If you’ve ever seen the film Trainspotting, you’re probably familiar with the song “Born Slippy”, as it was featured prominently in the film.
The song has an interesting story behind it: the original version, by electronic band Underworld, was completely instrumental. The b-side of the single had lyrics, and was known as “Born Slippy .NUXX”, allegedly from a computer error which appended the NUXX extension to one of the tracks in the song. The lyrics are supposedly the “internal dialog” of an alcoholic (band member Karl Hyde was a functional alcoholic at the time). The band didn’t give the tune much thought until director Danny Boyle used it in Trainspotting, which caused the tune to hit #2 on the British charts.
This version is a cover from the German band Get Well Soon. It’s very slow, with a haunting piano line running throughout. To me, the original is a dancy, almost poppy tune. You can easily ignore the lyrics while gyrating on the dance floor or driving around at top speed. But this version forces you to listen to the desperation and sadness of the lyrics. It’s not something you want to cue up on the iPod at at party… but it is something you’ll listen to while lying on your bed with the room spinning out of control later on that night.
Have a listen and tell me what you think:
[audio:bornslippy.mp3]
Loved Trainspotting when it came out I think I saw it 3 times in the theater-(that was back before movies came out on DVD 3 months later). Then I drove around with the soundtrack for a couple of weeks-perfect for Atlanta traffic maneuvering . I like the original “Born Slippy” with the pounding beat, but yeah this version is good too, in a hung over kind of way.
Jeez – you’re from Atlanta, too?
ha! I was there from 1988-2002-I’m in Tampa now…couldn’t take the traffic anymore. I think I found your blog in the first place because of something you wrote about Atlanta- then kept checking back for the Mad Men reviews.