By Tatanka Yotanka
It's just been reported that somebody made a hole in the fence surrounding the Song Bar naturist beer garden but not to worry, police are looking into it.
“Hello, and how did you find yourself this morning?”
“Well, I just rolled back the sheets, and there I was,” in my sleeping – slash – birthday suit. Never been a pyjama person and as I’ve gotten older I’m increasingly inclined to keep my kit off during the day, although living in the town centre does rather limit the opportunities.
Seriously though, his topic really made me think as your guest Guru, I was surprised at how many songs it elicited and how easy it would have been to make multiple playlists drawing on the nuances of nakedness and nudity. One of my cultural superheroes, John Berger, got quoted in the Landlord’s introduction but here’s the full context of the line you already read.
To be naked is to be oneself.
To be nude is to be seen naked by others and yet not recognised for oneself. A naked body has to be seen as an object in order to become a nude. (The sight of it as an object stimulates the use of it as an object.) Nakedness reveals itself. Nudity is placed on display.
To be naked is to be without disguise.
To be on display is to have the surface of one's own skin, the hairs of one's own body, turned into a disguise which, in that situation, can never be discarded. The nude is condemned to never being naked. Nudity is a form of dress.
Historically nakedness and nudity have become both complex signifiers of power and control but also of freedom and individualism. Of shame but also subversion. I’ve tried to choose lists which reflect the empowering nature of disrobing, As Frank Zappa wrote, “there will come a time when you can even take your clothes off when you dance.” Try it whilst listening.
I should probably mention that the song at the bottom of the B list (heh-heh, I said bottom) is apparently about the UK’s famous Naked Rambler, Steven Gough but in Gaelic
A for Arse List:
Ann Tracy – Clothes Are So Obnoxious (Fred Erickson)
The Andrews Sister and The Vic Schoen Orchestra - The Strip Polka (Olive Butler)
Talking Heads – Totally Nude (happyclapper)
P. J. Harvey – Naked Cousin (OliveButler)
Neneh Cherry – Naked (severin)
Ida Maria – I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked (barbryn)
Rita Coolidge – Naked All Night (Fred Erickson)
Lizzo – Naked (magicman)
Mo’ Horizons – Dance Naked Under Palm Trees (Nicko)
Anoushka Shankar – Naked (Fred Erickson)
Randy Newman – Naked Man (severin)
Philip Jeays – This is The Age of The Naked Emperors (EnglishOutlaw)
B for Bum List:
The Donnas – Take It Off (Pop Off!)
The Cramps – Naked Girl Falling Down The Stairs (IsabelleForshaw)
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts – Naked (Fred Erickson)
Blue Pearl – Naked In The Rain (barbryn)
Cat Power – Naked, If I Want To (magicman)
Becky G & Natti Natasha – Sin Pijama (pejepeine)
Cosmo Sheldrake – Birthday Suit (Nicko)
Shakira – Underneath Your Clothes (Fred Erickson)
Sabrina Claudio – Naked (Fred Erickson)
Piero Umiliani – Blue Nude (Nicko)
Screeching Weasel – I Wanna To Be Naked (IsabelleForshaw)
Oi Polloi - Ar Ceòl Ar Cànan Ar-A-Mach (Carpgate)
Wildcard Picks:
Kevin Coyne – Totally Naked
Lorraine Bowen – No Watch No Underwear
Rikki Nadir aka Peter Hammill – The Polaroid
Jackie Leven – Arctic Sex
These playlists were inspired by readers' song nominations in response to last week's topic: Bare with us: songs about nudity and nakedness. The next topic will launch on Thursday at 1pm UK time.
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