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Posted

Yes indeed, got into the music in 77, have dabbled in the dark sides, Modern, Crossover, R&B etc, but always come back to Northern, Real people, Real Music, still love it !

  • Helpful 2
Posted (edited)

I am happy to share the faith with the soulie family, but not the outside world.

Not on FB or twitter and have no wish to invite strangers into my private life.

Not ashamed of being linked to NS but don't advertise the fact; neighbours probably guessed because I leave the house and get into my car every Friday & Saturday with adidas bag.

Edited by mellorful
  • Helpful 1
Posted

I cant, I like too much other music to define myself with a single sort of name...  this is no big deal though is it? being a Muso first and foremost is enough...

 

Malcolm

Posted

Are you happy to be known as a northern souler?

 

K.O.K.O.

Absoluteley, BUT, at home I listen to Opera/Blues/Ska/Reggae/Jimmy Hendrix, Jeofferson Starship, Genesis....depends on the mood enhancer, as an earlier poster said.......THERES MORE THAN JUST NORTHERN SOUL !!!!!. Got to be VERY narrow minded to only like one type of music :yes:

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Posted

No.....and I hate the fact that some people I know just don't understand that there's anything other than Northern Soul when I talk soul.....quite sad really! !

Cheers,

Mark R

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Guest Dave Ward
Posted

Yeh, I am a Soulie, but the baggy strides, vest and badges went in the bin in 1976, still got my records, still listen to everything from Delta Blues, John Lee Hooker, Dizzy Gilespie, Weather Report, Jimi, soul, jazz, funk. I wear jeans, DM's, Black Polo shirts and get my hair cut short, still polish my shoes and never dance at wedding receptions.

Posted

Once upon a time...... Yes.

 

Not now...... 

I don't feel the need to labelled or part of a underground youth movement that let's face it....is neither underground or youthful anymore!

 

It's like someone trying to tell me with conviction that they are a Mod, Punk, Rockabilly, Teddy Boy, :elvis:  etc. etc.

Them days for them original teenage movements are long gone.

Anything pretending to be that now days is just a copy. If you like... a boot, 2nd pressing, a non-original issue!  :ohmy:

 

I love music. And as far as label's go - "Rare Soul Fan" pretty much sums up my particular pigeon hole perfectly. Because I like.....Rare Soul.  :thumbsup:

 

After this tide of Northern Soul euphoria from the press/ media subsides..... And the moneymakers milk the last of it's integrity and anything resembling what the "Northern Soul scene" was essentially about with their "Northern Soul swim suit's", "Northern Soul car fresheners" and truly terrible, terrible childlike artwork pro-porting to be something you should frame and hang on your wall at home to relive the memories (!) :facepalm:    

Watch "Northern Soul" be assigned to the pages of youth culture history with a sarcastic grin.

The same as all other youth culture movements have gone before. It's inevitable. It's the way of the Do-Do!  :yes:

 

I believe the music will always be around.

Just as Beethoven's symphonies are still around today and always will be.

There just won't be a NS scene anymore as we....... "knew" it.

Posted

Northern soul was once cool.  We were better than our "normal" mates as we were part of the greatest underground music scene.  They were wondering what we got up to over the weekend, there was some mystique around us.  Now the term just conjures up everything divvy, tacky and uncool. Our mates now laugh because of the image portrayed by some.

 

As said it is no longer confined to the north, it is world wide so may be rare soul is a better term?

I think being called a "Rare Soul Collector" wouldn't be an insult - nor misleading nor a misrepresentation.  But a "Northern Soul Fan" is mot what I am.

Guest Aaron Darcy
Posted

Rare soul for me.

"Northern" sounds so dated.

 

Northern soul was once cool.  We were better than our "normal" mates as we were part of the greatest underground music scene.  They were wondering what we got up to over the weekend, there was some mystique around us.  Now the term just conjures up everything divvy, tacky and uncool. Our mates now laugh because of the image portrayed by some.

 

As said it is no longer confined to the north, it is world wide so may be rare soul is a better term?

Well said Chalky ' to many handbagers jumped on the bandwagon , most of them know nothing about  northern or rare soul scene .

