Who Or What Are We

[Steve Myers]

Has any body ever considered what the collective name for the people involved in our scene could be ?

Soulie's ? - recently derided on here for being a bit naff,

Northern soul fan ? - doesnt really do it justice,

Past youth cults have had descriptive names which to some degree describe the lifestyle eg Mods, Skinheads, Rockers, Hippies, the list is endless.

We were the rare soul scene and then became the Northern soul scene but what were/are the individuals described as

[Godzilla]

Divs

[Guest TONY ROUNCE]

Sad?

[Davetay]

Sad?

Sad Divs.

[macca]

I'd say were were/are aficionados of a predominantly black american art form spanning two decades whose exponents, on the whole, but not always, failed miserably in their attempts to compete on a level playing field with the more significant players in the industry. Probably a bit long-winded though.

[Guest Matt Male]

We were soulies 30 years ago and i don't see why that's a problem now. I remember getting off the train at Wigan with the Nuneaton lot and some Scottish lad who was on his own and wanted an escort through the gauntlet of punks up station road to the casino said to us 'Are you soulies?' gave me a warm glow of unity and it still does. Trouble is people keep turning up telling us what we should be thinking, what we should be liustening to and even what we should call our scene and ourselves. Soulies is only naff because some trendy twat says it is. Bollocks i say.

[Steve Myers]

Trouble is people keep turning up telling us what we should be thinking, what we should be liustening to and even what we should call our scene and ourselves. Soulies is only naff because some trendy twat says it is. Bollocks i say.

Well said

[spirit]

Past youth cults have had descriptive names which to some degree describe the lifestyle eg Mods, Skinheads, Rockers, Hippies, the list is endless.

I'm not sure it still qualifies as a youth cult.

Soulie is what most would recognise, but it does seem naff for some reason. As does the the word 'naff'.

To reflect the longevity and respect, I think August Rare Soul Fans, or Arsouls for short might be good.

[spirit]

We were soulies 30 years ago and i don't see why that's a problem now. I remember getting off the train at Wigan with the Nuneaton lot and some Scottish lad who was on his own and wanted an escort through the gauntlet of punks up station road to the casino said to us 'Are you soulies?' gave me a warm glow of unity and it still does. Trouble is people keep turning up telling us what we should be thinking, what we should be liustening to and even what we should call our scene and ourselves. Soulies is only naff because some trendy twat says it is. Bollocks i say.

No, the 'ie' ending makes it sound like something fluffy and twee like a cardie. I mean, if punks were called punkies and mods were moddies they would sound ridiculous.

I agree with your point though, and I use 'soulie' with no worries as its traditional, obvious and the music is cool enough to carry any name.

Edited September 12, 2009 by spirit

[Guest Matt Male]

I'm not sure it still qualifies as a youth cult.

Soulie is what most would recognise, but it does seem naff for some reason. As does the the word 'naff'.

To reflect the longevity and respect, I think August Rare Soul Fans, or Arsouls for short might be good.

Words become naff by association with things considered naff. I think it's been common over the last couple of years to associate 'soulie' with the nostalgia scene and the 70s clothing and people who hate that side of things have used soulie as a label and a term of abuse, unfortunately.

On the Simpsons last night grandpa said "I used to be with it, but then they changed what it was. Now what I'm with isn't it, and what's it seems weird and scary to me, and it'll happen to you, too."

[Mark B]

Sad Bastards according to my wifef fiends

mark

[spirit]

What's the collective name for a group of soulies?

A casino?

According to the internet, along with the well-known murder of crows, there are also odd collective names like

a shrewdness of apes

a flange of baboons

So, I guess after a pride of lions, how about:

A faith of soulies?

[spirit]

On the Simpsons last night grandpa said "I used to be with it, but then they changed what it was. Now what I'm with isn't it, and what's it seems weird and scary to me, and it'll happen to you, too."

I can just hear him saying it as well. Simpsons is awesome at times.

Edited September 12, 2009 by spirit

[Guest CarlosFandango]

Trouble is people keep turning up telling us what we should be thinking, what we should be liustening to and even what we should call our scene and ourselves. Soulies is only naff because some trendy twat says it is. Bollocks i say.

Well said

Nice one Steve

'Soulie' me ? ... Yeah too fxxxing right I am !

Always have been always will be & proud of it.

[macca]

I remember being approached at Scarborough in 1980 by a parka wearing dwarf who asked me if I had any 'ampheties'. I had a Wigan badge on my levi jacket so he evidently thought I was a Soulie, even though I wasn't carrying a record boxie at the time. He was given short shrift. This story is true, I have witnesses.

[Guest Matt Male]

I remember being approached at Scarborough in 1980 by a parka wearing dwarf who asked me if I had any 'ampheties'. I had a Wigan badge on my levi jacket so he evidently thought I was a Soulie, even though I wasn't carrying a record boxie at the time. He was given short shrift. This story is true, I have witnesses.

