The Proclaimers will be travelling a lot of miles over the next few months. Probably at least 400 or so miles as they take in Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Germany, Czech Republic and the East Coast of America. Details below with direct ticket links as always.
Last year Alice Wyllie caught up with The Proclaimers to reflect on the use of the Scottish accent in Scottish music and also looked at the twins impact on the world of pop culture:
With “cool” the last thing on their minds, The Proclaimers were also unwilling to soften their broad Fife accents in the recording studio. Indeed, the accent sounds softer in person than on their records. “We don’t hide it,” says Craig. “A lot of Scottish entertainers down the years have hidden it and kinda polished it a bit. Being Scottish gets you noticed and generally people have a favourable view of Scotland, but it’s maybe a wee bit limiting sometimes as well – I can understand why some of the big stars have shied away from it.”
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“I notice there’s a few more (accents] coming through now,” adds Charlie. “The Glasvegas thing, and Paolo Nutini. At one stage it seemed to be just us and the folk acts. But even Alex Harvey, you could hear something creeping through. It’s like with those early Beatles records – no matter how hard you try to sound American, you get the Scouse coming through. I always found that made their records more attractive. With us, it wasn’t about accentuating it. We just didn’t bother trying to hide it, and because a lot of the material was about Scotland you didn’t want to sound like you were from New York!”
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The extent of the Proclaimers’ impact on pop culture abroad belies their proudly worn and uncompromised Scots roots. Although one of their first references on American television beyond their own musical appearances was being sent-up by Wayne’s World duo Mike Myers and Dana Carvey on Saturday Night Live in 1992, the twins’ tunes have been utilised in several major films since, including the Johnny Depp comedy Benny and Joon (I’m Gonna Be), Dumb and Dumber (a cover of the Motown single Get Ready), Wes Anderson’s directorial debut Bottle Rocket (Over and Done With), Shrek (I’m On My Way) and most recently Mama’s Boy (Then I Met You).
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Additionally, they have been involved in a brief skit on hit animated comedy show Family Guy, and plans are afoot for a similar appearance on The Simpsons, as well as a further small-screen soundtrack outing on crime drama Cold Case.
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Closer to home, they have been happy to endorse Sunshine on Leith as their beloved Hibernian FC’s adopted anthem, where it’s played before every home match, as well their biggest hit I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) receiving a rendition on those rare occasions the Scotland rugby team crosses the white line at Murrayfield, and before the national side’s games at Hampden.
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They also recently revived it as the Comic Relief charity single in 2007, with Matt Lucas, Peter Kay and a host of other celebrities helping to send it to No 1 in the charts. In the same year their back catalogue was the basis for the critically appraised jukebox stage musical Sunshine On Leith. Their songs have been covered over the past 20 years by acts as diverse as punk band The Toy Dolls and Maximo Park.
Full interview in The Scotsman, 10 June 2009
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Photo Credit: A brilliant set of photos of the band at the Barrowland Ballroom in 2001 by Martin Gray