Guest manusf3a
Posted (edited)

Those phooking huge baggy,baggy bell tents worn on the legs! burnt forever into the psyche and unfairly so when ever you happen to mention you are into Northern Soul to a non scene person,that person all to often squints as if to picture you in those monster trews,wearing a vest covered in Badges and will inevitably mention,Ah you like footsie,can you do it(dance  it?),what about that tainted love,what was Wigan like?the term rare soul is far better to use in such instances so as not to suffer once more... yet I know I am a Northern Souler,just wont use the word much these days.

 

Like Chalky said there was a time when northern soul meant we were cool,there was mystique,we went to a magic place called an allnighter on a completely different planet from the beer swilling,pub and club crawling(literal and figurative) to hear "our music",not the grab any female in sight the later on in the night at the local palais,mecca,fleapitodion,palace the less her weight mattered and together to the sounds of Sweet and status quo jiving masses diet of pop and pulp interchangeable dross.As for being stuck with the  so it seems unbreakable connection of "Northern soul", with wigan,badges and baggies in the minds of the public and the pages and screens of the media we.re  just that "stuck with it", forever it seems?

 

Like Macca I do and I dont! I use the term quite happily to myself(talking to myself!) and when talking with  other close pals who are on or have been on the  scene,if its when talking with a, or  more than one  members of the public not of the the scene who I strongly suspect will  give me more of the same old instantly chipping in with talk of,baggys,Wigan,footsie etc at the mention of the words"Northern Soul", then for them its" Rare Soul mate"!"What about it?" they may ask  to be answered with ,"It's rare mate".

Edited by manusf3a
Posted (edited)

Maybe it's me, but I've talked to literally thousands of people over the last few years that have no idea what Northern is, so don't associate it with the negative sides that seem to be the bugbear of so many aging soulies. Maybe it's my penchant for talking to the dementure sufferers of the world, 

 

 

It is no bug bear, I don't particularly care that if am in to Northern Soul, modern soul, rare soul whatever soul  I was simply giving an opinion of what Northern Soul comes across as to many of my mates who aren't into the scene.  I doubt there are too many who haven't heard of Northern Soul?  Bloody hell it is in every facet of the media today, it is all over the place, they must have been living on another planet.  You can explain as much as you like what the music is about, and I doubt many will not agree with what you say above, but many of my non soul mates don't know much about the music but they all know the image it has, the clowns on the seas front with a dress on each leg, the drugs, that is what they know and it doesn't look good.

Edited by chalky
Guest Garry Huxley
Posted

I'm supposed to be socially outgoing and often considered the life and soul of the party, but fortunately us Saggitarians aren't taken in by all that bollocks...

your statement made me smile wonder how many others understood it


Posted

It is no bug bear, I don't particularly care that if am in to Northern Soul, modern soul, rare soul whatever soul  I was simply giving an opinion of what Northern Soul comes across as to many of my mates who aren't into the scene.  I doubt there are too many who haven't heard of Northern Soul?  Bloody hell it is in every facet of the media today, it is all over the place, they must have been living on another planet.  You can explain as much as you like what the music is about, and I doubt many will not agree with what you say above, but many of my non soul mates don't know much about the music but they all know the image it has, the clowns on the seas front with a dress on each leg, the drugs, that is what they know and it doesn't look good.

Chalky, then surely you should educate rather than be embarrassed, if they are mates then they will listen eventually, especially if you laugh at their ridicule with them.  The penchant for ripping the arse out of someone's pleasure is a very British thing, so turn it around and give as good as you get, there is no better standing ground than soul music as far as I'm concerned. 

Not many people are bothered with the media here, In the south of Spain most people can't be arsed with what Cameron and his ilk are doing to mess up the UK, they come here to escape it and enjoy their lives.

Posted

Chalky, then surely you should educate rather than be embarrassed, if they are mates then they will listen eventually, especially if you laugh at their ridicule with them.  The penchant for ripping the arse out of someone's pleasure is a very British thing, so turn it around and give as good as you get, there is no better standing ground than soul music as far as I'm concerned. 

Not many people are bothered with the media here, In the south of Spain most people can't be arsed with what Cameron and his ilk are doing to mess up the UK, they come here to escape it and enjoy their lives.

 

Don't get me wrongI am not embarrassed, nor do they ridicule and if they did believe me I can give as good as I get.  I forgot you are not in this country and given that fact it must be very different with regards to knowing or not knowing about the scene.  

