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History & Interviews - Jimmy Somerville

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Hamburg 9. Mai 1999 video shot for "Something To Live For" I had the opportunity to see the process of a video shot and take some pictures too.

In a break from filming Jimmy was kind enough to give us an interview.

The mood on the set was relaxed and Jimmy was also a good mood, although he had small problems with the eyes. You could see that Jimmy very professional is at work and left the 3rd Repeat same scene mastered.

The sound-range on the new Album covers a wider spectrum. You seem to be distancing yourself from pop ! Are you changing the direction and sound of your music?

At the beginning my friend Sally and I played around with a few sounds and found that a lot of them were very good, complimented each other so we connected with this. Sally is a very good friend of mine and we´ve worked together a lot.
She was the other half of the band "Banderas" so we´ve known each other quite a while. For me it was great to work with someone I know as I feel more comfortable in that environment. We had a lot of old equipment at home , thus were able to experiment with old sounds while working on the album and because we were at home, we felt more comfortable and more couragous when it came to doing that what we liked and not that what we thought people wanted us to do. In some cases we experimented with various sounds and thought afterwards `no we cant use that` and laughed about it however we decided to use the sound nevertheless because that´s what it`s all about , doing what you like to do. I would agree that the sounds are different and it`s basically because we were more couragous in their production.

Is the sound therefore different because you worked at home in your own studio ?

Well, actually it`s not a real studio as such rather a small guest room which we turned into our own little thing and we also were fortunate to have the latest technology, a computer- program called "Pro Tools" which is revolutionary and amazing when it comes to making music. With this you have no need to go into a studio which may cost 200 pounds per day with technicans and whatever and in such an environment you are under a great deal of pressure so that it pays off financially.
Because we were working at home, it was a lot more relaxed. We could take a break from the work, eat something. watch TV and when we felt like it we could go back to work again. The best way I can describe it is that it is our homemade jam.

Manage The Damage - What does it mean ?

It´s just about life really and where I am now, what I´ve gone through and how I dealt with that emotionally and phsychologically. I feel I´ve managed a few parts of my life that were damage.

It seems that a lot of the songs on the new album are quite reflective.

Yes, the lyrics are reflective but also optimistic. Just like the way I am. I´m not one to sing obout being totally down, that wouldn`t be me.

Whose idea was it to use football on the cover of the new album and single ?

inter1.gif (32319 Byte) Originally I wanted to do something else but then I worked with a very good photographer whose work was excellent; the light, make up, set up and quality. We wanted to do something, that was funny where the people would think, "Why is he doing this ?, What is it supposed to be ?, Why football ? And because I`m gay, their first assumption is homoerotic which it can be but if your a football fan and heterosexuel it´s not. I wanted to play around with peoples´ perceptions of me, of football and I also grew up in an enviroument where football was like religion.
I grew up in Glasgow. If you are protestant you support Glasgow Rangers, if you´re catholic you support Glasgow Celtic therefore it was an unavoidable situation. It led me to do something with football with intensions of provocation a little as football is, where I come from, a sectarian thing. People would say ´how dare you do this with football´- this is sacreligious and in my eyes nothing is sacred.
The single sleeve uses again a football theme however if you look at the football jersies, you´ll see a list of drugs used in a combination therapy for people with HIV or AIDS. The fans on the picture are exited as football for them is something to live for and in a sense these drugs have given so many men and women with HIV or AIDS something to live for as they have changed the quality of their lives. So basically I wanted to play with images and peoples pereceptions of things and to have
fun doing this.

The song "Lay Down" will only be released in the UK and not in Germany ! What do you think the reactions to the lyrics of this song will be ?

Already some TV stations and radio stations have indirectly shown us that they won`t be very supportive because of the lyrics. We haven`t been play-listed on many of the radio stations. Usually there is a list which shows how often and when your music will be played. This list we haven`t seen as yet. It´s so much different in Germany where the attitude is different. You can do your own thing, therefore with "Lay Down" there probably wouldn`t be any problems here in Germany !

Why is it therefore the first single in the UK ?

