Welcome to the glossary! To be transparent: a good bit of the below material is bordering on irrelevant for most people involved in this production. HOWEVER, if you come across an unfamiliar term, a band or music genre you've never heard of, or a pop culture allusion that eludes you, this is the place to find a basic definition. Anything in quotes has been sourced from LD Beghtol's brilliant 33 1/13 book on the album, and the rest has been procured via prior knowledge and dramaturgical research. Still need something expounded upon? Feel free to fill out our nifty little form on the home page!
The 6ths- A band founded in 1993 by Stephin Merritt. The schtick of this project is that Stephin writes songs that are then sung by other artists, a different artist every song. The band has produced two albums since its conception, Wasps' Nests (1995) and Hyacinths and Thistles (2000).
33 1/3 Series- Published by Bloomsbury, this is a book series in which each edition focuses in-depth on one album. LD Beghtol's guide to 69LS has been and continues to be extremely helpful in creating this musical.
"50 Ways to Leave Your Lover"- A song by the American singer-songwriter Paul Simon. It was the second single from his fourth studio album, Still Crazy After All These Years (1975), released on Columbia Records.
ABBA- A Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1972 by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. The group's name is an acronym of the first letters of their first names arranged as a palindrome. Hits include "Dancing Queen," "Gimmee! Gimmee! Gimmee!" and "Mamma Mia."
Abbots, Babbitts, and Cabots- "(n.) The arbiters of sexual restraint challenged in "Let's Pretend We're Bunny Rabbits." In the Catholic monastic system an abbot (from the Hebrew word for "father") is the leader of a group of monks, whose job is to help them maintain their challenging vows of poverty, obedience and chastity. "Babbitts" are smug middle-class folk of conventional morality named for Sinclair Lewis' bestselling 1922 satirical novel, Babbitt. The exclusive Cabots of Boston, observed Dr. Samuel G Bushnell in his familiar poem "On the Aristocracy of Harvard," "speak only to Lowells/And the Lowells only to God.""
Abigail, Belle of Kilronan- "(n.) a pretty wench from County Galway, located in the province of Connacht along Ireland's west coast. The tiny island village of Kilronan (Irish: Cill Rónáin) is accessible via ferries from Counties Clare and Galway. Abigail's name in Hebrew means "my father's joy" or "fountain of joy." Abigail was the third of Biblical polygamist King David's eight wives; she is considered by some scholars to be an important early pacifist, and by others merely a very politically savvy hostess. In Stephin's semi-strophic ballad, the love-besotted soldier/narrator begs young Abigail to forget him, since he might well not return from the unspecified, likely bloody battle."
Adkinson, Daniel- "lives in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and is the copy chief of The Village Voice. As a child, he had a pet bunny name Easter."
Almeida, Laurindo- A Brazilian guitarist and composer in classical, jazz, and Latin music.
Andy, John, Tom, Harry, Chris, Lou & Professor Blumen- "are- along with an unsightly automobile owner- the suitors of the love-object of "The Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side." Gender is problematic here, since half the characters' names can denote either sex, and both the song's protagonist and his/her favorite passenger are unnamed (and thus, unsexed). Further, it's not made explicit how Prof Blumen makes his/her protégé "feel like a woman." And just what are those tantalizing secrets shared with Lou?"
Angelino Paisley- An LA-based fashion brand established in 1999 whose mission it seems to be is to clad their customers in the ugliest blazers known to man. See the below Paisley-patterned monstrosity.
Anway, Susan- The original lead vocalist for The Magnetic Fields. She was featured on both The Wayward Bus and Distant Plastic Trees. Susan unfortunately passed away at the age of 70 in September of 2021.
Ashram- A secluded community used for religious or spiritual retreats.
As lovely as a tree- “From that poem by Joyce Kilmer which is always being anthologised, with a careful disclaimer saying it’s a bad poem."
The poem in question is called ‘Trees’, and begins with the lines:
"I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree."
The poem in question is called ‘Trees’, and begins with the lines:
"I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree."
Baltzer, Michael- Pittsburgh-based Magnetic Fields superfan.
Bardo- In Tibetan Buddhism, a state of existence between death and rebirth, varying in length according to a person's conduct in life and manner of, or age at, death.
Bartlett, Thomas- Also known as Doveman, Bartlett is an American pianist, producer, and singer who worked on 50 Song Memoir and is a member of Irish supergroup The Gloaming.
The Baudelaire Memorial Orchestra- A name used by Stephin Merritt for a single song (Scream and Run Away) in 2006 for Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events.
Bellino, Therese- A guitarist/singer that was a part of the now-disbanded Boston-based folk-rock band Lazy Susan along with Shirley Simms and Claudia Gonson.
Berkeley, Busby "Buzz"- "(n.) Famed director-choreographer who created The Gold Diggers of 1933, 42nd Street, Babes in Arms, Cabin in the Sky and other classic musicals during Warner's 1930s-40s heyday. Berkeley wove elements of European avant-garde art movements into his idiosyncratic cinematic language, employing abstraction, mechanical repetition, and precise synchronization with a sophisticated visual wit."
Berlin, Irving- A Russian American composer and lyricist, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in history.
The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant- A 1972 West German film directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, based on his own play. The plot follows a successful fashion designer who abandons a sadomasochistic relationship with her female assistant in favor of a love affair with a beautiful young woman.
