Welcome to the Last FM page of t… Read Full Bio ↴http://www.thecorrespondents.co.uk/
Welcome to the Last FM page of the swing-hop duo, The Correspondents. MC Mr Bruce and DJ/Producer Mr Chuckles collaborate to make Hip Hop for the 1930s, Big Band music for the 00s. Splicing swing samples with squelchy synths over dusty drum loops theyβve depicted a modern day journey into time of rogues, lust, affordable clowns and foot-tapping toe curling "get your brogues on" dance floor swing beat.
The Correspondents started out in November 2007, when old friends, Mr Bruce and Mr Chuckles, returned to London after a firm schooling at their respective Universities. In Leeds Mr Chuckles had been tinkering with the sounds of Hip Hop, Jazz and Dance music for several years, meanwhile further North in Edinburgh Mr Bruce exerted his vocal dexterity over Drum 'n' Bass, Breaks & Funk. The unlikely pair cut their teeth at a few parties and decided to cement the live performance relationship in their makeshift recording studio. Since then tracks have been recorded, stages have been stomped and knees have hit nipples.
The Correspondents have shared stages with the likes (or unlikes) of Florence & The Machine, Lilly Allen, Mika, Little Boots, VV Brown, Bat For Lashes, Lazy Habits, Daedalus, Bassment Jaxx, Rob Da Bank, Rusko, Kitty Daisy & Lewis, Cuban Brothers, Brass Roots, Jocelyn Brown, Dub Pistols etc... etc...
You might have seen them at Glastonbury, Secret Garden Party, Bestival, Shambala Festival, Lovebox Weekender, The Big Chill Festival, Camden Crawl, Innocent Village Fete, Scala Amersham Arms, Bungalow 8, Soho Revue Bar, Vibe Bar, Concord 2, Bloomsbury Bowls, Art Car Boot Fair, Last Days Of Decadance, Madame Jojo's, Notting Hill Arts Club, Bethnal Green Working Men's Club, 33 Portland Place, Shepard's Bush Pavillion, 5 Cavendish Sq, Corsica Studios, Proud Camden, Village Underground, The Cobden Club, The Battersea Arts Centre, The Colony Rooms, and Selfridge's.
www.myspace.com/thecorrespondentsmusic
"The Correspondents aren't the first group you'd expect to see at a South London dubstep/fidget house night and yet their performance at Corsica Studios over a year ago had everyone quickly switching their allegience from wobbly basslines to beats over samples from 'The Jungle Book'. The skin-tight trouser clad MC Mr Bruce strode to the stage and began shaking his impossibly long legs to the beats put down by his DJ, Chuckles, and from that point on, everyone was a convert." NME.COM
βPop also-ran Frankmusik was far more exciting, revealing his 'great voice for a white boy' but also the overly perfect future pop that's thus far prevented him finding fame with a mass audience. One duo who could, however, are the Correspondents, who filled in between sets throughout the weekend. With fast-spit rhymes over twenties flapper tunes, and MC Mr Brogues a gangly enthusiastic dancer with natty threads to match, these two deserve a stage all themselves.β INTHENEWS.CO.UK β BESTIVAL REVIEW
βMy fear for the contents of my wallet and the softer parts of my anatomy were quickly replaced by joy at the sights and sounds of The Correspondents. These two dapper purveyors of swing-hop derring-do pretty much stole the show. Iβm proper feeling the vaudeville approach to hip-hop (cfThe Anomalies, Krugers passim), and The Correspondents are amongst the most charming to take that approach. Everyone had a sing-a-long with them. Aww. Find them on MySpazz β youβll be glad you did (and relieved MySpazz still has its uses).β KRUGERS MAGAZINE β DAEDALUS @ CORSICA STUDIOS REVIEW
"A stark contrast with the reaction received by The Correspondents, the Wandsworth duo who wander onto the Great Stage in the middle of the hottest day of the year and through the skatting, scratching and infectious dancing of the Mask-a-like Mr Bruce, managed to persuade everyone to forget their heat induced woes and dance like they had some serious itch to scratch. Forced back on to the stage by a fiery and pumped up crowd demanding more, Mr Bruce and compatriot DJ Chuckles then do it all over again, much to the amazement of them and their newly acquired groupies. Which goes to show the wonder that is Secret Garden Party. Hierarchies are toppled and the unknown underdogs are taken into the bosoms of the crowd while the headlining 80s superstars are made to look like, well, bosoms." LOUD AND QUIET MAGAZINE - SECRET GARDEN PARTY REVIEW
"Sunday starts with a beautifully bizarre moment, as Wandsworth swing-hip-hop duo The Correspondents enthral an unfeasibly huge midday main stage crowd with a rendition of 'I Wanna Be Like You' from The Jungle Book. After that weβre delirious putty in their capable hands and the stunned pair are summoned back for a giddy encore." WWW.VIRTUALFESTIVALS.COM - SECRET GARDEN PARTY REVIEW
Puppet Loosely Strung
The Correspondents Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Around you they were so confused a faulty man could have so much fun.
They read you smiles, nothing but teeth, looked at you with pity first, then disbelief.
Let me put myself in your shoes as a puppet loosely strung.
They may think they'd never choose to be the man that you've become.
You never felt the need to conform
We get drunk or high to feel what you've felt since you've been born.
I'm tied to so many things I don't need to do.
I'll loosen my strings to feel more like you.
I'm tied to so many things I don't need to do,
I'll loosen my strings to feel more like you.
Let me put myself in your shoes as a puppet loosely strung.
Did you feel the weight of other's views, or was their ignorance a source of fun?
