The Fall - Telephone Thing

[@steveclough1107]

Facebook, I do not want to Parlez vous with you. I sense your Zuckenberg thing,listening in!

[@elizabethhann4028]

Amen, mate!

[@garyormond302]

DITTO

[@cobaltbattery4657]

Haha well said..... ahead of his time it fits today so he seen it early days

[@empressadelexxmotherofjohn10]

Adele Clough here. Still here regardless. Sharing the fucking joy 😊

[@_________ajh]

❤

[@mundaneman1811]

How dare you assume i wanna parlez vous with you is one of my favourite ever lyrics. Long live The Fall & MES ❤️

[@gilwood7530]

THE COOLEST HIP PRIEST BEAT POET OF OUR TIME !~!~! Goodbye MARK ...You sure did it your way !!! Thanks for all the memories

[@johncokos9849]

ALWAYS amazed at how tight and professional The Fall is. They never miss a beat.....

[@Johnconno]

That's because none of the band were ever given the time to get lazy, they were sacked.

[@RayZappa]

You never saw them live when Mark had just sacked someone a few hours before the gig! But you're right, The Fall's drums and bass were usually bloody tight.

[@vaseofflowers4619]

Mark's words are so good. It was the riffs that drew me in but the advent of the internet for lyrics has really taken his bolshy Manc verbiage to another level for me. Some Fall songs you can suss quite quickly but I really enjoyed finding the words to less scrutable ditties. Lay Of The Land being at the top of that list. I had their performance of it on telly stashed inside my old Sky box (before I got online) as well as on TWAFWOTF but couldn't suss all the lyrics. The unmitigated splendour of Mark's verbal meandering was quite something. Bremen Nacht and Athlete Cured are responsible for reeling me into Fall veneration/appreciation. My mate had a friend from school that went to uni and the educated boy would give him mixtapes that I laid claim to, both Smithy and Mozza were two pearls that lay within that tape stuff inside the plastic shell. Most of my early Fall purchases were second-hand cassettes from the local record shop - I'll wager/propagate the absurd notion that some local uni veck had bought them and then, somewhat unaccountably, discarded them. Good. An effing great purchase for £3.50 a pop. This was in 1993. 30 years of Mark barking sarcastically about life's vicissitudes and vagaries has been time well spent.

[@zetetick395]

Yeah, a surface asessment might lead one to believe that The Fall are often a bit shambolic and splattershot - But they're always really tight (whenever I've seen 'em) - They just don't 'Lego' their songs together into verse / chorus / middle 8 / etc structures, like most groups traditionally do.

[@acunni]

This is more relevant today than ever -Mark was indeed a prophet and hip priest !!

[@orourkedamusic]

The guy's rock records.

[@MarkSutphin]

RIP Mark E. Smith, I will always hear you telephone thing!!

[@drewanderson6838]

I’m tapped-aye it’s all a bit rock college these days...this is the shit tho.....you Gretchen Franklin nosey matron typeaaaaaaaaaah...Gallus!!!!!!!x643

[@steveclough1107]

So far ahead.. I sense your telephone thing, listening in...love..

[@CapnChapster]

Fall. Cold cut . Fucking perfect.

[@elizabethhann4028]

It sure is!

[@lisaaltavilla4095]

I grow up with the fall , top class band , love you mark E

[@coxley]

RIP Mark E. Smith and your granny on bongos

[@elizabethhann4028]

"How DARE you ASSOOme I wanna parlez-VOO with YOO!" I love that line so much, you wouldn't believe it. No-one's as witty and gritty as Mark E. when he gets sarky. I don't like telephones either; and the whole song reminds me of Ted Hughes's spooky anti-phone poem "Do Not Pick Up The Telephone", which is the sort of poem that Mark E. Smith could've written himself. Sample lines from "Do Not Pick Up The Telephone": "Death invented the phone it looks like the altar of death/Do not worship the telephone/It drags its worshipers into actual graves/With a variety of devices, through a variety of disguised voices..." Now TELL ME Mark E. Smith COULDN'T have written that! I bet he knows Ted Hughes back-to-front-and-sideways. Anyway, this is great.

