A Mark In Time

Mark Knopfler Discussion => Mark Knopfler Discussion Forum => Topic started by: knopflertom on August 29, 2020, 09:15:05 AM

Title: Planet of New Orleans
Post by: knopflertom on August 29, 2020, 09:15:05 AM
I recently listened to the song Planet of nee Orleans. One of my favorites from the OES record. Has anybody some hints or background infos of this song or which was the inspiration of Mark for this song.

Thanks :)
Title: Re: Planet of New Orleans
Post by: border_reiver on August 29, 2020, 09:43:32 AM
There are heavy references to the city of New Orleans and the mystique that surrounds the city and its history. Mystical places, mystical women and the beliefs of voodoo culture and spirits.

Really fascinating place.
Title: Re: Planet of New Orleans
Post by: hunter on August 29, 2020, 10:26:44 AM
On a tangential note, I'd love to hear it without the electronic bling bling noises and the saxophone. It would be a killer blues tune. Two guitars, bass, drums and a dirty Hammond organ.
Title: Re: Planet of New Orleans
Post by: quizzaciously on August 29, 2020, 12:09:22 PM
I recently listened to the song Planet of nee Orleans. One of my favorites from the OES record. Has anybody some hints or background infos of this song or which was the inspiration of Mark for this song.

Thanks :)

There are heavy references to the city of New Orleans and the mystique that surrounds the city and its history. Mystical places, mystical women and the beliefs of voodoo culture and spirits.

Really fascinating place.

I can't remember clearly, but Mark said he visited the place either on one of the first North American Dire Straits tours or even before that, doesn't really matter, saw this crossroad and wrote in the diary "I'm standing on the corner of Toulouse and Dauphine" or something. Much later he wrote the song based on that diary, can't remember Mark sharing any other deep meanings about the song itself. Seems to me like a love letter to the city, which made so much history. Food, jazz, mixture of cultures... An amazing city.
Title: Re: Planet of New Orleans
Post by: 2manyguitars on August 30, 2020, 01:36:41 AM
Somewhere in my dim and distant memory I seem to recall that the 'mojo root' line had some link to Clapton carrying one around with him when on tour or something akin.

Can anyone fill in the void?
Title: Re: Planet of New Orleans
Post by: knopflertom on August 30, 2020, 09:45:55 AM
Somewhere in my dim and distant memory I seem to recall that the 'mojo root' line had some link to Clapton carrying one around with him when on tour or something akin.

Can anyone fill in the void?

Clapton with a mojo root?! That sounds cool.
Title: Re: Planet of New Orleans
Post by: Jules on August 30, 2020, 02:57:18 PM
I recently listened to the song Planet of nee Orleans. One of my favorites from the OES record. Has anybody some hints or background infos of this song or which was the inspiration of Mark for this song.

Thanks :)

There are heavy references to the city of New Orleans and the mystique that surrounds the city and its history. Mystical places, mystical women and the beliefs of voodoo culture and spirits.

Really fascinating place.

I can't remember clearly, but Mark said he visited the place either on one of the first North American Dire Straits tours or even before that, doesn't really matter, saw this crossroad and wrote in the diary "I'm standing on the corner of Toulouse and Dauphine" or something. Much later he wrote the song based on that diary, can't remember Mark sharing any other deep meanings about the song itself. Seems to me like a love letter to the city, which made so much history. Food, jazz, mixture of cultures... An amazing city.

That's it.

They were standing in the corner between Toulouse and Dauphin as they stayed at the Hotel Marie (ondine) which is exactly at that corner.
Title: Re: Planet of New Orleans
Post by: Pottel on August 31, 2020, 10:21:10 AM
also maybe some connection to Willy Deville?
Title: Re: Planet of New Orleans
Post by: Jules on August 31, 2020, 03:23:07 PM
also maybe some connection to Willy Deville?

Don't think so, why?
Title: Re: Planet of New Orleans
Post by: Pottel on August 31, 2020, 03:51:56 PM
as he is from New Orleans. just a thought...
Title: Re: Planet of New Orleans
Post by: dustyvalentino on August 31, 2020, 05:40:36 PM
According to wiki he moved there in 88.


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Title: Re: Planet of New Orleans
Post by: Jules on August 31, 2020, 08:06:25 PM
as he is from New Orleans. just a thought...

Never heard MK or any DS member mentioning it, just the story about the hotel Marie and the corner, and how different from the rest of the country, how another planet New Orleans looked to him.
Title: Re: Planet of New Orleans
Post by: Robson on August 31, 2020, 09:33:59 PM
For me, one of the most mysterious texts of MK
Title: Re: Planet of New Orleans
Post by: Pierre on September 01, 2020, 05:28:21 PM
I think that the "she" in the song is New Orleans itself (herself?).