The record company really wanted to go with it as they found it to be a stronger song whereas the german record company found "Something To Live For" to be stronger. I think that was the right decision for the german market because "Something To Live For" is quite reminicant of older material however it has a contemporery feel to it and so far there has been a good reaction to the song as it is anthemic and the radio play has been good so far.

"Girl Falling Down" - has this song been based on a true story ?

Yes, it`s the story of a girl whom I had read about in the paper. She was actually caught trying to commit suicide just after she had killed her own baby in the park. When the story opened up about her own life it was just one disaster after another.
Her whole life was just a story of abuse and this was her final reaction to this. It was a very sad story for me, actually the saddest I´ve ever read about and in that way it inspired me to write a song. She didn`t want anyone to take her baby and thought by killing them both they`d be together away from it all. It made me angry too that something like that can go so far without someone noticing or was it just ignored - It just makes me angry !

"Girl Falling Down" could be misunderstood in Germany as "Gefallenes Mädchen", in other words "slag" or "tramp".

Really, I didn`t know that, whereas the song "Eve" is more about someone who is like a prostitute and its also a case that, like for so many women in this situation, ends up tragically. It´s a downward spiral because of the people involved, drugs are usually involved and it`s usually men who are behind the abuse that these women tend to get so again it´s about a tragic story.

We heard that you are a big Boy George fan !?

Boy George, what ?

That was just a joke ! If there were anyone whom you´d like to do a duet with, who would that be ?

I don´t know. I`m not actually sure if there would be anyone. I´m of the opinion, that singers/vocalists are the hardest people to work with. That´s because you have to work with their egos and dealing with other peoples egos is difficult. Although if I were to think about it I´d probably sing with Tracey Thorne as I´ve always been a fan of hers, since 1983 actually. I really like her voice. Who else ? There are so many artists I like, it´s difficult to think of them at the moment.

Is there any favourite music you listen to in your spare time ?

Yes, I brought a disc with me to Germany with a compilation of stuff. Beck, Mutations, Nina Simon und also something from Kraftwerk because I was going to be doing a lot of driving; you know Autobahn, Trans-european express, for me it´s still good music. I´ve also put together my own compilation of club-music. My taste is quite varied.

On the Fan-Page we recieve a lot of e-mails asking whether you are ever going to release a live album or a B-side album at any stage ?

Probably not however it could happen in the future. What I´d really like to do is a remix-album. I´d like to take some of the songs, even including some of the older songs, and get other people to do remixes of them. These could be released as a bonus-thing to accompany the next album. The problem with that however is it costs a lot of money and the record company would probably say to me: You want it, you pay for it. The other problem is to get remixes done nowdays you have to have a big budget to deal with management, royalties and the bureaucracy is just too much which is a shame.

Is there any song or piece of work of yours that you have come to dislike or you´d like to do it again ?

That´s a hard one. When I listen to older songs I really only listen to the voice and in a lot of these cases I find my own voice strange. I think that it has only been the last 4 or 5 years where I´ve really developed as a singer whereas I wasn`t before. I was just a unique and strange sound. I do however sing the older songs live and that gives me the satisfaction that I´ve redone them. I don´t have to remix them or re-record them as on stage I can sing them differently and much more confidently.

You´ve been shooting the video for "Something To Live For" here in Hamburg. How much influence do you have when it comes to shooting videos ?

In the end, if I don´t like the video I won`t use it. Today however has been very good so far with the video and we´ve talked through everything. Again we`ve got a small budget and are trying to make the best of this. Because of the subject of the song we need different people in this video, people who have got something to live for. The combination therapy which is what it is all obout helps all kinds of people - not only gays.
Although I sing the song in the first person, I myself am not on this therapy however I do know a lot of people who are. The video wasn`t supposed to be too gay. That doesn`t work for me anymore because people know who I am and my politics. So we really wanted to work with all kinds of people, their faces and expressions. It´s very broad the people who it affects.

Do you like doing videos or do you find it a necessity ?

It depends. If the video has turned out well and it suits the song, then it´s good however it is also necessary to do videos so that the song and new album have more exposure. Today has been very easy and relaxing.

It is a big part of the job, isn´t it ?

