From: owner-fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org (fegmaniax-digest) To: fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org Subject: fegmaniax-digest V7 #390 Reply-To: fegmaniax@smoe.org Sender: owner-fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk fegmaniax-digest Saturday, October 17 1998 Volume 07 : Number 390 Today's Subjects: ----------------- 100% RH content (Rupert Holmes, that is) [Zelda Pinwheel ] 2 things [griffith ] Greetins [John Irvine ] Re: Power Ballads [MARKEEFE@aol.com] I wish [dwdudic@erols.com (David W. Dudich)] Re: 100% RH content (Rupert Holmes, that is) [Terrence M Marks ] oh yeah [Eb ] Silly Love Songs [amadain ] Re: Silly Love Songs [Capuchin ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 18:32:19 -0500 From: Zelda Pinwheel Subject: 100% RH content (Rupert Holmes, that is) The actual song title is, "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" I don't know why I know this-zelda ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 17:00:12 -0700 (PDT) From: griffith Subject: 2 things 1. Elliot Smith is performing on SNL this weekend. Jon Brion will be one of the musicians supporting him. 2. Is there an active tape tree right now? I thought that there was... griffith = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Griffith Davies hbrtv219@csun.edu ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Oct 1997 21:07:44 -0400 From: John Irvine Subject: Greetins Hi, I'm new to the list, but after reading three digests I feel as if I know you all well enough to try to sell you some stuff. First of all I got an extra copy of the Raw Ventilator 7" (no PS) if anyone has something interesting to trade - cylinder for a '66 Vespa Super Sport maybe, stereolab singles? Secondly, I have a big box of CD's from my old band the Jennifers collecting dust under the bed, which really ought to go to people who might actually enjoy the music, rather than to co-workers who find out I was in a band and demand a copy only to play a song and give me funny looks for the next few months. Anyway most of the songs were assembled from original ideas by Robyn, the Feelies, Tom Verlaine and other worthies. email me if you wanna take a chance. Thirdly, I'm in the Baltimore area and wouldn't mind meeting other fegs and musicians nearby, as long as you're not too creepy. cheers, John I ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 20:54:34 EDT From: MARKEEFE@aol.com Subject: Re: Power Ballads In a message dated 98-10-16 19:10:03 EDT, you write: << So can anyone think of a power ballad that isn't a love song? >> Well, of course, this all depends on one's definition. At first glance, it's obvious that what we're referring to here is a sappy love song that's not actually all that powerful but is really just demonstrative and cloying. I think we should reappropriate the term "power ballad" for particularly interesting narrative tales of the lives of exceptional people (or very average people who happened to luck into doing something exceptional). Like "John Henry" (who might have just been drunk at the time, but was probably a really exceptional person). Then, what are currently known as "power ballads" can simply be referred to as the ' "Total Eclipse of the Heart," et al' phenomenon. Okay, maybe that's not such a simple reference. But it would get the point across! - ------Michael "turn around bright eyes!" K. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Oct 1998 03:42:45 GMT From: dwdudic@erols.com (David W. Dudich) Subject: I wish On Thu, 15 Oct 1998 23:58:13 -0400 (EDT), you wrote: >ate: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 18:56:50 -0700 (PDT) >From: Glen Uber >Subject: Richard Thomson Tix... > >Hey, y'all, > >I have two tickets to Sunday's High Sierra Festival featuring Richard >Thompson in Novato, CA that I cannot use. > >If anyone wants them, let me know. The face value is $24 ea -- they can be >yours for the price of either a COD on an overnight letter, or gas money >for me to drop them off in the Bay Area on Saturday. > >Email me by tomorrow a.m. please. > >- -g- lucky bastards on West coast!!! :-) -luther ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Oct 1998 01:39:34 -0400 (EDT) From: Terrence M Marks Subject: Re: 100% RH content (Rupert Holmes, that is) On Fri, 16 Oct 1998, Zelda Pinwheel wrote: > The actual song title is, "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" > > > I don't know why I know this-zelda > Well, I know this because Robyn covered it on Greasy Quiff (or maybe it was Jet Set Flier). Or at least, it's allegedly Robyn. Terrence Marks normal@grove.ufl.edu ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Oct 1998 02:47:01 -0400 (EDT) From: Tim Fuller Subject: from randi - I'll Tell You About My Drugs ;} 50%RH Well, I've told y'all about my drugs before, but not in relation to creativity. When I used to get stoned, I'd try to write, but the next morning I'd find some of the shittiest prose I'd ever written. When I was able to drink, I'd also try to write, but again my writing sucked. It was so confusing for me; I thought that *all* creative people were inspired by drugs or drinking. But I figured, okay, I'm just not built that way ;} So moving onto narcotics...I'm in 24 hour a day pain...it's chronic, every day for the past 11 years. So I've used tons of drugs for the pain; and wondered if maybe *that* would be my entrance to a new world of creativity. Straight codeine...big no. Percocet - I get spacey. I went to see "Sense