Blake, WIlliam- An English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his life, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of the poetry and visual art of the Romantic Age.
Blood, Johny- A tuba/horn player best known for his work with the Magnetic Fields and the Canada-based ska band The Mad Maggies.
Blunstone, Colin- An English singer/songwriter best known for being lead singer for The Zombies.
Boa Constrictor- "(n.) A solitary-minded, non-poisonous, long-lived snake of the Boidae family whose preferred sport is coiling itself around its dinner (usually a small mammal), squeezing the life out of it, then swallowing it whole. Boas are found in rain forests, semi-arid savannahs... Boas have anal spurs- a pair of tiny claws around the cloaca (posterior alimentary opening) that are actually vestigial legs."
The Bowery- "(n.) A New York street that runs from Astor Place in the Lower East Side south to Chinatown's Chatham Square. Once a rustic lane, its name is derived from bouweroj, (old Dutch for "farm"). As New York grew, the Bowery became a major commercial thoroughfare; in its decline, a notorious sporting district and home to dead-enders, drunks and bums."
Breton, André- A French writer/poet best known as one of the principal founders of the surrealism movement.
The Brill Building- "(n.) Sited north of Times Square at 1619 Broadway, the Brill Building and a similar hive at 1650 Broadway, were ground zero for early-1960s American pop music, when over 150 music-related businesses filled its 10 floors."
Brokeback Mountain- The most famous (infamous?) of all the gay cowboy movies. Based off of a short story written by a creepy straight woman. Izzy's favorite line: "Ennis, that's my anus!"
Buffalo Rome- A studio project started in Boston by Stephin and Shirley Simms. While this wasn't Stephin's first band, it was arguably the precursor to the Magnetic Fields that launched him into the music industry as the witty and genre-bending songwriter he is known as today.
Bunyan, Paul- "(n.) The bawdy, bearded, pipe-smoking giant lumberjack of 19th-century legend who, along with his equally massive blue ox, Babe, is reputed to have created the Grand Canyon by dragging his enormous ax behind him. See also: bear (the gay kind)."
Burns, Robert- A Scottish poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide.
The Byrds- An American rock band founded in L.A. in 1964. Hits include "Turn! Turn! Turn!" and "Mr. Spaceman."
Camus, Albert- "(n.) French Nobel Prize winner Albert Camus (1913-60), whose bleak existential musings are popular with academics and, according to "I Don't Want to Get Over You," young depressives. His 1942 essay Le Mythe de Sisyphe has an engaging thesis: Life is by definition absurd and meaningless and all hope is false- but that doesn't necessarily equal despair."
Cannibal Holocaust- A 1980 Italian cannibal film directed by Ruggero Deodato and written by Gianfranco Clerici. It follows an anthropologist who leads a rescue team into the Amazon rainforest to locate a crew of filmmakers. The film's plot and violence have been noted as subtextual commentary on ethics in journalism, exploitation of developing countries, and as a comparison of modern and uncivilized societies, yet these interpretations have also been met with criticism, with any perceived subtext deemed hypocritical or insincere due to the film's presentation.
The Carter Family- a traditional American folk music group that recorded between 1927 and 1956. Their music had a profound impact on bluegrass, country, Southern Gospel, pop and rock musicians as well as on the U.S. folk revival of the 1960s.
Chamberlain-King, Reggie- "Works in Belfast's dead-letter office and has never been paid for his opinions."
Charo- "(n.) An actress-dancer known as "The Cuchi Cuchi Girl," aka María Rosario Pilar Martínez Molina Baeza Rasten, noted for her cartoonish image, impenetrable accent and controversial marriage to rumba-king Xavier Cugat (1900-90)... Less well-known is her brilliance as a classical guitarist: She studied with virtuoso Andrés Segovia and topped Guitar Magazine's readers poll multiple times as "Best Flamenco Guitarist."
Chicken- "(n.) A common barnyard fowl, best served fried, with buttermilk biscuits and pan gravy... Also, a slang term for a pulchritudinous (hot) young person of either gender."
Clark, Petula- Born Sally Olwen Clark in 1932, a British singer, actress, and composer.
Cliché- "(n.) From the French clicher, to stereotype or to make a reproduction of something by stamping. A cliché is a trite or overused expression, the lack of which would make conversation difficult and pop music impossible. The most familiar of these- such as "I love you"- are precious enough to be kept in vaults, from which they are occasionally dragged howling. Poet-adventurer Gerald Brenan called the cliché "dead poetry." Perhaps, instead, it is undead."
Clove Cigarettes- "(n.) Indonesian cigarettes, also known as kreteks, that typically contain about 60 percent tobacco and 40 percent shredded cloves... Possibly more carcinogenic than regular cigarettes because of the presence of eugenol (the major active ingredient in cloves), kreteks were originally marketed as an asthma treatment. Djarum Blacks are the Goth smoke of choice, and are often found in the pallid hand of some sexually indeterminate youth shod in Dr Martens, his/her mouth smeared with Revlon's Cherries in the Snow lipstick- think Pornography-era Robert Smith of The Cure."
Coates, Stephen- A singer, composer, and producer. Founder of jazz electronica band The Real Tuesday Weld.
Cocksucking Cowboy- A cocktail made from equal parts Bailey's and butterscotch liqueur. Sounds disgusting. The drink, not the Western fellatio giver.
Coffey, Brian- A Scottish-based film producer.