I hated the whispers in the street
Do you oppose a greeting, pulling the rug beneath their feet?
I'm tied to so many things I don't need to do.
I'll loosen my strings to feel more like you.
I'm tied to so many things I don't need to do.
I'll loosen my strings to feel more like you.
In the past you would have been seen as a family's disgrace,
Now they think you're putting on a brave face
They might fear that one day they'll wear your shoes
But you're the one who's laughing, you had nothing to lose
They just couldn't see, that it was me needing you, and not you needing me
They just couldn't see, that a puppet loosely strung is not who I wanna be
They just couldn't see, that it was me needing you, and not you needing me
They just couldn't see, that a puppet loosely strung is not who I wanna be
I'm tied to so many things I don't need to do.
I'll loosen my strings to feel more like you.
I'm tied to so many things I don't need to do,
I'll loosen my strings to feel more like you.
They just couldn't see, that it was me needing you, and not you needing me
They just couldn't see, that a puppet loosely strung is not who I wanna be
They just couldn't see, that it was me needing you, and not you needing me
They just couldn't see, that a puppet loosely strung is not who I wanna be
The Correspondents' song "Puppet Loosely Strung" is a powerful commentary about society's fixation on conformity and the pressure to fit in. The lyrics reimagine the concept of being a puppet as a liberating experience, offering a refreshing perspective on what it means to be an outsider. The song urges listeners to break free from the constraints of society and find their own path, even if it means being perceived as different.
The first verse invites the listener to imagine themselves as a puppet loosely strung. The line "Around you they were so confused a faulty man could have so much fun" implies that while society may view the puppet as flawed or broken, the puppet is actually having a great time enjoying their freedom. The second verse poses the question of whether the puppet feels the weight of other people's opinions or if they find it entertaining to defy the norms.
The chorus emphasizes the contrast between being tied to many things and choosing to loosen one's strings to feel more like the puppet. The repetition of the line "I'll loosen my strings to feel more like you" highlights the desire to be free from the expectations of society. The second half of the chorus implicates that society is at fault for not recognizing the value of being different.
The bridge acknowledges that those who challenge societal norms are often seen as a disgrace, but the song transforms that perception into one of bravery. The final repetition of "They just couldn't see..." emphasizes that the singer and the puppet are not the ones who need society's approval, but rather society's inability to understand and appreciate them.
Overall, "Puppet Loosely Strung" is a bold anthem encouraging listeners to embrace their individuality and reject the pressure to conform.
Fact 1: The Correspondents are a British electro-swing duo that formed in 2007.
Fact 2: The song was released in 2014 as part of their album "Puppet Loosely Strung."
Fact 3: The music video for the song was directed by Naren Wilks and features dancers puppets twitching and dancing in surreal environments.
Fact 4: The Correspondents have been noted for their interactive live performances, often incorporating elements of dance and theater.
Fact 5: The song was featured on an episode of the British TV show "Peaky Blinders" in season 3.
Fact 6: The Correspondents have cited influences ranging from swing music to drum and bass to hip hop.
Fact 7: The band has toured extensively throughout Europe and Asia, as well as performing at festivals such as Glastonbury and Bestival.
Fact 8: The band's lead vocalist and lyricist, Mr Bruce, has been praised for his theatrical stage presence and dynamic vocal range.
Fact 9: The Correspondents have collaborated with artists such as DJ Yoda and Frankmusik.
Fact 10: The song's lyrics have been interpreted as an empowerment anthem for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider.
Chords: Unfortunately, the chords for "Puppet Loosely Strung" are not readily available.
Line by Line Meaning
Let me put myself in your shoes as a puppet loosely strung.
I want to understand and feel what you're going through as if I am in your exact situation.
Around you they were so confused a faulty man could have so much fun.
People were confused about your behavior and actions, which made it seem like you were enjoying their confusion.
They read you smiles, nothing but teeth, looked at you with pity first, then disbelief.
People only saw the surface level of your expression and didn't truly understand what you were feeling, which caused them to pity you before eventually not believing you.
They may think they'd never choose to be the man that you've become.
Others may look at your behavior and actions and say they would never want to be like you.
You never felt the need to conform
You never felt the pressure to conform to society's expectations and instead chose to be true to yourself.
We get drunk or high to feel what you've felt since you've been born.
Some people turn to substances to feel the freedom and lack of societal pressure that you've felt your whole life.
Did you feel the weight of other's views, or was their ignorance a source of fun?
Did the opinions and judgments of others affect you, or did you find it amusing that their ignorance was causing confusion?
I hated the whispers in the street
I disliked the way people talked about you behind your back.
Do you oppose a greeting, pulling the rug beneath their feet?
Do you enjoy going against society's norms and expectations and causing people to be taken off guard?
In the past you would have been seen as a family's disgrace, now they think you're putting on a brave face.
Before, your family may have seen you as a disappointment, but now they see you as brave for being true to yourself.
They might fear that one day they'll wear your shoes, but you're the one who's laughing, you had nothing to lose.
Others may fear ending up in a situation like yours, but you're the one who is unbothered and happy with who you are.
They just couldn't see, that it was me needing you, and not you needing me
Others couldn't understand that I was the one who needed to understand and learn from you, not the other way around.
They just couldn't see, that a puppet loosely strung is not who I wanna be
Others couldn't understand that being tied down and controlled by societal expectations is not who I want to be.
I'm tied to so many things I don't need to do.
I am caught up in societal expectations and pressures that I don't actually need to follow.
I'll loosen my strings to feel more like you.
I will let go of these societal expectations and pressures to feel more free and true to myself, like you.
Contributed by Katherine Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.