[@steveclough1107]

He was telling the future as it became.So far ahead,no Radiohead with no Fall.Mind you, I have felt that everyone is listening in after weeks of speeding!Long live the Fall!(By the way, I heard your telephone thing listening in!)

[@Turfdeanthantrax]

Also see Beefhearts song on Doc At The Radar Station titled "Telephone" it echos similar themes and I wonder if MES heard it when it came out.

[@Jlipnicki]

There are lines in a Syd Barrett song ' travelling by telephone ' and Kevin Ayers ' conversations aimed at anyone ' which were both written way before mobile phones. You are pretty well forced into having one now.

[@adinocc2042]

I've always hated the phone. And I hate having to carry one around with me all day, too!

[@microproductssystemsltd.303]

The young genius of M.E.S at work again 30years ago. Another incredibly wonderful piece of music.

[@steveclough1107]

I hear your telephone thing listening in, I feel your telephone thing listening in, I sense your telephone thing listening in.....How far ahead?!!!R. I.P Mark E.Smith.

[@ForARide]

Holy shit! My ears forced me to press the return button again and again and again... RIP great man!

[@ericrhodes5174]

RIP MES. These have been the best times of my life.

[@sebastian4451]

WOW. i've never listened to the fall before. the difference between "wings" and this song is pretty cool

[@robertthompson8123]

200 years old still great

[@pigglesy]

Nah.This was when they were hijacked by guardian readers and the middle classes who swore they have loved them since 1980.He would fucking hate who was listening now.

[@DanielHernandez-gx1is]

R.I.P Mark E Smith, legend of legends

[@steveclough1107]

He hears our telephone thing's.

[@jesusschizus272]

Beautiful 90's!

[@steerpike66]

I like the inclusion of the little intro; it gives a nice sense of media period.

[@josejones7025]

Thee hip priest rocks like no one! So ahead of his time

[@jimmyslowfade4442]

Just me, or is this even more glorious than the studio version?

[@elizabethhann4028]

I think it's even more glorious. It has a tougher sound. And oh GAWD, the assonance in the lyrics! "How dare you assOOme I wanna parlez-VOO wit'chOO?" I love that! One of the Fall's most glorious performances.

[@leecarlson728]

Extricate is a belter like so many fall albums it was the most recent release when i discovered them aged 17....aah memories

[@jeffjohnson1137]

insanely better!

[@jontyhawkes5332]

no- and yes.

[@keokeo808]

Holy shit this is better?..............what was the first version a group of guys falling down the stairs carrying instruments

[@Neilpoe]

Thank you for the music Mark E. Smith. RIP!

[@TheConstellation72]

If it's me and your granny on bongos, it's The Fall-Mark E Smith I last saw The Fall at the Garage in Aberdeen. MES came on late, mumbled through a few songs, messed around with the band's amps, walked off stage at least 3 times and then finished less than 40 minutes after it began. Still not sure if it was a great or shambolic performance. Music has lost a true maverick today...

[@johnAsanz]

this has made my day.

[@paulcanis6297]

Mark E. Smith is a poet, and you know it.

[@stewingate6323]

Hope he don’t blow it

[@DrCJames]

@0:33 the genius little sample of an old stool phone ring, sitting subtly in the background of the intro. This is one of the most in yer face and sublime tunes ever, making it the most perfect oxymoron to my little ears.

[@michaelcolello2735]

The Fall gets funky.

[@steveclough1107]

Michael Colello Fall gets prophetic!

[@studamanduncan9728]

Mark hears our comments and contemptuously

[@richardlopez1155]

The Fall were so ahead of their time!!!

[@ZdraveskaSnezana]

I heard this a few years after it was released. Abolutlety Gorgeous ❤ These people, especially the singer have brought joy infinitely I will always love them 🎉

[@anothertuber211]

The Fall+Coldcut=perfection!

[@andrewpilmore9139]

The Ting Tings. We started Nothing sounded familiar, now I remember why. Thanks for posting

[@simonpeach1294]

+andrew pilmore amazing how many don't hear.

[@fascistseatdonuts]

So freaking prescient. That guitar in this song--who is it? Really great. happy birthday, Mark. Would have been 65 years old today. Thanks for the music and great live performances.