Collins, Judy- An American folk singer/songwriter best known for albums such as In My Life (1966), Wildflowers (1967) and Judith (1975).
Colombo, Jorge- "A New York-based photographer, illustrator, music fan and long-time friend and collaborator with the Terrors."
Concept Album- A collection of songs written by a musician or group that is based around a central theme or concept. These themes can be compositional, lyrical, instrumental, or narrative. 69 Love Songs explores the concept of, you guessed it, the love song.
Countrypolitan- An outgrowth of the Nashville sound of the '50s. Among the most commercially-oriented genres of country music.
Cuckoo- "(adj.) Eccentric or strange, like the peculiar European songbird who lays her eggs in other birds' nests; insane, or crazy as a loon. Also, an annoying sort of clock."
Cupid- "(n.) The son of Venus, but of uncertain paternity- is the wanton, winged child-god of erotic (after Eros, Cupid's Greek cousin) love in Roman mythology, notorious for striking the hearts of unsuspecting bystanders with his inspirational arrows, often arousing unwelcome or inappropriate desires."
The Cure- A British punk rock band founded in 1978 by singer/songwriter/guitarist Robert Smith.
Dakota, Reno- "is not a Midwestern city, but rather the director of the feature-length documentary American Fabulous (1992), which stars motormouth Jeffrey Strouth resplendent in a Saturday Night Fever-ish white suit. Dakota was born in Ohio in 1959 and has called New York City home since 1982."
Davis, Lydia- An American writer best known for her incredibly brief short stories. For example, her 2016 piece entitled Second Drink reads: "She knows the alcohol is kicking in when she thinks, wistfully, "Dear old Shakespeare!""
Davis Jr, Sammy- An American singer, dancer, actor, vaudevillian, and comedian.
Denis, John St.- "bitten by a wolf at age 5, he was Wolverine once at Halloween, but never a werewolf. He lives in Austin."
Disco- "(n.) From the French dischothèque, a nightclub which offers recorded, instead of live, music. This largely gay underground phenomenon of the early 1970s became a mass-market consumable in the mid-70s and finally cultural anathema by the early 80s."
Drag- The art of dressing up, performing, and/or presenting yourself as different than your everyday gender.
Earle, Steve- "(n.) A Grammy-winning Country music luminary infamous for his hard living, hard-driving music, and radical, liberal- rare among his peers- libertarian activism."
Effervescently- Vivaciously, enthusiastically.
Elaine's- "(n.) A tony Upper East Side restaurant opened in 1964 by Elaine Kaufman. Favored by celebs and elite media types."
Electric Eels- "(n.) Not the Cleveland protopunk band of this name, rather the piscivorous (fish-eating) animals that aren't really eels at all, though they are distinctly eel-like in shape- they're actually a type of cannibalistic knifefish. Ah, but what special creatures they are! The dark brown or olive-hued Electrophorus electricus produces up to 650 volts from the many thousands of electroplates within its long (up to 9 feet), slithery body, which it uses to stun or kill its prey. As Stephin observes in "A Chicken With Its Head Cut Off," electric eels are less than desirable bedmates, unless ones has a serious interest in E-stim (from "erotic electrostimulation," an advanced sexual practice involving the application of low levels of electrical current to the genitals) and/or erotic fantasies of a decidedly terminal nature."
Electrobilly- A music and aesthetic that draws on the dance music of the 1950s (rockabilly) and contemporary electronic dance music in equal measure.
Escher, MC- A Dutch graphic artist known for his detailed realistic prints that achieve bizarre optical and conceptual effects.
Ewen, Chris- A Boston-based DJ, producer, musician, ex-lover of Stephin Merritt, and longtime collaborator of the Magnetic Fields.
Ferrante and Teicher- A duo of American piano players, known for their light arrangements of familiar classical pieces, movie soundtracks, and show tunes, as well as their signature style of florid, intricate and fast-paced piano playing performances.
Fix, Kerthy- A film/television director and producer, Kerthy has worked on several music documentaries, most notably the 2010 Magnetic Fields documentary Strange Powers.
Flare- Also known as Flare Acoustic Arts League, this was an experimental pop band led by American guitarist Damian Costilla and singer LD Beghtol. Full albums include Bottom (1997) and Hung (2003).
Flay- "(v.) To whip or beat in such a way as to deprive someone or something of its skin or outer covering..."
Fleetwood Mac- A British-American rock band formed in London in 1967, headed by Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, Christine McVie, and Mick Fleetwood. Infamous for their inter-band incestuous relationships, hits include "Dreams," "The Chain," and "Go Your Own Way."
Fluoresce- To shine or grow brightly.
Free Love- "(n.) The belief in or practice of sexual relations without marriage or other social sanction... The term "free love" was devised by John Humphrey Noyes (1811-86), a Christian socialist who founded the utopian Oneida Society in 1848 in upstate New York, rejecting conventional heterosexual couplings in favor of what he called "complex marriage"- or polyamory. Noyes also supported eugenics (the discredited, socially fastidious practice of selective breeding) and encouraged his impressionable male followers to eschew orgasm during intercourse."
Future Bible Heroes- A band founded by Stephin Merritt in 1995. Sharing lead singer duties with Claudia, Stephin focuses primarily on the electronica-based disco genre. Albums include Memories of Love (1997), Eternal Youth (2002), and Partygoing (2013).
