Just heard this new track by Romy Madley Croft (from The XX) via Mary Anne Hobbs and it’s a banger but what made me stop in my tracks is not only the message but the Beverley Glenn Copeland sample from La Vita – a track I know well. And I know exactly why she sampled that line; it too stopped me in my tracks when I first heard it. Big fan and supporter of Glenn’s work, played his music on the podcast many times. I hope this new spotlight wins Beverly Glenn-Copeland sample many more fans.
Apparently Robyn took Romy to see Glenn live in Stockholm, and she said:
“When I heard the line, “My mother says to me enjoy your life” by Beverly Glenn-Copeland, I was speechless. Those few words felt like the most simple and disarming sentence. Ever since I was 11, I’ve been aware of and drawn to the phrase, life is short. I’ve felt inspired by people who I’ve seen react to this by trying to see the positives in life, even when things are going wrong and times are hard.
As much as I’d love to naturally be one of those people, I’m not always able to do this myself and often get in my own head and my own way, so sometimes a reminder goes a long way. Glenn’s lyrics were a direct connection to what had been a very quiet private thought.
It resonated especially deeply as it is because of my mum passing away when I was 11, that this perspective on living life was even a part of me. I hope this song celebrates and shares the words that Glenn said so beautifully and my reaction to it and hopefully uplifts a dance floor along the way. I hope you know I would never want to tell anyone how to feel or to pretend to feel good when they don’t, I know how that feels. I want to thank Glenn with all of my heart for allowing me to sample this song. Please go and listen to the original song ‘La Vita’ from his album Primal Prayer.
The song also contains a sample from Oby Onyioha’s incredible song “Enjoy your life”, which Jamie brought into the mix.”
Romy Madley Croft
Apparently Jamie XX, Fred (I assume Fred Again) and Stuart Price was on production – and I love the use of the sample and yes – a song about someone’s mother can get indulgent, but there’s a real feeling here that Romy didn’t want a cheap sentiment about her mother, but wanted to express the joy and intent and power of that line in an entire song.
I didn’t know Oby Onyioha song either – Enjoy Your Life is a Nigerian disco/funk pop gem. I love songs like this, that create a new spin AND introduce me to knew songs and artists, good for Jamie finding that, and Romy making sure that in the press the spotlight was shared. Very important – and like the music papers of old, influences and samples is how I have found a shitload of music, and so it’s important to be open about that.
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