my heart going boom boom boom
Making fun of the 80's is so easy and so satisfying, why aren't you doing it right now?
The problem I see is that too many people dog the obvious targets. Take American Psycho, published in 1991. One of the worst books I've ever (almost) read. The movie was actually not bad, mostly because Christian Bale is such an excellent actor. In the movie, and probably in the book too (I'm not going to re-almost-read it to find out), they keep making jokes about Bateman's taste in music: he's going on and on about the genius of Huey Lewis and Phil Collins, etc. Sure, even by 1991, these acts had become novelties, we were all ready to disown them and shake our heads as if to say, "How could we have ever allowed X to become so popular?"
But that's kind of cheap. Artists like Collins and Lewis and Billy Ocean and Bryan Adams produced simple, unpretentious pop music, for people to nod their heads along to or sing along with in the car. Nothing more, nothing less. While each one is uniquely lame, getting mad about their popularity is like getting mad about the fact that people go see Vin Diesel movies. Save yourself the effort, nobody ever called Billy Ocean a genius or an innovator or anything. He was just singing songs about what he knew and cared about, like hot Caribbean babes and the going getting tough and the tough getting going and hey, if it's all the same to you, get out of my dreams and get into my car. Cool. Thanks. I appreciate it.
When we look back sneeringly on that tainted decade, we should focus instead on the artists who took themselves way too seriously and got us to take them too seriously as well.
First prize for the most overrated artist of the 1980's goes to...
Peter Gabriel! Peter Gabriel, you a sucker. Go back to the 80's and dress up in clown makeup and shoot all your fancy videos. This time we'll know better.
Who else qualifies?
Maybe Tracy Chapman?
Played ball outside today. It was fun as hell, even though I now have the same level of physical conditioning as Dom DeLuise. He also has a better low-post game, but he's lazy on the boards. I could take him. Overall, I was pleased. I threw up some bricks but I also had some good moments, and I didn't injure myself heading into softball. You might say that I messed around and had myself a triple double, but you'd be lying.
We're going to get a little Tony Robbins on you for today's Genius Challnge. By 11:59pm Monday evening, please list one specific action that you will perform this week to improve your life in at least some small way. That's five points. For another five, complete the action and confirm it with us at somepoint during the week. Honor system.
I hope it works. I wish you the best. OK, the second best after me.
The problem I see is that too many people dog the obvious targets. Take American Psycho, published in 1991. One of the worst books I've ever (almost) read. The movie was actually not bad, mostly because Christian Bale is such an excellent actor. In the movie, and probably in the book too (I'm not going to re-almost-read it to find out), they keep making jokes about Bateman's taste in music: he's going on and on about the genius of Huey Lewis and Phil Collins, etc. Sure, even by 1991, these acts had become novelties, we were all ready to disown them and shake our heads as if to say, "How could we have ever allowed X to become so popular?"
But that's kind of cheap. Artists like Collins and Lewis and Billy Ocean and Bryan Adams produced simple, unpretentious pop music, for people to nod their heads along to or sing along with in the car. Nothing more, nothing less. While each one is uniquely lame, getting mad about their popularity is like getting mad about the fact that people go see Vin Diesel movies. Save yourself the effort, nobody ever called Billy Ocean a genius or an innovator or anything. He was just singing songs about what he knew and cared about, like hot Caribbean babes and the going getting tough and the tough getting going and hey, if it's all the same to you, get out of my dreams and get into my car. Cool. Thanks. I appreciate it.
When we look back sneeringly on that tainted decade, we should focus instead on the artists who took themselves way too seriously and got us to take them too seriously as well.
First prize for the most overrated artist of the 1980's goes to...
Peter Gabriel! Peter Gabriel, you a sucker. Go back to the 80's and dress up in clown makeup and shoot all your fancy videos. This time we'll know better.
Who else qualifies?
Maybe Tracy Chapman?
Played ball outside today. It was fun as hell, even though I now have the same level of physical conditioning as Dom DeLuise. He also has a better low-post game, but he's lazy on the boards. I could take him. Overall, I was pleased. I threw up some bricks but I also had some good moments, and I didn't injure myself heading into softball. You might say that I messed around and had myself a triple double, but you'd be lying.
We're going to get a little Tony Robbins on you for today's Genius Challnge. By 11:59pm Monday evening, please list one specific action that you will perform this week to improve your life in at least some small way. That's five points. For another five, complete the action and confirm it with us at somepoint during the week. Honor system.
I hope it works. I wish you the best. OK, the second best after me.
posted by hans q. bungle at 01:24
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