I'm a relatively young David Bowie fan (I believe) at the age of 14, but already it seems my life is more Bowiecentric than his own. I have the following CDs:
Hunky Dory,
Scary Monsters,
Ziggy Stardust,
Diamond Dogs,
Low,
'hours...',
Bowie at the Beeb,
The Man Who Sold The World,
Heathen,
Earthling,
Well, I lie, the last two are actually in the post, I've just ordered them.
Anyway, I love every one of those albums and I'm wondering what to get next... I've heard that his albums from the 80s are quite weak, but then again I heard the same about his 90/2000s work and I adore 'hours...' and what I've heard from Earthling and Heathen.

I pride myself in never having bought a CD that I dislike. I want to know, are there any Bowie albums that are truly lacklustre? Or, alternatively, what should I get next? I know it's all a matter of opinion, but I just want to be safe. I've got access to a new album whenever I've got £7, they often appear in my local music shop for that price or less.

Damnit, this didn't really make any sense...

The common consensus is that Never let me down and Tonight are the worst albums, but there are good songs on both, if you are going on this journey it is only right you check out every destination. You may not end up liking it all but that's ok. The early 60s stuff will probably be strage to you, but make sure you give it a fair listen. There is a great cd called 'early on' which picks up all his pre 1967 songs on one collection, then there is the Deram anthology which has all his songs from the mid to late 60s on it (apart from one) finally is the Space oddity album which is where the story starts for many. Have fun exploring the albums, get them all.
Looking at what you have got, you really need to get Aladdin Sane.
Oh and welcome.

Dignity is valuable, but our lives are valuable too.

I suggest you get to love the earlier stuff first before listening to albums like Earthling or Outside. Personally I just don't think you can appreciate what they are until you know where they've come from.

____

"Hating Bowie in 1997 means hating everything overblown, theatrical, pretentious, pseudo-intellectual and jarringly progressive in the past 25 years of pop. In other words, everything great about pop. It also means hating yourself."

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I suggest you get to love the earlier stuff first before listening to albums like Earthling or Outside. Personally I just don't think you can appreciate what they are until you know where they've come from.

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Things can also work the other way around. It might even be more rewarding to get the newer albums first, then get the old ones and after them listen to the newer ones again. Music is at it's most rewarding when you don't immidiately "get" the entire thing, certain albums can take several years to get into, but they are in the end also the most rewarding ones.

For album recommendations... "Heroes" is a must. And Station To Station, which is (as noted in Adam's thread on the subject) probably the generally best-liked Bowie album. Not only in the way of positive opinions, but the lack of negative opinions.

Also, I agree with Pablo that the 80's albums are worth checking out, all of them have their good moments. The 90's albums are all good, although Tin Machine II is inferior to the others. Then again, most people would say the same about Hours and you liked it, so you never know.

Project Michelangelo | LiveJournal

Ok.
If the Early Stuff is like some of the tracks on Bowie At The Beeb Disc 1, then I do like it (That's what I always assumed).
Anyway.
*notes to get Aladdin Sane next*
Thanks, guys.

You have to get "Station to Station" and "Outside" next.

I'll have a small port, thank you.
Greedy, Madam! For most people one sailor would be enough.

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Tin Machine II is inferior to the others.

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Except that Tin Machine is far worse than Tin Machine II. So, Syndrome, just a hint: aim at getting all the albums (which you're probably doing anyway) and form your oppinions. There are as many oppinions of Bowie's albums on this board than there are posters here, and mostly we just don't agree about that many things But yeah, FastChanges is right: you need to get Station to Station soon. It's great.

Vanity is all

But Tin Machine was released in 1989, hence not falling into the category of "90's albums".

Project Michelangelo | LiveJournal

Oops, should have noticed. But anyway, I don't really think Tin Machine II is inferior in any sense. Not even compared to his other nineties albums. Although... of course Outside and BTWN are a lot better, but... I don't know. I just don't like it being called inferior, when, in my oppinion, Bowie's only inferior albums are Tin Machine and Tonight.