Yes it is and sometimes it´s good to have something visual to the song. Unfortunately to do a great video you really need a lot of mony for example 100.000 pounds. I´d love to do little stories that went with each song, unfortunately I don´t have that budget. It´s a bit sad really especially when someone like Jay Harlywell can make a great video, have the funds to do so however the video doesn´t really say anything. I´d love to have as big a budget then I´d make small films about peoples´ lives. Maybe it´ll happen in the future !

Which part of the job do you like best; working in the studio or singing live on stage ?

I cant really say because like anyone else in any job, your mood on that day determines whether or not your job is fun to do or not ! There are days on which I can´t stand the work and there are days where I think there´s nothing better than this. It all depends on my mood.

You had a small part in the film "Orlando" so we were wondering if you will ever see yourself taking on a bigger film or perhaps a main role ?

No, I´m not an actor. This role was easy to play as it was just like shooting a video and I was just singing. I don´t even think about it because I´m not an actor.

There are however a lot of singers who end up acting !

Yes, that´s true and for some it works very well and they turn out to be good actors and actresses. But for others this is not the case and these people should just stick to music.

After a concert, what do you usually do ?

Oh ! It all depends. I either go to sleep back in the hotel or at home or I go out and get really trashed, go cruising or go to a sleazy bar and find sex really. But that´s not all the time, that´s only sometimes when I´m on tour and if I have to do a gig next day, it´s not a good idea.

The temptation is there however when you visit such cities as Hamburg, isn´t it ?

Yeah, exactly or cities like Cologne, the temptation is just too much !

Do you believe in love ?

Do I believe in love ? Yes, I believe in something that we characterize as love. We use the word `love` to discribe and express how we feel. It´s an international word however it´s a strange thing. I believe in the chemistry between two people and if thats what we call `love`, well then I do.

Are you in love at the moment ?

No, I´m not very good at love. I´m too selfish for it !

So, if you were in a relationship, would you be the jealous type ?

Yes, I would and also I´d expect to be able to go out by myself and be naughty !

We take it you don´t believe in monogamy !

No, but for some people it works and this is how they like to spend their time and it´s good that way however for me it´s a `no go area` really.

We saw you recently on MTV-Live In Berlin and you were wearing a white handkerchief. It was hanging from one of your back pockets.
Was the studio warm or were you trying to tell us something indirectly ?

(laughter) No, It was only a small towel to wipe my face with because it was so warm. There was no message. What does `white`mean anyway ?

We believe it means ´wanking´.

Oh no, I´m not much of a wanker ! Ha !

What is your opinion on recent events in London, the Soho bombing ?

I was at home that friday evening and a newsflash came on TV that a bomb had exploded in the centre of London. I thought to myself it´s another one as London is bombed for various reasons and then they mentioned the name of the bar which I had known as a gay bar in Soho. A day before I had recieved an e-mail from the gay organisation ´Outrage` which said I should be a little more vigilant about my personal security because people who were known to be gay, especially well-known gays, were possible targets for these right-wing groups. It has turned out to be that the attack wasn´t initiated by an organisation, rather a 22 year old man. To have so much hate for so many different kinds of people and to be so young is very very disturbing. It was so sad for me, not only because of the act but also because the people in the bar had to suffer this attack.
It could have been any of us and we are all victims of the attack however they paid with their lives and injuries. Although I didn´t personally know any of these people, I felt a connection and a sympathy there. It shocked us all (the gay community) so the next day there was an emergency gathering. We marched from Leister Square to Trafalgar Square about 200 of us. The people there were angry, confused and sad. It was a strange feeling. Times have changed and it´s scarey because when one person does this, it opens the door for others to do the same. It´s frightening times really.

You know that there are right-wing groups here in Germany and that it´s a big problem ?

Yeah, especially in the east. Last year we did a radio beach party in Rostock, and the visability of skinheads there was pretty frightening. The two dancers I was with were black and while we were going through the station, they started shouting things at us so we had to make a quick departure. To go over and tell these people to `fuck off` just wouldn´t have paid off. It was quite frightening.

Thank you Jimmy, for your time !

