Alive and Well and Living in Absentia

The Dharma Bum: Part Deux

Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Sweet Jesus!
It's finally here!

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Childhood mysteries that need to be solved.

Do any of you out there know what the "S" on Jughead's sweater stands for? (From the Archie comics.) I've always wondered. Post a comment if you have an idea!

Friday, May 12, 2006

Something to do before embarking on my previous posting.

The Clash is up there as one of my all time favorite bands. I wasn't even born when they were making it big, but I discovered them in high school and just fell in love with their music. And their message. When Joe Strummer died, I was just devastated - he was only 50, just think of the great things he could have continued contributing to the world. But the way I see it, he had everything figured out. And I guess that's when you know it's time to go.

Anyway... I stumbled upon this clip on MSN. I can't wait for the dvd to come out in July. I'm sorry I don't actually know how to post it directly to my blog, but it's pretty wicked to watch. Let's rock again!

I've never been very good at Top 5 Lists

In response to Kelsey's Friday Five, I decided to post my answers here instead of taking up space in the comments field. So without further ado, here are my top 18 song lyrics. (In no particular order - for the most part.)

  • Long distance callers / make long distance calls / and the silence makes me lonely. / And it's not here. / It disappears. - "Lost in the Supermarket" by the Clash"

This is probably one of my favorite song lyrcis of all time. I've always liked this song because when I was younger - like 3 or 4 - I actually got lost in a supermarket. My dad is convinced that this was the beginning of my undoing. I'm starting to agree with his theory. I must have suppressed this damaging memory somewhere along the line - I don't remember the incident at all.

  • But I can't help the feeling. / I could blow through the ceiling. / If I could just turn and run. / And it wears me out. / If I could be who you wanted all the time... - "Fake Plastic Trees" by Radiohead

You'd kill yourself for recognition / kill yourself to never ever stop. - "High and Dry" by Radiohead

Second place is a tie because of course I'd have to have Radiohead somewhere on this list and these are my two favorite songs of all time. Sadly, they did not play either at their concert in Vancouver a few years ago.

  • There's a real cool club on the other side of town. / Where the real cool kids go to hang out. / And talk bad about the other kids. / It's a real cool club / and you're not a part of it. - "Cool Kids" by Screeching Weasel

I used to LOVE this song!!! (Still do actually.) I listened to it religiously in high school. It reminded me of Luther.

  • When you feel your life ain't worth living / you've got to stand up and take a look around / and then look up way to the sky. / And when your deepest thoughts are broken / keep on dreamin' boy / 'cause when you stop dreamin' it's time to die. - "Change" by Blind Melon

Another big high school era song for me.

  • Waiting for a sign / to smash the silence / with the brick of self control. - "She" by Green Day

Although Green Day are getting accolades for their newest album, nothing compares to "Dookie", the album that made them big. I've always felt that if anyone in an office building or a library were to start screaming out of no where, it would most likely be me.

  • Jane says / I've never been in love / I don't know what it is / she only knows if someone wants her. - "Jane Says" by Jane's Addiction

Another high school song. When I was 16 a friend said that "Jane" reminded her of me. At the time I thought this was a compliment. I now realize that it was not. I still love the song though. If only to prove her wrong.

  • You think everyone's talking about you / and conspiring to bring you down. / You think that nobody loves you / ever wonder why I'm still around? - "One for the Braves" by Good Riddance

It's hard to admit, but this is me in a nutshell. I have one hell of a defence mechanism built in somewhere.

  • I've got soul / but I'm not a soldier. - "All These Things That I Have Done" by the Killers

I realize this song is everywhere right now, but when I heard this line months before it was released as a single, I was hooked. It's a great personal catch phrase.

  • And isn't it ironic sometimes / the things we take for granted are what we wanted / before we knew why? / And isn't it the reason we try / to make the excuse that it won't go the right way / before it's gone wrong? "Can't Change the World" by Face to Face

But pride is a worthy adversary / in the struggle for yourself. - "Think for Yourself" by Face to Face

Alright, so Face to Face get 2 lyrics too. But they were the first punk band I had ever seen live. I was hooked. They took me through the most formative years of my life.

  • If you're after getting the honey / then you don't go killing all the bees. - "Johnny Appleseed" by Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros

Joe Strummer knew what was going on. If I could meet any person alive or dead, it would most likely be him. Anyways, if I ever meet George W. Bush, this would be the first thing out of my mouth.

  • And I only got one weapon / it's so plain for me to see / my only weapon / I call poetry. - "Arrested in Shanghai" by Rancid

The message behind this song is pretty powerful - and more important these days than ever before. It's about protecting your right to stand up for what you believe in, and to not be afraid to speak out. I believe the people of the world are ready to listen again.

  • When you come back from your escape / then I could follow you to hell. - "Committed" by Pete Yorn

I would have no qualms about following Pete Yorn to Hell. He sure is pretty.

  • There is no righteousness in your darkest moment / we're all equal in the face of what we're most afraid of. - "Sympathy" by Sleater Kinney

This song particularly stands out because of my "religious" schooling. Explaining that the concept of Heaven is a farce just didn't seem to go over well back then. "Combat Rock" by Sleater Kinney is another phenomenal song, I just couldn't narrow it down to one line though.

  • It's the year to be hated / so glad that we made it / cuz all the kids in the street / whisper sounds that sweep / the stars under their feet / well it's the year to be hated. - "Our Time" by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs

I can't say why I like these words exactly. I just do. Yeah Yeah Yeahs get a bonus entry (because they put out my favorite cd of 2006 thus far): Can't say why I kept this from you / my those quiet eyes become you / leave it where it can't remind us / turn this all around behind us" - "Turn Into" by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Again, can't explain the attraction to the words. Maybe just because it's been a tough year and I'm ready for a turn around.

  • Autumn's sweet / we call it fall / I'll make it to the moon / if I have to crawl. - "Scar Tissue" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers

If I had any money at all I would be spending it on RHCP tickets when they go on sale tomorrow. God knows the show will sell out in minutes. So I guess the closest I'll come to seeing them is sharing a flight with their drummer from San Diego to Seattle 5 years ago. C'est la vie. Anyway, I like the lyric because I like to think they're about me. In my mind I like to change the "we call it fall" to "we call her fall". Anyone who knows me well knows that I'm moon obsessed. My first tattoo was of the moon.

  • So don't ask me to wine and dine ya / I'm from Brooklyn / You're from Regina. - "Hey Fuck You" by the Beastie Boys.

Yes, this is a real lyric. And it just slays me every time I hear it! The thing you've gotta realize is that even though it's obviously derogatory towards Regina and the people living there, Reginans LOVE to hear themselves mentioned. Anywhere. In fact, I remember Saskatchewan was mentioned once on "Full House" and they did a story about it on the evening news. Sad. I'm assuming that the only reason that the Beastie Boys even know about Regina is because Mike D's wife directed a film shot there.

So there you go Kelsey. I hope that is a sufficient (although ultimately boring) answer to today's Friday Five. It did turn out to be an effective time waster on my part. Pat on the back!