I’m sure actual downtown NYC back then was interesting but not the invigorating landscape of images and sounds in the song.
How much mileage did Clark get out of that song? There’s tons of videos on YouTube of her performing it everywhere.
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I’m sure actual downtown NYC back then was interesting but not the invigorating landscape of images and sounds in the song.
How much mileage did Clark get out of that song? There’s tons of videos on YouTube of her performing it everywhere.
by Anonymous | reply 47 | June 20, 2024 7:45 PM |
I never heard of Downtown before Girl, Interrupted.
by Anonymous | reply 1 | June 14, 2024 11:45 AM |
Love the song
by Anonymous | reply 2 | June 14, 2024 12:08 PM |
I thought it was about London
by Anonymous | reply 3 | June 14, 2024 12:16 PM |
R3 No-one from any part of London has ever used the word "Downtown". It's an Americanism.
by Anonymous | reply 4 | June 14, 2024 12:19 PM |
Thought it was really about uptown.
by Anonymous | reply 5 | June 14, 2024 12:27 PM |
That kind of makes sense because in most cities "downtown" means the center of town. NYC, though, is divided differently, maybe because it's an elongated island.
by Anonymous | reply 6 | June 14, 2024 12:39 PM |
In Flyover 'downtown' or 'uptown' always meant the area where the bank, shops, diners- and a few bars- were located.
by Anonymous | reply 7 | June 14, 2024 12:50 PM |
I'd give that hunk at R8 a sloppy bj
by Anonymous | reply 9 | June 14, 2024 1:34 PM |
R4 "In the realm of British slang, ‘Downtown’ refers to the urban center where a city’s action and excitement unfold. It embodies the bustling hub of social activities, trendy hotspots, and lively entertainment destinations. British locals often use ‘Downtown’ as an invitation to join in on the thrill and vibrancy that fills their city streets."
by Anonymous | reply 10 | June 14, 2024 1:39 PM |
R10 That's not true.
by Anonymous | reply 11 | June 14, 2024 1:42 PM |
R10 false, I've never heard it used here.
by Anonymous | reply 12 | June 14, 2024 1:44 PM |
This part of the song always seemed like it could be about coming out:
"You may find somebody kind to help and understand you. Someone who is just like you and needs a gentle hand to guide them along. So maybe I'll see you there. We can forget all our troubles, forget all our cares so go downtown."
by Anonymous | reply 13 | June 14, 2024 2:09 PM |
Emma Bunton's gesturing in her "Downtown" video give a very different meaning to the word...
by Anonymous | reply 14 | June 14, 2024 2:49 PM |
Yeah. Bunton gave it a double meaning that song didn’t need.
by Anonymous | reply 16 | June 14, 2024 4:11 PM |
I thought it was about below 14th Street.
by Anonymous | reply 17 | June 14, 2024 4:28 PM |
“In the autumn of 1964 (songwriter) Hatch made his first visit to New York City, spending three days there in search of material from music publishers for the artists he was producing. He recalled, "I was staying at a hotel on Central Park and I wandered down to Broadway and to Times Square and, naively, I thought I was downtown. ... I loved the whole atmosphere there and the [music] came to me very, very quickly". He was standing on the corner of 48th Street waiting for the traffic lights to change, looking towards Times Square when "the melody first came to me, just as the neon signs went on."
by Anonymous | reply 18 | June 14, 2024 5:25 PM |
All Dataloungers are required to learn the dance break before Labor Day
by Anonymous | reply 19 | June 14, 2024 5:31 PM |
I hate the opening. When you're alone and life is making you lonely.
by Anonymous | reply 20 | June 14, 2024 5:43 PM |
Try: When you've a mole and boys are calling you homely...
by Anonymous | reply 21 | June 14, 2024 5:47 PM |
R19 - Petula never seemed to dance much. Exhibit 2.
by Anonymous | reply 22 | June 14, 2024 5:52 PM |
I thought it was about Downton Abbey.
by Anonymous | reply 23 | June 14, 2024 6:01 PM |
The director of the OP clip must have told her For God's Sake don't turn to the right or we'll see your mole.
by Anonymous | reply 24 | June 14, 2024 6:09 PM |
Downtown used to be the center of New York from it's formation through the early 20th century r6.
However with Grand Central and Penn Station opening up and a migration uptown, a second downtown grew and eclipsed downtown that we call Midtown. And now Midtown of course is way more important than NY's original downtown.
by Anonymous | reply 25 | June 14, 2024 6:23 PM |
It really is one of those songs you instantly love. I remember hearing it as a kid on oldie's radio (I assume) and that hooky chorus just hit me.
I generally hate silly pop songs from that era. I generally hate silly pop songs from any era! But not Downtown.
by Anonymous | reply 26 | June 14, 2024 6:40 PM |
Even George and Jerry pondered the meaning of Downtown
by Anonymous | reply 27 | June 14, 2024 9:22 PM |
I knew the MM lookalike at 1:12 in the video at R14's link. We all expected her part to be longer than a blink-and-you-miss the way she went on and on and on about filming.
by Anonymous | reply 28 | June 14, 2024 10:26 PM |
It should have been titled "High Street", yes?
by Anonymous | reply 29 | June 14, 2024 10:28 PM |
[quote]All Dataloungers are required to learn the dance break before Labor Day
I've known that dance break since I was 12.
by Anonymous | reply 30 | June 14, 2024 10:38 PM |
I used to think "Don't Sleep in the Subway" was about underground trains, but it's really about underground pedestrian passageways.
by Anonymous | reply 31 | June 15, 2024 12:08 AM |
R19 Michael Bennett is the guy who loses his hat at 1:33
by Anonymous | reply 32 | June 15, 2024 12:32 AM |
The hat stays on the floor until Pet moves closer to the camera and puts it out of view.
by Anonymous | reply 33 | June 15, 2024 12:36 AM |
Gee R33, thanks for letting us know!
by Anonymous | reply 34 | June 15, 2024 12:38 AM |
Setting aside the composer’s story, in Manhattan it can mean either of two things: 1. Anything south of where you are at the moment (if you’re in Inwood, then Harlem is further downtown); or 2. The historical view, being anything below 23rd street or 14th street depending on how old you are.
by Anonymous | reply 35 | June 15, 2024 12:51 AM |
Going back to the idea of the lyrics alluding to coming out, I now want to sing "Downtown" in a medley with "YMCA."
by Anonymous | reply 36 | June 15, 2024 1:04 AM |
What a stupid song. The shrieking at the end is the worst.
by Anonymous | reply 39 | June 15, 2024 1:47 AM |
R39 = my grandmother in 1965
Petula's Italian version: Ciao Ciao
by Anonymous | reply 40 | June 15, 2024 2:01 AM |
My parents had a bunch of Petula Clark records and I loved Downtown, but even more I loved her version of You Belong to Me, Jumble Sale, and my absolute favorite was her cover of Ya Ya Twist.
I felt very sophisticated at 5 years old listening to a song in FRENCH
by Anonymous | reply 41 | June 15, 2024 2:21 AM |
I didn't know Petula was such a polyglot!
by Anonymous | reply 44 | June 16, 2024 12:02 PM |
Pet live! And they covered her mole with makeup. I have to laugh when she slows down the orchestra at the start.
by Anonymous | reply 45 | June 19, 2024 9:31 AM |
Though she seems to have fought with her hairdresser just before she comes on in R45.
by Anonymous | reply 47 | June 20, 2024 7:45 PM |
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