THANKS TO JIMMY AND CAROL FOR GIVING THE INTERVIEW.
ALSO THANKS TO JEROME, FOR THE SUPPORT DURING THE INTERVIEW AND FOR HIS HELP MAKING THIS PAGE.

Back Home Next

The sound-range on the new Album covers a wider spectrum. You seem to be distancing yourself from pop ! Are you changing the direction and sound of your music?
	At the beginning my friend Sally and I played around with a few sounds and found that a lot of them were very good, complimented each other so we connected with this. Sally is a very good friend of mine and we´ve worked together a lot. She was the other half of the band "Banderas" so we´ve known each other quite a while. For me it was great to work with someone I know as I feel more comfortable in that environment. We had a lot of old equipment at home , thus were able to experiment with old sounds while working on the album and because we were at home, we felt more comfortable and more couragous when it came to doing that what we liked and not that what we thought people wanted us to do. In some cases we experimented with various sounds and thought afterwards `no we cant use that` and laughed about it however we decided to use the sound nevertheless because that´s what it`s all about , doing what you like to do. I would agree that the sounds are different and it`s basically because we were more couragous in their production.
Is the sound therefore different because you worked at home in your own studio ?
	Well, actually it`s not a real studio as such rather a small guest room which we turned into our own little thing and we also were fortunate to have the latest technology, a computer- program called "Pro Tools" which is revolutionary and amazing when it comes to making music. With this you have no need to go into a studio which may cost 200 pounds per day with technicans and whatever and in such an environment you are under a great deal of pressure so that it pays off financially. Because we were working at home, it was a lot more relaxed. We could take a break from the work, eat something. watch TV and when we felt like it we could go back to work again. The best way I can describe it is that it is our homemade jam.
Manage The Damage - What does it mean ?
	It´s just about life really and where I am now, what I´ve gone through and how I dealt with that emotionally and phsychologically. I feel I´ve managed a few parts of my life that were damage.
It seems that a lot of the songs on the new album are quite reflective.
	Yes, the lyrics are reflective but also optimistic. Just like the way I am. I´m not one to sing obout being totally down, that wouldn`t be me.
Whose idea was it to use football on the cover of the new album and single ?
	Originally I wanted to do something else but then I worked with a very good photographer whose work was excellent; the light, make up, set up and quality. We wanted to do something, that was funny where the people would think, "Why is he doing this ?, What is it supposed to be ?, Why football ? And because I`m gay, their first assumption is homoerotic which it can be but if your a football fan and heterosexuel it´s not. I wanted to play around with peoples´ perceptions of me, of football and I also grew up in an enviroument where football was like religion. I grew up in Glasgow. If you are protestant you support Glasgow Rangers, if you´re catholic you support Glasgow Celtic therefore it was an unavoidable situation. It led me to do something with football with intensions of provocation a little as football is, where I come from, a sectarian thing. People would say ´how dare you do this with football´- this is sacreligious and in my eyes nothing is sacred. The single sleeve uses again a football theme however if you look at the football jersies, you´ll see a list of drugs used in a combination therapy for people with HIV or AIDS. The fans on the picture are exited as football for them is something to live for and in a sense these drugs have given so many men and women with HIV or AIDS something to live for as they have changed the quality of their lives. So basically I wanted to play with images and peoples pereceptions of things and to have fun doing this.
The song "Lay Down" will only be released in the UK and not in Germany ! What do you think the reactions to the lyrics of this song will be ?
	Already some TV stations and radio stations have indirectly shown us that they won`t be very supportive because of the lyrics. We haven`t been play-listed on many of the radio stations. Usually there is a list which shows how often and when your music will be played. This list we haven`t seen as yet. It´s so much different in Germany where the attitude is different. You can do your own thing, therefore with "Lay Down" there probably wouldn`t be any problems here in Germany !
Why is it therefore the first single in the UK ?
	The record company really wanted to go with it as they found it to be a stronger song whereas the german record company found "Something To Live For" to be stronger. I think that was the right decision for the german market because "Something To Live For" is quite reminicant of older material however it has a contemporery feel to it and so far there has been a good reaction to the song as it is anthemic and the radio play has been good so far.
