I’m thinking that it must be love…
A Reality Tour stopped off in Finland yesterday, to take part in the fun at the Provinssirock Festival in Seinäjoki. The Sun returned to brighten up proceedings and the Fins proved how they like to hold a sign aloft.
From a nice Aladdin Sane display promo, complete with feather boa…
to an economical Ziggy placard made from cardboard and a stick…
and a simple message in marker pen: “IT MUST BE LOVE” that caught David’s eye and forced the rock historian in him to make a comment.
When he spotted the sign, David said how he thought the person holding it was far too young to remember this track released by The Contours in the sixties. While it’s possible that the creator of the sign was perhaps more familiar with the Labi Siffre hit of the same name, later popularised further by Madness, or was even quoting a line from David’s very own Station To Station (surely the most likely reason for the sign), I felt compelled to press David for further information regarding the completely different song released by The Contours:
It Must Be Love was the flip of Don’t Let Her Be Your Baby, a 1963 single release on the Gordy label. The Contours were a rough and ready sounding Motown band that did the definitive great version of Do You Love Me (now that I can dance). A sort of unsophisticated Isley Bros. One of the forgotten greats.
So now you know. David delved back even further when he performed an impromptu Ella Fitzgerald style spot of scat singing. By all accounts, very impressive and perfectly convincing. Wouldn’t mind hearing a tape of that.
Here’s the officially-confirmed 27-song setlist courtesy of HNB:
Seinäjoki June 20th 2004
01 Rebel Rebel
02 Fame
03 Battle For Britain (The Letter)
04 The Motel
05 Cactus
06 New Killer Star
07 All The Young Dudes
08 Reality
09 China Girl
10 Life On Mars?
11 Modern Love
12 Sister Midnight
13 The Man Who Sold The World
14 Changes
15 The Loneliest Guy
16 Pablo Picasso
17 Under Pressure
18 Ashes To Ashes
19 The Supermen
20 Quicksand
21 Be My Wife
22 Diamond Dogs
23 White Light, White Heat
24 I’m Afraid Of Americans
25 “Heroes”
(Encore)
26 Suffragette City
27 Ziggy Stardust
A Reality Tour continues on Wednesday at the T-Mobile Arena, Prague 7, in the Czech Republic.