Debora Iyall on Native America Calling

January 16, 2012 6:07 PM

Debora Iyall had some hits in the 1980s with her band Romeo Void. She's still making music, and just released an EP. She was today's guest on Native America Calling as the January Music Maker (stream m3u link, direct download link) [59m]. (sorry, no transcript available)

Romeo Void is probably best known for their songs Never Say Never and A Girl In Trouble (Is A Temporary Thing).

The interview includes background on Romeo Void, the reason for writing A Girl In Trouble, and features several cuts from the new EP (including a new version of A Girl In Trouble).

The entire EP can be heard at Iyall's website (first link in this FPP), along with ordering information for those interested.

posted by hippybear (18 comments total)

The actual interview with Iyall begins right at the 10 minute mark. NAC has a different flow from other shows, so be patient with it.
posted by hippybear at 6:08 PM on January 16

Romeo Void's compilation CD "Warm, in Your Coat" is highly recommended. Iyall is a helluva signer and writer, sort a spiritual ancestor to The Gossip's Beth Ditto.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:14 PM on January 16 [1 favorite]

'Never Say Never' was on a mixtape a friend made for me, along with 'Sugar in My Bowl' and 'Ever So Lonely'. Thanks for reminding of it.
posted by not_that_epiphanius at 6:47 PM on January 16

Romeo Void was always a favorite of mine back in the day. I'd more or less forgotten about them; thanks for the memory jolt! Never Say Never is one of the great songs.
posted by mygothlaundry at 6:59 PM on January 16

Wow I haven't heard Never Say Never in a long time.
posted by azarbayejani at 7:03 PM on January 16

I liked Myself to Myself.
posted by grounded at 7:28 PM on January 16

I'd always misheard the lyrics of "Never Say Never" as "Might I get better if we slept together?" I only found out the true lyrics ("I might like you better if we slept together") some twenty years later when I was on some "misheard lyrics" website. Thanks for the dose of 1980's.
posted by not_on_display at 7:47 PM on January 16

Glad to hear of the new music. Romeo Void had a unique sound.
I have the Never Say Never EP and Girl in Trouble single on vinyl. I only recently learned (acquired the technology) to record MP3s from my stereo turntable, and Romeo Void was among the first batch I did.
posted by Abinadab at 9:20 PM on January 16

I was just talking about Monsoon and Sheila Chandra the other day. I would say that this version of Ever So Lonely is way better.

I haven't heard Never Say Never in a long time. Thanks for reminding me.
posted by ashbury at 9:28 PM on January 16

I drove 60 miles to buy "It's A Condition", their first release. It's my prize, on some stout 415 Records vinyl. If you find it, buy it.

I Mean It is one of the most raw, basic "fuck you" songs ever written, with sax you'll never hear again, and a four-line smear at the end that I think is the best verse ever written on the subject.

Saw Romeo Void open for X in 1982. Lucky me.
posted by wallabear at 10:09 PM on January 16 [5 favorites]

I seem to recall that she married the younger brother of John Keister way back when, a fact which is perhaps of interest to Seattle area natives of a certain age.
posted by y2karl at 10:10 PM on January 16 [1 favorite]

Romeo Void absolutely ROCK! I'm back at the Mabuhay all over again.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:57 AM on January 17 [1 favorite]

Like others, I listened to RV back in the day. I should try to dig out the old cassettes and see if they still play.
posted by aught at 6:48 AM on January 17

Yes, Romeo Void rocks. And I would never have found out about them (having spent most of the 80's ignoring the radio) if not for the fact that "Never Say Never" was on the soundtrack of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.

(See also: How I discovered Madeleine Peyroux thanks to the sound track of The Saboteur.)
posted by McCoy Pauley at 8:20 AM on January 17

In my rock of the eighties collections, RV is well represented. I think the Rhino collection has the edited version of Never... Such a great voice and great lyrics; "sunlight limming in the street", and the exquisite sadness of "Girl In Trouble"
posted by djrock3k at 8:24 AM on January 17

By the way, skip the first 10 minutes of the podcast, because the interview doesn't start until then.
posted by zomg at 9:21 AM on January 17

I am always happy to be reminded of Romeo Void. Thanks hippybear!
posted by Currer Belfry at 11:21 AM on January 17

Queens of the Stone Age - Never Say Never.
posted by XhaustedProphet at 9:27 PM on January 18