"Girl Falling Down" - has this song been based on a true story ?
	Yes, it`s the story of a girl whom I had read about in the paper. She was actually caught trying to commit suicide just after she had killed her own baby in the park. When the story opened up about her own life it was just one disaster after another. Her whole life was just a story of abuse and this was her final reaction to this. It was a very sad story for me, actually the saddest I´ve ever read about and in that way it inspired me to write a song. She didn`t want anyone to take her baby and thought by killing them both they`d be together away from it all. It made me angry too that something like that can go so far without someone noticing or was it just ignored - It just makes me angry !
"Girl Falling Down" could be misunderstood in Germany as "Gefallenes Mädchen", in other words "slag" or "tramp".
	Really, I didn`t know that, whereas the song "Eve" is more about someone who is like a prostitute and its also a case that, like for so many women in this situation, ends up tragically. It´s a downward spiral because of the people involved, drugs are usually involved and it`s usually men who are behind the abuse that these women tend to get so again it´s about a tragic story.
We heard that you are a big Boy George fan !?
	Boy George, what ?
That was just a joke ! If there were anyone whom you´d like to do a duet with, who would that be ?
	I don´t know. I`m not actually sure if there would be anyone. I´m of the opinion, that singers/vocalists are the hardest people to work with. That´s because you have to work with their egos and dealing with other peoples egos is difficult. Although if I were to think about it I´d probably sing with Tracey Thorne as I´ve always been a fan of hers, since 1983 actually. I really like her voice. Who else ? There are so many artists I like, it´s difficult to think of them at the moment.
Is there any favourite music you listen to in your spare time ?
	Yes, I brought a disc with me to Germany with a compilation of stuff. Beck, Mutations, Nina Simon und also something from Kraftwerk because I was going to be doing a lot of driving; you know Autobahn, Trans-european express, for me it´s still good music. I´ve also put together my own compilation of club-music. My taste is quite varied.
On the Fan-Page we recieve a lot of e-mails asking whether you are ever going to release a live album or a B-side album at any stage ?
	Probably not however it could happen in the future. What I´d really like to do is a remix-album. I´d like to take some of the songs, even including some of the older songs, and get other people to do remixes of them. These could be released as a bonus-thing to accompany the next album. The problem with that however is it costs a lot of money and the record company would probably say to me: You want it, you pay for it. The other problem is to get remixes done nowdays you have to have a big budget to deal with management, royalties and the bureaucracy is just too much which is a shame.
Is there any song or piece of work of yours that you have come to dislike or you´d like to do it again ?
	That´s a hard one. When I listen to older songs I really only listen to the voice and in a lot of these cases I find my own voice strange. I think that it has only been the last 4 or 5 years where I´ve really developed as a singer whereas I wasn`t before. I was just a unique and strange sound. I do however sing the older songs live and that gives me the satisfaction that I´ve redone them. I don´t have to remix them or re-record them as on stage I can sing them differently and much more confidently.
You´ve been shooting the video for "Something To Live For" here in Hamburg. How much influence do you have when it comes to shooting videos ?
	In the end, if I don´t like the video I won`t use it. Today however has been very good so far with the video and we´ve talked through everything. Again we`ve got a small budget and are trying to make the best of this. Because of the subject of the song we need different people in this video, people who have got something to live for. The combination therapy which is what it is all obout helps all kinds of people - not only gays. Although I sing the song in the first person, I myself am not on this therapy however I do know a lot of people who are. The video wasn`t supposed to be too gay. That doesn`t work for me anymore because people know who I am and my politics. So we really wanted to work with all kinds of people, their faces and expressions. It´s very broad the people who it affects.
Do you like doing videos or do you find it a necessity ?
	It depends. If the video has turned out well and it suits the song, then it´s good however it is also necessary to do videos so that the song and new album have more exposure. Today has been very easy and relaxing.
It is a big part of the job, isn´t it ?
