WWWW
Another summertime special here on the tongue.
95th caller to answer today's trivia question scores a pair of free tix to Summerfest out at the Coliseum, featuring Starship and the Speedwagon. Summerfest, brought to you by Burns Ford and AAA Siding!
So strap 'em on, race fans, 'cause here we go:
The Beatles sang significant parts of songs in at least three languages besides English. And we're not talking just balalaikas here, silly Russkies-- we're talking numerous words and phrases. Name at least three songs where those lovable moptoppers were speaking in at least three (sliced!) tongues.
The lines are open now. Remember, you gotta bean it to wean it, weiners!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
UNDERSTANDS ME WHEN I'M FALLING DOWN
Name me a musical archeological dig that was ever more fruitful than the Velvet Underground's VU.
A dozen years after their implosion it was both an illustration of their enduring brilliance and a demonstration of how thoroughly Lou Reed could lose the essential plot.
For evidence, look no further than the VU version of She's My Best Friend and the solo version that showed up on Sally Can't Dance.
One will make you weep, and the other will make you cry...
Name me a musical archeological dig that was ever more fruitful than the Velvet Underground's VU.
A dozen years after their implosion it was both an illustration of their enduring brilliance and a demonstration of how thoroughly Lou Reed could lose the essential plot.
For evidence, look no further than the VU version of She's My Best Friend and the solo version that showed up on Sally Can't Dance.
One will make you weep, and the other will make you cry...
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
I'LL GIVE YOU A MAN WHO WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD
We watched The Spy Next Door for movie night this past weekend.
It's a Jackie Chan family film in which he plays a Chinese spy on loan to the CIA. He is deep undercover as a nebbishy suburban pen salesman. He's dating the divorcee next door, who has two kids and a step kid. The kids all hate Jackie Chan because he's such a square. Little do they know, amiright amiright?
Anyway, the truly surreal aspect of the movie is that it turns on the plot conceit of having the nerdy middle-school son attempt to download a “rare” concert by the early 80s British hardcore band GBH. You see, having this “rare” (and there are those pesky quotation marks again) concert is supposed to be currency with the mouth-breathing bullies who make our young protagonist's life a wedgie-tinged hell.
Well, it turns out that the GBH file is actually an encrypted Russian file, and not an early 80s British hardcore concert. So of course the bullies are enraged. Atomic wedgies ensue.
But here we get our first hint that Jackie Chan is something cool. He comes through for the nerdy boy and burns him a CD of the “rare” Iggy Pop/David Bowie Shanghai concert that all the middle-school bullies are mad for these days.
And how'd he get a hold of it?
He was there, motherfucker. He was there...
We watched The Spy Next Door for movie night this past weekend.
It's a Jackie Chan family film in which he plays a Chinese spy on loan to the CIA. He is deep undercover as a nebbishy suburban pen salesman. He's dating the divorcee next door, who has two kids and a step kid. The kids all hate Jackie Chan because he's such a square. Little do they know, amiright amiright?
Anyway, the truly surreal aspect of the movie is that it turns on the plot conceit of having the nerdy middle-school son attempt to download a “rare” concert by the early 80s British hardcore band GBH. You see, having this “rare” (and there are those pesky quotation marks again) concert is supposed to be currency with the mouth-breathing bullies who make our young protagonist's life a wedgie-tinged hell.
Well, it turns out that the GBH file is actually an encrypted Russian file, and not an early 80s British hardcore concert. So of course the bullies are enraged. Atomic wedgies ensue.
But here we get our first hint that Jackie Chan is something cool. He comes through for the nerdy boy and burns him a CD of the “rare” Iggy Pop/David Bowie Shanghai concert that all the middle-school bullies are mad for these days.
And how'd he get a hold of it?
He was there, motherfucker. He was there...
Friday, June 11, 2010
NEVER TOOK NO SHIT FROM NO ONE
There it was in my mailbox. A request from a long-ago friend to write a letter to the judge who is preparing to sentence him to prison.
Looks like it will be 12-18 months, and I suppose it's standard practice for lawyers to solicit letters speaking to the character of the accused, in an effort to draw the shorter end of that sentencing range.
So what to do? Well, if you have a stubborn Irish belief in the concept of redemption, you consider writing the letter.
Aw hell, who I am kidding? I wrote it at lunch today...
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing this letter to speak briefly about my relationship with X.
