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Pablo Picasso (song)
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Wikipedia article
"'Pablo Picasso'" is a song written by Jonathan Richman Accessed February 14, 2011 for the proto punk group the Modern Lovers. The song was recorded in 1972 at Whitney Studios in Los Angeles, and produced by John Cale, but was not released until 1976, on the Modern Lovers' self-titled debut album. The recording featured Richman (lead guitar, vocals), Ernie Brooks (second guitar), Jerry Harrison (bass) and David Robinson (drums), with Cale playing the repetitive hammered piano part.
The central character of the song is the charismatic 20th century artist Pablo Picasso.[ Allmusic.com "Pablo Picasso" review]. Accessed August 15, 2007. With dry wit, the lyrics suggest that women never rejected Picasso's romantic advances, despite his short stature. "Well he was only five foot three but girls could not resist his stare / Pablo Picasso was never called an asshole / Not in New York". In a 1980 interview, Richman stated that the song was inspired by his own adolescent "self-consciousness" with women.
Cover versions
On recordings
*1975 John Cale, on his album 'Helen of Troy' (released before the original version)*1979 Catholic Discipline on album 'Underground Babylon' a collection of live recordings.
*1984 Burning Sensations on the 'Repo Man' soundtrack
*1991 Phranc's version of the song substitutes Gertrude Stein as the central character; it appears on her album 'Positively Phranc'
*1998 Television Personalities on 'Don't Cry Baby... It's Only a Movie'
*1999 - The Mentally Ill on the album 'Strike the Bottom Red'
*2003 David Bowie, on his album 'Reality'; a live version recorded at Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, London on 8 September 2003 was released on the 'Tour Edition' of 'Reality'
*2007 Blue Peter, on their album 'Burning Bridges', recorded live in 1980
*2007 Four Year Beard on the album 'Hero: The Main Man Records Tribute to David Bowie' (2007)
*2012 The Tellers on the album 'A Tribute to Repo Man'
*2018 Jack White for a live 'Spotify Singles' release
*2022 Chatterbox on the album 'When the Creatures Crawl'
Live performances
*1998 Siouxsie - the Creatures with John Cale during their 1998 US double bill tour.Notes
Category:1976 songs
Category:Cultural depictions of Pablo Picasso
Category:David Bowie songs
Category:Songs about painters
Category:Song recordings produced by John Cale
Category:The Modern Lovers songs
Category:Protopunk songs
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