Charles Michael Kittridge Thompson IV aka Black Francis aka Frank Black, turned 59 today.
Francis and the Pixies played a significant role on my musical development. Especially after my glam-metalhead phase. Pixies were one of my key influences when it came to adopting the following music movement—at the time, it was alternative rock and grunge.
The videos below, Francis with the Pixies performing “Isla de Encanta”, live. It’s one of my favourite Pixies tracks (album: Come On Pilgrim, 1987). It contains strong and early works of Pixies’ loud-quiet-loud trademark.
The title is a phonetic approximation of “Isla del Encanto,” which translates to “Island of Enchantment” and is a nickname for Puerto Rico. However, the title is intentionally misspelled, which adds a layer of intrigue and whimsy to the song. The lyrics, sung by Black Francis, are inspired by his experiences in Puerto Rico, where he had spent six months as an exchange student. The song reflects themes of tropical beauty, mystique, and the allure of the island, albeit with surreal and abstract imagery that leaves much to interpretation.
I saw the Pixies back in 2020 in Melbourne during their “Come On Pilgrim… It’s Surfer Rosa” tour. Might go to Melbourne this coming November to see them again. Haven’t bought the ticket yet; I’m a bit broke ：)
Oh well, happy birthday, el cabrón! Hermanita ven conmigo…
💧 You might also like PIXIES AT TINY DESK: GREENS AND BLUES.
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Featured image by Travis Shinn.
