingstone80 THAT IS KEN RUSSELL!!!! KEN GOD RUSSELL!!!! ROAR IN PEACE KEN!!!
That's because it is.
@azapro911 I strongly suspect Chris Morris took some of his style from the Bonzo song, "Shirt"...
Who is the amazing AM impersonator at the end...does this bit keep going longer? More please! Thanks for posting! F'ing brilliant!!
As simple as these music videos seem today ... they were so much more creative. The videos today are so streamlined and well in a box. This video is not politically sensitive at times but this was a long time ago. It must have been fun to create music videos from his imagination and not a dull industry formula based entirely on marketing etc. Today the video would be censored for various reasons.
You are likely referring to the actress with a swastika armband. I think that was meant to be a parody of Ken Russell's "over the top" style of directing, just like the gratuitous violence in it.
@maettsook THAT IS KEN GOD RUSSELL!!!
Ha ha - Pommy
This is fucking funny
@mshecket
Yeah, I think you're right looking again.
@mshecket
Looks to me like Oliver Reed, who played the evil step dad in 'Tommy'.
@mshecket I've never actually been able to sit through the entire torturous affair so I can't say if Baba appeared or not,although Tommy was certainly 'inspired' by the guru's life and teachings
Actually the joke is on Ken Russell. He directed Tommy .
Who's the guy in the sun/moon/pinball near the end? With the white beard?
Ken Russell
@maettsook I don't think Oliver Reed was that old yet...this wasn't that long after the movie came out. Does look a bit like him, though.
@seerauberjohnny Is there a Baba appearance in the Tommy movie?
"Who " Is this ?😁
@mshecket
It´s Oliver Reed not meher baba, meher baba died in 69, much after that the movie of tommy or even this parody of niel innes
does anyone know what make of cinema projector in the clip? i thought it was a fedi..what cinema?
Are they spoofing The Who?
@benchleyparker are they trying to say the film adaptation of "Tommy" is crap?
I saw the film on TV and i thought it was Marvelous
and personaly, It's way better then the dark mess that was Pink Floyd's The Wall
satire makes fun of the subject matter but as far as judging, thats up to the individual. personally would much rather listen to the original rock opera on vinyl than watch the movie.
hehehe
1:14
Chased by a Nazi chick, epic
@barkboingfloom HA HA Ha Ha!!! AS ivorykisses explains it's a PARODY of rock operas...The Who in particular.
Check out Neill Innes. He was such a clever guy.
it would be funny though.
@mshecket Dunno but clearly a piss take of Townshend's guru Meher Baba
Better than The Who
Um, nothing is 'better than The Who'.