Vanity is all

For an easy ride into his music I would personally buy Lets Dance and Never Let me down their relatively cheap at HMV if your lucky HMV usually has these two CD at a very low price maybe as low as say £3.99. The 70s stuff is usually a little more expensive.
OK their a bit POP but if say you buy Outside next you will probably find his 80s stuff crap.
My first Bowie album was changesbowie I think it’s £4.99 at HMV but with the albums you’ve already got you’ve probably got most of the tracks already from it.
Maybe get live or Stage they’ve got a varied line up of songs or if you can find it the 50th Birthday Party concert- I downloaded this of the internet I’m not sure if you can get on CD.


Don’t get
OUTSIDE at first it’s a required taste although if you’ve got earthling maybe you should.
PIN UPS Buy Aladdin Sane first it’s better
Young Americans Its again a bit different if I had to start my collection again I wouldn’t but YA at the top of my list it’s a an Soul sound not a rock album so at first it may be a bit too different.

Yeah, Pin-Ups has never really caught my interest...
I'm sure I can acquire the taste of Earthling within a few listens.
Well, thanks for the help, all.

I'd just like to point out that I'll be gone for about a week from tomorrow (I'm on holiday) so don't just think of me as a one-day-then-disappear type.

Pin ups is a great album, ok Bowie may not have written the songs, but it is a well produced collection of some of his favourite songs from the previous decade. It is the last time Ronno was his lead guitarist on record and in a way Ziggy's last stand. Get it, forget who wrote the songs and have a ball.

Dignity is valuable, but our lives are valuable too.

pin-ups is just so weak to me. it's flat and hollow. it just sounds like bowie at the beeb, but in a bad way.

as a younger bowie fan myself, i highly suggest Lodger or Aladdin Sane.

and you need a live album soon. david live is really cool - very unlike the rest of his work (near lounge at times). stage is pretty good, but there's so little deviation from the album version sometimes. ziggy live is fucking awesome. heavy, loud, energy.

His friends are not as chocolate chip cookie as him. - blacktropic84

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Stage is pretty good, but there's so little deviation from the album version sometimes.

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I think Stage is Bowie's best live album, miles better than David Live (which in the long run I find frankly annoying), Ziggy The Motion Picture (or whatever it's called these days, which has a poor suond quality and the I find the performances uninteresting) or BBC Radio Theatre 2000 (which, admittedly, is great). Stage has an extremely good suond-quality, and although the none of the performances differ greatly from the originals (unlike on David Live), there are some very interesting variations, like the guitar-riff on Ziggy Stardust played with an electric violin. The band has a very rich, full sound that serves especially the Ziggy pieces well.

Project Michelangelo | LiveJournal

I find "Blackout" faster and more intense on "Stage".

I'll have a small port, thank you.
Greedy, Madam! For most people one sailor would be enough.

first i'd recommend not to buy them too quick. always buy one and then get into it. this way you'll might have several months of great music instead of a few weeks with some ear sticking tunes and others you simply won't discover.
every album has its own brilliant bits to be found, even the 80ies or hours...

Are you bad enough?

That is very sound advice, I had all the Roxy music albums earlier in the year in one hit and have found it hard to really connect with any of them as there is just too much music at once.

Dignity is valuable, but our lives are valuable too.

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I had all the Roxy music albums earlier in the year

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I did the same recently. I bought a Roxy-Ferry compilation a year ago, then "Avalon" at the beginning of the year and then the other 7 records at once.

In the first weeks I listened almost exclusively to "For your pleasure", then to the first album. Now I think I'm familiar with all but I still have things to discover.

I'll have a small port, thank you.
Greedy, Madam! For most people one sailor would be enough.

oh yes, the 3rd disc of bowie @ the beeb is the best, but doesn't that only come with bowie @ the beeb? he said he's already got that one. it would be a drag to buy it again just for the 3rd disc... if you can find one.

