search for something...

search for something you might like...

Kitchen Table to Club Fable Neneh’s story somehow just seems to emphasise how unlikely punk and hiphop’s existence was

Kitchen Table to Club Fable

Neneh’s story somehow just seems to emphasise how unlikely punk and hiphop’s existence was

by Tim London,
first published: November, 2024

approximate reading time: minutes

a story of genuine hardship and poverty but glorious teenage escape

cover art and at the kitchen tableNeneh Cherry
A Thousand Threads
Fern Press

If life is a movie and you’re the star what kind of movie is it? In Neneh Cherry’s case, to begin with, it is an experimental film shot both in black and white and vintage technicolour, directed by pioneer artists from the USA and Sweden, telling the story of a search for artistic and emotional freedom on the edges of capitalism’s comforts.

At its end, it’s a sad movie about the consequences of an almost forced nomadic life, of never quite belonging, for most of the main characters but particularly for the main one.

The Neneh Cherry most of us know is the iconic pregnant and pugnacious singer of the classic pop song, Buffalo Stance. From this image and others from her, actually quite brief, blast of mainstream fame, it would be easy to presume she joined a slipstream of inevitable super-credibility and eventual major pop success, one that she just rode without much effort by dint of who she happened to be.

This moving autobiography tells a different story, one more familiar to those who have read the personal stories of other, ‘iconic’ female pop stars - the Dusty’s and the Patti’s - one that describes a struggle to find a true identity amidst pressure to maintain an image that sells records, a story of genuine hardship and poverty but glorious teenage escape.

There are many familiar names mentioned for those of a certain post-punk age but Neneh’s story somehow just seems to emphasise how unlikely punk and hiphop’s existence was, so many of these famous and infamous and hugely influential people meeting Neneh, yes, at parties and clubs, but also at the point where struggle and luck collide.

The thread running throughout, the main one, is of family. Her Swedish mum, Moki, and her relatives, her Sierra Leonian dad Ahmadu and Black American step-dad, Don and their relatives and the non-blood family of designers, musicians, producers and scenesters who gathered around her, and, of course, her own children and partners/husbands, a mosaic within which Neneh Cherry positioned and still positions herself. It’s not nepotism that is dealt with here but mutual learning and support for creativity, which this book is a part of.

Despite the heartbreak of untimely deaths and hard living the other, significant thread is that of Neneh’s personal momentum, powered by love and a respect for the divine inspiration of the creative moment. This somewhat offsets the sadness whilst, somehow, making the sadness sadder still.

Artists have nearly always been given the shitty end of the stick. The fact that great art still gets made, despite this, particularly when you add in the western world’s acute and long-lasting racism, is nothing short of a miracle.


Essential information
Neneh Cherry 2012 image by Kim Hiorthoy (from wikicommons)

Tim London

Tim London is a musician, music producer and writer. Originally from a New Town in Essex he is at home amidst concrete and grand plans for the working class. Tim's latest thriller, Smith, is available now. Find out more at timothylondon.com


about Tim London »»

Pete Williams web banner

RECENT STORIES

RANDOM READS

All About and Contributors

HELP OUTSIDELEFT

Outsideleft exists on a precarious no budget budget. We are interested in hearing from deep and deeper pocket types willing to underwrite our cultural vulture activity. We're not so interested in plastering your product all over our stories, but something more subtle and dignified for all parties concerned. Contact us and let's talk. [HELP OUTSIDELEFT]

WRITE FOR OUTSIDELEFT

If Outsideleft had arms they would always be wide open and welcoming to new writers and new ideas. If you've got something to say, something a small dank corner of the world needs to know about, a poem to publish, a book review, a short story, if you love music or the arts or anything else, write something about it and send it along. Of course we don't have anything as conformist as a budget here. But we'd love to see what you can do. Write for Outsideleft, do. [SUBMISSIONS FORM HERE]

WRITERS thru' the Years

Agata Makiela, Alan Devey, Alan Rider, Alex V. Cook, Ancient Champion, Andy Allison, Annemiek, Becca Kelly, Belle Plankton, Bruce Bailey, Caiomhin Millar, Cassie Thomas, Chantal, Cheiron Coelho, Chris Connolly, Christian Present, Damon Hayhurst, Dan Breen, Danny Rose, David Hackney, David O'Byrne, Denni Boyd, Dirty Lillie, DJ Fuzzyfelt, Dr. Rich, Dr. Richard Bennett, Duncan Jones, Erin, Erin Pipes, Erin Scott, Gracey Babs, Graham Baker, Guilaine Arts, H.xx, Hamilton High, Henderson Downing, Holly Martins, J. Charreaux, J.Lee, Jay Lewis, Jaycentee, Jennifer Lynn, Jenny McCann, Jeremy Gluck, Jez Collins, Joe Ambrose, John Robinson, Jonathan Thornton, Julie O, Karl Morgan, Katherine Pargeter, Kelsey Osgood, Kevin McHugh, Kiah Cranston, Kleo Kay, Lake, Lee Paul, Luke Skinner, Malcolm, Marek Pytel, Mark Piggott, Martin Devenney, Meave Haughey, Michelle Williams, Mike Fox, mindy strouse, Neil Campbell, Neil Scott, Ogglypoogly, OL House Writer, Pam, Paul Burns, Paul Hawkins, Paul Mortimer, Paul Quigley, Peter Williams, Pixie McMowat, Pixievic, Rene Williams, Richard John Walker, Rick Casson, Rikki Stein, Ronan Crinion, Rowena Murphy, Ruby Lake, Ryan 'RJO' Stewart, Samantha Charles, Seth Sherwood, Shane O'Reilly, Sheridan Coyle, Sofia Ribeiro Willcox, Sophia Satchell-Baeza, Spanish Pantalones, Speedie John, Spencer Kansa, Steve McCarthy, The Conversation, Tim London, Tim Sparks, Tony Fletcher, Toon Traveller, Trevi, Urs Lerch, Wayne Dean-Richards, and founders, Alarcon & Lamontpaul

OUTSIDELEFT UNIVERSE

Last Night of the LTB Showrooms
OUTSIDELEFT Night Out
weekend

outsideleft content is not for everyone