Sunday, September 10, 2006
I think the masses are suffering from major twee-confusion. 'Twee' is an English slang word meaning intentionally saccharine, so I can see how Belle and Sebastian and All Girl Summer Fun Band erroneously slid into the slot of leading twee-pop spokesbands. I mean to say that, as much as I adore the aforementioned outfits, calling them twee is an overgeneralization at best and a misnomer at worst.
Perhaps the largest contributing factor to twee-confusion is the asumption that twee is cute and cute is twee. On the contrary, twee is heavily influenced by punk and post-punk, and can get pretty messy (in the most lovely of ways). Substitute 14 Iced Bears, The Field Mice, Fat Tulips, Tiger Trap, Heavenly, and The Pastels for B&S and AGSFB and you've got yourself a real twee lineup.
Another leading factor of twee-confusion is chronological misconception. Twee is not new, nor even of this past decade. Twee is twenty years old this year, marking the release of New Musical Express' compilation album C86 (from which the twee sub/side-genre 'C86' gets its name). Most twee bands were active during the late eighties and early nineties, so now we're really just seeing leftovers and offshoots of the glory days.
A third factor is the concept of twee as kitsch. Twee is to be taken seriously. Very very seriously. Mostly.
Anyway, here is a Wikipedia's take on twee, which says all (or most) of it, and below are some good old fashioned twee-tunes to help clear up the water.
(er, i'm still working on these files. might not be mac-friendly.)
The Housemartins- I Smell Winter
Rocketship- I Still Love You Like the Way I Used To
The Siddeleys- When I Grow Up I'll Be a God
The Pastels- Million Tears
Television Personalities- Paradise is for the Blessed
Black Tambourine- Drown
Fat Tulips- Is That Love?
The Vaselines- Dying for It
My Bloody Valentine- Paint a Rainbow
The Field Mice- Coach Station Reunion
I am, for all intents and purposes, a twee purist, and I am out to proselytize, so it would bring me great joy if you would all go visit Sarah Records and pine with me over its untimely death.
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Thanks for such a comprehensive post on twee. And I'm glad someone else knows who Tiger Trap is. They're one of my favorite bands of all time.