and Sensibility," a movie that my fave actor Emma Thompson starred in. I had to see it *three* times 'cause that drug made me forget things. Morphine - a nightmare - every time I'd fall asleep I'd have the scariest dreams. I could go on about the drugs - but the point is - I'm soooooooooo glad that drugs make my writing unbearably bad. That means I own my creativity. It's like, I have a little angel on my shoulder whispering, "Rand, come on, you can write, you can do anything you want too." And don't go thinking that the angel is drug induced...I had a difficult childhood - so that's how I learned to cope. I also really hate it when people attribute drugs or alcohol to enhanced creativity - I guess it's because I'm not in a situation that requires stimulants...but I guess that's also selfish of me. In terms of the article that Carrie so thoughtfully put on the feg-list...it made me have even more respect for Robyn than I already do. I know he went through a horrible drinking phase...and I've seen him drink...but if a joint is passed around the dressing room - he doesn't touch it, before or after the show. But then again, Robyn wakes up at 7:00 am every day to work on his music. He may be tired, if he didn't get enough sleep, but I think this supports Robyn's words in the article...and he is *not* the kind of person to take drugs or drink at 7:00 in the morning. It's lovely to see and hear what comes out of his clear brain, and alert train of thought. {well...imho of course ;} Oh I wish he would tour again. I would do anything to go to New York and the gala. I'll stop whining and fade back into yesterday before tomorrow comes, Randi *what scares you most will set you free* - Robyn Hitchcock *the longer you hide...the more you deny* - Neil Finn n.p. - Michael Penn - "Resigned" p.s. sharkboy, eddie, ross, marcy, lj, carole, susan, and bayard - I haven't had a second to even read your notes...but I'll catch up on the weekend. ;} ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Oct 1998 06:51:36 -0700 From: Eb Subject: Air Coming up for air...after seeing a great Air show Thursday night (and boo hoo, I couldn't get into the PJ Harvey in-store...phooey). Incidentally, Air's band included Roger Manning (Jellyfish, Imperial Drag), Justin something (that bassist from Beck's band who looks disconcertingly like local boy Dustin "Screech" Diamond...hmm, Justin, Dustin -- mere coincidence?) and Brian something (the drummer of Redd Kross, until recently). Anyway, I have been having CATASTROPHIC computer problems over the past two days. I think I may have actually gotten a virus...I don't know. I do know that I found an "invisible" file on my hard drive called "sysKas.5957" which didn't look like it should've been there. I dumped it, and coincidence or not, things are working far better now. So alas, I've spent all day and all NIGHT (hello, 7 am coming up! ) trying to repeatedly reinstall system software and having all kinds of horribly dismaying freezes and crashes going on. At this point, I'm saying "F*CK OS 8" and am currently working on good ol' 7.5. After I get a little less frazzled, I'll upgrade it to 7.5.3 and 7.5.5, and after that, I guess I'm stuck since I don't have a 7.6 CD. Also, I lost some email in the struggle, so if anyone wrote me anything worthwhile, I might have missed it. ;) Gotta go sleep now, Eb ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Oct 1998 07:02:21 -0700 From: Eb Subject: oh yeah [somebody forward this to fegannounce?] I recently received a press release, announcing an upcoming three-volume set of "Post Punk" to be issued on January 19th by Rhino Records. One of the volumes, titled "Post Punk: Going Underground" will include "I Wanna Destroy You." So there ya go. Eb ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Oct 1998 13:52:37 -0600 From: amadain Subject: Silly Love Songs >So can anyone think of a power ballad that isn't a love song? I can think of at least one: it's called "the majority of songs by the Who". It's really really good, too. Seriously, I think this kinda depends on the definition of "power ballad" :). I guess I'd always thought of a power ballad as not necessarily being one of those big generic lovesongs, but actually any ballad (which I guess would be a love song or a storytelling song, though I haven't quite pinned down in my mind what I think a ballad is) with a really big arrangement. >Oh dear lord. That's a truly awful song. I've heard that one. Blech. I >hadn't ever KNOWINGLY heard one of their songs and I must have glanced >over that one in the list. That's a forgivable error under the circumstances- it's one of those kinda generic easy listening songs that no one really knows the origin of or even the title of most of the time. You know what I mean, like "Jackie Blue", "Baby Come Back", and on and on and on and on....... >> Next thing you're going to tell me you've never heard "Pina Coladas". > >This one, however, doesn't ring a single bell. Not only is it a smarmy song, it has a smarmy cutesy-pie premise. This guy is unhappy with his girlfriend so he answers a personal ad that says (chorus) "Do you like pina coladas?/Getting caught in the rain?/Do you (something I can't remember)?