Jackie Collins Existential Question Time

Album: Journal For Plague Lovers (2009)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Like the other tracks on Journal For Plague Lovers, this song originated from some notebooks containing lyrics which their former guitarist Edwards handed to bassist Nicky Wire shortly before disappearing in early 1995. The NME May 16, 2009 asked Wire if the song's chorus 'Oh mummy, what's a Sex Pistol' came from an actual Sex Pistols poster or flyer. He replied: "A lot of people in the '70s wore badges, you see it a lot in photos, that read 'Mummy, what's a Sex Pistol?' on it. It's just a sort of cultural reference point, I don't know if it's any more loaded than that."
  • Wire added that he finds this song difficult to decipher. Said Wire: "The song, I find, is pretty impenetrable, I don't know if Jackie Collins was ever on (BBC topical debate program) Question Time having a bit of a Will Young moment, you know. I have a feeling, the last bit, 'situationist sisterhood of Jackie and Joan'. All I can think of is I seem to remember once maybe Jackie and Joan (Collins) were on at the same time. And it was a bit like the Hitchens brothers but total opposite to each other... maybe 'Question Time' or something like that."
  • The NME commented that this track has the "best song title ever." Wire concurred saying: "It is a good title, isn't it? The weirdest thing is, I think, lyrics aside, a lot of it is very sweet and very pop. If we'd done it in a different lifetime with different words, who knows, it could have been a gigantic hit single. I love the way it draws you in with the softness and everything and then that last minute of rasping… pure hatred and anger kind of… spoils it all."

Comments: 2

  • Davis from Tnrichey never handed the notebooks to wire
  • Koshmar from London, United KingdomEpic Manics back to their best - this is superb live
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Richard Marx

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.

Commercials

CommercialsFact or Fiction

Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream?

John Doe of X

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.

Yoko Ono

Yoko OnoSongwriter Interviews

At 80 years old, Yoko has 10 #1 Dance hits. She discusses some of her songs and explains what inspired John Lennon's return to music in 1980.

Loreena McKennitt

Loreena McKennittSongwriter Interviews

The Celtic music maker Loreena McKennitt on finding musical inspiration, the "New Age" label, and working on the movie Tinker Bell.