Gage, John- A member of one of Stephin's earliest bands, the Zinnias.
Ganesh- "(n.) The jovial Hindu Lord of Good Fortune, Ganesh (often Ganesha) is depicted as a natty, big-bellied, elephant-headed god with a single, broken tusk and four arms. His devotees worship him as the supreme deity and bodily incarnation of the Cosmos."
Garage-Punk- A rock music fusion genre combining the influences of garage rock, punk rock, and other forms, that took shape in the indie rock underground between the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Garrison- The collective term for any body of troops stationed in a particular location.
Gilbert & Sullivan- The Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the librettist W. S. Gilbert and the composer Arthur Sullivan. The two men collaborated on fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896.
The Glass Menagerie- A semiautobiographical 1944 play by Southern writer Tennessee Williams.
Goldfish- "(n.) A snack tossed to the dancing bear in "How Fucking Romantic" which might be either: a. the domesticated, yellow-orange Carassius auratus, a diminutive relative of the carp family; or b. an addictive, cheddar-flavored, baked snack cracker made by Pepperidge Farm."
The Gothic Archies- Yet another band founded by Stephin in 1996. Albums include Looming in the Gloom (1996), The New Despair (1997), and The Tragic Treasury: Songs from A Series of Unfortunate Events (2006).
The Gray- "(n.) A reference to the Graiae- Medusa's vile sisters, born with ashy hair and only a single eye and tooth among the three of them."
GWAR- "(n.) A thrash-metal band whose name is an acronym for God What an Awful Racket... Official propaganda states that GWAR was created in the mid-80s as a marketing experiment by Virginia Commonwealth University students; others claim the band is a front for a posse of Lovecraftian aliens here to make sex slaves of the human race. Either way, GWAR's scatology-obsessed music is of secondary importance to the chaotic, ever-evolving ensemble's ritualistic live show, which offers dancers in bizarre costumes, fluid-spewing corpses and a giant mechanical maggot."
Gyroscope- "(n.) A device used for measuring or maintaining orientation and angular velocity. It is a spinning wheel or disc in which the axis of rotation is free to assume any orientation by itself."
Handler, Daniel- An American author best known for his work done under the pseudonym of Lemony Snicket. He has collaborated with the Magnetic Fields on several albums as a vocalist, accordion player, and organist. It is incredibly important to note that Handler has a long history of publicly making racist and sexist remarks. We as a creative team personally loathe Daniel Handler and everything he stands for and do not excuse the Magnetic Fields' choice to work with him in spite of his bigoted views.
Hatter- "(n.) A maker of men's hats. Historically, hatters are said to be mad, possibly due to the toxic chemicals once used in their trade."
Holland-Dozier-Holland- "(n.) A songwriting and production team made up of Lamont Dozier and brothers Brian and Eddie Holland. The trio wrote, arranged and produced many songs that helped define the Motown sound in the 1960s."
Hoovre- "a Frenchified variant of "Hoover," a popular brand of vacuum cleaner patented in 1907 by asthmatic janitor Murray Spangler in Canton, Ohio."
Horne, Lena- A singer, actress and Civil Rights Activist who first established herself as an accomplished live singer and then transitioned into film work.
Hula-hula- "(n.) more than just a tourist attraction, the hula is a sacred Polynesian ritual dance in which the performer's every movement and expression is codified and deeply symbolic. Psychologically, it is a mystical event in which performer and audience conspire in believing the dancer becomes the concept or thing her movements symbolize. A similar transubstantiation occurs when the world itself does the hula-hula in "When My Boy Walks Down the Street" while everyone smiles and sings halleluiahs as life just kind of dances through them."
Inlays- Decorative materials set into the wooden surface of the instrument.
Insouciance- Casual lack of concern, indifference.
Ire- Intense anger or wrath.
Ives, Charles- An American modernist composer prominent in the early 20th century.
Jackson, J. B.- An American author and artist best known for his cultural landscape studies.
The Jesus and Mary Chain- A Scottish alternative rock band formed in 1983 by brothers Jim and William Reid. Albums include Psychocandy (1985), Darklands (1987), and Automatic (1989).
Kaye, Carol- One of the world's most notable bass guitar session musicians in pop and rock and roll music.
The King of the Boudoir- "A distant relation to the "King of the Divan" in Plastic Bertrand's seminal "Ça Plane Pour Moi" (1983).
The venerable pluralis majestatis or "majestic plural," aka the Royal We, is a monarch's use of the first person plural in reference to him/herself, as in: "Yes, my pet: We are the King of the Boudoir." Some say this archaic nominative nicety should be extended to pregnant women, persons with dissociative identity disorder, and the hosts of tapeworms."
The venerable pluralis majestatis or "majestic plural," aka the Royal We, is a monarch's use of the first person plural in reference to him/herself, as in: "Yes, my pet: We are the King of the Boudoir." Some say this archaic nominative nicety should be extended to pregnant women, persons with dissociative identity disorder, and the hosts of tapeworms."
Kirby-Smith, Susan- "is from North Carolina. She is also a playwright."
Krautrock- A broad genre of experimental rock that developed in West Germany in the late 1960s and early 1970s among artists who blended elements of psychedelic rock, electronic music, and avant-garde composition among other sources.
