Monday, December 16, 2019

the future is half a century old




i.e. young people dancing to electronic music

RIP Gershon Kingsley, who reached the ripe old age of 97

interesting, isn't it, that the Future would emerge first under the sign of easy listening - and even kitsch?

c.f. my "friendly futurists" thesis (Jean-Jacques Perrey et al)

the most successful hit version =  Hot Butter




Didn't realise that Jean-Michel Jarre did a version



Makes sense cos "Equinoxe 4" always felt like a semi-rewrite - not literally, but the vibe 'n ' feel, albeit more sedate, less boppy-bouncy




another of the many 'Popcorn' covers



Inane in the Membrane


stop press: some suggestions from Ian S in comments


the DJ Vibes happy hardcore version



the Aphex Twin's 92 breakbeat version


3 comments:

Ian_s said...

From one extreme to another.

Here's the DJ Vibes happy hardcore version

Ravers Choice - Popcorn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNMkAHe26ZU

Here's the Aphex Twin's 92 breakbeat version

Caustic Window - Pop Corn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2XO1FZuhxA

SIMON REYNOLDS said...

great stuff!

there's dozens more aren't there?

nice to think of Gershon living a comfy life off of the publishing royalties

Spiro said...

DJ Vibes must have really loved this, erm, vibe... he also did a version of Jean-Michel Jarre's 'Oxygene, Pt.4'

DJ Vibes - Oxygen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEuS78iXdGo

gotta say I prefer the Ravers Choice one though, much more happy n hyper! I guess by 96 Wishdokta aka Grant Nelson was focusing on his garage projects leaving Vibes to pursue his 80s direction solo!