I’m sitting here in my big orange sweatpants, crunching on ice cubes and humming the tune from the Humera commercial. “I will be here, I will be strong” la da dee da “when the night is long” hmmm hmm hmmm “I’m not there yet…BUT I WILL BE!!!!”
The truly sad thing is that the Humera jingle is catchier than anything I’ve heard on the radio for the past year. Except maybe that “Riding dirty” song they always play in the gym. I don’t even know what riding dirty means but I do know that the throaty vocalist and I don’t want to get caught doing it.
They say Robby’s new song with Matchbox is good too, but I haven’t heard it yet.
I put the heat on because I’m cold even though it’s 70 degrees outside. I’m feeling the crisp fall chill in the air making the tip of my nose incurably frozen. The leaves are starting to change up in Sparta where I grew up. I’m thinking about going to visit Mom soon to drink warm cider and look at the foliage. You learn to appreciate these things. In the city, the only thing that changes color outside your window is the air.
There used to be this cool corn field in Newton that they’d mow into a maze every year around this time. As it got closer to Halloween we’d go after dark and run through it with our flashlights. We’d scare ourselves half to death.
All you could hear were the distant screams of other terrified locals trying to find their way out, and the slapping of D batteries knocking back and forth in our old flashlights. God, I loved that. The maze won’t be there this year though. The farmer sold the land to developers. My little Norman Rockwell hometown is inevitably giving way to urban sprawl. Pretty soon going to visit my Mom won’t be much different than going to Brooklyn for the weekend. Although I do hear Brooklyn is beautiful this time of year.
“Call 1-800 STEAMER…Stanley Steamer gets carpets Cleaner!” laaa deee daaah deee dummmm….
That’s another good one. It’s way better than the song Mandy Moore performed on The View this morning. I am sorry. Especially because I’m a songwriter and have no place to judge. I know how harsh people can be…but can I please for a moment be a consumer…a fan? Someone who listens to music…buys albums?? Purely from a fans perspective…
How is it possible that she has a record deal and a spot on The View?
And of the 20 million people that saw her today, how many can sing me ONE LINE of that song? Maybe the guy who wrote the Stanley Steamer commercial should write Mandy a catchy little tune. Then maybe you’d have something…
So…ok, hang on…
Why is it that I can sing you every word of the Humera jingle but not one note of the Mandy More single?
Why can’t I go to the corn maze this year with my clunky flashlight instead of watching some developer rip up the ground to build another 500 Mc Mansions that no one will buy?
And what the HELL does riding dirty mean??
{ 5 comments }
I think the Mandy Moore song was “Nothing That You Are” from her superb “Wild Hope” album. Yea, it’s lyrically complex folkrock tunes for cafe/bars and intimate concert venues mainly and emotional times, but it’s some really good shit on there if you listen to the whole thing. I love those other tunes you mentioned, too. Oscar Meyer Weeners had a good one back in the day. “Oh, I wish I were an Oscar Meyer weener…”, and Coke with “I’d like to buy the world a Coke..”, or something like that. Peace. Buy a Coke. Eat a weener. Listen to more good music. Love.
Random thoughts:
1)Fall. My favorite time of the year. Time to make a trip to my favorite orchard for some cider and, especially those cider donuts. Damn they’re good.
2)I wouldn’t know a Mandy Moore song if I fell over it. Then again I don’t own a TV and rarely listen to the radio these days. But I do wonder if Ms. Moore writes her own songs? Or is she merely another compliant pretty young lady who sings songs given to her by folks like the Matrix group. I was wondering the same thing about Beyonce too? If so, save your money girls…because you’re disposable. We see how well Clive Davis took to the notion of Ms. Clarkson(?) exercising a little control over her own career.
3)Now here’s the real question that’s bothering me: Britney. Forget any questions about talent, parenting skills and common sense (or the lack thereof). I saw some some photos from the VMAs and all I want to know is DOES SHE LOOK FAT BY ANY NORMAL STANDARD??? WTF? What the hell are they talking about — that she looks fat? Do I need to get my eyes checked?
Oh my….you are so funny with “riding dirty”. I love it. My nephew heard that song and he kept singing “try to kiss me riding dirty” He is only four:) I finally told my brother about it, and after laughing he got his mind on something else. We had a great laugh! I think we should put lesson to music. I have my students put Social Studies lessons to music….they remember is much better. It is amazing how that happens. Not to mention…it makes it a little more exciting. I hear you on the changes to small towns. I grew up in Nebraska and when I go home it blows my mind how much things have changed. Sorry to hear about the maze. I love Sparta..great little town. I don’t live too far from there!
If you like Chamillionaire’s “Riding Dirty” then you should definitely check out Weird Al’s parody of it entitled “White and Nerdy.” You’ve got to respect a guy who can stick around in what can be a shitty industry for over 20 years (and believe it or not, Al’s had his share of record label problems as well and then there was the battle over the rights to using clips from his movie during his concerts).
I find that I pick up very little new music these days. I pick up the new stuff from artists that I already like, but none of them are soaring up the billboard charts. I look forward to new releases from artists like Chris Trapper, Antigone Rising (of course), Hootie and the Blowfish, Sister Hazel, Edwin McCain, Vertical Horizon (if it ever happens), Barenaked Ladies, Weird Al, etc. The only “mainstream” CD that I’ve been listening to lately is P!nk’s latest. That’s an amazing CD.
Other than that I spin my old Blind Melon, Spin Doctors, Push Stars, Toad the Wet Sprocket, etc. and am plenty happy with that.
Speaking of catchy jingles and songwriters. Justin Timberlake wrote the “I’m Lovin’ It” song for McDonald’s. I guess that explains why his song as so catchy.
“I cock back for conversation…”
Very nice turn of a phrase in the latest poem. I’m assuming that like cocking a gun…hostile and such. Or perhaps I’m reading too much into things.
Maybe you should just incorporate your poetry into your blog…so folks could comment. Tag it poetry so folks could search for all poetry if so inclined.
Or maybe not.
Regardless, keep the writing coming.
Got any micro-fiction? I ponder trying my hand at that…but I’m too lazy. I like the idea of reading it better than writing it. I can do technical writing, but that’s not exactly scintillating, now is it?
Rock on, girl.
Comments on this entry are closed.