Lady Day- "(n.) Also known as Billie Holiday, she was one of the greatest jazz vocalists of all time. She performed with Count Basie, Artie Shaw and Benny Goodman before establishing herself as a solo act in America and Europe in the 1940s. Though wracked with addiction, depression and romantic misfortune, Holiday recorded over 200 titles between 1933 and 1944, infusing standards including "The Man I Love" and "What a Little Moonlight Can Do" with an intimate dramatic sensibility uniquely her own. Horrifically, she was arrested for narcotics possession on her deathbed in a New York City hospital. Stephin's ballad "My Only Friend" is an emotional tribute to the Lady Day and her enduring legacy of "songs of love and trouble.""
La mort, c'est la mor...- "Underwear" chorus translation (from French):
La mort, c'est la mort
Mais l'amour, c'est l'amour La mort, c'est seulement la mort Mais l'amour, c'est l'amour |
Death is death
But love is love Death is only death But love is love |
This is also a bit of a pun, as “la mort” and ‘l'amour" are pronounced very similarly. See the 1984 film "L'amour à mort.
Lansing- "(n.) the capital of Michigan where- much like Paris, according to "Nothing Matters When We're Dancing"- all cares cease when one is under the all-consuming influence of that music-mad whirler herself, Terpsichore. (But just which Paris does the song's dreamy protagonist intend? While some might think it possible that all meaning could be suspended while tripping the light fantastic in Paris, France, it's doubtful that mere dancing alone could obliterate all (or much) meaning in, say, Paris, Tennessee, or Paris, Texas, or in the company of elegantly shod celebutante, Paris Hilton... though "meaning" itself doubtless means something very different to her than to anyone else, dancing or otherwise. And Paris (the Greek prince who, legend has it, caused the Trojan War by abducting comely Helen, wife of King Menelaus of Sparta) would have something meaningful to say if one were in him, dancing or otherwise... even in Lansing.)"
Lazy Susan- A now-disbanded Boston-based folk-rock band made of of members Shirley Simms, Therese Bellino, and Claudia Gonson.
LD & The New Criticism- A live-only experimental pop band founded by LD Beghtol in 2005.
Lennox, Annie- A Scottish singer-songwriter, political activist and philanthropist who achieved international recognition as part of pop duo The Eurythmics.
Les Champes Magnetiques- The band's namesake. The first literary example of surrealism.
Lipton, Jeff- "audio engineer and founder of Peerless Mastering."
Lovecraft, H.P.- An American fiction writer and poet known for spearheading the "cosmic horror" genre, living a life riddled with tragedy, and white supremacist views.
Lower East Side- "The New York City neighborhood bounded by the East River, the Manhattan Bridge, lower Broadway and 14th Street, long an affordable, liberal haven for immigrants, radicals, poets, homosexuals, students, artists and musicians. The bloody Astor Place Riot of 1849- fought over elite versus popular theatre- occurred here, as did many protests at Tompkins Square Park (the site of annual drag love-in Wigstock). Lower Second Avenue, once known as the "Yiddish Rialto," was home to many theatres and musical halls and the much-lamented Second Avenue Deli (RIP 2005)." Also the setting for Old Joe's bar.
MacMahon, Bernard- "ran Circus Records in London, which first released 69LS in 1999."
Madrigal- A part-song for several voices, especially one of the Renaissance period, typically arranged in elaborate counterpoint and without instrumental accompaniment.
McCartney, Paul- A Beatle. A Wing. A knight for some reason?
Meade, Kendall Jane- "member of the band Mascott."
Merge Records- An independent record label based in Durham, North Carolina by Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan in 1989. It has been the Magnetic Fields' primary record label since 1994.
Merritt, Linda- "Mother of Stephin- has been a teacher, artist and meditator; she lives in Massachusetts and San Diego (where she is known as Alix)."
Minstrel Show- "(n.) By the mid-19th century, the term "minstrel show" became synonymous with a form of lowbrow musical variety especially popular in New York. This lurid vaudeville spectacle made stars of such men as Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor, and Amos 'n' Andy, whose radio show was a nationwide hit from 1928 to 1943, and alas far too many others. This form of comedy relied on Blackface, invidious caricatures, cheap sentimentality, and a dishonest vulgarity. No wonder the struggling balladeer in "A Pretty Girl Is Like..." laughs, cries, and then quickly changes the subject."
Misanthropy- A mistrust of other people and a general hatred for mankind.
MIT- Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private land-grant research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 1861, MIT has since played a key role in the development of modern technology and science and has been ranked among the top academic institutions in the world.
Mitchell, Joni- A Canadian singer-songwriter and painter. Drawing from folk, pop, rock, classical, and jazz, Mitchell's songs often reflect on social and philosophical ideals as well as her feelings about romance, womanhood, disillusionment and joy.
Mother Nature- "(n.) A generation of Americans knows it isn't nice to fool Mother Nature, as personified by white-robed, flower-bedecked, Chiffon-shilling Dena Dietrich (1928-2020) in the 1970s television commercial. The sexed-up furries in "Let's Pretend We're Bunny Rabbits" mean to defend her honor against abbots, Babbitts and Cabots, and to prove that biology really is destiny. These wannabe leporidae are willing- keen, even- to die trying."
Mother-of-pearl- A smooth shining iridescent substance forming the inner layer of the shell of some mollusks, especially oysters and abalones, used in ornamentation.
Moth Wranglers- A musical collaboration formed in 1998 between American musician Chris Xefos and LD Beghtol.