  • Helpful 1
Posted

I personally am in to good soul music regardless of what pigeon hole someone puts it in.I don't mind been classed as a Northern soulie. I've got something good that most people will never understand and if they want to believe in the myth that we all wear 40" bags and star jumpers. That's there problem not mine because I know the truth.

Steve

  • Helpful 1
Posted

But there's another side to it of course, a few months ago I bumped into someone wearing a scooter clad tee shirt, I took no notice of the manufacture of the scooter, it was the fact that the words Northern Soul were emblazoned on the tee shirt too, but despite wanting to engage in conversation with this 30 or maybe 40 something about the music I hoped we shared a common love for he just walked away muttering he didn't really like the music. Give me an innocent mind any day.

  • Helpful 2
Posted

I hate labels but… Northern Soul definitely does for me!

If being into Northern Soul means,

feeling something strong which appeals you from inside when listening to certain soulful tunes.

 being part of the crowd in a nighter can make you feel you have redeem you from a whole week of misery

you cannot remain indifferent to soul music and you feel you have to go to the dance floor.

The rest is just part of our times and passing things…                                     in the end why care about what the others say or think? You cannot lead the life you want when giving too much importance to other people opinions

  • Helpful 2
Guest Dave Ward
Posted

I used to try to explain, to put the 'footsie, baggy pants, Wigans Ovation questions from work colleagues to bed. Now I just say " If you have to ask, you'll never understand ".  I haven't seen the latest film yet, but Constantines quote "If you were there, you’ll know. If you weren't there, you'll wish you had been". kind of hits the spot.
 

Guest BAKUNIN
Posted

Just read an FB comment referring to the Northern Soul Old Guard as... "wrinkly old ballsacks".......and that from a fellow,presumably younger generation, "soulie".......seems respect and the love of soul music does not always transcend the boundaries of age.

Posted

Just read an FB comment referring to the Northern Soul Old Guard as... "wrinkly old ballsacks".......and that from a fellow,presumably younger generation, "soulie".......seems respect and the love of soul music does not always transcend the boundaries of age.

I don't have FB or twitter accounts but I wouldn't judge the young souls community from one comment by an individual. Over the years that I have been called a lot worse things than that by both older and younger generations. 

Do I fall into the Old Guard category (aged early 50's)?

Best not to take that amatuer insult to heart. :) 

Guest BAKUNIN
Posted

I don't have FB or twitter accounts but I wouldn't judge the young souls community from one comment by an individual. Over the years that I have been called a lot worse things than that by both older and younger generations. 

Do I fall into the Old Guard category (aged early 50's)?

Best not to take that amatuer insult to heart. :)

Nah no worries..was not making a judgement just an observation...wont take it to heart so you wont find me looking too closely in the mirror!...am 62 now so at early 50s you are probably approaching "old ballsacks "...but not tooooo wrinkly.....yet!!!

Posted

It is no bug bear, I don't particularly care that if am in to Northern Soul, modern soul, rare soul whatever soul  I was simply giving an opinion of what Northern Soul comes across as to many of my mates who aren't into the scene.  I doubt there are too many who haven't heard of Northern Soul?  Bloody hell it is in every facet of the media today, it is all over the place, they must have been living on another planet.  You can explain as much as you like what the music is about, and I doubt many will not agree with what you say above, but many of my non soul mates don't know much about the music but they all know the image it has, the clowns on the seas front with a dress on each leg, the drugs, that is what they know and it doesn't look good.

 

Weirdly, all of my non soul mates are really quite captivated with it all. I mentioned to numerous people who aren't on the scene and all I've had back is great positivity and a thirst to learn more. They are seeing much of this without any baggage attached, so I think they have a relatively healthy view. They know the film is based in the 70s when fashions were different and they know that drugs have often been an integral part of many musical movements, so they're seeing things in a completely different light.  I think most of 'em see the recent exposure as being a good thing and they all seem to love the music, which is the main thing.

 

From a personal point of view, my consensus is that the ones who complain about the drugs in the film, have probably led relatively sheltered lives which tallies when some of the local mums, bless 'em, told me that they didn't think the film should have focused so much on drugs. I just told 'em, that's how it was in my experience. Apart from that, they liked everything else. 

 

Oh, so I don't disrupt the thread, I'm generally a Black Music guy rather than a Northern Souly. I like a lot of other stuff too, so I don't like pigeonholes anyway.

