David Candy
Encyclopedia
David Candy is a pseudonym
of Ian Svenonius
(formerly of Nation of Ulysses
, The Make-Up, and currently Weird War
). Only one album was released under the name David Candy, Play Power. The character of David Candy was part of a series of "Magazine-Style Records" conceived by Mike Alway (produced by Jez Butler and John Austin), which included other imaginary acts such as Death by Chocolate, Maria Napoleon, Mild Euphoria and Lollipop Train.
The David Candy persona is that of a pretentious, over-opinionated, egotistical, self-absorbed, pseudo-intellectual hipster who has perhaps spent too long alone, absorbed in The Doors' American Prayer. This choice of character traits may have been a form of self-mockery by Svenonius, or perhaps a commentary on the personalities of the indie rock scene in general. Much like the assumed personas and personalities of all of Svenonius' bands and projects (see the "biographies" of Nation of Ulysses, Cupid Car Club, The Make-Up, and Weird War), a make-believe mythos surrounds the character of David Candy. http://web.archive.org/web/20030819094914/www.jetsetrecords.com/bands/david_candy/bio.asp
.
Three of the tracks, "Listen to the Music," "Bad Bad Boy," and "Lullaby From 'Rosemary's Baby'" are cover version
s from obscure film soundtracks. "Listen to the Music" is from the 1968 teen comedy-satire Wild in the Streets
, "Bad Bad Boy" is a cover from the 1967 British film Privilege, and "Lullaby from 'Rosemary's Baby' " is a cover from Roman Polanski's
Rosemary's Baby
.
The instrumentals of the album are derivative of 60's pop music and psychedelia
, while Svenonius/Candy's vocal delivery is primarily spoken word
in the same vein as beat poetry
. The lyrical content of the vocals is often a pseudo-intellectual rant, meandering between overly-heady topics such as historical materialism
, Suprematism
, and the "rampant public licentiousness" of São Paulo
, Brazil
. The album was written and performed by Ian Svenonius, Jez Butler, John Austin and Matt Hulse.
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
of Ian Svenonius
Ian Svenonius
Ian Folke Svenonius is an American musician, notable as the singer of various Washington, D.C.-based bands including Nation of Ulysses, The Make-Up, Weird War, and Chain and The Gang. Between his numerous projects, Svenonius has released more than 15 full-length albums and more than 20 singles,...
(formerly of Nation of Ulysses
Nation of Ulysses
The Nation of Ulysses was an American punk rock band from Washington, D.C., formed in spring 1988 with four members. Originally known as simply "Ulysses," the first mark of the group consisted of Ian Svenonius on vocals and trumpet, Steve Kroner on guitar, Steve Gamboa on bass guitar, and James...
, The Make-Up, and currently Weird War
Weird War
Weird Wars is a series of horror role-playing games set during past and future wars and published by Pinnacle Entertainment Group. The original release, Weird War II: Blood on the Rhine was set during World War II, and utilized the D20 System...
). Only one album was released under the name David Candy, Play Power. The character of David Candy was part of a series of "Magazine-Style Records" conceived by Mike Alway (produced by Jez Butler and John Austin), which included other imaginary acts such as Death by Chocolate, Maria Napoleon, Mild Euphoria and Lollipop Train.
The David Candy persona is that of a pretentious, over-opinionated, egotistical, self-absorbed, pseudo-intellectual hipster who has perhaps spent too long alone, absorbed in The Doors' American Prayer. This choice of character traits may have been a form of self-mockery by Svenonius, or perhaps a commentary on the personalities of the indie rock scene in general. Much like the assumed personas and personalities of all of Svenonius' bands and projects (see the "biographies" of Nation of Ulysses, Cupid Car Club, The Make-Up, and Weird War), a make-believe mythos surrounds the character of David Candy. http://web.archive.org/web/20030819094914/www.jetsetrecords.com/bands/david_candy/bio.asp
Play Power
Play Power is the only album from the fictional musician David Candy, aka Ian SvenoniusIan Svenonius
Ian Folke Svenonius is an American musician, notable as the singer of various Washington, D.C.-based bands including Nation of Ulysses, The Make-Up, Weird War, and Chain and The Gang. Between his numerous projects, Svenonius has released more than 15 full-length albums and more than 20 singles,...
.
Three of the tracks, "Listen to the Music," "Bad Bad Boy," and "Lullaby From 'Rosemary's Baby'" are cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s from obscure film soundtracks. "Listen to the Music" is from the 1968 teen comedy-satire Wild in the Streets
Wild in the Streets
Wild in the Streets is a 1968 film featuring Christopher Jones, Hal Holbrook, and Shelley Winters. It was produced by American International Pictures and based on a short story by writer Robert Thom...
, "Bad Bad Boy" is a cover from the 1967 British film Privilege, and "Lullaby from 'Rosemary's Baby' " is a cover from Roman Polanski's
Roman Polanski
Roman Polanski is a French-Polish film director, producer, writer and actor. Having made films in Poland, Britain, France and the USA, he is considered one of the few "truly international filmmakers."...
Rosemary's Baby
Rosemary's Baby (film)
Rosemary's Baby is a 1968 American horror film written and directed by Roman Polanski, based on the bestselling 1967 novel Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin...
.
The instrumentals of the album are derivative of 60's pop music and psychedelia
Psychedelic
The term psychedelic is derived from the Greek words ψυχή and δηλοῦν , translating to "soul-manifesting". A psychedelic experience is characterized by the striking perception of aspects of one's mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ostensibly...
, while Svenonius/Candy's vocal delivery is primarily spoken word
Spoken word
Spoken word is a form of poetry that often uses alliterated prose or verse and occasionally uses metered verse to express social commentary. Traditionally it is in the first person, is from the poet’s point of view and is themed in current events....
in the same vein as beat poetry
Beat generation
The Beat Generation refers to a group of American post-WWII writers who came to prominence in the 1950s, as well as the cultural phenomena that they both documented and inspired...
. The lyrical content of the vocals is often a pseudo-intellectual rant, meandering between overly-heady topics such as historical materialism
Historical materialism
Historical materialism is a methodological approach to the study of society, economics, and history, first articulated by Karl Marx as "the materialist conception of history". Historical materialism looks for the causes of developments and changes in human society in the means by which humans...
, Suprematism
Suprematism
Suprematism was an art movement focused on fundamental geometric forms which formed in Russia in 1915-1916. It was not until later that suprematism received conventional museum preparations...
, and the "rampant public licentiousness" of São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. The album was written and performed by Ian Svenonius, Jez Butler, John Austin and Matt Hulse.
Track listing
- "Playpower (David Candy Theme)"
- "Incomprehensibly Yours"
- "Listen to the Music"
- "Redfuchsiatamborine&gravel"
- "Bad Bad Boy"
- "Diary of a Genius"
- "Lullaby From 'Rosmary's Baby' "
External links
- Official site on Jet Set Records website, retrieved January 15, 2007. Archived: here (may contain dead links and broken images)
- www.boum.co.uk: Jez Butler
- Matt Hulse