This article is based on this dutch article of Martijn Benders:
https://martijnbenders.substack.com/p/not-spam-callahan
—
Yesterday, Bill Callahan became my SoundCloud fan. Inspired by the modern emotions such an event can stir up, I composed this song in the morning:
Yesterday Bill Callahan
became my SoundCloud fan
People told me it was likely spam,
but I know — it’s Callahan.
Not spam (not spam)
not spam
(not spam)
Callahan (not spam)
not spam (Callahan)
not spam (not spam)
not spam. (not spam)
Callahan (not spam)
not spam (Callahan)
How is it possible
for artists to
filter one another
as spam?
They understand sounds
that live in clouds —
always jam,
always jam,
Callahan.
Not spam (not spam)
not spam. (not spam)
Callahan (not spam)
not spam (Callahan)
not spam (not spam)
not spam. (not spam)
Callahan (not spam)
not spam (Callahan)
Yesterday Bill Callahan
became my SoundCloud fan
People told me it was likely spam,
but I know — it’s Callahan.
How is it possible
for artists to
love one another,
reduced to living spam?
Later that day, I worked with Kroes to give a Dutch Jordaan vibe an American twist:
Who put soap suds in the plum porridge?
All the plums are starting to foam.
Who put soap suds in the plum porridge?
Every plum is in the foam.
I tasted it, but it tastes awful.
Look, my mouth is foaming.
Who put soap suds in the plum porridge?
Every plum is in the foam.
Mrs. von Dalen from down the street
was furious, as angry as could be.
She raged, yelling at the maid all day,
calling her a “stupid goat,” no other way.
Who put soap suds in the plum porridge?
All the plums are starting to foam.
Who put soap suds in the plum porridge?
Every plum is in the foam.
I tasted it, but it tastes awful.
Look, my mouth is foaming.
Who put soap suds in the plum porridge?
Every plum is in the foam.
It seems the maid knew nothing of this,
mistaking washing powder for sugar — quite the miss!
Perhaps her eyesight is really weak,
as she grabbed the wrong pack in a disastrous streak!
Who put soap suds in the plum porridge?
All the plums are starting to foam.
Who put soap suds in the plum porridge?
Every plum is in the foam.
I tasted it, but it tastes awful.
Look, my mouth is foaming.
Who put soap suds in the plum porridge?
Every plum is in the foam.
It works in this language, but it worked better in German.
Martinus, 20-12-2024.