Motown- Music released on or reminiscent of the US record label Tamla Motown. The first Black-owned record company in the US, Tamla Motown was founded in Detroit in 1959 by Berry Gordy, and was important in popularizing soul music, producing artists such as the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye.
Music Revue- A multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance, and sketches.
Newman, Charles- "An engineer and multi-instrumentalist who owns Mother West studio, where Stephin often records, and has been LD's partner in Flare since 1998."
New Order- An English rock band formed in 1980 by vocalist and guitarist Bernard Sumner, bassist Peter Hook and drummer Stephen Morris. The band formed after the demise of Joy Division, following the death of lead singer Ian Curtis. Hits include "Blue Monday" and "Age of Consent."
Nightbirds- "(n.) Winged ones from Stephin's imaginary moonlit musical extravaganza called "The Way You Say Good-Night," in which they sing their favorite song, reflexively entitled "The Way You Say Good-Night." Also, a poetical slang term for sex workers of any gender."
Nightingale- "(n.) A migratory bird of the thrush family best known for its beautiful and powerful song."
North Carolina- "(adj.) Located on the south-eastern Atlantic seaboard, it became the 12th of the newly minted United States of America in 1789. The state's official carnivorous plant is the Venus Flytrap; its official dances are clogging and the shag. Indie label Merge Records, which released 69LS in 1999, was founded in 1989 by Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan of the band Superchunk in Chapel Hill."
Numerology- The pseudoscientific belief in a divine or mystical relationship between a number and one or more coinciding events. It is also the study of the numerical value of the letters in words, names, and ideas. It is often associated with the paranormal, alongside astrology and similar to divinatory arts.
O'Hara, Gail- A pop music journalist and filmmaker. Co-director of the Magnetic Fields documentary Strange Powers.
Old Joe- "(n.) One of the backstage crew members in Stephin's belter, "Promises of Eternity," who will soon be made redundant if the show- a metaphor for the singer's moribund romance- closes." See also: Old Joe of Old Joe's pub...
OMD- Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark are an English electronic band formed in Wirral, Merseyside, in 1978.
Paglia, Camille- An American feminist academic and social critic. Paglia has been a professor at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, since 1984.
Pantone 292- A very specific shade of blue, also known as Columbia blue after the university.
Paradise Lost (n.) An epic poem by Milton, first published in 1667. It concerns the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. In the case of "Strange Eyes," there are two paradises, one in each eye of the ex-lover. The death of this relationship is being compared with the fall of man from the grace of god.
Park, Ed- "A founding editor of The Believer and the former editor of the Voice Literary Supplement."
Pastiche- An artistic work in a style that imitates that of another work, artist, or period.
Pearle, Ida- An American artist, musician, and author best known for her children's books and working as a violinist for the Magnetic Fields.
Petty, Tom- An American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, and actor. He was the lead vocalist and guitarist of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, formed in 1976.
Picasso's Blue Period- Some of the earliest works of Spanish painter Pablo Picasso, painted between 1901 and 1904, are referred to as his “Blue Period”. During this time, he painted using mostly shades of blue and blue-green.
Pieces of April- A 2003 film starring Katie Holmes and directed/written by Peter Hedges about a dysfunctional family gathering for Thanksgiving, with music by Stephin Merritt.
Plaintive- Sad and mournful.
Porter, Cole- An American composer and songwriter. Many of his songs became standards noted for their witty, urbane lyrics, and many of his scores found success on Broadway and in film.
The President- "The one mentioned in “Blue You” is William Jefferson Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States, who served two terms from 1993 to 2001. Never mind his other claims to infamy: Clinton is the only President ever to be honored with a star-spangled musical saxophone."
"A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody"- "(n.) A popular song written by Irving Berlin in 1919 which became the theme song of the Ziegfeld Follies. The first verse and refrain are considered part of the Great American Songbook and are often covered as a jazz standard."
Prozac- A drug used to treat capital "D" Depression, as suggested by the singer in "I Don't Want to Get Over You."
The Psychedelic Furs- A British post-punk band founded in London in 1977.
Psychocandy- The debut 1985 studio album by Scottish rock band the Jesus and Mary Chain. Inspiration for the song "Yeah! Oh, Yeah!"
The Queen- "The blues-singing Queen in question (in "Blue You") might be HRH Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor (1926-), aka ER2, queen of the Commonwealth of Nations, formerly the British Commonwealth. She ascended to the throne in 1952, and what with one thing and another she surely has sufficient reasons to sing "the blue song." But then again, the Queen could be Memphis Minnie, Etta James, Koko Taylor or any number of other ladies who have been elected "Queen of the Blues." Or perhaps she's the venomous fourth runner-up in Frank Simon's backstage drag-pageant documentary, The Queen (1968)."
Rabid- "(adj.) Infected with something intense and contagious, like rabies or common-or-garden-variety lust, as in "Let's Pretend We're Bunny Rabbits.""
Radium- "(n.) Number 88 on the periodic table of elements, luminescent radium which- along with radioactivity- was discovered by Madame Marie Curie in 1898. The long-suffering gent in "(Crazy for You But) Not That Crazy" treats his special friend like radium, god, and even a Tennessee Williams play... all to no avail."
Raga- A melodic framework for improvisation akin to a melodic mode in Indian classical music.
Raise the ante- To increase what is at stake or under discussion.
Ravages- The severely damaging or destructive effects of something.
