The Mod Generation

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What Ever Happened To Paul Weller? The Jam Had Something To Say!

Over the weekend I saw a band called The Jam Pact at the fabulous Parkas Bar in Nottingham and found myself singing along and surprising myself that I knew and still remembered all the lyrics. It made me realise and remember what an impact they had on my life when I was young :). I didn't care very much for what the teachers were trying to tell me or teach me at school and my chosen career had little to do with any of the squares that attempted to make me see things their way. it was Paul Wellers lyrics that were the only thing I could relate to. he gave us all hope, we all had the potential to tear down the house of commons in our brand new shoes, we all knew about the private hell many adults were going through, we all knew girls who worked in Tesco's and Woolworths who wore cheap perfume 'cause it was all they could afford! Not one of us was gonna end up like Smithers Jones and we were all ready to f*** up Mr Cleans life! 

 

So what happened to Paul Weller or is it just me. I can hardly remember any lyrics  to anything he has done ever since. Maybe the odd lyric in a Style Council song but nothing of The Paul Weller Movement or his solo career! We had songs with lyrics we could relate to. The second generation mods had a punk poet leading them with all the passion of the Who and the Small faces infused into his soul. Then all of a sudden we had "Long Hot Summer" and hundreds of songs and albums about nothing..... or are they?

 

The Jam Pact at Parkas Bar Nottingham

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Permalink Reply by Mick Harwood on November 22, 2011 at 21:07

I suppose as a teenager he was singing about his experiences as a teenager and seeing it from a teenagers perspective. He would just look silly doing that now. I'm with you though, the lyrics and the music of The Jam had a huge impact on me and i saw them loads of times. I've never seen Paul Weller live as a soloist.

Permalink Reply by craig sim on November 22, 2011 at 21:53

new album out in march , his website has a track on it which imo is good on a first listen. isnt it about the music

Permalink Reply by Andrew Harris on November 22, 2011 at 22:31

Lyrics can be poetry 

Permalink Reply by craig sim on November 23, 2011 at 12:17

correct

Permalink Reply by Gordon on November 25, 2011 at 16:02

I agree Andy.

Permalink Reply by Robert McAlister on November 23, 2011 at 12:43

Well..one thing this has confirmed is that PW isn't going away..a bit like us really. 

Thought - what the hell is he doing hanging around Pretty Green..he bloody invented the lyric and has let Gallagher take it...

I know that has been discussed in other places on this site, but God there has to be better and less exploititive places for PW to support in terms of gear.  I saw LG's shop in Covent Garden earlier this year and in the window  was a giant pic of LG under a Union Jack ie copying the Who as well.......

Permalink Reply by David G. Andrew on November 25, 2011 at 13:55

"And in any case it wouldn't be the same, 'cause we've all grown up and we've got our lives and the values that we had once upon a time, seem stupid now 'cause the rent must be paid and some bonds severed and others made". To borrow a quote from Burning sky. People change, get older, grow up ?  Paul Weller spends a lot of time listening to different music and thats always been reflected in his.

 By the way, his pretty green collection is absolutely awful but they have already cornered the market in the mod styles.

Permalink Reply by Lee Kelly on November 25, 2011 at 14:50

I think, or at least I hope, that we have all changed since we first heard the Jam. Sadly though some haven't changed at all and some have changed beyond recognition. Some of those who sang along to the lyrics "these braying sheep on my TV screen make this boy shout, make this boy scream!!" now sit in and watch so-called reality TV shows, read red-top tabloids and moan about how "the music" has changed and yet, somehow, they haven't. None of us are the same 17-18 yr old, running around without a care in the world, except for clothes, records, etc. Now we are middle-aged or older with mortgages, kids, financial worries, health issues, etc etc and we wonder why music doesn't move us in the same way as it did. Many either listen to the same 100-ish songs over and over ad infinitum, or wait up to 2 years for Mr. Weller to drop another LP and make us all feel 18 again. Some want to hear "Eton Rifles 2011" others want to hear the "Smash it up break it up" bit of Strange Town. I think if Mr Weller pandered to these people he would have stagnated years ago. As for lyrics.. someone once said:  if a song doesn't move you, then it wasn't written for you. 

Permalink Reply by Gordon on November 25, 2011 at 16:01

Good post Lee well said.

Permalink Reply by Gavin Russell on November 25, 2011 at 18:00

 Must admit I have just listened to the new track and was not overly impressed on first listen but no doubt like many of you despite our thoughts about Weller 2011 or his PG clothes we will buy the new lp....just to have it.

  If you are looking for a good mix of old and new there is a great cd with this months 'Mojo' magazine - Sticky Soul Fingers - A Rolling Stones Tribute.  While the Rolling Stones 1971 album may not be everyones favourite Stones album, most on here probably preferring No.1, this is a great Soul alternative take with tracks by Black Joe Lewis And The Honeybears - Sway, Alice Russell - Brown Sugar, Sharon Jones And The Dap-Kings - Wild Horses and a great version of Angie by Beta Hector.  Not too much MOD content in the magazine this month but I think still a good read. 

 CD is highly recommended, although for me you still cant beat Setting Sons!!!!! 

Permalink Reply by Mick Harwood on November 26, 2011 at 17:09

Spot on Harry.

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