[Godzilla]

I remember being approached at Scarborough in 1980 by a parka wearing dwarf who asked me if I had any 'ampheties'. I had a Wigan badge on my levi jacket so he evidently thought I was a Soulie, even though I wasn't carrying a record boxie at the time. He was given short shrift. This story is true, I have witnesses.

He was called Jason. Died about 10 years ago.

[Guest Matt Male]

He was called Jason. Died about 10 years ago.

[Guest nhsoulie]

soulies or soulboy/girl

[Guest Dave Turner]

According to the greabos that used to gather in Stamford square as we were waiting for the regular Saturday night bus to Cleethorpes

SOUL C-NTS

[macca]

He was called Jason. Died about 10 years ago.

You've just floored me Godz. Was he well known?

The guy I remember had a distinct Geordie accent

and was accompanied by three large modettes with

equally large beehives who were christened

the hairbear bunch on the spot. They were all looking

for barbies & ampheties. The words flea and ear

spring to mind.

[Guest]

Just kind of strange to me. None of the people I have known since the 70s ever use that word 'soulie' or ever have done. I think in the 70s and 80s, the term 'soulboy' was far more common as regards the funk scene, if anything, but even then it was not in common use to describe people collectively on the Northern scene.

Maybe me and all the people I know are 'weirdos'.

Now there's another one....

[Guest gordon russell]

aficionados of a predominantly black american art form spanning two decades

thats a bit of a mouthful lol

[Guest gordon russell]

when l first started to go to nighters back in 71-72 there was no name for folk who went to nighters.The word soulies to my knowledge was never used and l have only heard the term in the last few years or so.......whats wrong with soul fans nice and simple without sounding rather cheesy T

[Stevie]

when l first started to go to nighters back in 71-72 there was no name for folk who went to nighters.The word soulies to my knowledge was never used and l have only heard the term in the last few years or so.......

Would agree with you on that one - maybe it depends on what part of the country you're from?

I had never heard the term 'souling' (as in going for a night out) prior to reading Reg Stickings book.

[Guest gordon russell]

Would agree with you on that one - maybe it depends on what part of the country you're from?

I had never heard the term 'souling' (as in going for a night out) prior to reading Reg Stickings book.

....pmsl......mind you steve........they never had NORTHERN SOUL A WAY OF LIFE stickers in their cars ......maybe cause no one had a bloody car.....atb tezza

[Tabs]

Agree with that.

But purely in the spirit of this thread we could be bastions of amrican rare soul or boars for short.

when l first started to go to nighters back in 71-72 there was no name for folk who went to nighters.The word soulies to my knowledge was never used and l have only heard the term in the last few years or so.......whats wrong with soul fans nice and simple without sounding rather cheesy T

[Steve Myers]

I would agree, I never heard the term Soulie back in the 70's. Soul boy/girl was widely used though, but you can't really refer to a 50 odd year old bloke as a soul boy can you ?

Edited September 12, 2009 by soulsteve

[macca]

Old Soul boy, as in old boy, a particularly British expression at that.

[spirit]

I would agree, I never heard the term Soulie back in the 70's. Soul boy/girl was widely used though, but you can't really refer to a 50 odd year old bloke as a soul boy can you ?

Young at heart.

[KevH]

Divs

I was told folk had stopped using that name......but i hear it quite a lot where i go.

The Elite has a nice ring to it.

[Guest Matt Male]

Would agree with you on that one - maybe it depends on what part of the country you're from?

Maybe. It was the guy from Scotland i met which used the term soulie; soulboy or funkyboy was always the jazz-funkers and around Nuneaton in the late 70s, early 80s people into northern soul were northerners, but i just find that confuses us with people from oop north, i don't mind soulie even if it does sound twee. Let's be honest it's no more unusual than a big tough looking middle aged bloke with a skinhead dancing on his own to a love song with female harmony and strings...

[kim]

how about the not normals (as my wife says that i'm not normal for liking soul and allnighters )

[Guest POTTERIESPECK]

Two old ones come to mind. SPEED FREAKS + THE FAST PEOPLE.

[Guest biggray1]

Has any body ever considered what the collective name for the people involved in our scene could be ?

Soulie's ? - recently derided on here for being a bit naff,

Northern soul fan ? - doesnt really do it justice,

Past youth cults have had descriptive names which to some degree describe the lifestyle eg Mods, Skinheads, Rockers, Hippies, the list is endless.

We were the rare soul scene and then became the Northern soul scene but what were/are the individuals described as

[Simsy]

Soulie's ? - recently derided on here for being a bit naff,

Really? By whom?

[spirit]

Really? By whom?

I think he's referring to

There is some general malevolence from Ady C and others towards soul patches, and some balanced, reasonable, fraternal love from the interestingly unreadable dthedrug, who hates the term 'soulie' almost as much as he hates carriage returns and the caps lock key.

