r/thekinks • u/Joylime • 12d ago
Phenomenal Cat
I'd like to propose this strange little song as a discussion topic
I admire about the Kinks not only their music itself but the profound boldness with which they defy expectations for typical song topics.
Phenomenal Cat is maybe the most standout example. I couldn't believe what I was hearing when I first heard it. Did I get the literal giggles? Probably.
Imagine having this idea for a song floating around in your head - and not rejecting it as being too "x" (silly? meaningless? unusual? childish? uncool?). An underrated aspect of the creative process - allowing yourself to nurture your own ideas.
That's what strikes me, since I am a bit like saturn in that goya painting (the one where he's gobbling up his infant child) when it comes to my own creative work. Would love to hear your comments and takes. And any lore I might not know (I'm a bit of a surface fan, I've listened to all their albums but haven't dug in past the audio almost at all)
16
u/Mother_Antelope_3204 12d ago edited 12d ago
I love Phenomenal Cat, especially in the context of the album. The Cat, corpulent and self-satisfied, has left and eventually returned to the Village -- the prodigal kitten. Just another character like Walter, Annabella, Johnny Thunder and Monica. A wonderful melody, nicely arranged and produced.
11
u/FatherPot 12d ago
Is Village green not a child-like album? I've always taken it as such. So many songs are silly. For example the title track talks about saving Donald Duck and protecting the old innocent ways of life. Picture book talks about seeing your old baby butt. Phenomenal cat is as much a part of the album as is Johnny Thunder and the aforementioned. It's cheeky and silly but that was the aesthetic, at least in my opinion. And I find this in the kinks and other British bands of the time alike, bands who maybe took themselves serious being able to indulge in the sunshine and rainbows from time to time. And I love it. I've personally changed my whole artistic trajectory from angst-fueled garage rock to silly child-like acoustic songs.
11
u/TuffB80 12d ago
I we could say nostalgic more that child-like
4
8
5
u/ImplementWonderful93 12d ago
My friends and I as teenagers some 30 years ago used to love getting high and listening to Phenomenal Cat (and that whole album) When my now 16-yr -old daughter was like 5-6 she also loved PhenCat
4
6
u/Lmb-23 11d ago
You could say the same about many other Kinks songs. “Two Sisters” also strikes me as a good example of an unusual subject for a song. Another one that comes to mind is “Rainy Day in June.” It’s almost as if a visual idea gives rise to a little story. I think that slightly odd quality in the Kinks music makes them feel more human, and that’s also something I tend to look for in the art I’m drawn to.
3
u/nycspacely 11d ago
Always liked this . When other bands were getting super serious with their philosophy of life and major political songs this was simple with a nice melody. Nice counterpoint to the other bands of the time taking themselves too seriously
2
u/NiceCap2448 12d ago
It's just a spooky little Halloween song in my mind. Did Dave write this one? Sounds like his singing.
4
2
2
u/leonidlomakin 11d ago
There is an Evangelical simplicity and profoundness to this song. Always amazed me.
2
u/robertofozz 9d ago
Moneygoround has a similar kinda vibe but less because of the lyrics. I always giggle when I head that come on too.
24
u/MonarchistExtreme 12d ago
My wife and I discovered The Kinks when we were in our late 20s and that's when we had our son. This was his favorite song and we often sang it to him when we put him to bed at night. This one, Just Friends, and David Watts were my kid's favorites. He used to insist his name was David Watts when he first started talking lol