Mr. Lonesome:
So, it turns out
Mr Mean is on yet another vacation. Sometimes I wonder if he even works at an
actual company, and if his email address is a cleverly made-up domain. But why
should we let him spoil the fun!
Today’s topic is
vacation-themed.
Recently, you
were lamenting your love for the song “Rag Doll” from Aerosmith’s Permanent
Vacation album. Personally, “Angel” kicks me in the nostalgic bone. I’m not
really an Aerosmith fan beyond a handful of songs. But Permanent Vacation was a
renaissance for them. And it’s very interesting to note that on that record,
they employed outside songwriters for the first time. What is it about
Permanent Vacation that strikes you?
Additionally, we
both share a very great love for Belinda Carlisle/The Go Go’s. “Vacation” is
one of my earliest memories from the MTV era. Why do you think they struck a
chord with you? For me, I know it’s all Belinda all the time.
Mr. On'ry:
Good questions man. Here’s
a quick story about that Aerosmith record. It’s literally the only
Aerosmith album I own (on cassette!). I like their 70’s output but not
enough to run out and own it. I always thought there were bands from that
era who rocked harder and better (although Mama Kin is a killer tune).
When I was in 7th grade a kid in the local high school was killed in
a car accident. (His nickname btw was “Chipper”, true story). The
day they announced over the loudspeakers that he passed (our school was 7-12
back then…brutal) they played “Angel” in its entirety. Girls were crying,
emotions were running high. But out of that I realized that the song
itself wasn’t too bad (don’t judge, I was only 13 and didn’t know this dude
from Adam). Within the same week I saw the Rag Doll video for the first
time. That weekend I bought the cassette. So that album holds a
weird sort of nostalgia for me of a lost time and losing people.
The Go-Go’s. I wasn’t old
enough to truly appreciate them at the very height of their popularity (i.e. I
wasn’t old enough to buy my own music.) My love for the Go-Go’s has grown
over time; aged like fine wine if you will. For me it’s more about the
songs themselves than any one member. I think they just write really catchy,
fun pop-punk songs.
And I hate to break this to you
but I don’t worship Belinda Carlisle as much as you do. She’s not even my
favorite Go-Go and I own ZERO solo records by here. I’m sorry. I
know that hurts you.
Mr. Lonesome:
See,
I like “Dream On” a lot. I think it’s one of those classic songs that will
always endure. “Walk This Way” and “Sweet Emotion” are good, but like you, I
don’t think any of their work warranted me buying an album. I don’t own any.
However, I will say that Permanent Vacation, and those three singles, were
pretty popular to me when they came out. “Angle” is a fantastic rock ballad,
which as you know, is right up my alley. The other two were fun songs, though
“Dude Looks Like a Lady” is pretty dumb lyrically. Oh, and then two years
later, when “Janie’s Got A Gun” came out, I was all over it. To me, it has the
distinction of being one of the best songs to ever have an awful guitar solo.
Just awful.
I
was the same as you during that time period with the Go-Go’s. Fortunately MTV
was like a jukebox, and I could see them virtually anytime I wanted. They wrote
some wonderful tunes, catchy indeed. And the attitude. Love Love. Though I am
curious with your obsession with the song “You Can't Walk In Your Sleep (If You
Can't Sleep)” – I notice it was on a Ladies of the Night comp, plus you
included it on the iPod project you did.
And
I am way cool with you not loving Belinda like I do. That means less
competition for when we eventually interview her for our blog! Also – Jane
Weidlin will always be the “coolest” Go-Go, if for no other reason than her
inclusion in the film “Clue.”
 |
| They were an ugly band even in the 70's |
Mr. On'ry:
I used to make fun of Dream On
in college. For some reason it would always seem to come one when we were
in the cafeteria and I would rock the high notes as loud as possible…and I
wondered why I didn’t have more friends. Ha! (Actually, no I
didn’t.) See, I hated “Janie’s Got A Gun”. I still do. Can’t
stand it for some reason even though it told a poignant story. I only
liked one song on that Pump album and it’s “What It Takes”. Love, love,
love that song. Might even be my favorite Aerosmith song of all
time. But man, “Love In An Elevator”, “The Other Side” (or whatever it
was called)…there were some really terrible songs on that album. Like
really terrible.
I’m not going to lie though all
those videos they had with Alicia Silverstone in them were top notch viewing…oh
wait…there was a song playing while I was watching those? Sorry, I must
have blocked them out.
I included that Go-Go’s song on
the Ladies of the Night II comp because I was trying to avoid just slapping one
of their singles on there and I felt that was the song that fit best sonically
for that comp. It’s on the iPod project because I included all the songs
from both Ladies of the Night comps. Those comps were the impetus of the
project. Really more of a coincidence than something done purposefully.
Jane was always, and still is,
my favorite Go-Go…and holy crap I forgot she was in the movie Clue. Guess
what’s going to the top of my Netflix queue!
Mr. Lonesome:
I
think I like “Dream On” so much because it totally has its Zep moments on the
guitar. And truth be told, it doesn’t really sound like Steven Tyler singing
it. But it has just the right amount of epic bombast for me. And yes: those
other songs off Pump are awful. They only got released as singles because
Aerosmith became very popular. Otherwise, wow. Not single material. OH! And –
And – “Livin’ on the Edge” completely stole a Pink Floyd riff. The main one in
the song can be heard first on Ummagumma, on the live version of “Careful With
the Axe, Eugene” – Gilmour plays it for maybe a couple bars, not very long,
right after Roger comes in with the scream and the song gets intense(r).
SNL
did this really great spoof of those Aerosmith songs. I think it was for an Aerosmith
comp. The premise was one of those “Greatest Hits” commercials, “buy now!” kind
of things. And it listed all the songs on it: Amazing, Crying, Crazy, Amazing
Crazy, Crying Amazing, Amazing Crazy Crying, etc. It was genius. Though I wont
lie, I did watch the videos on mute from time to time.
Fair
enough on that Go-Go’s song. I was just curious if you had a particular
fondness for it over some others.
Dude,
“Clue” was pretty good. A board game movie done the right way. Awesome cast,
clever multiple ending story. Well done.
Also
– on the theme of Vacation, I thought I’d mention “Holiday Road” just so it’s
now stuck in the head of everyone reading this.
BAM!
Mr. On'ry:
O.k., let me amend. I
don’t hate “Dream On”…I just like to karaoke the crap out of it in the worst
possible way. Also that SNL skit sounds like pure genius because every
single one of those songs was interchangeable poop.
Lastly, damn you for the
“Holiday Road” reference. Damn you right to hell.
I also feel like we didn’t argue
enough. Where’s Mr. Mean to come in and drop the C-U-Next-Tuesday word
and berate us for being “daft”?
Mr. Lonesome:
Sorry
– I love me some Lindsey Buckingham (also involved in a running sketch on SNL),
but “Holiday Road” is like that girl next door that you think is beautiful
until you spend some time with her, and she turns out to be annoying enough to
get into your bones in the worst possible way. Do you know why? Because Jack be
nimble, Jack be quick. Whoa-oa-oa-oa-whoaaaaaa. That’s why!
And
I think this is what adult conversation is supposed to be like: polite,
constructive, informative.
God, I miss him too.
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