Comments on: Simple pleasures http://tbogg.firedoglake.com/2007/12/14/simple-pleasures/ \"...a somewhat popular blogger\" Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:53:43 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: HalloweenJack http://tbogg.firedoglake.com/2007/12/14/simple-pleasures/#comment-1524 HalloweenJack Mon, 17 Dec 2007 22:51:06 +0000 http://tbogg.firedoglake.com/2007/12/14/simple-pleasures/#comment-1524 <p>Musically, I still find Led Zep interesting; it’s the lyrics that make me cringe now. I’d never really listened to the words for “Immigrant Song” until I saw that irritating Flash movie with the Viking kittens; they seem like the sort of lyrics that I would have made up in junior high after plowing through a few Thor and Conan comics. And then there’s “Ramble On”:</p> <blockquote><p>T’was in the darkest depths of Mordor, I met a girl so fair.<br /> But Gollum, the evil one crept up and slipped away with her, her, her, her, her, her, her….yeah.</p></blockquote> <p>Anyone who’s picking up girls in Mordor deserves to have them stolen by Gollum.</p> Musically, I still find Led Zep interesting; it’s the lyrics that make me cringe now. I’d never really listened to the words for “Immigrant Song” until I saw that irritating Flash movie with the Viking kittens; they seem like the sort of lyrics that I would have made up in junior high after plowing through a few Thor and Conan comics. And then there’s “Ramble On”:

T’was in the darkest depths of Mordor, I met a girl so fair.
But Gollum, the evil one crept up and slipped away with her, her, her, her, her, her, her….yeah.

Anyone who’s picking up girls in Mordor deserves to have them stolen by Gollum.

]]> By: revpaperboy http://tbogg.firedoglake.com/2007/12/14/simple-pleasures/#comment-1452 revpaperboy Sun, 16 Dec 2007 15:55:35 +0000 http://tbogg.firedoglake.com/2007/12/14/simple-pleasures/#comment-1452 <p>I’ve been dazed and confused for so long its not true….</p> <p>Back in my 20s, when all my friends were getting married, it was the custom for people at the reception dinner to sing a song with the word “Love” in it to get the bride and groom to kiss. At the first such wedding, while I was still a retiring young fella growing a bad mustache, we let the grandmothers and aunts and uncles sing the old songs “Love and marriage” and we let the kids sing “Skinamarinky-dinky-dinky” and the sachrine obscenity that is the Barney the Dinosaur theme song. Then those of us sitting at the “friends” table looked at each other, and grinned and started pounding the table top “ba-bah-ba-bah boom ba-ba-boom ba-ba-boom” for probably nearly 30 seconds until I finally leapt up on my chair in my rental tux and did the full Robert Plant-grabbing-his-crotch-and-screaming-out-the-high-notes Whole Lotta Love at the absolute top of my lungs - I had a rasp for days - and brought the house down.<br /> Peoples parents, including my own, and more importantly, girls, looked at me a little differently after that.<br /> The only problem was that I was now expected to do it at everyone’s wedding. I tried, but never came close to having the same impact as the first time.<br /> At my own wedding a dozen years later, Mrs. Revpaperboy and I were treated to several attempts at Whole Lotta Love, all of them well-intentioned and all of them hilarious. There was much drinking involved and I seem to recall being forced to join the band (all friends of mine) to a rather lower energy rendition before being allowed to leave. </p> <p>I still belt it out at karaoke occasionally to frighten the polite Japanese.</p> I’ve been dazed and confused for so long its not true….

Back in my 20s, when all my friends were getting married, it was the custom for people at the reception dinner to sing a song with the word “Love” in it to get the bride and groom to kiss. At the first such wedding, while I was still a retiring young fella growing a bad mustache, we let the grandmothers and aunts and uncles sing the old songs “Love and marriage” and we let the kids sing “Skinamarinky-dinky-dinky” and the sachrine obscenity that is the Barney the Dinosaur theme song. Then those of us sitting at the “friends” table looked at each other, and grinned and started pounding the table top “ba-bah-ba-bah boom ba-ba-boom ba-ba-boom” for probably nearly 30 seconds until I finally leapt up on my chair in my rental tux and did the full Robert Plant-grabbing-his-crotch-and-screaming-out-the-high-notes Whole Lotta Love at the absolute top of my lungs – I had a rasp for days – and brought the house down.
Peoples parents, including my own, and more importantly, girls, looked at me a little differently after that.
The only problem was that I was now expected to do it at everyone’s wedding. I tried, but never came close to having the same impact as the first time.
At my own wedding a dozen years later, Mrs. Revpaperboy and I were treated to several attempts at Whole Lotta Love, all of them well-intentioned and all of them hilarious. There was much drinking involved and I seem to recall being forced to join the band (all friends of mine) to a rather lower energy rendition before being allowed to leave.

