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Other music forums => Various Artists, Lyrics, Discographies => Topic started by: Hello Goodbye on June 15, 2021, 12:10:18 AM

Title: Symbolism In The Kinks' Come Dancing Video
Post by: Hello Goodbye on June 15, 2021, 12:10:18 AM

Come Dancing   1982


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRUE0aAI5o8# (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRUE0aAI5o8#)


We began discussing this last August in the Identify The Song And Artist From The Posted Picture thread:  Identify The Song And Artist From The Posted Picture (http://www.dmbeatles.com/forums/index.php?topic=17630.msg344443#msg344443)

Let's continue discussing this upbeat yet poignant music video and the symbolism evident therein.

Title: Re: Symbolism In The Kinks' Come Dancing Video
Post by: Moogmodule on June 22, 2021, 10:43:18 PM

Unfortunately there doesn’t seem to be an approved video available in Australia. On YouTube there’s just a rough version put up by a fan.  Which is pretty blurry.

With respect to the cleaning ladies coming in, I wondered, in a rather dark way, whether it is a reference to his sister dying at the ballroom. the cleaning ladies are brought in to clean the scene afterwards. A bit gruesome symbolism but Ray has a rather gloomy personality in lots of ways.

Title: Re: Symbolism In The Kinks' Come Dancing Video
Post by: Hello Goodbye on June 23, 2021, 12:52:29 AM

Moog, does this link work down there?   

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3xpzk7 (https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3xpzk7)


Maybe the cleaning ladies are wiping away Ray's sad memories.

Title: Re: Symbolism In The Kinks' Come Dancing Video
Post by: Moogmodule on June 23, 2021, 06:08:22 AM

   Yours is a much more poetic and pleasant suggestion than mine HG  ;yes

Title: Re: Symbolism In The Kinks' Come Dancing Video
Post by: Hello Goodbye on June 24, 2021, 03:47:42 AM

(https://i.postimg.cc/hct1cjM5/rd.jpg)


At the beginning of the music video we see Ray Davies, as the spiv character, playing with a delicate expanding gold bracelet as he sings the opening lines of the song.  I suspect it was a watch bracelet that belonged to his sister Rene.

Moog, did that alternate link for the video work down your way?

Title: Re: Symbolism In The Kinks' Come Dancing Video
Post by: Moogmodule on June 25, 2021, 06:07:37 AM

It did thanks HG.  icon_good

Title: Re: Symbolism In The Kinks' Come Dancing Video
Post by: Hello Goodbye on May 17, 2023, 01:12:32 AM

Quote from: Hello Goodbye on June 24, 2021, 03:47:42 AM

I suspect it was a watch bracelet that belonged to his sister Rene.

Later in the video, the spiv notices the bracelet on the wrist of the girl standing next to him...


(https://i.postimg.cc/8p9ZcFww/Ray-spots-his-sister-s-watch.jpg)

Title: Re: Symbolism In The Kinks' Come Dancing Video
Post by: Hello Goodbye on May 17, 2023, 01:22:44 AM

We also see the spiv waiting for Rene who hasn't shown up yet...


(https://i.postimg.cc/vbHsfkvn/Ray-checking-the-time.jpg)



Perhaps the time indicated on his watch was when Rene passed away...


(https://i.postimg.cc/Z47hcHfM/Ray-s-Watch.jpg)


I see this music video as a very poignant eulogy and memorial to his sister.