Black Christmas

[The Justified Sinner]

Finished my decoration for the tree in Goldsmiths' Hall in London, "Black Christmas - A Punk Star for Poly Styrene":

 

 

 

Made from used sewing-machine needles, silver and set with a huge CZ on both sides, it was inspired by the 2010 Christmas Single by Poly Styrene - of X-Ray Spex fame - which she recorded with her daughter shortly before her death in 2011. I needed to find some inspiration for a Christmas-themed piece, and Poly's dystopian take on the season suited perfectly!

 

And if that is a little laid-back for you, here is Poly Styrene performing my own favourite high-octane political punk-pop, "Oh Bondage, Up Yours".

Edit:

Lyrics by Marianne Joan Elliott-Said a.k.a. Poly Styrene.

Some people think little girls should be seen and not heard,
But i think,
Oh Bondage Up Yours!
One, Two, Three, FOUR!

Bind me tie me,
Chain me to the wall I wanna be a slave,
To you all.

Oh bondage up yours,
Oh bondage no more,
Oh bondage up yours,
Oh bondage no more.

Chain-store chain-smoke,
I consume you all,
Chain-gang chain-mail,
I don't think at all.

Oh bondage up yours,
Oh bondage no more,
Oh bondage up yours,
Oh bondage no more.

Thrash me crash me,
Beat me till I fall,
I wanna be a victim,
For you all.

Oh bondage up yours,
Oh bondage no more,
Oh bondage up yours,
Oh bondage no more.

[Repeat first verse]

[The Justified Sinner]

I am not sure. It was recorded but a few months before she died and I wonder if it is something to do with that. She had a horrible cancer. She was always a deeply political person, even when being funny.

[Brigitte Martin]

That's a really rough Christmas song. What's the story behind this, I don't get it.