 

Ian D  :D

Posted (edited)

Just read an FB comment referring to the Northern Soul Old Guard as... "wrinkly old ballsacks".......and that from a fellow,presumably younger generation, "soulie".......seems respect and the love of soul music does not always transcend the boundaries of age.

I'm not aware of this particular example but some of the stuff I see on Facebook, I can understand why younger soul fans might express this kind of opinion to some old duffers. I fall into the wrinkly duffer bracket at 50 before anyone asks.

 

I've seen constant put downs, "I was there was at the wheel, Wigan" etc self congratulatory posts, "did you go to Wigan questions", "young people know nowt about northern unless they went t'casino", "they don't dance proper Northern like we did back in't day". 

 

There seems a certain element, who I'm guessing had a couple of years at the Wheel or Torch or Wigan etc have this perspective that they are automatically due instant respect for, what is in many instances is a case of them being born at the right time and geographically located to a 70s 80s Northern Venue. That's not a dig at those who did go early days as its great to hear their stories, just that element that have to give it the big one based on little experience, and there are many of these on Facebook.

 

Ive find younger soul fans I've met to be respectful and bloody knowledgable but then again I see them as equals. 

Edited by Byrney
Posted (edited)

Just read an FB comment referring to the Northern Soul Old Guard as... "wrinkly old ballsacks".......and that from a fellow,presumably younger generation, "soulie".......seems respect and the love of soul music does not always transcend the boundaries of age.

 

I find that  ballsack-ist.Interesting they should bring male genitalia into the arena.

Edited by KevH
Guest BAKUNIN
Posted (edited)

I find that  ballsack-ist.Interesting they should bring male genitalia into the arena.

You mean .."load of boll***s" ??

Edited by BAKUNIN
Posted

Whether you're fed up of the scene or you've never tired of it - you either ARE or you're NOT.

 

It's like your footy team - an accident of birth. You have no control.. it owns you!

 

I AM by the way.

  • Helpful 2

Guest manusf3a
Posted (edited)

Just read an FB comment referring to the Northern Soul Old Guard as... "wrinkly old ballsacks".......and that from a fellow,presumably younger generation, "soulie".......seems respect and the love of soul music does not always transcend the boundaries of age.

My ballsacks always been kind of wrinly as long as I can remember, not being one who goes around inspecting ballsacks(not now as  certainly so it appears some"Youngsters",now do enabling them to make comparisons between older and younger persons ballsacks and to come up with what they must find as a statisticaly significant difference based on age between young and old ballsacks  to what percentage probability they dont state but I sure it must be highly significant to make such a bold statement that must of required close examination of masses of ballsacks?)Not having the time,resources and most of all inclination to conduct such a mass survey of the nations ballsacks I am just happy to say mine have always been kind off wrinkly? and that's really what talking bollocks is all about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Edited by manusf3a
Guest manusf3a
Posted (edited)

I find that  ballsack-ist.Interesting they should bring male genitalia into the arena.

The maker of the statement is indulging in that age old conflict Kev, the young cub challenging the old lion h ha,the main motivation of the maker of that ballsack statement on facebook was to try to provoke a roar and a showing of teeth from a pride leader for the cubs to stand back and laugh going look he;s only got five fangs of his own the rest are dentures.The older lion then snaps a huge five fanged bone crushing bite that takes a leg off one of the laughing cubs the rest  run back to recoup and so on till they are one day wearing the dentures being the subject of the taunts doing the biting and thinking not long now!!!.A tale as old as lions and men and women,the neverending circle (music from the lion king ta raree ra!)as young taunts old, old bits back and so on  the circle continues ha ha.(This bit of laughter is hyena laughter coming from the sidelines as the etenal hyena gangs sit and watch it all play out time after time).Anthropologists ,psychologists etc have filled libraries with books filled with observations and account of the struggle especially where gentalia is argued over and comparisons made so writer on facebook you are following much in the tradition of  your elders who once indulged as you do.

Edited by manusf3a
Posted

Whether you're fed up of the scene or you've never tired of it - you either ARE or you're NOT.

 

It's like your footy team - an accident of birth. You have no control.. it owns you!

 

I AM by the way.

Good quote, as quite a lot of people have not answered the original question which should really be a yes or no .

