MANFRED MANN - “Pretty Flamingo”
(#214, 7th May 1966)
The girl in the song - a flash of colour in everyday guy-land - maps onto the flamingo metaphor itself, that odd flutter of inspiration in a heavy-handed song. The image of the flamingo-girl gives the song a hook and title but not a center: she’s untouchable, and the singer can only even imagine her as ‘his’ in the context of other guys’ envy. That gives the track a little bit of pathos which the lumbering arrangement does its best to waste - the woodwind in particular sounds forced and clumsy, and you can imagine the flamingo strutting disdainfully on by. 5
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Andrew Hickey on August 22nd, 2005
I always liked this song, but the lyrics are frankly ridiculous - “On our block, all of the guys call her flamingo, because her hair is like the sun and her eyes are like the sky”
As far as I’m aware, two of the attributes that in flamingoes are noticeable by their absence are shiny blonde hair and blue eyes. Also, I can’t imagine any woman actually being anything other than horribly insulted by being compared to a flamingo at all. They’re rather ridiculous-looking creatures…
Paul Jones’ vocal *almost* saves the lyric though…
Marcello on August 23rd, 2005
Also the last single the Manfreds recorded with Paul Jones on vocals. Jack Bruce played bass on the track, so there’s a very flimsy link to Escalator Over The Hill there.
Writer was Mark Barkan, perhaps better known as the subsequent author of the Banana Splits theme.
Lena on August 24th, 2005
And the Banana Splits theme always reminds me of “Buffalo Soldier” which some of you may regard as a bad thing.
I’ve never heard this song, but if Jack Bruce plays on it, okay with me. Obv. I have to catch up on Escalator Over The Hill!
Marcello on August 25th, 2005
Here’s a good start…
lena on August 26th, 2005
Thanks!
Alan Connor on August 29th, 2005
I suppose it is pretty bad. I’ve always loved it, though. It reminds me, for reasons elusive, of the Casuals’ “Jesamine” (hey, ace bass there, too!).
Resurrection Watch: Talent shows again — Darius did a version for that NME One Love covers record in 2002. Los Mustang did a Spanish version, Gene Pitney, The Queers and The Huxton Creepers stuck to English, and Rod did one on A Night On The Town.
The Boss used to make quite a meal of “Pretty Flamingo” in concert (a return for “Blinded By The Light”?), taking it over 10, 11, 12 minutes, and improvising speaky bits about how he was going to use a private detective to find his lost love.
In what will surely and hopefully be their only mention on Popular, Cud did a sort-of version (”Pink Flamingo”) on Asquarius. (I realise that may be taken more as a challenge than a truth.)
And let us not forget Iggy Pop and Rolf Harris. Not together, heartbreakingly.
Surely it’s been used in adverts for dainty things, maybe shoes or hairspray?
Sigh. I’m guessing that the next time I hear it, I’ll be distracted by the image of a flamingo in a dress that clings so tight.
Anonymous on September 1st, 2005
Just looking back through the last 6 FT entries and it was a pretty lame time for Brit Pop. We saw Day Tripper & Keep On Runnin in May but then had 6 weeks of basic crap and novelty songs.
Of the lot , I think probably ” Flamingo” is the best of bunch.
Dusty always struck me as a bit over the top , all time.
Let’s hope we something better soon…..and give this lively !
Marcello on September 2nd, 2005
We’re just about to enter a reasonably purple patch…
Anonymous on September 2nd, 2005
Looking forward to it.
Thanks , Marcello for the link to the “Escalator Over The Hill ” article of yours.
I’m gonna have to get a copy of that.
Just had an interesting summer pastime. There is a book called ” Kind of Blue ” about tha making of the classic album of the same name by Miles Davis.
To read the book and listen to the album was a real eye-opener for me as jazz has not always been my strongest suit.
SO I’m in jazz mode/modality now and could just about listen to anything, except maybe Cher
Brian in Canada
Keith on October 3rd, 2005
The girl is like a flamingo because she has one leg, like the bloke from Jethro Tull.
Mann’s Earth Band are a vast improvement, though I still like this one.