Julian Cope - China Doll

[bartlettandbosc]

Does anybody feel Copey is being sarcastic in his performance on this song? Still, a brilliant song though. It's fucking infectious.

[Noodles37UK]

@bartlettandbosc YES. Production and record company pressure. Song's as good as anything, ever.

[69Klash69]

Great song, great album...St. Julian, wow! I'd never seen this video before (had the vinyl the day it was released, though). What a song, what a voice, what a wit this man has. I hope he never stops.

[horizonteelectrico]

and all the misery & crying, all the reasons i don't give you're gonna wake up in the morning with a crowd round you bed

[horizonteelectrico]

foolish child, shade your eyes, blanket the sun, came the day i am safe, you are the one, a magic carpet ride, dreams (and All true) see my alabaster child roll on... eyes that shine hide behind, pale & unsure did my broken promise break your china heart? my little black haired girl, porcelain doll sink slowly into this blank heart of mine you feel my flailing arms around your neck, china doll you feel my crazy silence round the depths of your soul

[sebastianflash64]

sad but how beautifulll is this song and video..

[ThomasToGreenhoff]

i love this song and the album my nation underground. Great talent Julian Cope!

[richwicz]

Who's the beautiful girl in the video?

[nottwozero]

@richwicz  Your mother

[richwicz]

@nottwozero Er, okay.I guess that passes for humour in Australia, no wonder I haven't seen too many comedians come out of the country.

[nottwozero]

@richwicz Good come-back and well researched. Well done. I was born in England though. But I'm splitting hairs now.

[maisiehollow]

Peter de Freitas was killed 14th June 1989, A51 Longdon Green,Staffordshire on a section of dual carriageway.

[lucycotton5]

And so I worship you

China doll xxx

[TheRemmyruso1]

Pete died on his way to Liverpool from London to audition a new singer for the Bunnymen -as Mac decided to go Solo. He was killed in Cannock, Staffordshire by a 75 year old woman who pulled out to cross over a dual carriage way he was on. She escaped with minor cuts and bruises, Pete died instantly having a mere 60 seconds from seeing her to impact. Tragic and totally unfair..Pete is survived by his only daughter Lucie Marie who was 8 months old when he died. I will never get over it.

[Katzenfreundin]

@TheRemmyruso1

This seems really unfair to me too. Pete will be remembered.

[dcorinnemomma]

gOOd gOd, Pete de Freitas was such a sexy MFer! That actress was so fucking lucky! Damn shame his life ended so prematurely.

[whpriol1]

a David Bowie song?

[bookwormgal1996]

I almost cried after seeing this. Poor Pete, he was an exceptional drummer, right up there with such legends as Ringo Starr and Keith Moon. His death was such an immense tragedy </3

[ana4t]

he´s not dead!!!

[TheRemmyruso1]

@ana4t

i wish.

[martindowland]

Almost the last thing Pete did.

The video to be in southern Europe in the winter, northern Spain perhaps. I hate driving on the M6, now I know why.

I am still mourning Pete's loss.

[martindowland]

The last thing Pete De Freitas did and two months before I gave up music for18 years.

[yeoviljunction]

Classic song. Was this an attempt at Scott Walkerness? I always thought so, but who cares.....?

[rockahead]

Sheer Class. You sometimes have to agree with Julian Cope, he is a genius!

Fantastic song.

[swissnev]

this is surely the weirdest Julian has ever looked

[oogie11]

@swissnev Yeah, I agree...he looks strange with short hair

[TheSpankymonkey]

Is then when Julian had his slight commercial moment?

[flicker1969]

SUCH A SONG, BY A SCOUSER, ALL THE BEST ARE. E.F.C

[raahead]

One of the best songs ever written

[sizzlingandrew]

what is the motorbike in this video?

[scotsmaninusa]

@sizzlingandrew looks like a ducati with that engine.

[TheRemmyruso1]

@scotsmaninusa

Yes it was a ducat in the video and that is the bike he died on..was his pride and joy. Ducati 900.

[TheRemmyruso1]

@scotsmaninusa

Yes it was a ducati bike in the video and that is the bike he died on.. it was his pride and joy.