I enjoy Ziggy Live, personally. no, it doesn't have the highest quality audio, but it has some cool moments (such as yelling at the crowd in "My Death"). Altho, upon really listening to the wild/atyd/pretty several times i realized i only sort-of like it. the songs have nothing to do with eachother. Moonage Daydream is in peak form in this recording.

I agree with fastchanges - Blackout is stellar on Stage. so is Soul Love, Star and Breaking Glass. I dont like that version of Fame though, because it doesn't sound very full, for some reason. Hang On To Yourself just sounds stupid, i think. it's not nearly heavy enough.

Or, you could try to get Live @ Santa Monica. it's... odd. got a lot of mistakes in it (like the backing vocals in Five Years being waaaaaay off key) and can be poorly mastered at times (like the backing vocals in Five Years being louder than David....)

so in short: if you like Ziggy, get Ziggy Live. If you like the berlin trilogy, get Stage. if you like um.... something wierd... get David Live. Personally, i vote for David Live. I like wierd.

His friends are not as chocolate chip cookie as him. - blacktropic84

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oh yes, the 3rd disc of bowie @ the beeb is the best, but doesn't that only come with bowie @ the beeb?

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I keep forgetting about that as I managed to buy a (used) copy of it without the two-disc B@B.

All this leads to the fact that the BBC Radio Theatre disc should be reissued as a stand-alone album. Including The London Boys, I Dig Everything and the full encore (which incldued six tracks, of which only Let's Dance appears on the disc).

Project Michelangelo | LiveJournal

Or even better DVD.

Dignity is valuable, but our lives are valuable too.

Both.

Project Michelangelo | LiveJournal

Well, since starting this thread I've acquired much Bowieness:
Heathen, Earthling and Aladdin Sane (all three of which seem quite marvellous so far)
From eBay, not received yet: VHSs of Glass Spider and Serious Moonlight. I'm not sure if these are even official, but I figured they're worth 99p.
Today (not listened yet): Reality with bonus DVD, 1.Outside

Serious Moonlight and Glass Spider are official.

Project Michelangelo | LiveJournal

Got Let's Dance, Lodger, "Heroes" and Station to Station. £4.99 each.
Now all I need is time to listen to them. Thrice or more each, and one by one (if that makes any sense).

Let one soak in before you progress to the next, I know you will want to listen to them all one after another but you need to live and breath each one for awhile, otherwise you won't be able to appreciate them so much.

Dignity is valuable, but our lives are valuable too.

Yeah, that's what I meant. Will do. I've got many other new albums to get through, also (birthday recently, suddenly very rich)

About 2 year's ago, when i really got into bowie, i started to buy he's albums, basically one buy one, or 2 at once at most. I exploided an album for a week or so, then moved on to another. I always had a good idea of the album i should buy next. First of all i bought heathen, then heroes&lodger, then reality came out, then btwn/earthling/outside... Deram antrology was the last album i bought, it took about 5 month's to get all the records

Alway worth learning a bit about the background to the record too... where was his head at when it was written etc. This has made me able to 'Get' everyone of his albums. With Bowie, I think the era and music is inseperable.

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Alway worth learning a bit about the background to the record too...

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True... I can blame that book Strange Fascination for getting all my Bowie-albums. I was reading it, while I started noticing Bowie-albums on sale. It was actually kind of interesting to listen to them after I'd read about them in the book. Now I'm thinking of reading that book again, or at least the parts about the albums, so I'll see if I agree with David Buckley or not.

You're one microscopic cog in his catastrophic plan

A great book to cover the 'classic era' eg. up to and including Scary Monsters in the Illustrated record, I had that book as I was buying the albums in 83 (My friend borrowed it to me until I bought my own) and it was a great source of knowledge and background info plus some fantastic pictures.

Dignity is valuable, but our lives are valuable too.

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up to and including Scary Monsters in the Illustrated record

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So, do I have some updated edition? The latest album it mentions is hours... Unfortunately I have it in Finnish and for some weird reason it doesn't include any pictures.

