Catatonia formed in Wales (which may be an FNJ first, but after two hundred and twenty some odd tunes I honestly can't remember if there's another band in here from Wales) in 1992, when lead singer Cerys (definitely the first time FNJ has had a band member with the first name Cerys) Matthews met Mark Roberts and the pair began both a romantic relationship and writing songs together. They had a nice run of success in the U.K. from 1998-2001, accumulating two number one LPs, and six singles that cracked the top twenty on the U.K. Charts (the band had very little commercial success outside of their homeland). Unfortunately, Matthews and Roberts relationship didn't last, Matthews had quite a problem with alcohol, and after she went into rehab in 2001 the band was disbanded and as of yet hasn't gotten back together for the obligatory golden oldies reunion. Fortunately, Matthews did not fall into the Amy Winehouse Chasm and has recovered enough to A) Still be alive, and B) Release several solo albums. Roberts has became a radio personality, and the rest of the band is making music for a living which has always seemed to me to be a pretty good gig. In all, Catatonia released four albums, 18 singles, and like Squeeze last week has more compilation albums (six) than studio albums.
Fun Fact: Though it wasn't true, the band's bio claimed that Roberts and Matthews met while busking, which before I read their Wikipedia entry, I had no idea what it was. Busking is playing music on the streets for the change thrown in a hat or, better yet, a guitar case. Oh the things you learn while researching for Friday Night Jukebox!
"Mulder and Scully" was released as a single in 1998 from Catatonia's album International Velvet. The song would become their highest charting single in the U.K., peaking at #3, and the album was one of their two number ones in the U.K.
A little known yet completely uninteresting fact about emaycee is that he is a huge fan of The X-Files, having seen every episode of the original series, all of both reboot episodes, and both movies. Sadly, "Mulder and Scully" has very little to do with The X-Files...but that doesn't mean it's still not a great pop tune. The song's protagonist is falling in love and experiencing both the exhilaration and terror of it, and believes the dichotomy is a question for Mulder and Scully. In listening to it over the past couple of days, it struck me that a key reason for the song's success is Matthews' vocals, which captures both the joy and pain, as well as being somewhat unique, kind of a cross between Cyndi Lauper and Melissa Etheridge. There's some nice understated slashing guitar work, pulsating drumming, a catchy as all hell melody, and a dreamlike instrumental coda that actually gets better the more I hear it. Catatonia is considered an indie/alternative band, but I think this one certainly owes a nod to eighties new wave. All in all, another one of those little magical moments that bands create that has given me so much joy since I started falling in love with pop music as a dorky fifteen-year-old listening to Top 40 radio.
Lyric Sheet: "Things are getting strange, I'm starting to worry/This could be a case for Mulder and Scully..."
Enjoy:
Lyric Sheet: "Things are getting strange, I'm starting to worry/This could be a case for Mulder and Scully..."
Enjoy:
Fuck Donald Trump,
emaycee
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