Posted

The maker of the statement is indulging in that age old conflict Kev, the young cub challenging the old lion h ha,the main motivation of the maker of that ballsack statement on facebook was to try to provoke a roar and a showing of teeth from a pride leader for the cubs to stand back and laugh going look he;s only got five fangs of his own the rest are dentures.The older lion then snaps a huge five fanged bone crushing bite that takes a leg off one of the laughing cubs the rest  run back to recoup and so on till they are one day wearing the dentures being the subject of the taunts doing the biting and thinking not long now!!!.A tale as old as lions and men and women,the neverending circle (music from the lion king ta raree ra!)as young taunts old, old bits back and so on  the circle continues ha ha.(This bit of laughter is hyena laughter coming from the sidelines as the etenal hyena gangs sit and watch it all play out time after time).Anthropologists ,psychologists etc have filled libraries with books filled with observations and account of the struggle especially where gentalia is argued over and comparisons made so writer on facebook you are following much in the tradition of  your elders who once indulged as you do.

 

And here's me thinking the writer of said ball sack comment had a ickle weener. :lol:

  • Helpful 1
Posted

Yes and proud of it.

It's a part of our lives and like most things a label that helps people identify what it is / might be.

A big section of my non 'soul world' mates know I'm into what they call 'Northern Soul' and that I collect it.

Half of them haven't got a fkn clue what it is from a rare soul POV and aren't bothered although they know the 20 greatest hits stuff.

My 'soul mates' are a different set of circumstances - talking records etc.

I'm also a bit of a Clash buff and collector so I must be a Clash City Rocker.

Once I wore braces, Crombie and had me hair cropped so I must have be a Skinhead as well.

Labels are just to explain who we are, where we've been and what we might stand for !

Ultimately we are many things whether we like it or not and IMO I think it's best to not be too hung up about it !

So - KEEP THE FAITH !  (Believe that phrase was another thread on here - ha ha !!)

  • Helpful 2
Guest BAKUNIN
Posted

My ballsacks always been kind of wrinly as long as I can remember, not being one who goes around inspecting ballsacks(not now as  certainly so it appears some"Youngsters",now do enabling them to make comparisons between older and younger persons ballsacks and to come up with what they must find as a statisticaly significant difference based on age between young and old ballsacks  to what percentage probability they dont state but I sure it must be highly significant to make such a bold statement that must of required close examination of masses of ballsacks?)Not having the time,resources and most of all inclination to conduct such a mass survey of the nations ballsacks I am just happy to say mine have always been kind off wrinkly? and that's really what talking bollocks is all about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Actually the author of the FB comment as I remember was actually a female so problem solved!

Posted

Actually the author of the FB comment as I remember was actually a female so problem solved!

And she's only 19, so not particularly well versed in tact, which was a point I made at the time. The thread has since been taken down.

  • Helpful 1
Posted

And she's only 19, so not particularly well versed in tact, which was a point I made at the time. The thread has since been taken down.

 

 

Five minutes of fame gone in a flash.

Posted

Surely if you have done Northern Soul properly you have a permanently wrinkled shrunken ball sack! Regardless of age or gender!

 

Whats the question again.

  • Helpful 3
Posted

Surely if you have done Northern Soul properly you have a permanently wrinkled shrunken ball sack! Regardless of age or gender!

 

Whats the question again.

No doubt many wives are thinking "Yes but i still love him "!!!

Posted

If someone pointed to you in the street and said to their friend "He's/She's a Northern Souler!" would you be happy?

 

I'd think I was somehow caught up in the first half hour of a mediocre film.

 

No from me.

Posted (edited)

I'm happy to be known as a Northern Soulie, why wouldn't I, I'm not a soul person, just a Northern Soul person.

That's a great point Pete!

 

This may be heresy, but there is sometimes an assumption that if you're a northern soul fan, then you are an admirer of the whole spectrum of soul music, deep, modern, funk etc.... To be honest I get more turned on by The Kinks and The Strokes(!) than Alexander O'Neal and the like (to name a couple of random examples). Am I wired up a bit wrong?

 

I guess it's the old sounding grittiness I like rather than the over produced slickness of 'later' soul music..... sorry.

 

 

edit - this is a massive generalisation btw - this doesn't mean the odd slick soul record doesn't make me go 'ooh'  :)

Edited by SoulStu
  • Helpful 3

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