You're one microscopic cog in his catastrophic plan

Then it's probably some different book, or at least not an "official" reprint of the original Illusitrated Record which to my knowledge hasn't been reprinted since the 1981 edition (I might be wrong) and most definately never been translated into finnish.

Unless you mean the book that's (in finnish) called David Bowie, which is a translated version of David Buckley's Strange Fascination, not the original Illusitrated Record.

Project Michelangelo | LiveJournal

[image=http://www.davidbowie.se/img/books/bair.gif]This book[/image], Kati. Although well out of date now, it is still a great read and worthwhile seeking out. If something like this book could be combined with Pegg's book, would be the ultimate Bowie book ever.

Dignity is valuable, but our lives are valuable too.

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Unless you mean the book that's (in finnish) called David Bowie, which is a translated version of David Buckley's Strange Fascination, not the original Illusitrated Record.

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Well, I was talking about David Buckley and Strange Fascination. And yes. It is the same book that is in Finnish called David Bowie. But here's what I don't get: You mean there are two books called Strange Fascination? One has never been reprinted or translated and the other one has? Sorry, but that just doesn't make sense. I mean... You're talking about a "translated version" of Buckley's Strange Fascination. So that's a totally different book that has been updated? But the one in English hasn't? Please explain.

And a side note: A friend of mine has that book in English and it seems very updated and has pictures in it. What's that then?

You're one microscopic cog in his catastrophic plan

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This book

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Doesn't look familiar... What made you think I was talking about it? Or is that called Strange Fascination too? (the pic is too small to read the texts) I don't understand anything anymore

You're one microscopic cog in his catastrophic plan

That was the book I was talking about, in my initial post on this thread today.

Dignity is valuable, but our lives are valuable too.

Now I feel like an idiot, but... Is that book called Strange Fascination too? I mean, the only post I find where you're talking about a book is where you're answering my post... So, I kind of assumed you were talking about the same book I was, since you didn't mention any other name...

You're one microscopic cog in his catastrophic plan

I said 'A great book to cover the classic era.... is an illustrated record, I should have put the title in quotes.

The Book I wasn refering to is 'David Bowie, an illustrated record'. Sorry for confusing the issue

Dignity is valuable, but our lives are valuable too.

Never the less, there are two books called "Strange Fascination". The one written by David Buckley, and another one written by a Finnish dude (who used to hang on these boards for a short while, I think) in finnish, called "Outo Viehätys", which is finnish for 'strange fascination'.

Project Michelangelo | LiveJournal

You mean "Outo Viehäty's"

One thought-murder a day keeps the psychiatrist away.

FastChange's are you the puctuation police?

Dignity is valuable, but our lives are valuable too.

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A great book to cover the classic era.... is an illustrated record,

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Okay! Now it makes sence. I just kind of read it like: the illustrated edition of that book (Strange Fascination) is "a great book to cover the classic era"... And, since I know there's a version of that in English that has pictures in it, I assumed there was also a non-illustrated edition, like the one I had!

You're one microscopic cog in his catastrophic plan

Not in finnish, which doesn't normally use the apostrophe. The sole exception I can think are inflections of foreign name that are pronounced in a different way from their written outlook.

Project Michelangelo | LiveJournal

Sysiyo had forgotten the apostrophe on purpose, just to annoy us.

One thought-murder a day keeps the psychiatrist away.

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in finnish, called "Outo Viehätys"

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I might have seen that book in Akateeminen. At least there was one book about Bowie written in Finnish. It looked really cheap and had a horrible drawing of Bowie on the cover... And if I remember correctly, the text on the back cover talked about the "chameleon of rock". So the writer's been on this board? Cool...

You're one microscopic cog in his catastrophic plan

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Not in finnish, which doesn't normally use the apostrophe.