HIS OPENING REMARK HI SOULIES TELLS ME EVERYTHING I NEED TO KNOW FUCKING HELL I HATE THIS IDIOTIC OBVERSERLY COMING FROM A NORTHERNER. SOULIES YOU MATE ARE A PRISE TOSSER AND I HOPE YOU NEVER GET YOUR REMAING BADGES AS IF YOU WERE A SOUL BROTHER I WOULD FIND ONE FOR YOU BUT AS YOU ARE A SOULIE f*** OFF, AND THEN HE DOES IT AGAIN BY NOT ONLY NOT GOING TO THE ALLNIGHTERS IN QUESTION HE IS TELLING ME WHAT I ALREADY KNOW, ANY WAY LETS f*** HIM AND HIS SOULIE MATES

I think d was having a laugh though. Chorleysoul then defines 'soulie's position on the naffness scale.

Edited September 12, 2009 by spirit

[Guest]

Would agree with you on that one - maybe it depends on what part of the country you're from?

I had never heard the term 'souling' (as in going for a night out) prior to reading Reg Stickings book.

'Going Souling'????? No you cannot be serious???!!!!

[Guest]

Old Soul boy, as in old boy, a particularly British expression at that.

Absolutely old (Soul) boy....

No does not exactly roll off the tounge, does it?

[Simsy]

'Going Souling'????? No you cannot be serious???!!!!

Knowwhat, I agree with you on that 'soulie' thing Dave, I hate it, Soulbrothers, Soul sisters, Soulboys, Soulgirls yeah, but Soulies?

Naffer than Naffing Naffffffffffff!

Cobblers!

So we're not allowed to call ourselves 'soulies' because two of you think it's a bit naff?

I can't see too much wrong with it myself. Oh well each to he/her own I suppose..

Right I'm off for a shower and evening at Rugby with my fellow soulies. Tongue out giff & all that..

[Guest]

I think he's referring to

There is some general malevolence from Ady C and others towards soul patches, and some balanced, reasonable, fraternal love from the interestingly unreadable dthedrug, who hates the term 'soulie' almost as much as he hates carriage returns and the caps lock key.

I think d was having a laugh though. Chorleysoul then defines 'soulie's position on the naffness scale.

No, I think you'll find DTHEDRUG was being completely serious with his dismissal of the term 'Soulie'. He was completely right too. I was following on from ADY C's use of the term 'naff' as regards the badges and I am still of the same view....I repeat, 'Soulies' is naffer than naffing naff!

[Stevie]

'Going Souling'????? No you cannot be serious???!!!!

Yes, seriously.....it's a term he uses a lot in the book.

Reg hails from Hemel Hempstead and went to the Casino, Mecca etc in the early days.

It's a term I'd never heard before which made me wonder whether it's a regional thing.

[Guest]

Cobblers!

So we're not allowed to call ourselves 'soulies' because two of you think it's a bit naff?

I can't see too much wrong with it myself. Oh well each to he/her own I suppose..

Right I'm off for a shower and evening at Rugby with my fellow soulies. Tongue out giff & all that..

No you are perfectly free to be a 'soulie' if you want to be

[Guest]

Yes, seriously.....it's a term he uses a lot in the book.

Reg hails from Hemel Hempstead and went to the Casino, Mecca etc in the early days.

It's a term I'd never heard before which made me wonder whether it's a regional thing.

I've been to Wigan, Manchester, Glasgow, Bristol, Cornwall, Norwich, Lincoln, Edinburgh, Cleethorpes, Liverpool, London, Cardiff, Belfast, Dublin, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Peterborough, Oh I dont know, a thousand places around these hallowed isles but there is one phrase that I know for sure I've never encountered and thats 'I'm off out Soulin' lol

But then again - No, I have never been to Hemel Hempstuff!

[Guest alanbonthrone]

I,m Off Out Drinking. That Must Make Me A " Drinky".

[Simsy]

No you are perfectly free to be a 'soulie' if you want to be

Cheers.

I thought you said it was DThewossisname that dissed the term anyway?

Are you a Soulie Chorley? Infact I moved to suggest you change your username to Chorleysoulie - how about a little of that?

[John Elias]

howzabout SOUL EE (BY GUM) ??

or (somebody sat by me at a niter recently) and his words were " do you know there's some f*ckin' weirdos in ere!"

[viphitman]

Soulheads

[viphitman]

''Soulheads Soulheads over there friggin talkum everywhere

Look what I have got is really rare cost me a fortune but I don't care

Dancing Dancing all night long Soulheads Soulheads what's going on''

[spirit]

No, I think you'll find DTHEDRUG was being completely serious with his dismissal of the term 'Soulie'. He was completely right too. I was following on from ADY C's use of the term 'naff' as regards the badges and I am still of the same view....I repeat, 'Soulies' is naffer than naffing naff!

Yes, I realise all that, but I meant dthedrug was extrapolating his contempt for the term into a violent hatred of the OP for comic effect.

I also think its a bit naff, but I use the term because I don't know a better one in common use.

Edited September 12, 2009 by spirit