Miss Gradenko Lyrics
But are you safe Miss Gradenko
We were at a policy meeting
They were planning new ways of cheating
I didn't want to rock your boat
But you sent this dangerous note
You've been letting your feelings show
Miss Gradenko are you safe?
Are you safe Miss Gradenko?
Miss Gradenko are you safe?
Is anybody alive in here?
Is anybody at all in here?
Nobody but us in here
Nobody but us in here
Is anybody alive in here?
Nobody but us in here
You're much to alive in it
You've been letting your feelings show
Miss Gradenko are you safe?
Is anybody alive in here?
Is anybody at all in here?
Nobody but us in here
Nobody but us in here
Is anybody alive in here?
Is anybody alive in here?
Is anybody at all in here?
Nobody but us in here
Nobody but us in here
Nobody but us in here
Nobody but us {hang on at end slightly for rapid fade}
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[Stephen Holden—Rolling Stone 1983] Stewart Copeland's "Miss Gradenko," a novelty about secretarial paranoia in the Kremlin, is memorable mainly for Summers' modal twanging between the verses.
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This one reminds me of the romance between Winston and Julia in George Orwell's 1984.
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This song is clearly about a woman inside some sort of organization which subjects its members to dehumanizing uniformity, and otherwise "cheats". It may be an unscrupulous corporation, but the Russian sound of "Gradenko" indicates that this is probably about a Communist governent and a woman inside who is getting too lively for the system to tolerate.
Excellent elaboration on this and other songs at:
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At least Copeland's contribution is thoroughly better; 'Miss Gradenko' is yet another in a series of those lightweight half-comic numbers Stu is famous for, even if this time around it's kinda disturbing, especially when you hear grim lyrics like 'Is anybody alive in here? Nobody but us in here'. Can't deny the catchiness of the chorus though, not on your life you can't. A lightweight piffle it is, but a necessary lightweight piffle - kinda like 'Maxwell's Silver Hammer' on Abbey Road. [George Starostin]
@sillybunny : @sillybunny : During work on “Maxwell's Silver Hammer” Paul McCartney insisted on an extraordinarily-large number of takes. John, George and Ringo somehow resisted the impulse to bestow upon Paul the same ultimate fate as anyone who’d been a minor annoyance to Maxwell.
@sillybunny : @sillybunny : During work on “Maxwell's Silver Hammer” Paul McCartney insisted on an extraordinarily-large number of takes. John, George and Ringo somehow resisted the impulse to bestow upon Paul the same ultimate fate as anyone who’d been a minor annoyance to Maxwell.
Anyhow, that’s what I’ve heard. But who knows. All those rumors…
Anyhow, that’s what I’ve heard. But who knows. All those rumors…
Abbey Road is my second-favorite Beatles LP (after Revolver). Despite being unusually consistent, relative to the band’s other post-Sgt. Pepper efforts? Upon hearing the first seconds of “Octopus' Garden” I’ll always press the Skip button...urgently.
Abbey Road is my second-favorite Beatles LP (after Revolver). Despite being unusually consistent, relative to the band’s other post-Sgt. Pepper efforts? Upon hearing the first seconds of “Octopus' Garden” I’ll always press the Skip button...urgently.
I have similar feelings about another...
I have similar feelings about another track on Side A. Damn though, but everything on side B—from “Because” onward—sounds as if they were capable of continuing, sustained genius.
Which is odd, in retrospect; anyone could tell what was going to happen (with no need to rely on gossip). Aside from the occasional gem? The White Album and Let it Be are the sounds of four individuals (not a collective whole): absolutely confident they'd be praised for anything they did. No matter how clumsy or ill-advised.
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George Orwell 1984
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who is Miss Gradenko?
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I've always thought of this as some sort of Agatha Christie-meets-the-Golden-Girls song. Although I guess she'd probably be Mrs. Gradenko. Either that or perhaps a kind of "one flew over the cuckoo's nest"-type deal. Hell, I dunno.
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I always thought they sounded like Gary Lewis and the Playboys doing this song.
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My favorite Copeland tune. Some of my favorite guitar work by Andy.
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I thought it was about a guy having an affair with a woman that he can't have for professional reasons... it's hard to explain. :P