Reich, Steve- An American composer known for his contribution to the development of minimal music in the mid to late 1960s. Reich's work is marked by its use of repetitive figures, slow harmonic rhythm, and canons.
The Rockettes- "(n.) Long-stemmed hoofers whose synchronized choreography has enthralled audiences at New York Radio City Music Hall since 1932. Potential Rockettes must be adept in tap, jazz, ballet and modern dance, and be between 5'6" and 5'10.5" in height."
Rodeo- "(n.) 1. A public competition or exhibition in which the adorable mount and ride the untamable; often involving ropes, boots, spurs, etc. Popular with gays who wish to flaunt their masculinity in a stylish, stylized way. 2. The anthropomorphized fathers of the wary amorous pair in "Papa Was a Rodeo.""
Rodgers, Richard and Hart, Lorenz- "(n.) A composer and lyricist/librettist pairing who were one of America's most successful composer/lyricist teams in the golden age of American songwriting."
Rota, Nino- An Italian composer, pianist, conductor and academic who is best known for his film scores, notably for the films of Federico Fellini and Luchino Visconti. Hence, "I don't know the score..." in "Reno Dakota."
Rudell, Lynn- "mom/daughter/wife/grandma- tall, blonde peacemaker and believer in the power of words and song."
Rue- Not to be confused with roux, a cooked mixture of flour and fat used to thicken sauces in cooking, this means to regret.
Sadomasochism- The derivation of sexual gratification from the infliction of physical pain or humiliation either on another person or on oneself.
The Salvation Army- The original name of the alternative rock group The Three O'Clock.
de Saussure, Ferdinand- "(n.) A cunning linguist (lol) whose early forays into what is now known as semiotics led to the birth of the academic conceit of structuralism, and several generations of post-grads who are distinguished by their vague concern for the "aboutness" and "meaning" of literature and life, and for their promiscuous use of the words "meta" and "praxis" in polite society."
Schlager- A style of European popular music that is generally a catchy instrumental accompaniment to vocal pieces of pop music with simple, happy-go-lucky, and often sentimental lyrics.
Seven, 8 ½, Nine, 10- "Seven (a.k.a. Se7en) refers the David Fincher film. 8½ is the Federico Fellini film. Nine is the Maury Yeston musical performed on Broadway in 1982 and 2003. And 10 is the Blake Edwards film.
Sondheim, Stephen- According to Stephin Merritt, "the greatest lyricist of American music."
Soupault, Philippe- A French writer/poet/activist who worked intimately with both the Dadaism and surrealism movements.
Soweto- "(n.) A sector of urban Johannesburg, South Africa. The word is an acronym for SOuth WEstern TOwnships. A segregated community for Black people was built during the apartheid regime and was the site of the 1976 riots."
Spector, Phil- A music producer and songwriter best known for working with acts such as the Beatles, the Ramones, Leonard Cohen, and the Ronettes. He pioneered the "Wall of Sound" technique for music production in which instruments are doubled and tripled to create a fuller sound and is cited as inspiration for the Magnetic Fields' The Wayward Bus.
Stein, Gertrude- A Pittsburgh-born author and poet best known for her modernist writings, extensive art collecting and literary salon in 1920s Paris.
Steinbeck, John- An American author best known for works such as Of Mice and Men (1937), The Grapes of Wrath (1939), and The Wayward Bus (1947).
Strange Fruit- "(n.) In 1937 Bronx schoolteacher Abel Meeropol wrote the poem "Strange Fruit" after seeing a photograph of a brutal lynching, Southern style. At Billie Holiday's urging it was set to music by her accompanist Sonny White, and- despite being denounced by extremists- her record of it hit #16 on the pop charts in July of 1939."
Strange Powers- A 2010 documentary on Stephin and the Magnetic Fields directed by Kerthy Fix and Gail O'Hara.
Straub, Peter- "the author of 17 novels, two collections of shorter fiction and two books of poetry."
Sweet- A British glam rock band that rose to worldwide fame in the 1970s.
Taco- An Indonesian-Dutch singer and entertainer who started his career in Germany.
Tat or Tatters- Low quality, frayed or damaged clothing.
Tchotchkas- A misspelled version of "tchotchkes," the plural of a Yiddish word for "cheap trinkets or knickknacks."
The Three O'Clock- An American alternative rock group associated with the LA 1980s Paisley Underground music scene.
The Three Terrors- A live-only cover band that consisted of Stephin Merritt, LD Beghtol, and Dudley Klute.
Threshing Machine- "(n.) A large agricultural tool used for shucking corn."
Tin Pan Alley- The name given to a collection of New York City music publishers and songwriters who dominated the popular music of the United States in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Initially Tin Pan Alley specialized in melodramatic ballads and comic novelty songs, but it embraced the newly popular styles of the cakewalk and ragtime music
Trip Hop- A musical genre that originated in the early 1990s in the United Kingdom, especially Bristol. It has been described as "a fusion of hip hop and electronica until neither genre is recognizable", with slower tempos and a psychedelic sound.
True Romance- "(n.) A magazine that was a spin-off of "True Confessions" magazine published by Fawcett Publications from the 1920s to 1960s."
Two Little Whirlpools- "Charybdis and Scylla – one a whirlpool, the other a many-headed hydra – for The Odyssey."
In Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus and his crew must sail between Scylla and Charybdis, carefully avoiding both, in order to survive. Both characterized as sea monsters, Scylla has been rationalized as a rocky shoal, and Charybdis as a whirlpool .As Charybdis could destroy Odysseus' entire ship, Circe advises him to sail closer to Scylla:
"Hug Scylla’s crag—sail on past her—top speed! Better by far to lose six men and keep your ship than lose your entire crew."
Like Charybdis, the “Strange Eyes” of the song may draw one in, only to be (as a later line tells us) swallowed.
In Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus and his crew must sail between Scylla and Charybdis, carefully avoiding both, in order to survive. Both characterized as sea monsters, Scylla has been rationalized as a rocky shoal, and Charybdis as a whirlpool .As Charybdis could destroy Odysseus' entire ship, Circe advises him to sail closer to Scylla:
"Hug Scylla’s crag—sail on past her—top speed! Better by far to lose six men and keep your ship than lose your entire crew."
Like Charybdis, the “Strange Eyes” of the song may draw one in, only to be (as a later line tells us) swallowed.
Ukulele- "(n.) Oddly enough, though it's heard on much of 69LS, this wee guitaresque instrument is only mentioned once: in "(Crazy for You But) Not That Crazy." "Do you not find that odd?" the song asks. Why yes- especially since it's the instrument currently most associated with Stephin. As he has rightly observed, "Everyone looks cute playing the uke.""
Ulysses- A modernist novel by Irish writer James Joyce. Like "The Book of Love," it is long and boring.
Unboyfriendable- "(adj.) Another provocative neologism from 69LS that can be defined as either: 1. lacking the qualities and traits associated with being a boyfriend, or 2. lacking the qualities and traits associated with having or getting a boyfriend. Lonely either way. Stephin deliberately avoids revealing the genders of both the singer and the "unboyfriendable" one to whom this song is addressed, a lyrical tactic that makes many of the album's songs potentially more universal. The origin of the word "unboyfriendable" is much in dispute. Or possibly in denial."
Ursa Minor- Also known as the Little Bear, is a constellation in the Northern Sky. Like the Great Bear, the tail of the Little Bear may also be seen as the handle of a ladle, hence the North American name, Little Dipper.
Vermouth- "(n.) An herb-infused Italian or French wine of various strengths and degrees of sweetness."
Viva la musica pop- "It defies literal translation but sounds sexy when whispered seductively in the ear of one's paramour."
Waits, Tom- An American musician, composer, songwriter and actor. His lyrics often focus on the underbelly of society and are delivered in his trademark deep, gravelly voice.
Walker, Randy- A San Francisco-based singer who has acted as a background vocalist for the Magnetic Fields on several albums as well as performs as alter ego blues/rock singer Carletta Sue Kay.
Warhol, Andy- An American artist, film director, and producer who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art. A native to Pittsburgh and alum of Carnegie Mellon University (known then as the Carnegie Institute of Technology).
Washington, D.C.- "(n.) The capital city of the United States of America. At the time of this writing, it is a wasteland of lumbering Hummers and smug policymakers whose sense of entitlement is as total as it is galling."
Weiss, Philip- An American journalist who co-edits Mondoweiss with journalist Adam Horowitz. Known for promoting an anti-Zionist Jewish perspective.
Weitzman, Pinky- An American musician who has toured and played for the Magnetic Fields on strings since 2003. Pinky has also worked in politics and the nonprofit sector, acting as the ACLU's digital director for several years.
Welk, Lawrence- An American musician, accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario, who hosted the television program The Lawrence Welk Show from 1951 to 1982. His style came to be known to his large audience of radio, television, and live-performance fans as "champagne music".
Whore- "(n.) An informal, pejorative term for those, such as the boy in "Reno Dakota," who have a leg up on one, sexually speaking; the exchange of money, goods or services for one's favors is characteristic, though some whores whore for the love of the sport."
The Wild Stares- An American indie rock band from Los Angeles, California who were originally formed in Boston, Massachusetts in the 1980s.
Wi' Nae Wee Bairn...- A translation of the chorus of "Wi' Nae Wee Bairn Ye'll Me Beget" (from Scottish dialect):
Wi' nae wee bairn ye'll me beget
Untwinkle little ee My ainly pang'll be regret A maiden I will dee |
I won't bear a child with you
because you'll never get the chance to knock me up! My only pain will be regret Because I'll die a virgin |
"As an exercise in Scottish dialect it is accurate, if somewhat excruciating to those not to the Highlands born."
Wings- A 70s rock band founded by ex-Beatle Paul McCartney and his wife Linda.
Woo- To seek the support of someone or win them over romantically.
Young Marble Giants- A welsh post-punk band formed in 1978. The group played together for two years and released only one studio album, Colossal Youth.
Zebra- "(n.) African mammal of the genus Equus- dubbed "a horse in striped pajamas" by behemoth New York TV personality Captain Kangaroo."
Zelda- "(n.) The lovely, lonely zebra featured in 69LS's last and greatest comic song- named perhaps for the lovely, lonely wife (born Zelda Sayre, 1900-48) of Jazz Age scribbler, F Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940), who went bonkers. Or possibly named for the androgynous star of the creepy Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess cartoon series. Or perhaps some obscure internet psychic, or a Toronto drag bar."
The Zombies- An English rock band formed in the 1960s. Hits include "She's Not There," "This Will Be Our Year," and "The Way I Feel Inside."