[transonicbuoy1]

Got you. Thanks. I have read conflicting reports over the death over many years. I ride every day, country lanes, motorways. Always massively cautious. The power of the bike is never a problem, it`s car drivers, most of the time. Pete was very unlucky. I can see it makes sense about the place of death - the vid was filmed abroad, Pete died in the UK. Thanks for that info, from a biker, and bless Pete. T

[TheWamphyr]

@job87meh

Truly this song is a classic! I have been listening to it every now & again since it was released & it still tickles me to sing along with it . I love the funky double bass in the background. Heres to endless la la la's

Ciao

TheWamphyr

[TheWamphyr]

One of my most favourite songs of all time. I have never heard an ooh & 12 la's done so well.

[job87meh]

@TheWamphyr I know, it's so beautifully weird.

[clacux]

LOVE IT *-*

[macandrewes]

Great song, great vid. Rock on Jules and RIP Pete. Is the girl Dorian?

[rogan71]

Does the girl empty a piss pot on Pete's head? That's a good start!

[transonicbuoy1]

Pete D makes it. Still, great song.

[sebastianflash64]

. what a beautifull song.

[borroyoumotherfucker]

great song stupid video

[clockworkaccordion]

Typical late 80's video for this. poor Pete. Just reading Julians biography's fascinating.

[TheKingKVideos]

I like Chinadoll ;)

[3chinablue]

Absolutely adore this song-and the vids great too! Brings back so many great memories.

[transonicbuoy1]

pete.

[shyrec]

Non me lo ricordavo così immenso.

All'epoca comperai il vinile, consumandolo ma senza l'attenzione dovuta.

[kd2380]

Meravigliosa canzone, meravigliosa donna.

[julesgreaves]

julian wants to put this one in his top ten its just sweeeeeet as.

[Snotra]

I chated a bit with Pete's daughter over at the Bunny site a couple years ago. She said she doesnt remember her Dady and further more didnt like 80's music at all . She said she liked American rap! But I could tell she was searching to know

[rimmel65]

We lost the greatest drummers that bad day

Pete is always in bunnyfans hearts .

[Seanogoals]

Was great with Teardrop Explodes but got even better when Julian Cope went solo.

Got about 4 of his albums and they are all good.

Brilliant!!!

[Vispateresa3]

St. Julian is one of my favourite albums of all times.

[lonelyboy03]

This isnt "St. Julian", it was from "My Nation Underground."

[Vispateresa3]

Oh, sorry! They are all good, anyway.

[TheOmino]

Uh la la la la la la la la la la la...

[triffle69]

when i had 15 years old Pete was my hero ,now he is a legend RIP Pete .....

[lingley]

this is a great song and video but it is made so much more emotional after the death of Pete de Freitas. twenty years on i still can't believe it. RIP

[cheesyfeet1976]

ice cool 80's. have the dvd also. good song. i had never heard it b4.

[sassicaiamolotov]

Love this song madly, learned on guitar and sang to my girl; toward the end of the song she had tears in her eyes ,hope not for my bad interpretation :-). About Pete, the way he died fills me with anger; sometimes life is so cruel.

[lleho]

My favourite Cope's song...great video and R.I.P.Pete de Freitas.

[tron67de]

Thank you for uploading...great song, great video, great story, great bike...

[louisorleans]

Yeah Pete was a beautiful guy & a naturally brilliant drummer & musician, I was stunned when he died, I remember going to Liverpool cathedral for his & Chris McCaffrey's memorial almost 20 years ago! Jesus!

[thespacehopper]

Peter did NOT die on his way from filming this video!

He was riding from London to Liverpool and was on his way to a recording session.

He was killed on a country road somewhere in Staffordshire by an eighty nine year old woman that had never had a driving licence in her life.

It makes me just as sad and angry now as it did then at the way that Peter died, a total waste of exceptional talent and a complete fucking tradgedy that he was taken so young!

[Katzenfreundin]

@thespacehopper

True words. Pete is still missed.

