A question about Funky Pretty

[RiC]

No need. It's the bvs causing a non-existent audio artefact. If you tweak it with a graphic, you'll clearly hear Carl sing U, not G.

I have to agree. Listen with headphones on.

I have. I still hear a "g" sound. More so on live versions of the song.

You're right, I listened the ´73 live version and there he seems to sing that "g" there. But in the studio version I don't hear it.

[bossaroo]

sounds like Greece-ee-ah-see to me too. makes sense after the line about gay Paris-see. there's really no mistaking the "ee" sound of Greece even if you don't hear the Gr... it's not an "oo" sound.

also there's no background vocals during that section on In Concert and it still sounds like Greece. because it is.

[RiC]

sounds like Greece-ee-ah-see to me too. makes sense after the line about gay Paris-see. there's really no mistaking the "ee" sound of Greece even if you don't hear the Gr... it's not an "oo" sound.

also there's no background vocals during that section on In Concert and it still sounds like Greece. because it is.

I hear it (in the studio version) more like "Uh-See", no "oo" but no "g" or "ee" aswell.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Ah, the mystery of the human body. Exact same recording, diametrically opposed conclusions. Splendid. 

[Jay]

I suppose that the infamous "power of suggestion" is also at play here. The brain hears what it's told to.

[Andrew G. Doe]

I wonder... I'm trying to hear G, really I am, but I can't. Of course, subconsciously I know it's not there, so that must be a factor.

[Wirestone]

 Can we just all agree that this section of lyrics is incredibly awful and move on?

[JK]

Can we just all agree that this section of lyrics is incredibly awful and move on?

I have no problem with these lyrics (whatever they are).

They remind me of the last free-associating lines of "The Black Angel's Death Song" from the Velvet Underground's debut album:

"Start the game I chee chee chee chee I
Chee chee ka tak koh
Choose to choose
Choose to choose, choose to go" 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgAn0AEqgsc

[STE]

I wonder... I'm trying to hear G, really I am, but I can't. Of course, subconsciously I know it's not there, so that must be a factor.

For a different experience, I would suggest listening to the "In Concert" version, around 2:18

[Custom Machine]

Ah, the mystery of the human body. Exact same recording, diametrically opposed conclusions. Splendid. 

No mystery, really. Your inability to hear the "Gr" in "Greece" simply means you're suffering from poor auditory discrimination. My condolences! 

[Jay]

 

[Jukka]

Greasy Ossie.

[Bill Ed]

Greasy Ossie.

Greecie-Lassie. I just remembered that's the way I heard it back when a heard a lot better. I'll trust my younger self.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Ah, the mystery of the human body. Exact same recording, diametrically opposed conclusions. Splendid. 

No mystery, really. Your inability to hear the "Gr" in "Greece" simply means you're suffering from poor auditory discrimination. My condolences! 

My dear sir, I have never discriminated against anything or anyone, I'll have you know ! 

Eh... OK, except maybe f*ckwits and sh*tweasels. Maybe.

[MrRobinsonsFather]

Am I correct in saying Brian played piano and drums on this track?

[Andrew G. Doe]

Correctamundo.

On the topic of stuff misheard: for years, I thought the bvs on the second chorus of "Trader" was "And they believed him": sounded like it, and it fit the rest of the lyric. Then, when scheduled to do a live rendition at a BB fan gathering and having Jack's email addy, I decided to double check. Back came the answer:

"They don't believe our deity".

Ah. And um. 

My point: what you think you're hearing isn't necessarily what you actually hearing.

My second point: listened to "FP" again. There's no "g". None at all. Nada. Zilch. Diddly with a light frosting of squat. 

[MrRobinsonsFather]

Correctamundo.

Thought so but wasn't sure if I just made that up in my head.
Thanks Andrew

[“Big Daddy”]

More of interest to me: At the end of FP, does the background part (Brian?) say “Someday come back” or “Funky come back”? Or neither?

[Andrew G. Doe]

Brian, and it's "Funky come back".

[“Big Daddy”]

Brian, and it's "Funky come back".

Thanks AGD.

[Jay]

Where in the song does that occur? I've never noticed it.

[Andrew G. Doe]

As best I can render it, on the closing round, when Blondie (?) sings "Funky.... I still remember funky pretty", in the gap Brian sings (deep in the mix and mostly in one channel) "funky come back, funky come back." It's most audible, to me at any rate, at 3.28.

Or is it "greasy ah see" ? Confussed.

[Custom Machine]

Brian, and it's "Funky come back".

OK, now we have clear proof, Andrew, that you simply lack the ability to hear the obvious "G" sounds in this song. Despite that fact that roughly 90% percent of the posters in this thread hear the "G" in "Greece-ee-oss-ee," you have stubbornly maintained that there is no such sound. And now you claim, at the end of Funky Pretty, that Brian is singing "Funky Come Back," when the fact of the matter is that he is clearly singing "Gunky come back!"  

[Andrew G. Doe]

Touché, monsieur pussycat.

[adamghost]

Correctamundo.

On the topic of stuff misheard: for years, I thought the bvs on the second chorus of "Trader" was "And they believed him": sounded like it, and it fit the rest of the lyric. Then, when scheduled to do a live rendition at a BB fan gathering and having Jack's email addy, I decided to double check. Back came the answer:

"They don't believe our deity".

Ah. And um. 

My point: what you think you're hearing isn't necessarily what you actually hearing.

My second point: listened to "FP" again. There's no "g". None at all. Nada. Zilch. Diddly with a light frosting of squat. 

Oh man, this brings back memories of learning that for LONG PROMISED ROAD.  John Perry took great delight in reminding us to sing "they don't believe our deity" at every opportunity.  I can't recall who put us hip to the right words.