Sep 192007
Help me! My potato skins are almost here!
I picked up the new Okkervil River on eMusic last week. I’ve got mixed feelings about it, apparently as I feel ashamed for some reason to find myself enjoying it. But that’s my issue. This song, “Plus Ones”, has a premise I thought some of you might enjoy.
It uses song titles with numbers in them to emphasize a sense of “then what.”
Opening lyric: “No one wants to hear about your 97th tear, so dry your eyes or let it go uncried, my dear”
Loser Rock perhaps, but that’s not the point. The point is that there are a bunch of these number-song references and some of them escape me.
Take a listen and see if you can help sammy escape from the maze before your meal arrives.
Hint:
I’ve been meaning to listen to this – thanks for posting Sammy. Two gal friends of mine are the ones who took over their fan site, which is pretty comprehensive for fans of Okkervil:
http://www.downtheoubliette.com
Are you asking for references within this song you’ve posted? I did notice at least one other. Let me check… I’m assuming, then, that “99 Luftballoons” is referenced as well.
Yes. There’s lots. Thanks for playing along and not leavin’ me hangin’. I take back all bad shit I’ve said about you lately.
Ok, that “99 Luftballoon” song is in there.
“8 Miles High”
“TVC15” (that’s the first one I heard)
“50 Ways to Leave Your Lover”
“What’s New Pussycat” is in there, but there’s no number involved…
Did I miss a verse about someone’s “20th nervous breakdown” or a “22nd century man”?
Take down the mirror site, that’s all I ask.
Is it just you me in here? Hellloooo. We need at least one more in order to call it a “circle jerk” otherwise its just you and me…. Crap.
There’s also a reference to REM’s “7 Chinese Brothers” in there as well, though their lyric is “8 chinese brothers”.
OK
Eight Chinese Brothers refers to Seven Chinese Brothers by REM
Cell 45 is probably a reference to the Zombies Care of Cell 44
Fourth time a lady, cites that Three Times A LAdy dreck by Lionel Richie, I believe.
Candle 17, from Sixteen Candles of course.
Berylant nips me at the post.
There we go! Last one eats the cracker.
That’s all of them according to – http://blogsarefordogs.com/?p=482
That video is what will happen to music one day when everyone just posts their music on the Internets. I needed the remaining 3:15 of my life to do anything else.
I wish I’d have gotten here sooner, I might have gotten one or two of the references. So far, I like the new album, but it’s like Black Sheep Boy to me, I have to pay attention and when I do, I think it’s really interesting, but when I have something else to do I don’t seem to listen or get that something else done. I just have to pay attention to Okkervill River. It’s worth it, but I can only pay attention so long.