I still belt it out at karaoke occasionally to frighten the polite Japanese.

]]> By: Bill http://tbogg.firedoglake.com/2007/12/14/simple-pleasures/#comment-1450 Bill Sun, 16 Dec 2007 08:25:08 +0000 http://tbogg.firedoglake.com/2007/12/14/simple-pleasures/#comment-1450 <p>yup…</p> yup…

]]> By: bagofmice http://tbogg.firedoglake.com/2007/12/14/simple-pleasures/#comment-1446 bagofmice Sun, 16 Dec 2007 05:12:18 +0000 http://tbogg.firedoglake.com/2007/12/14/simple-pleasures/#comment-1446 <p>Gimme Tool and NIN anyday.</p> Gimme Tool and NIN anyday.

]]> By: JohnO http://tbogg.firedoglake.com/2007/12/14/simple-pleasures/#comment-1382 JohnO Sat, 15 Dec 2007 01:43:57 +0000 http://tbogg.firedoglake.com/2007/12/14/simple-pleasures/#comment-1382 <p>I know I’m late to this party.</p> <p>I was a huge British rock fan as a kid. I was weaned on The Who, The Stones, Pink Floyd et al, including Led Zeppelin, as well as several other lesser bands, most notably the Beatles. (Just kidding.)</p> <p>It is only the Beatles and Zep that have survived my middle age. My first concert ever was Led Zeppelin (totally sober!) and it was fantastic.</p> <p>I’ve seen almost every “major” act I’ve ever wanted to over the years, but to this day, it is the acoustic set that Zeppelin did that makes me watch and listen to this day. Amazing, and entirely out of their reputation as metal Gods.</p> <p>Jimmy Page is the best concert guitarist, and maybe the best period, of all time. I just can’t get over watching his fingers move on “Goin to California” or “Bron Ya Aur Stomp” without recognizing the genius and skill involved.</p> <p>Also, “Since I’ve Been Lovin’ You,” the greatest blues song ever recorded by white guys.</p> <p>I would have paid a lot of money to get to that reunion show this week, and from all the reviews I’ve read, I would guess it would’ve been worth it.</p> <p>I got my hip-hop nephew of 15 a Zep DVD for Christmas. My brother says he’s starting to understand why they were so great and tells me he’ll love it.</p> <p>Can’t wait to see him open it.</p> <p>Funny related <a href="http://jonorato42.wordpress.com/2007/08/31/jimmy-page/" rel="nofollow">link.</a></p> I know I’m late to this party.

I was a huge British rock fan as a kid. I was weaned on The Who, The Stones, Pink Floyd et al, including Led Zeppelin, as well as several other lesser bands, most notably the Beatles. (Just kidding.)

It is only the Beatles and Zep that have survived my middle age. My first concert ever was Led Zeppelin (totally sober!) and it was fantastic.

I’ve seen almost every “major” act I’ve ever wanted to over the years, but to this day, it is the acoustic set that Zeppelin did that makes me watch and listen to this day. Amazing, and entirely out of their reputation as metal Gods.

Jimmy Page is the best concert guitarist, and maybe the best period, of all time. I just can’t get over watching his fingers move on “Goin to California” or “Bron Ya Aur Stomp” without recognizing the genius and skill involved.

Also, “Since I’ve Been Lovin’ You,” the greatest blues song ever recorded by white guys.

I would have paid a lot of money to get to that reunion show this week, and from all the reviews I’ve read, I would guess it would’ve been worth it.

I got my hip-hop nephew of 15 a Zep DVD for Christmas. My brother says he’s starting to understand why they were so great and tells me he’ll love it.

Can’t wait to see him open it.

Funny related link.

