"i did not become someone different that i did not want to be, but i'm new here. will you show me around?"

hearing music in public places can go either way.  sometimes it fits what your doing.  other times it doesn't.  one time, raw-b and i, were at ikea with some friends and had to make a stop at the inconveniently located restroom.  there were some strangers, but it was quiet and the only sound was the music playing.  we caught the tell end of coldplay - "the scientist", which had raw-b giggling, because it's a slow song with a sad feel in a public bathroom.  raw-b giggling is enough to make me start giggling.  and as i left giggling, seal - "crazy" started playing and a guy walks in whistling the chorus as i hear seal's voice singing, "but we're never going to survive unless we get a little crazy."  stuff like that is funny.  i'm never going to seek out seal - crazy, even though the lyrics are powerful and true, but it was perfect for that restroom. 

when i'm looking for used books at a thrift store, give me some sloop john b, or something like it.  give me something from the '60s, because most of those books were new then.  give me something with soul.  give me this.

while i was in new york, i worked right outside of madison square garden and across the street was nathan's, which is a famous restaurant down in coney island and most famous for its hot dogs.  i'd have lunch there mostly for the crinkle fries and partially for the music.  sometimes the music was lacking.  i remember one time john mayer's song, "say (what you need to say)" came on and i couldn't have disliked it more.  you know what that song feels like?  i imagine it's similar to the feeling of climbing to the middle of a corporate ladder doing a job that brings nothing but monetary satisfaction and the realization that you have given up on every dream you once had, but are now too old to even begin to think about making an attempt at them. your also single with no children (so no joy from raising a family), and you go home and listen to your old seal albums every night.  that's what that song feels like to me.  people say john mayer is a great musician.  maybe, but if great musicians make songs like that, no thanks.  am i right?  

luckily, primitive radio god's big hit, "standing outside a broken phone booth with money in my hand" played next.  it is one of the most re-listenable songs i've heard.  i loved it when i first heard it and love it still.

after finishing my meal, i got up to make my exit and tears for fears came on.  when you hear the intro to "everybody wants to rule the world" you have to stay.  you have to sit down and you have to listen.  and when they all start singing "there's a room where the light won't find you..." (2:05 on the video) you can tell they mean it and are almost saying "you have to stay for the whole song."  i picture a lot of people saying "alright, i'm just going to listen to this until i hear the chorus one more time and then i'm going to switch stations," but the unified TFF crew attacks with those passionately sung lines.  for whatever reason, hearing this song that time really got me.  before that, i never wanted to rule the world, but by the end they had me believing that i, along with everybody else, really did want to.  all of the songs i've heard by them bring a sound that is dark.  they hit you with the paranoia.  i'm mostly talking about this song, "shout," and "mad world."  there weren't enough mind-numbing distractions in the '80s.  what do you think about after your done catching some gnarly waves and speeding down a desert road in your convertible?  because that's all the '80s were (if i used emoticons, i would use the winking one here).  you think about everyone wanting power and the pain caused by war.  then you record a song about it.

you can imagine my surprise when i watched the video for the first time in years.  it packs most of my favorite things into one beautiful work.  let me share some of my favorite parts:

0:40 - little boy sheriff with the fast trigger.

2:02 - you get some action shots of the lead singer's ponytail.  before that, it's only hinted at.  you're right, it is similar to the ponytail that ted danson wears in "getting even with dad."  to be honest, i was a little upset, because the way the singer has his hair, he could just tuck that pony into his shirt.  if you're going to grow one, don't be ashamed.  let it run free (to be honest again, i'm not sure if that would be classified as a ponytail or rattail, but either way it should have been given much more camera time at the beginning of the video).      

2:33 - introduction of the two men in suits dancing at a gas station in the desert.

2:35 - BEST RAISED EYEBROWS IN A MUSIC VIDEO.  it made me think two things: "hey, this guy is fun.  he's just having a good time watching these two men dancing," or "hey, this guy wants to touch everyone without permission."

2:43 - young, three-wheelin', ice cream cone eatin' paul mccartney.

2:46 - not sure what's going on under those shades.

3:02 - BEST DANCE MOVE IN A MUSIC VIDEO.  this probably goes beyond music video territory.  best dance move ever?

3:14 - the guy loves the two men dancing so much, but looks up and over, slightly embarrassed about how much he loved it.

3:19 - iconic image (seen in every 80s cd compilation infomercial).  the guy on the right goes from really fun to angry vampire in a matter of seconds.
 

3:53 - best drummer. 

thanks for everything, tears for fears.

(dirty pop will be updated soon.  stay tuned.)