/Do you have half a brain?". He arranges to meet the chick and it turns out to be his girlfriend. What can I say, it was the age of saccharine. (re: the shag carpet seduction song whose name I can't bear to type) >Wait wait... I think Samuel L. Jackson sang part of this in The Long Kiss >Goodnight, right? While he's driving? I recall that. Or is that a >different song? I never saw that, but I guess it could be. >of that. I can't put my finger on it. What is it that makes everything >by Meatloaf and all those crappy songs mentioned above so horrible? What >is it that offends my every sensibility? Someone help me pin this down. I've been wanting to take a stab at this question for awhile. I think I have it pinned down to three things. First, STALENESS OF APPROACH. A friend of mine who taught a college freshman writing class told them not to hand in a love story unless they could think of a fresh way to write one (e.g., no more stories about the goddamn prom or I'll vomit). Unfortunately he mentioned "Lolita" as an example of a fresh way to write a love story, and while this is of course an excellent example some of his students looked at him funny after he explained what it was about :). In any event, I think his point applies well here. It certainly goes a long way towards explaining why songs like "Lovely Rita", "Lola", or even "Last of the Famous International Playboys", to name just a few, are a lot more memorable than anything by Celine or Whitney. Among other things, they're -original-. I really wish people wouldn't bother with writing love songs unless they can write NEW ones, otherwise they should go back to Hallmark Corp where they really belong. But then, I wish for a lot of things which will never become reality (although I have a small sliver of hope for the All Jackie Chan Cable Network). Second, LACK OF SPECIFICITY. A good song doesn't have to be very specific and invidual feeling, but in an overworked genre like the love song it sure as hell helps. I can't really relate that well to a sort of abstract "love/dove/moon/June" but I can relate to things that sound like someone's individual experience. Ironically the more specific and/or idiosyncratic it is, the more I personally can relate to it, usually. The more abstract a love song is the more it sounds like it was churned out of the Popular Song Factory Thingie in "1984". Third, INSINCERITY. No explanation needed. Cher could be singing to a poodle or her car for all I know or care, the emotive content would be about the same. A gifted interpreter (Roy Orbison comes to mind here off the top of my head, but there are lots of examples) can take a cliche ridden song and MAKE it say something, but it's a difficult art. And most of the people who perform these songs are belters rather than interpreters, IMO. Love on ya, Susan preparing for onslaught of fegness :) ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Oct 1998 17:01:09 -0700 (PDT) From: Capuchin Subject: Re: Silly Love Songs On Sat, 17 Oct 1998, amadain wrote: > >So can anyone think of a power ballad that isn't a love song? > I can think of at least one: it's called "the majority of songs by the > Who". It's really really good, too. Do you have to know what a Who song sounds like? > though I haven't quite pinned > down in my mind what I think a ballad is) with a really big arrangement. The big arrangement is everything. That's a power ballad right there. Belted out, of course. > What can I say, it was the age of saccharine. We need not apologize for the sins of our fathers. > >I can't put my finger on it. What is it that makes everything > >by Meatloaf and all those crappy songs mentioned above so horrible? What > >is it that offends my every sensibility? Someone help me pin this down. > I've been wanting to take a stab at this question for awhile. I think I > have it pinned down to three things. > First, STALENESS OF APPROACH. > Second, LACK OF SPECIFICITY. > Third, INSINCERITY. Brilliant. I know I'm about seventieth on lj's list, so in the meantime Susan, will you marry me? The first has always been my biggest gripe, I think. What kind of arrogant fuck thinks he has an original take on the grand concept of Love? It's easily the most-written-about thing there is and yet people continue to put in their two cents (and rarely it's that much). I think anyone writing a love song/poem, a suicide or death-of-a-loved-one poem, or coming-of-age story should stop and ask "What do I have to ADD on the subject?" I think we'd have smaller, better books and fewer Geocities websites. The other two are going to take some thinking on my part. I think I'm with you on the specificity thing because it is by nature a new addition to the subject if you're talking about a particular person and experience. Sincerity (or lack thereof) is something else. I'm not sure how much it matters, but I'll think about it. Certainly it's true of the examples you gave and probably true of most big names doing those randomly generated songs... but I was watching Pop-up video and there was this song called "Sarah" by some early eighties craprock guy. Well, he seemed to care about the song... and Sarah was apparently his girlfriend's name and she was in the video and all of this... but it was still shit. And I guess I already understood the staleness argument. But what is it that makes me immediately recognize it as crap without hearing more than two words? I guess that much is training. "If you hear it on the radio and it's belted out with a big arrangement, it's a dumb, stale love song." Love, J. -- the most romantic person in the world. ________________________________________________________ J A Brelin Capuchin ________________________________________________________ ------------------------------ End of fegmaniax-digest V7 #390 *******************************