Brighton is a seaside town where in 1964 rockers and mods met to punch eachother around the face, in fine old English tradition. I could never figure out why Brian would name the song after a Graham Greene novel. In fact I suspect the title has very little meaning, but if it does, it's more likely something to do with the seaside town than the book.
Brighton is a seaside town where in 1964 rockers and mods met to punch each other around the face, in fine old English tradition. I could never figure out why Brian would name the song after a Graham Greene novel. In fact I suspect the title has very little meaning, but if it does, it's more likely something to do with the seaside town than the book.
I wonder does anyone STILL think BR has something to do with a Graham Greene novel? In addition, the song is about a holiday and Brighton is a holiday destination. And 'rock' has another meaning unconnected to music, namely a 'stick of rock' -- a particularly odious type of candy found at most UK holiday resorts e.g. 'Blackpool Rock'.
Incidentally, there's also a film called Brighton Rock ...
.. which I haven't seen but according to the wiki link there is a character called Fred and a fairground scene. Has anyone seen it? I wonder is there the same fairground music in the film as on Brian's version of BR.
The title of Graham Greene's novel is taken from the candy. The 1948 film is a faithful adaptation (except for the ending, I hear) of the novel based on a slightly earlier stage version. The fairground music on the song is from a record of sound effects that, I think, was shared here years ago.
I have read the book, I've seen part of the film but didn't finish it. If the song was based on either the book, the film or the play, it's a *very* loose adaptation. Part of the book deals with a love affair between a criminal and a naive girl, but it is nothing like the love affair in the song - for starters, the criminal is simply using the girl to prevent her giving evidence against him and doesn't like her much. I think she's a waitress, not a domestic servant, so that part breaks down too.
The book and the film were very popular and very controversial at the time, it may be that Brian heard the title at some point and liked it, but I doubt there's any more to it than that.
Oh, by the way - the film stars Richard Attenborough as 'Pinkie', the criminal, and William Hartnell as his second-in-command. Hartnell is better known as the first Doctor (Doctor Who). This is in no way relevant, but it's always nice to throw in a Doctor Who reference.
Good question, I really don't know. Apparently, the same sample also turns up on a Tim Buckley track from 1967 - I guess that'd have to be "Carnival Song". I'm not entirely sure about that one, though, since it's got other material layered over it.
ITSM wrote:I thought people from England went on holiday to Brighton (at that time and before), thus the lyrics (?).
And the word Rock seems suitable in a rock song.
Also the carnival music at the beginning could be from the pier or something (?).
My two cents...
yep. as discussed - it's from a sound effects album (originally). and it is incidental seaside fairground music - like the type heard at places like Blackpool, Margate, Brighton etc in victorian times.
There's the slang connotation too. As the song is about a couple going to the seaside for an illicit affair, then the sexual inference of "rock" may make for a better play on words. "Getting his rocks off", for one. Also the phallic appearance of "seaside rock". I think back in the 70s a "hard-on" was sometimes referred to as having a "rock on" - but i can't find any online proof of that.
I think I read somewhere, that it was used as the opening to the LP as the previous LP (Queen II) ended with a similar "Seaside" theme. A natural (nautical) segue.
Would still like to know if anyone knows for sure, re: the actual title - "Carousel" or "Carnival Midway"
https://www.amazon.com/Sound-Effects-3-Various-Artists/dp/samples/B000002H4N/ref=dp_tracks_all_1#disc_1
And if Euphoria's "A Gift From Euphoria" (1969) and Tim Buckley's "Carnival Song" (1967) are the earliest appearances of this piece on rock/pop songs.
