{"id":405,"date":"2012-01-27T22:09:14","date_gmt":"2012-01-27T22:09:14","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2015-04-23T18:02:14","modified_gmt":"2015-04-24T01:02:14","slug":"the-man-from-san-sebastian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/franklycurious.com\/wp\/2012\/01\/27\/the-man-from-san-sebastian\/","title":{"rendered":"The Man from San Sebastian"},"content":{"rendered":"

Like most people, I discovered DeVotchKa (apparently Russian for “girl”) in the delightful film Little Miss Sunshine<\/a>. And I’ve heard a bit of their music since then and generally liked it all. Just today, I came upon a song from their most recent album 100 Lovers<\/a> called The Man from San Sebastian<\/a>. It is a wonderfully energetic song, produced in an almost wacky manner. The stark opening accordion somehow reminds me of the zither used throughout The Third Man<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/object><\/div>\n

I wish I could say that I knew what the song was about. There seem to be many clues in the video, but they mean little to me. At one point, a headline appears on the screen, “45.3 Kilos de Uranio Altamente Enriquecido”: 45.3 kg of Highly Enriched Uranium. That’s pretty specific, but still, the people in the photos? I’m not a modern man! I don’t know what’s going on now<\/i> or recently<\/i>. What’s more: I’m sure I’m not the only one who does not remember the man from San Sebastian.<\/p>\n

My hunch is that the song itself is post-modern in the sense that it isn’t about anything. It is a song that pretends to be about revolution but is more about love but is really about nothing but word play. Here are the main lyrics:<\/p>\n

It’s never too late to co-conspire commiserate
\nAll it takes is a little bit of love and an awful lot of hate<\/p>\n

Is it real? Does it exist?
\nI know it’s wrong, but who am I to resist?<\/p>\n

All I want is one more time
\nSome of yours and some of mine<\/p>\n

I don’t want to spoil the fun but am I the only one who sees what’s going on
\nAm I the only one who remembers the man from San Sebastian<\/p>\n

It’s just a few more miles, I’ll make it smooth and worth your while
\nDon’t look so nervous man, we’re just here to lend a hand<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

According to the director of the video, Vincent Comparetto, the political photos are from people in the Basque Separatist Movement in Spain. He apparently did an interview with NPR<\/a>, but you are best to check out the DeVotchKa—Making of Video<\/i> video at Prometheus Productions<\/a> (sorry, no direct link).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Like most people, I discovered DeVotchKa (apparently Russian for “girl”) in the delightful film Little Miss Sunshine. And I’ve heard a bit of their music since then and generally liked it all. 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