X and I became friends when we were both 14 years old. X at that young age was distinguished by his expansive heart and his abundant generosity.
I had lost my father three years prior to becoming friends with X, and my family was in a financially vulnerable state. Unbidden, X would pay for the slices of pizza I sometimes couldn’t afford, or help cover the cost of movie tickets that my summer job would not allow.
I recall in particular the car stereo that had been given to him by an uncle who worked in the electronics business, which X gave to me as a gift when I was 14. This act of largesse was the essence of X: the basic impulse was noble and good, if a bit impractical (I was at that point a few years away from even having a driver’s license). The stereo sat on my bookshelf in its box untouched, a dusty symbol of the type of friend I hope everyone has been lucky enough to have at that age.
My conscience requires me to note that X and I have not been in close contact for over 20 years now. He has made me aware of his current situation, and it has taken me back to that 14-year-old boy. He was impetuous, impractical, and impish. He was generous, kind, and fiercely loyal to those he loved. Even separated as we are by years and miles and circumstances, I trust in my heart that X is still all of those things.
It is my hope that the resolution of the current situation will come with its necessary lessons, but allow X to keep intact the abiding spirit of my 14-year-old friend.
There it was in my mailbox. A request from a long-ago friend to write a letter to the judge who is preparing to sentence him to prison.
Looks like it will be 12-18 months, and I suppose it's standard practice for lawyers to solicit letters speaking to the character of the accused, in an effort to draw the shorter end of that sentencing range.
So what to do? Well, if you have a stubborn Irish belief in the concept of redemption, you consider writing the letter.
Aw hell, who I am kidding? I wrote it at lunch today...
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing this letter to speak briefly about my relationship with X.
X and I became friends when we were both 14 years old. X at that young age was distinguished by his expansive heart and his abundant generosity.
I had lost my father three years prior to becoming friends with X, and my family was in a financially vulnerable state. Unbidden, X would pay for the slices of pizza I sometimes couldn’t afford, or help cover the cost of movie tickets that my summer job would not allow.
I recall in particular the car stereo that had been given to him by an uncle who worked in the electronics business, which X gave to me as a gift when I was 14. This act of largesse was the essence of X: the basic impulse was noble and good, if a bit impractical (I was at that point a few years away from even having a driver’s license). The stereo sat on my bookshelf in its box untouched, a dusty symbol of the type of friend I hope everyone has been lucky enough to have at that age.
My conscience requires me to note that X and I have not been in close contact for over 20 years now. He has made me aware of his current situation, and it has taken me back to that 14-year-old boy. He was impetuous, impractical, and impish. He was generous, kind, and fiercely loyal to those he loved. Even separated as we are by years and miles and circumstances, I trust in my heart that X is still all of those things.
It is my hope that the resolution of the current situation will come with its necessary lessons, but allow X to keep intact the abiding spirit of my 14-year-old friend.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
PLEASE RELEASE ME
Lots of comfort food on the way this year...
LCD Soundsystem, This is Happening
Happened already. I bought it, but I haven't listened yet. I'm sure it's yummy.
M.I.A., Maya
Watch yourself, gingers.
Panda Bear, Tomboy
Yes!
Arcade Fire, The Suburbs
This comes out in August, but if the shitilicious first single is any indication, I suspect they really did shoot their wad with Funeral.
Belle and Sebastian, TBD
DAR Constitution Hall in October? OK, I'll be there.
of Montreal, False Priest
Pretty sure this is still on tap for the fall. So... yay.
Stereolab, Not Music
This is the second half of the Chemical Chords sessions. I'm sure the Lab in their grave will continue to drop music Tupac style...
Lots of comfort food on the way this year...
LCD Soundsystem, This is Happening
Happened already. I bought it, but I haven't listened yet. I'm sure it's yummy.
M.I.A., Maya
Watch yourself, gingers.
Panda Bear, Tomboy
Yes!
Arcade Fire, The Suburbs
This comes out in August, but if the shitilicious first single is any indication, I suspect they really did shoot their wad with Funeral.
Belle and Sebastian, TBD
DAR Constitution Hall in October? OK, I'll be there.
of Montreal, False Priest
Pretty sure this is still on tap for the fall. So... yay.
Stereolab, Not Music
This is the second half of the Chemical Chords sessions. I'm sure the Lab in their grave will continue to drop music Tupac style...
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
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