[@fascistseatdonuts]

Whattya know? There's a wikipedia page about the song: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_Thing

[@angermagnet]

Thanks for posting. This song used to be a listening staple for me back in the day.

[@ianbrowne9217]

I hope your still cosmic, cat.

[@andrewphippsphillips1455]

Its the line about doing a parlez vous with Gretchen Franklin, the actress who played Ethel in soap drama Eastenders

[@mikemiller2574]

Yes, little known fact...although to be fair it was a mix up as she thought she was in contact with chas n' Dave, as they have a song called, 'that telephone thing'!!!

[@RikiNewtonMusicianSongwriter]

RIP to Mark E Smith - Manchester Music LEGEND !! Will be sorely missed.. Rx

[@janchiodo-wilhelm9055]

ENOUGH already!!!!!!! Someone please stop taking our great artists and singers off this earth! Is it some computerized robotic being eliminating real voices and talent from our ears and leaving us with programmed dolly drops and boy toy push buttons????? RIP Mark, you had a great influence on real MUSIC. I will always hear you! Jan Chiodo Wilhelm six nation's NY

[@steveclough1107]

Genius's tend to go quickly.Its all the drugs and imagination,they live so many mental lives they use up more than cats.

[@dogongdoging]

I'm here because Cedric Zavala told me I'm listening to too much hip hop and heavy metal

[@darrinpollard8038]

They just flex and grind on a groove a while and let it rock then fade ...brilliant

[@colinhoward2064]

I want this playing at my funeral

[@doctorcraptonicus7941]

You might get your wish if Richard Branson has his way ( & he has).

[@r7coo]

FTM!

[@jonnobloggs1139]

He has a lovely voice. I'd love to hear him singing something by Jack Jones.

[@r7coo]

I want this as my ringtone.

[@AndieZ4U2]

Ikr 😅

[@NickRowsell]

Excellent ..

[@bcarr5163]

I love it that he has the lyrics right there on the stand

[@68majortom]

Saw them many times and they were fucking ace when MES could be bothered, great performance!!! ✌️

[@Derek_Gunn]

It's the bloody Stazi - they want to know what's going down

[@microproductssystemsltd.303]

Freaking Brilliant tune by the genius that is Mark E Smith.

[@HolaYAdios-vv1vl]

The Fall era muy repetitivo , pero no cansaba. Además muy creativos y con ritmo fácil y acogedor. Marc i love you

[@johnmorrison2604]

Mark would not agree with your suburban nobody view... ☘️🇵🇸🌈✨️MANCHESTER BURY

[@Prodigy68]

What a pathetic reaction ​@@johnmorrison2604

[@lyndondembski4651]

Sublime so very 1990 Steve is lovely xxxx

[@Meddled]

I'm hearing a bit of Beefheart in this.

[@studamanduncan9728]

I'd be said Iggy but yeah......see where ya comin from...

[@hoodswell1]

Yeah he was a big fan.

[@rainblaze.]

Alanko Meddle tomorrow never knows here🙋

[@badboy46528]

> E-lec-tri-ci-ty

[@matthewrodgers8585]

Awesome. RIP MArk.

[@steveclough1107]

This should be the anthem for today.

[@lyndondembski4651]

Mark is beautiful xxxx

[@stevebonk5241]

Bramah on guitar during his ill fated return. Thanks for posting.

[@korick28]

The hell??!! Dark and lovely...

[@MrThomascow]

Great thumbs up.*****

[@MrThomascow]

CHEERS AGAIN Carlos

[@gjingodjango]

Now that’s a good record.

[@YTrab1970]

The sheer syncopation is fucking EPIC

[@bcarr5163]

I love that he has the lyrics in front of him

[@jimihendrix6969]

I dunno what anyone will think of this in 2091..... Still sounds ace in 2023.

[@barrypotter5751]

There's a promo video for this but I can't find it on you tube

[@swtirisalexopoulos1138]

R.I.P.!!!!!

[@galenstone9097]

Godspeed, Mark

[@daviddring2365]

RIP to the great man xxx

[@allanfmarsden]

Far away my preferred version of this track. Competes with Gross Chapel/Grenadier Guards for my favourite Fall track,

[@elrobertoreal]

R.I.P. Mark E. Smith!