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But there's an exception! For example "vaa'alla"

You're one microscopic cog in his catastrophic plan

I haven't seen it in real life, but I have seen pictures of the cover and it does indeed look terrible. The author later wrote an updated version which was released with the name... wait for it... Rockin kameleontti!

Edit. True, I forgot about that. And some older speallings, like tark'ampuja.

Project Michelangelo | LiveJournal

Edited by Sysiyo on 08/11/05 03:05 PM (server time).

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Rockin kameleontti!

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Now that I think of it, the book I saw might have been that too All I remember about it was that it was written in Finnish, and there was somewhere a mention about rock's chameleon. But it might have been the name too.

You're one microscopic cog in his catastrophic plan

LadyGravedigger
Sysiyo

Seis vaikutus lähettää kohtuullinen koska te haastaa finnish


London Bye Ta-Ta...

"stop effect send reasonable because you challenge suomi?"

Project Michelangelo | LiveJournal

Mmmm, I think Ant should always post in Finnish, I understood every word

Dignity is valuable, but our lives are valuable too.

How are you finding "Country Life", FastChanges? Most rave about the first two albums but for me "Country Life" is the best Roxy album, followed by "Stranded". Enjoy!

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Sysiyo had forgotten the apostrophe on purpose, just to annoy us.

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And he did it again. Twice. He even edited the second post and not only failed to correct the original mistake but made it yet again!

Thrush

Ye's.

Project Michelangelo | LiveJournal

's'y's'siyo

I rate the combination of 1987 edition of the Bowie Black Book and the 1987 Moonage Daydream. Great pictures, great artifacts from the era.

Oh, and that small book called 'Changes' that came out in 1980 with a close up of Bowie's face on the cover. Factually all over the place, but good with it if you know yer stuff.

I have all the ones you mention, that 'changes' book was so confusing when I first tried to read it, entries all mixed up. I don't think anyone proof read it, but a great little book all the same. Yes, Dave Thompson's Moonage daydream was fabulous, I learnt so much from that book, especially the discography. It is still in print now, it is on sale at play.com.

Dignity is valuable, but our lives are valuable too.

Fantastic! It's bizzare to think it is nearly 20 years out of date. I remember reading about the '87 stuff when it was current.

One book that does deserve an up date... except it would be twice the size. Also excellent!

Yeah 'Changes'... rushed out, or what?

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How are you finding "Country Life", FastChanges?

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Well, I love "Bitter-sweet" (especially the German lyrics!) and "Casanova", but I find "If it takes all night" and "Prairie Rose" annoying. The album I like best is "For your pleasure", followed by the first album and "Avalon" in third.

I'm waiting for the new album now... I watched their Live 8 performance yesterday and found it a bit disappointing, Ferry seemed bored. He sings "Do the Strandsky" with much less intensity than 30 years ago. I know he'll turn 60 next month, but that's no excuse for acting so blasé.

One thought-murder a day keeps the psychiatrist away.

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"stop effect send reasonable because you challenge suomi?"

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That was supposed to read "stop showing off you two just because you can talk Finnish"

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Mmmm, I think Ant should always post in Finnish, I understood every word

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Koska I-KIRJAIN kaide eli menot mikä näyttää te kurja nurmi




London Bye Ta-Ta...

suorastaan

Dignity is valuable, but our lives are valuable too.

Too many translation requests by millions of users. Please click here or try again later.

Edit>

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suorastaan

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simply, absolutely, downright


London Bye Ta-Ta...

Edited by diamondogz74 on 08/12/05 10:04 AM (server time).

If It Takes All Night is my least favourite on a stunning album (although I still think this track is okay) but Prairie Rose? One of my all time favourites!

Avalon is just so refined that it never captures my attention in the same way - all very laid back - too much so in fact (The Space Between and While My Heart is Still Beating are just dull). I do hope the new Roxy album is more up tempo and the signs might be good, given the reunion shows and Ferry's most recent solo album "Frantic".

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While My Heart is Still Beating

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I love that song! The saxophone gives me bumps everywhere (even the unshaven areas).

