New album Nonetheless

[Wish]

Sorry, but someone has to say it.

The bus driver and his mate!

[raggatwin]

Single person households growing massively in the UK over the last couple of decades...a lot of loneliness...I wonder if the boys have partners...

[telys]

Single person households growing massively in the UK over the last couple of decades...a lot of loneliness...I wonder if the boys have partners...

Surely hope so. Loneliness at old age must be horrible.

[Nickname]

I don't know but I think the new era is going to give us more videos and less tour dates. In fact, this new album is not going to have a tour by itself is just the GH tour with little music changes. Basically, 2 or 3 new songs from the album.

[IRONFLAME.de]

I don't know, but I think the new era will bring us more videos and fewer tour dates.

I would very much welcome that. I've grown rather weary of their clap-along hit parade shows, which you can only endure if you're hoping for the occasional B-side to be included in the programme. The fact that they have focussed so much on touring in recent decades was obviously for economic reasons. It's nice to see that they are once again financially supported by a major, which allows them to embark on more daring and luxurious endeavours.

[Old Soak]

loneliness only in uk?

https://www.campaigntoendloneliness.org ... tatistics/ which states:

In 2022, 49.63% of adults (25.99 million people) in the UK reported feeling lonely occasionally, sometimes, often or always

Approximately 7.1% of people in Great Britain (3.83 million) experience chronic loneliness, meaning they feel lonely ‘often or always’

Loneliness is ‘a subjective, unwelcome feeling of lack or loss of companionship. It happens when there is a mismatch between the quantity and quality of the social relationships that we have, and those that we want’

So it really is a growing social problem, and which seems to be exacerbated in the social media age rather than helped by it. I think Neil is right on the money with this - per NHS, older people are especially vulnerable to loneliness and social isolation – and it can have a serious effect on health. I really hope this isn't partly autobiographical and doesn't mean him personally as he approaches 70 and which would be sad given the joy he's brought to so many. Neil has skirted around the issue several times before:

Left to my own devices
Invisible
The Forgotten Child
Later Tonight

Just as examples. I could see Loneliness used in an advert for The Samaritans easily.

[Shopper]

Queer folks would perhaps feel this more? Many are not partnered or have a steady set of friends. Social Apps are cruel and discriminatory. There is a funny but dark joke. "How to be invisible on Grindr...put your age as 30+"

[Dog]

I don’t think the lyric to Loneliness is as straightforward as that. Neil’s empathy is only going so far. In the Ringo verse he’s accusing this person of essentially playing the part of a lonely person. It’s contrived and of their own making. It’s within their gift not to be lonely - they just need to say yes more. Neil is also clearly tired of having to be there to pick up the pieces: “Who is here to help you out? Oh tell me - can’t you guess?” There’s also the “wounded pride” jibe. Neil often sings about how you can take control of your own life and dictate your own emotional response to it. Happiness is an option is an example. Miserablism is another. Here he’s saying: “I know a thing or two about loneliness - if you change your attitude you’ll be ok.” It could be a lockdown thing. Or advice to another older person. I kind of imagine him singing to the person in the last PSB single, I don’t wanna.

[Drico One]

Oh, Loneliness is a classic, serotonin-driven psychodrama, a "pull yourself together" pep talk replete with strings, beats, and undercurrents of resentment. It is reminiscent, in some ways, of Drive by the Cars (which the BBC once notoriously used to soundtrack a George Best binge drinking news story), but this time the protagonist of A Red Letter Day has become too comfortable waiting for Godot whilst reserving the right to indulge in self pity. There's an echo of "Admit you love me and you always did" about Loneliness, and a touch of bitterness in "Who is here to help you out, oh tell me can't you guess." Our narrator is no longer the passive wallflower of yore, silently accepting his invisibility as he gets passed over for the more exotic.

So, this is a well-meaning excoriation - which is rather like what a truly caring individual might very well feel driven to deliver when dealing with the implacable, self-absorbed, and destructive willfulness of a loved one. The affection on display is obvious, but there's every chance it remains unrequited and patience is clearly running out. In the end, it's a "yes, you've got problems but you've got to help yourself and I'm here to help you too - or haven't you noticed" message. The wallflower now comes with a barb.

The backing vocals are magnificent, adding depth to the stately grandeur and desperation of the arrangement. There is a definite sense that the pervading sadness (baleful strings and foreboding flourishes) encapsulates not the predicament of the "downcast Ringo" - but of our increasingly indignant narrator: continuously taken for granted, ignored, and, essentially, condemned to his loneliness.

An intriguing start to Nonetheless, then. Well, I'm immediately drawn in, anyway.

Drico.

[Remark]

Drico returns with a splendid summary of robust paragraphs and accurate descriptors! I too, am immediately drawn in...

[Andie]

Oh, Loneliness is a classic, serotonin-driven psychodrama, a "pull yourself together" pep talk replete with strings, beats, and undercurrents of resentment. It is reminiscent, in some ways, of Drive by the Cars (which the BBC once notoriously used to soundtrack a George Best binge drinking news story), but this time the protagonist of A Red Letter Day has become too comfortable waiting for Godot whilst reserving the right to indulge in self pity. There's an echo of "Admit you love me and you always did" about Loneliness, and a touch of bitterness in "Who is here to help you out, oh tell me can't you guess." Our narrator is no longer the passive wallflower of yore, silently accepting his invisibility as he gets passed over for the more exotic.

So, this is a well-meaning excoriation - which is rather like what a truly caring individual might very well feel driven to deliver when dealing with the implacable, self-absorbed, and destructive willfulness of a loved one. The affection on display is obvious, but there's every chance it remains unrequited and patience is clearly running out. In the end, it's a "yes, you've got problems but you've got to help yourself and I'm here to help you too - or haven't you noticed" message. The wallflower now comes with a barb.

The backing vocals are magnificent, adding depth to the stately grandeur and desperation of the arrangement. There is a definite sense that the pervading sadness (baleful strings and foreboding flourishes) encapsulates not the predicament of the "downcast Ringo" - but of our increasingly indignant narrator: continuously taken for granted, ignored, and, essentially, condemned to his loneliness.

An intriguing start to Nonetheless, then. Well, I'm immediately drawn in, anyway.

Drico.

Welcome back Great observations

[telys]

Drico returns with a splendid summary of robust paragraphs and accurate descriptors! I too, am immediately drawn in...

Nah, to me it's just a meaningless word sallad.

[rashomon]

It’s a strange feeling….I absolutely love the EP and I think Loneliness is an excellent song. Yet, I’m not overdosing on repeat listens … perhaps I’m holding myself back for the next single or album but normally I would be playing the new tracks on repeat multiple times a day

[y3potential]

Welcome back, Drico. It's been far too long

[Drico One]

Welcome back, Drico. It's been far too long

Yes, I should have left it at the single paragraph, really.