]]> By: makeitstop http://tbogg.firedoglake.com/2007/12/14/simple-pleasures/#comment-1381 makeitstop Sat, 15 Dec 2007 01:37:33 +0000 http://tbogg.firedoglake.com/2007/12/14/simple-pleasures/#comment-1381 <p>CaptPhealy, do you live in the Denver area, or is “world class rock” universal?</p> CaptPhealy, do you live in the Denver area, or is “world class rock” universal?

]]> By: paulbeard http://tbogg.firedoglake.com/2007/12/14/simple-pleasures/#comment-1379 paulbeard Sat, 15 Dec 2007 01:30:42 +0000 http://tbogg.firedoglake.com/2007/12/14/simple-pleasures/#comment-1379 <p>I never really got Led Zep, partly due to a forced diet of a rock station that played little else (living in the dangling dingus of Florida, the only culture we saw grew in the humidity). So the reunion doesn’t thrill me and even if the reunion tour showed up across the street, the tix would be $100 minimum. Most of their fandom was all about Jimmy Page’s playing which I was and am kind of ‘meh’ about. As Hornby points out, the riffs are the thing: the solos never really amaze me, though the closer he stays to blues, the more I think he shines. </p> <p>My kids ask me what kind of music I like and my short answer is, whatever I haven’t heard before. Heavy guitar rock, as humorless as it generally is (how can you not be ironic about the obligatory guitar solo, post Spinal Tap?), doesn’t do a lot for me: I’ve heard all I need to. Dance music, in its many forms, also eludes, as my feets have failed me repeatedly. Between the stuff I read about on TBogg’s random 10 and what I hear on KEXP (streaming in CD quality, if you want some), there’s a lot of stuff to discover. But maybe a dip in The Cult when I need the blow the cruft out is required occasionally. </p> <p>And why did someone have to mention a new Eagles tune? Now I have to dread listening to any commercial stations in case I hear it.</p> I never really got Led Zep, partly due to a forced diet of a rock station that played little else (living in the dangling dingus of Florida, the only culture we saw grew in the humidity). So the reunion doesn’t thrill me and even if the reunion tour showed up across the street, the tix would be $100 minimum. Most of their fandom was all about Jimmy Page’s playing which I was and am kind of ‘meh’ about. As Hornby points out, the riffs are the thing: the solos never really amaze me, though the closer he stays to blues, the more I think he shines.

My kids ask me what kind of music I like and my short answer is, whatever I haven’t heard before. Heavy guitar rock, as humorless as it generally is (how can you not be ironic about the obligatory guitar solo, post Spinal Tap?), doesn’t do a lot for me: I’ve heard all I need to. Dance music, in its many forms, also eludes, as my feets have failed me repeatedly. Between the stuff I read about on TBogg’s random 10 and what I hear on KEXP (streaming in CD quality, if you want some), there’s a lot of stuff to discover. But maybe a dip in The Cult when I need the blow the cruft out is required occasionally.

And why did someone have to mention a new Eagles tune? Now I have to dread listening to any commercial stations in case I hear it.

]]> By: captphealy http://tbogg.firedoglake.com/2007/12/14/simple-pleasures/#comment-1365 captphealy Sat, 15 Dec 2007 00:29:46 +0000 http://tbogg.firedoglake.com/2007/12/14/simple-pleasures/#comment-1365 <p>One of the things that I don’t understand about how some people react to music is how they not only don’t try to broaden their exposure to different kinds of music, they become actively hostile when someone tries to do it for them. One local radio station advertises itself as “world class rock”, and they get complaints when they play something offbeat, like the Ditty Bops or Nellie McKay, and the complaints usually end up stating “that’s not ‘world class rock!’” (I wanted to punch the guy who complained about the Leo Kottke/Mike Gordon version of “Sweet Emotion”.) </p> <p>Meanwhile, these folks are perfectly happy hearing the new Eagles tune multiple times a day, whereas, even if I liked it, once a day would be plenty - there’s other music to get to!</p> One of the things that I don’t understand about how some people react to music is how they not only don’t try to broaden their exposure to different kinds of music, they become actively hostile when someone tries to do it for them. One local radio station advertises itself as “world class rock”, and they get complaints when they play something offbeat, like the Ditty Bops or Nellie McKay, and the complaints usually end up stating “that’s not ‘world class rock!’” (I wanted to punch the guy who complained about the Leo Kottke/Mike Gordon version of “Sweet Emotion”.)