[@yasushinakahira4138]

単純にカッコよいサウンド

[@LynneHand]

RIP Marc e Smith

[@jasondaviesdavies6552]

Brilliant

[@Dreamskater100]

Brilliant. x

[@mochynddu723]

It's a bop.

[@pablozewoppa]

Punk. Northern Punk? MES saw the Sex Pistols and thought 'We can do better than this'. And he was right!!

[@zetetick395]

Our Mark; lookin genuinely gorgeous in this 👌😸

[@stevelanciloti1071]

Way to go! Ty M.A.

[@danzag333]

RIP Mark E. Smith

[@davidhatred8938]

wow!

[@andreadefries483]

marc its too good

[@elizabethhann4028]

He was always too good. When he was good, he was real real good, and when he was bad he was better!

[@rayknagge1162]

RIP Mark E. :(

[@KielerSchlamperich]

R.I.P.

[@timleopardxolo]

Christ, this is good!

[@georgefresco3521]

LCD soundsystem deffo influenced by the fall

[@popefrancis1629]

James Murphy paid tribute to the song by using the phrase "I'm tapped" on the LCD Soundsystem song "Movement"

[@martingemmell1401]

Does MES have the words down at his right?

[@jamesirwin267]

Hehw

[@problemchimp4231]

If you ain't discovered The Fall yet...so envy you.

[@sallyduros]

Maybe Mark E. Smith will win a posthumous Nobel?

[@thegloriousmoodman2152]

"I'm tapped-uh!"

[@72daystar]

Rage in, rage in Mark E. Smith...

[@johnnyspicer3044]

Subject: Final hours before expiration ‪#‎PatriotAct‬ and ‪#‎NSA‬ Desperation!!! I repeat these timely topical words of Mark Edward Smith: "... the use of, and your smug advertisements of your tendril ocean bed achievements does not justify your abuse of privacy piracy act! I hear you Telephone Thing listening in I feel you Telephone Thing listening in How dare you assume I want to parlez-vous with you?..." Reply ·

[@elizabethhann4028]

Yeah, I thought of that too. It's a very relevant song.

[@CrunchyBiscuitsBand]

Cool stuff :)

[@clabauxchristophe7789]

R.I.P

[@frankplatt323]

I think a conversion with Gretchen Franklin/nosy matron type would be far more interesting than most of my daily interactions

[@magicbus144]

R.i.p

[@dinobambino7905]

Brill guitar..brill sound..am tappppped......i hear you telefon thing listen at him

[@dodgedandle8311]

The Absolute don’t give a monkeys Rock n Mental Chicken Oriental Band , 🤣🤣God Bless Mark E Smith..💪🏻❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🌞⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🇬🇧

[@colincressey1457]

love thim

[@NOWtheband]

done

[@Johnconno]

Always liked that presenter, wonder where she is now?

[@doctorcraptonicus7941]

She's probably working in a call centre by now. ...Now THAT, Alanis Morrissettte is irony.

[@ugiswrong]

Yes we carry our surveillance these days, MES was prophetic

[@Turfdeanthantrax]

Also peep the lyrics on Eat Y'self Fitter Analytics have got My type worked out Analytics on me The poison render Wtfffff

[@ianbrowne9217]

@@Turfdeanthantrax what does that mean? Not being a wallybob i need to know.

[@Turfdeanthantrax]

@@ianbrowne9217 I mean who knows what MES was thinking. The concept of mass surveilance and keeping tabs on the population is nothing new. I was more so thinking about Cambridge Analytica and Facebook. All these companies collecting data on people to sway their opinions or make them feel a certain way about things.

[@Turfdeanthantrax]

@@ianbrowne9217 "Analytics have got, My type worked out" probably doesnt mean what I think it does but thats how interpret it anyway. This idea of keeping tabs on the greater population is kind of a recurring theme in The Fall. MES loved dystopian themes and novels of that sort. Phillip K. Dick and Vladimir Nabokov come to mind!

[@marknewbold2583]

They carried out surveillance then

[@messifan9476]

Rip Mark E Smith

[@miked4377]

good tune

[@easyease]

I'm tapped-uh

[@akinbayzit738]

Wie immer!