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Something about you....eh, Level42?

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Level42:

--- Quote from: polaris on May 18, 2009, 10:03:28 pm ---
--- Quote from: Ginsu Victim on May 18, 2009, 04:47:25 pm ---He's discussed the band in other threads, as well as linking to videos.

--- End quote ---

He sounds like a real fan, he should go and see them play live maybe.

--- End quote ---
:laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2:

....says the man who got me two tickets on the last Dutch tour (which was a GREAT gig !).  :notworthy:

Glad there's some interest in them.

What I've understood is that the band had one big problem in the US:
They sounded black, but they were/are white (with a tiny tint on the keyboard player).

They broke through in Holland in 1981. Back then you had radio and every now and then there was a TV program that showed "the hits". So, I had heard "Love Games" a number of times on the radio before actually seeing them. I was blown away to see those skinny pale English blokes playing the thickest funky music ! :D

Love Games is a great intro to the band's music:



The problem was that the "black" radio stations refused to play them because they were a white band and the white stations refused to play them because they sounded black.

The first time I visited the States was in '98. We were 2 days in NYC and stayed at "not the most expensive hotel in town". But it was close to Broadway and who stays at their hotel when in NYC? So it was fine with us. Anyway, I noticed they had a radio station playing and it was R&B and yes, as far as I could check, all artists were "afro-american" as I probably have to say politely.

The rest of the week we stayed with my family there. One day we took a drive and my cousin had a radio station playing and suddenly I realised I had been listening to at least 8 "white" artists in a row.

So I guess that separation is still there really. If you want to know my preference, I liked the "black" music much better. (As long as it's not rap crap).

Overhere, we get great music from the US, UK and in the last decades our own Dutch bands have improved a lot too. 

Anyway, yes it was the band that gave me my "handle" and some of you may have figured out why my son's name is Mark ;)

The band is still around, they tour the UK and Holland regularly (and also sometimes other places in Europe). There is a tiny, but hardcore fan-base in the US (both black and white I'm glad to say :) !)

www.level42.com

www.forevernow.com

Ummon:
Yep, they certainly sound black-cultured. Even on 'Something about You' he soundsl like a young black tenor. I think Roland Orzabal of Tears for Fears would sound better on vocals in that song, though. Not a baritone (I thought he was, but maybe not on second listen), but fuller voice. Mark King is a great player, though; flawless playing and singing at the same time. 'Love Games' and that stuff is, like, late 70s, so it was just out of style by the 80s. I dig the stuff, though. Another group similar is Ambrosia. 'You're the biggest part of me' is ---smurfin--- great.

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