Meanwhile, these folks are perfectly happy hearing the new Eagles tune multiple times a day, whereas, even if I liked it, once a day would be plenty – there’s other music to get to!

]]> By: InnocentBystander http://tbogg.firedoglake.com/2007/12/14/simple-pleasures/#comment-1354 InnocentBystander Fri, 14 Dec 2007 23:33:30 +0000 http://tbogg.firedoglake.com/2007/12/14/simple-pleasures/#comment-1354 <p>I, too, came of age in the late 60’s…and what a time it was! Perhaps it’s my own egocentrism, but it seemed like a really special era for music. I remember been blown away, almost weekly, with a new sound or band. Then, in the late 70’s something changed…music went on auto-pilot, more derivative, less and less uniquely new. While never a big Zep fan, I had lots of friends who were…so I grew to appreciate their big sound and marvel how creative 3 guys with instruments could be. Funny thing, my 19YO son who’s a big fan of UFC has suddenly become quite a Led Zep / Pink Floyd fan. Mainly because it’s featured in their product marketing. After years of open hostility to my music. Finally, we find some common ground in our musical tastes. I’m listening to a lot more Big Band Jazz these days….stuff my dad dug, which I, of course, couldn’t stand back then. And so it goes, around and around….</p> I, too, came of age in the late 60’s…and what a time it was! Perhaps it’s my own egocentrism, but it seemed like a really special era for music. I remember been blown away, almost weekly, with a new sound or band. Then, in the late 70’s something changed…music went on auto-pilot, more derivative, less and less uniquely new. While never a big Zep fan, I had lots of friends who were…so I grew to appreciate their big sound and marvel how creative 3 guys with instruments could be. Funny thing, my 19YO son who’s a big fan of UFC has suddenly become quite a Led Zep / Pink Floyd fan. Mainly because it’s featured in their product marketing. After years of open hostility to my music. Finally, we find some common ground in our musical tastes. I’m listening to a lot more Big Band Jazz these days….stuff my dad dug, which I, of course, couldn’t stand back then. And so it goes, around and around….

]]> By: humboldtblue http://tbogg.firedoglake.com/2007/12/14/simple-pleasures/#comment-1326 humboldtblue Fri, 14 Dec 2007 21:37:17 +0000 http://tbogg.firedoglake.com/2007/12/14/simple-pleasures/#comment-1326 <p><em>“but most Zep fans in the ’70s, the most vocal ones, were Beavis & Butthead.”</em></p> <p>During the 80’s, before they went all Lynyrd, they were fans of Van Halen (fuck I hate that band).</p> <p><em>“Humboldt, you’re a guy after my own heart (but my jazz guitarist husband got there first, and the cat, well she’s a reasonably good conversationalist…).”</em></p> <p>I was lucky. Mom was a classically trained soprano, so she gave me the greats (plus Roberta Flack, Ella and Sara Vaughn, among others). Dad was a sax player and vocalist and he gave me the Big Bands, while all of my siblings as well as me, played instruments from the moment we could walk. (Mom was tough with that goddamned metronome clicking back and forth and Mom smacking her hands together while we struggled through some piece or another).</p> <p>But it was jazz and blues that always made me wiggle. I envy no one more than an accomplished jazz guitarist or pianist.</p> “but most Zep fans in the ’70s, the most vocal ones, were Beavis & Butthead.”

During the 80’s, before they went all Lynyrd, they were fans of Van Halen (fuck I hate that band).

“Humboldt, you’re a guy after my own heart (but my jazz guitarist husband got there first, and the cat, well she’s a reasonably good conversationalist…).”

I was lucky. Mom was a classically trained soprano, so she gave me the greats (plus Roberta Flack, Ella and Sara Vaughn, among others). Dad was a sax player and vocalist and he gave me the Big Bands, while all of my siblings as well as me, played instruments from the moment we could walk. (Mom was tough with that goddamned metronome clicking back and forth and Mom smacking her hands together while we struggled through some piece or another).

But it was jazz and blues that always made me wiggle. I envy no one more than an accomplished jazz guitarist or pianist.

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