One thought-murder a day keeps the psychiatrist away.

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Koska I-KIRJAIN kaide eli menot mikä näyttää te kurja nurmi

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Please, tell me what you were trying to say! And what is that "I-KIRJAIN"? I mean, it just means "letter i". Doesn't the program recognice the word "I"?

Anyway, that "haastaa" and "talk" is kind of an interesting thing, because "haastaa" means both "challenge" and "talk". But the word in the "talk"-meaning is more like some dialect and not so much standard language.

You're one microscopic cog in his catastrophic plan

I havent botherd to read all the messages from this thread but why the fuck are some of you writing messages in finnish???????? And how did you make it happen?
Nyt loppuu tälläinen pelleily!

Koska Teini-iän villielämää on aivan sekopäinen paikka.

Project Michelangelo | LiveJournal

Et kai sää sys oo kääntäny noiden viestejä? Miten sä muuten ees pystyt editoimaan noiden muitten käyttäjien viestejä??

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Koska Teini-iän villielämää on aivan sekopäinen paikka.

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As Teenage i¤n villiel¤m¤¤ is clean sekop¤inen site.

Yes a truly wonderful translater

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Please, tell me what you were trying to say!

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I-KIRJAIN olemassaolo kohdella epäkunnioittavasti alkeellinen kotona hävyttömyys elämäntapa Kati , I-KIRJAIN vieras Alan kurja nurmi


London Bye Ta-Ta...

Saatanan mulkvisti moderaattori on hyvä ja lopettaa oman äidinkielensä raiskaamisen tähän paikkaan! Saunan takana tavataan jumalauta, eikä minkään perkeleen runkkausringin merkeissä.

Someone told me Jesus was the Devil's lover
While we masturbated on a magazine cover

Whats all this satan mumbo-jumbo? omens and devils, sounds like a right old spell you're casting.


London Bye Ta-Ta...

Not quite, it's just that we Finns haven't sold our expletive vocabulary completely to the altar of genitals. We still have healthy amount of petnames for the good ol' Beelzebub.

Someone told me Jesus was the Devil's lover
While we masturbated on a magazine cover

En ole koskenut muiden käyttäjien viesteihin, mutta moderaattorina mä voisin kyllä niin tehdä. Siitä tosin jää aina jälkeen teksti 'edited by Sysiyo at...' jos mä muiden viestejä muuttelen.

En kommentoi timanttikoirien käännös-yrityksiä, kiitoksia vaan.

Project Michelangelo | LiveJournal

En ole concern muiden user viesteihin , only moderaattorina mä melted yea thus inflict. Siitä though ice ever after text 'edited an Charcoal at. ' if mä muiden word muuttelen. En comment timanttikoirien version yrityksiä , thanks but.

And I thought my language skills were bad

That translater is lousy.


London Bye Ta-Ta...

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As Teenage i¤n villiel¤m¤¤ is clean sekop¤inen site.

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"Because Teenagewildlife is a totally crazy place."

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I-KIRJAIN olemassaolo kohdella epäkunnioittavasti alkeellinen kotona hävyttömyys elämäntapa Kati , I-KIRJAIN vieras Alan kurja nurmi

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"LETTER-I existence treat unrespecfully basic at home shamelesness lifestyle Kati, LETTER-I strange Alan poor lawn" Thanks, that explained everything

Anyway, in Sys's message "timanttikoira" means "diamond dog", where "timantti" is "diamond" and "koira" is "dog".

I think one problem with the translater is that it doesn't recognize for example the word "mä", which is actually a shorter form of "minä" in the spoken language, which means "I".

This is fun

You're one microscopic cog in his catastrophic plan

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This is fun

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Yes it is very good fun and we can learn by it too, I think one of us ( go on Kati ) should start a translater usage thread, rather than clog this thread up, because as sure as eggs is eggs! we are gonna be told off by Sys sooner or later

Minun armas Barbie hempukka rakastaja ( puna )


London Bye Ta-Ta...