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Certain Songs #1985: Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3 – “Goodnight Oslo”

December 17, 2020 by Jim Connelly

Album: Goodnight Oslo
Year: 2009

. . .

Robyn Hitchcock’s second album with the Venus 3, 2009’s Goodnight Oslo was definitely a darker affair than the relatively upbeat Ole! Tarantula, and also added some horns and strings to the mix, as well.

And so while I didn’t like it quite as much as the predecessor, it definitely still had its charms, like the bouncy “Saturday Groovers” or the catchy “I’m Falling” and the final title track, the drony “Goodnight Oslo.”

Featuring an ominous, tension-filled Peter Buck jangle, a keening sawing cello by Jenny Adejayan over Bill Reiflin riding his kickdrum, “Goodnight Oslo” started out doomy as fuck, Robyn adding to it by singing at the very top of his register.

She came out of the past
Gliding through the mirror
From ashtrays, turntables and body hair
She came out on the nose
The trains had all stopped running
They had froze
But I’ve got special powers
That render me invisible
To everyone but you

And it pretty much kept up that vibe throughout the entire song, except for occasionally when backing vocalists Morris Windsor and Sean T Nelson swooped in and suddenly it started soaring.

But you can walk out
Any tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiime
Goodnight Oslo
Goodnight Oslo
Goodnight Oslo

But honestly, the mood was only broken for a short period of time — they might be leaving Oslo, but it doesn’t feel like a happy occasion. Just a necessary one.

“Goodnight Oslo”

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Filed Under: Certain Songs Tagged With: Goodnight Oslo, Robyn Hithcock

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Comments

  1. Ray C says

    December 18, 2020 at 2:47 pm

    This song was a highlight of the only Hitchcock show I’ve seen, when they were opening for Wilco.

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Previously on Medialoper

  • Certain Songs #2013: The Rolling Stones – “Empty Heart”
  • Certain Songs #2012: The Rolling Stones – “Around and Around”
  • Certain Songs #2011: The Rolling Stones – “Time Is On My Side”
  • Certain Songs #2010: The Rolling Stones – “It’s All Over Now”
  • Certain Songs #2009: The Rolling Stones – “Not Fade Away”

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