	Yes it is and sometimes it´s good to have something visual to the song. Unfortunately to do a great video you really need a lot of mony for example 100.000 pounds. I´d love to do little stories that went with each song, unfortunately I don´t have that budget. It´s a bit sad really especially when someone like Jay Harlywell can make a great video, have the funds to do so however the video doesn´t really say anything. I´d love to have as big a budget then I´d make small films about peoples´ lives. Maybe it´ll happen in the future !
Which part of the job do you like best; working in the studio or singing live on stage ?
	I cant really say because like anyone else in any job, your mood on that day determines whether or not your job is fun to do or not ! There are days on which I can´t stand the work and there are days where I think there´s nothing better than this. It all depends on my mood.
You had a small part in the film "Orlando" so we were wondering if you will ever see yourself taking on a bigger film or perhaps a main role ?
	No, I´m not an actor. This role was easy to play as it was just like shooting a video and I was just singing. I don´t even think about it because I´m not an actor.
There are however a lot of singers who end up acting !
	Yes, that´s true and for some it works very well and they turn out to be good actors and actresses. But for others this is not the case and these people should just stick to music.
After a concert, what do you usually do ?
	Oh ! It all depends. I either go to sleep back in the hotel or at home or I go out and get really trashed, go cruising or go to a sleazy bar and find sex really. But that´s not all the time, that´s only sometimes when I´m on tour and if I have to do a gig next day, it´s not a good idea.
The temptation is there however when you visit such cities as Hamburg, isn´t it ?
	Yeah, exactly or cities like Cologne, the temptation is just too much !
Do you believe in love ?
	Do I believe in love ? Yes, I believe in something that we characterize as love. We use the word `love` to discribe and express how we feel. It´s an international word however it´s a strange thing. I believe in the chemistry between two people and if thats what we call `love`, well then I do.
Are you in love at the moment ?
	No, I´m not very good at love. I´m too selfish for it !
So, if you were in a relationship, would you be the jealous type ?
	Yes, I would and also I´d expect to be able to go out by myself and be naughty !
We take it you don´t believe in monogamy !
	No, but for some people it works and this is how they like to spend their time and it´s good that way however for me it´s a `no go area` really.
We saw you recently on MTV-Live In Berlin and you were wearing a white handkerchief. It was hanging from one of your back pockets. Was the studio warm or were you trying to tell us something indirectly ?
	(laughter) No, It was only a small towel to wipe my face with because it was so warm. There was no message. What does `white`mean anyway ?
We believe it means ´wanking´.
	Oh no, I´m not much of a wanker ! Ha !
What is your opinion on recent events in London, the Soho bombing ?
	I was at home that friday evening and a newsflash came on TV that a bomb had exploded in the centre of London. I thought to myself it´s another one as London is bombed for various reasons and then they mentioned the name of the bar which I had known as a gay bar in Soho. A day before I had recieved an e-mail from the gay organisation ´Outrage` which said I should be a little more vigilant about my personal security because people who were known to be gay, especially well-known gays, were possible targets for these right-wing groups. It has turned out to be that the attack wasn´t initiated by an organisation, rather a 22 year old man. To have so much hate for so many different kinds of people and to be so young is very very disturbing. It was so sad for me, not only because of the act but also because the people in the bar had to suffer this attack. It could have been any of us and we are all victims of the attack however they paid with their lives and injuries. Although I didn´t personally know any of these people, I felt a connection and a sympathy there. It shocked us all (the gay community) so the next day there was an emergency gathering. We marched from Leister Square to Trafalgar Square about 200 of us. The people there were angry, confused and sad. It was a strange feeling. Times have changed and it´s scarey because when one person does this, it opens the door for others to do the same. It´s frightening times really.
You know that there are right-wing groups here in Germany and that it´s a big problem ?
	Yeah, especially in the east. Last year we did a radio beach party in Rostock, and the visability of skinheads there was pretty frightening. The two dancers I was with were black and while we were going through the station, they started shouting things at us so we had to make a quick departure. To go over and tell these people to `fuck off` just wouldn´t have paid off. It was quite frightening.

	Thank you Jimmy, for your time ! THANKS TO JIMMY AND CAROL FOR GIVING THE INTERVIEW. ALSO THANKS TO JEROME, FOR THE SUPPORT DURING THE INTERVIEW AND FOR HIS HELP MAKING THIS PAGE.