turnbullac wrote: Sun Sep 03, 2023 4:18 pm Steve Harwell

Official now.

DaveA wrote: Sun Sep 03, 2023 6:14 pm Shitpost Thunderdome: Whiskey and Rye vs. Tonic and Gin

“Good ol’ boys drinking whiskey and rye” is terrible, but there’s at least a sliver of possible meaning in it—that the good ol’ boys might use “whiskey” as shorthand for bourbon, perhaps. Also, it benefits from preceding an even worse lyric: “saying, ‘This will be the day that I die.’” Don McLean has clearly never actually talked to other people.

“Tonic and gin” might be the worst lyric in “Piano Man,” although now that I write that out, I’m reminded of every other terrible lyric in “Piano Man.”

“He’s taking with Davy / Who’s still in the navy / And probably will be for life.” Because, you know, nothing is more pathetic than a career in the military.

“The piano sounds like a carnival! And the microphone smells like a beer / And they stand but the bar and put bread in my jar / And say, ‘Man, what are you doing here?’” Really, fuck you, Billy Joel. “Carnival”?!?!

I could go on.

There really is a double standard for singers who give Nazi salutes. Phil Anselmo is probably on the highest grossing tour of his career, while Steve Harwell (rightfully) got the boot.

Wood Goblin wrote: “saying, ‘This will be the day that I die.’” Don McLean has clearly never actually talked to other people.

It's a Buddy Holly reference. Probably a lot of people made that joke on the day Buddy Holly died.

Driving a Chevy to the levee is a much worse line.

Anthony Flack wrote: Mon Sep 04, 2023 5:20 pm

Wood Goblin wrote: “saying, ‘This will be the day that I die.’” Don McLean has clearly never actually talked to other people.

It's a Buddy Holly reference. Probably a lot of people made that joke on the day Buddy Holly died.

Driving a Chevy to the levee is a much worse line.

It is? Color me skeptical. Although I guess McLean could’ve fucked up the reference to “That’ll Be the Day.”

Agree that “Chevy to the levee” is worse.

You're skeptical? The whole song is about the death of Buddy Holly. They're all saying "this'll be the day that I die" because the dude who sang "That'll be the day" has died on THIS day. Everyone's cracking the same joke in all the bars.

In among all the gobbledygook (and it's hilarious that people are obsessed with the meaning of this song, when if Don McClean ever explained it all, they would surely lose interest instantly and forever), the main part seems clear enough: Teenage Don McClean loves Buddy Holly, he learns of his death while doing his morning paper route as it is on the front page of every paper, it hits him differently to the people around him, and it sets off a bunch of complicated teenage thoughts about his place in society on that day.

I remember my dad seemed amused that Kurt Cobain had killed himself. I bet "this'll be the day" jokes were inescapable on the day Buddy Holly died.

Ah, I see what you mean.

I had a feeling that Dave Hoekstra would post an illuminating obituary of Jimmy Buffett, and he did not disappoint.

(Posting as an excuse to mention Hoekstra has some great back content on Chicago music history, if you want to browse his archives.)

We lost two giants of improvisation this week. Wednesday, I got a call that Charles Gayle had died, and then news came a few hours later of Richard Davis's death.

Chris Jern out of the blue WTF. He was such a good guy.