[louisorleans]

I thought this single came out 89, the Album came out 88. Anyway. He died in Rugely Staffordshire.

[louisorleans]

Pete died on his way back to Liverpool just after completing this video. Absolutely tragic, he'd had a child and sorted himself out after the 'mad' 1986 episode. I find it hard to watch this video actually as Pete was my hero.

[StrollOnMate]

It's a tragic enough story as it is without this myth about him dying on the way back from the shoot. I remember when this video came out and he died the folowing year. He was/still is my hero too. Why did he have to die?

[stillwaiting4godot]

...thi (sic) 'this' ...

[stillwaiting4godot]

thank you for the post, gr8 song, never seen thi vid, rip pete; the crucial 3 )

[splintercellrules]

shame this man died he was the best when i first heard his music i said awsome great singer shame to lose such a nice man ='(

[Eldritchard]

Julian Copes not dead, just the guy on the back of the bike Pete D.F R.I.P. I'm sure D.f. was the drummer with Echo and the BBunnymen. Dont flame me if im wrong....

[ljpw93]

Julian is not dead....pete defrietas the best drummer on the planet - died in a motorbike accident in 89 i believe. being the best drummer in the world - he of course had to play with the best band in the world -Echo & the Bunnymen (and they still are the best band in the world!)

[SoundofAlassio]

Delicate and wild... Thank you!

[clarence47a]

He DID die on the way back from filming this video Bryfle28

[StrollOnMate]

Don't think so. As I remember, China Doll came out in 1988, Pete died on 14 June 1989. Anyone know where the video was shot?

[Eldritchard]

Im pretty sure it was in the south of France, but i dont know the towns name.......

[StrollOnMate]

I had thought it was in Italy but I think you're right Eldritchard. Cheers.

[wartpickle]

It was shot in south west France,and directed by Fraser Kent.I know this to be true because I'm the fellow who gets the brush-off from the young lady in the bar-Fraser said to me"just be yourself"i.e a drunken oaf.Bitter-sweet memories-Fraser,get in touch if by some miracle you see this one day......Ben

[thegools]

Sweet. Cool little cameo. So all this stuff about Pete's crash being on the way back from the video is false, since he died in UK not France.

[bryfle28]

As strollon points out Pete died some time after this vid was made

[bryfle28]

He did not die on the way back from filming this video.

[jonahstevenson]

bryfle28 is right. doubters, read the cope book, and get yr facts straight before you down thumb the correct. pete's death was months after the video shoot.

[thegools]

God it has been a long time since Pete D.F. died. It is good to see him alive and breathing one more time in this video. So sad to loose such a decent lad.

[Snotra]

I wonder if Mac has any resentment towards this guy.

[thegools]

Why would he?

[martindowland]

@Snotra

No, I have the impression Mac liked Pete. PdF was a strength behind the Bunnymen and they bent over backwards to have him back after his mad 6 months in 86.

Personally, he was part of my life and I'm bitterly sad he's not with us, Bunneymen have never recovered from it. Mac is still defensive for Pete.

[arraiami]

i grew up listen to this music.

[alonsofrom65yards]

rip pete. one of the greatest drummers ever.

[thebigsee]

What a stud Pete DeFreitas was! But how could a man ride off and leave that pretty woman behind?

[GibbletsMcGinty]

Yep, I'd break my own fingers to have a woman like her!

[thegools]

She is very pretty, but then my wife is too...I lucked out and and I don't even have to break my fingers:)

[billyjoeboomboom]

This is one of most underrated songs ever recorded.

[bondmatty]

I do so agree with you. Wonderful track. Marvelous vocal from Julian. Love the fact he keeps his English accent, unwilling to surrender to the customary transatlantic drawl adopted by so many other artists. Also, the double-bass playing from Danny Thompson is top notch (as ever).

[boelin]

R.I.P Pete De Freitas who stars here. He died crashing his bike on the way back from filming this vid.

[thegools]

Where is a reference to the fact that he died riding back from this video? I remember him dying in a bike crash, but I have yet to read the details.

[HCMUELLER]

du hast echt interessante videos am start.

grüße vom ammersee