Where do you go, to my lovely
When you're alone in your bed?
Tell me the thoughts that surround you
I want to look inside your head, yes I do
I remember the back streets of Naples
Two children begging in rags
Both touched with a burning ambition
To shake off their lowly born tags, they try
So look into my face Marie Claire
And remember just who you are
Then go and forget me forever
But I know you still bear
The scar, deep inside, yes you do
Read more HERE
"Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?" is a song that was written and performed by Peter Sarstedt and released in 1969. It was a number-one 1 hit in the UK Singles Chart for four weeks in 1969, and was awarded the 1969 Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically (together with Space Oddity by David Bowie, the subject of my challenge last month.)
 |
| Sophia Loren (photographer unknown) Fair Use Principles |
I think what made this song so memorable, aside from the haunting lyrics and intimate vocals, was the source of Sarstedt's Marie Claire. Popular opinion held that it was Italian actress, Sophia Loren, who was abandoned by her father and had a poverty-stricken childhood in Naples. However, Sarstedt himself denies this: "Yes, it's a portrait of a poor-born girl who becomes a member of the European jet-set. And yes, there's reference to her growing up on the 'back streets of Naples', so I can see why people may think it was written with Sophia Loren in mind. But that's just a co-incidence. I really wasn't thinking of anyone specific." source
Aside from this tantalizing mystery, the song is rich in allusions to famous artists and well-known people. Marlene Dietrich, Zizi Jeanmaire, Picasso, the Aga Khan. Behind it all is the Cinderella story, which never seems to lose its poignancy.
Our Challenge today is to consider the theme of Dichotomy: the division of parts which may complement one another or create a sense of opposition. In this song, there is a dichotomy between Marie Claire' upbringing and present circumstance, also of the person she is inside her head and the one she shows to the world. Your poem may take any form and you are free to explore subject matter of your own choosing.
For those who would like to read all the lyrics, while listening to the song and viewing significant images, I have included this video.
Top Photo credit: girl dreaming
20 comments:
damn, Sophia was beautiful.
that's quite the dichotomy right there- Sarstedt and Bowie sharing an award. I'd never heard that song before ~
Kerry -- this is a very interesting prompt. My newest poem fits it very well-- perhaps because it is a subject I am interested in, but I confess not having written it for the prompt--wondering if okay to link up? K. (Okay not.). M. Is right--Sophia so beautiful. K.
the dichotomy i'm projecting here is one of 'transmutation'.
Let us see your poem, karin. I would be interested to read your take on dichotomy.
Oops! There appears to be something wrong with your link, Marco. Please try again.
I was quite enchanted with the lyrics … not sure I can rise to the occasion, but will give it some thought. Thanks for the introduction. Look forward to seeing what everyone else comes up with…
Sophia Loren is STILL one of the most beautiful women of the world… almost 80 and so full of life.
Life is full of them, and they continue to flummox us.
A very engaging challenge and mixed with life at the moment, a very interesting twist came to life before I could stop myself! I just watched a recent movie of Sophia the other night, and even now she still has that incredible voice that commands you to listen, and she can still turn heads! A style of elegance you don't see everyday, even at her age now.
The song was so much fun at first, and then I read all the lyrics as it played and was moved to tears! Such a "slumdog millionaire" story--it touched something inside and when I find it, I'll be back. Thank you, Kerry.
Perhaps the song never really made it in the US. I heard it so much in my youth I know the words by heart. But I am thrilled that it is being discovered afresh today!
A very fascinating challenge, Kerry, as always. This has been a crazy day, but I will put a pinch of dichotomy in the cauldron and see if anything bubbles up.(I had never heard of the song before, or the author, but I do love it, and that shot of Sophia Loren.)
A wonderful prompt, but I am fighting writer's block. I hope to come up with something.
Challenging prompt !
Thanks for the help in getting something written, Kerry. I will be by in the morning to visit, when my mind isn't mush.
Thanks for the opportunity to share my divided soul.
Thanks for the opportunity to share my divided soul.
Thank you for bringing us this concept of dichotomy and the story of these people...excellent challenge, Kerry!
...one of my favorite old songs. The only problem is that I can't get it out of my head now! Pa - I still have the vinyl album!
Actually I wrote a poem for dVerse on Rilke today.. and somehow it fitted this prompt so well so I link it up
Post a Comment