Music Tuesdays - Blue Orchid by White Stripes
Since apparently the White Stripes broke up last week, I dusted off one of my random favorite White Stripes songs. Also in contention for a randomly good single is Icky Thump, but honestly the video creeped me out a little too much.
Were you a fan or not a fan of the White Stripes?
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Aaron I am particularly curious about your take on the White Stripes. Too minimalist and alternative to be a satisfying rock band? The right mix of guitar riffs and energy? Where do you stand on them?
ReplyDeleteI like the White Stripes. They always have the energy I'm looking for. And while I like the guitar riffs...I LOVE their bass line, both the electric bass and the bass drum. Especially in Seven Nation Army. When ever I hear this song on the radio, I start pounding my steering wheel along with the bass drum. And the video is pretty cool. I almost feel that this goes back to our discussion about liking the music more than the lyrics.
ReplyDeleteBut you know what's kind of strange? I don't have any White Stripes song on my iPod. I guess I always like them when they're on the radio, but not enough to choose to listen to them...if that makes any sense? Maybe that's the minimalist/alternative side you're thinking of?
This is the first I've ever really listened to a White Stripes song, and for some reason I'm not as turned off by it as much as I'd have originally thought. I think it is the minimalist aspect of the group that appeals to me. I typically find rock groups annoying - I can't differentiate the components of the music, and it all turns into mush for me.
ReplyDeleteHowever, with the White Stripes, you hear the distinct instruments/components, and can't help but enjoy the group's soloing each instrument - even if they over-do it to some extent.
Does this mean I like rock?
Blue Orchid: 3/5 Happy Faces
Icky Thump: 4.5/5 Happy Faces
Seven Nation Army: 4/5 Happy Faces
PS - the White Stripes don't smile often...
You've NEVER heard Seven Nation Army?!?! It's on the radio all the time. I don't own it in any capacity, yet I've heard it enough to learn the lyrics.
ReplyDeleteAnd are you sure you like Royce's selection .5 Happy Faces more than mine?
Yes, I did. But, if you average his 2 selections, he's at a 3.75. So, you win!
ReplyDeleteI've heard Seven Nation Army on the radio before (never know the title), but I've never really paid attention to it before. It was just on...
Clearly, Ball and a Biscuit is the best WS song ever and I'll put it up against Blue Orchid (2-5 for me), Icky Thump (4.5-5), and 7 Nation Army (4-5). It's got that old-school, ass-kicking, hillbilly vibe that I always enjoyed from Jack and Meg.
ReplyDeleteI got seriously addicted to them the year I lived in Paris. I was commuting for a bit from my cousin's place in the northern suburbs, and Elephant was the perfect soundtrack for that particular commute and being on the train a lot. I'm sad to see them go, but I can't honestly say I've kept up with Jack's side projects enough to say it will be worth it that he can devote more time to them.
One more thing about Ball and a Biscuit: the instrumental version alone (especially the opening guitar) would sell me, but lyrics like, "It's quite possible that I'm your third man, girl, but it's a fact that I'm the seventh son" hit me in all the right places.
And anyone who's ever watched a German National Team soccer match has heard Seven Nation Army. Look it up.
Wait, so this is your second non-consecutive year living in Paris? Does that make you the Grover Cleveland of Americans residing in Paris?
ReplyDeleteheh heh - this made me chuckle
ReplyDeleteThat's PRESIDENT Cleveland to you. And, yes, it is. Study abroad third year at UCLA and now this move. I'm constitutionally mandated to stay longer than a year this time, otherwise Adlai Stevenson gets my apartment.
ReplyDeleteWow...droppin' some 19th century US History on us.
ReplyDeleteI had to look it up. But, I'm still amazed that Adlai was both a VP in the late 19th century and Kennedy's ambassador to the UN well into the 20th century. He's like the Charles Woodson (circa Michigan) of US politicians.
ReplyDeleteHe was ambassador to UN SIXTY years after he was VP? I mean, if he was 30 when he was VP (which is super young), then he would have been 90 in the 60's. Hold on, I'm going to check Wikipedia for some specifics.
ReplyDeleteThis might be my favorite exchange in FIWK comments history. Adlai Stevenson is so bummed about not getting that apartment.
ReplyDeleteI think he's like the Phil Jackson of US politicians. Just floating around, ready to step in whenever the best possible political opening becomes available.
BAD MP!! BAD!
ReplyDeleteThere are mutliple Adlai Stevenson's. The UN ambassador was the grandson of the Grover Cleveland Vice President.
These comments are all over the place. You guys rock.
ReplyDeleteI'd lick to point out the recent cluster of activity on FIWK was mainly due to Aaron threatening he'd quit the blog along with Scott threatening to remove MP's quote from "Best of FIWK". And who said threats didn't work?
Man I feel like we just reached the denouement of a teen slasher film - there are multiple Adlai Stevensons! That's how they pulled off the dorm murders and still had an alibi all night! *dramatic music*
ReplyDeleteHow would you even pluralize the name Adlai, when there are multiple Adlai's? It already sounds pluralized, like when Zuckerberg coined the term Winkelvi in the Social Network.
I am going to go reverse pluralized and call them the Adlumnus. No? I fail.
In that case, there are four Adlumnuses. Think of the hijinks they could pull off?
ReplyDeleteOk, say the youngest Adlai according to Wiki is the IVth, but he's 54. Do you think he has a son, Adlai the Vth, who just isn't well known enough to have a Wiki page?
Just read his Wiki page and apparently there is a Vth, but he's only 16. There was an interview where the IVth says he was reluctant to continue the naming, but was convinced by his wife and father.
Clearly, they are the only strain of Adluses (trying that one on for size, like the opposite of cactus/cacti) because - with our combined knowledge and Wikipedia-searching skills - can we find another Adlai in history?
ReplyDeleteMy bad for being horrible at age-related math, but it sure did send us down a water slide of Adlai-based awesome, so I have no regrets.
I was in the car for about a total of twenty minutes in the last two days and I heard Seven Nation Army on the radio three times.
ReplyDeleteFuturama featured an Adlai. He was a perfectly average individual who grew up in an Orphanarium, became a plastic surgeon, gave Leela a second eye and dated her for a short period.
Adlai Atkins
ReplyDeleteThere's an Adlai Wertman, but I refuse to discuss him on principle.
I heard Seven Nation Army again on the radio this morning. That's four times in three days. I'm thinking I will keep this up as long as I keep hearing it on consecutive days.
ReplyDeleteOk, one more thing (you know that's a lie) about the White Stripes...does anyone have any idea how they perform live? Listening to their songs I always get the impression that they have to play multiple instruments at the same time, which works just fine when recording in a studio. But if they are live on stage, how do they play a guitar, bass and drums all at the same time? Do they just omit part of the sound, bring on a random third or fourth musician? Or play the missing part over the speakers and just do their parts live?
ReplyDeleteIt took me a few month's, but I finally came back to the last comment not being the last comment and fulfilling the prophecy that it was in fact a lie...(yeah, try to follow that...[and think in your head fulfilling prophecy and try not to type phulphilling prophecy])
ReplyDeleteI just noticed Scott referred to himself in the third person and was never chastised for his transgression. Although it is possible that Scott's threat was effective the third person language at the very least needed to be countered or acknowledged. And I don't think Aaron actually threatened to quit the blog. He was just concerned that the slowing activity may be a sign of slowing enthusiasm.
And we need to create a phrase that means "referring to oneself in the third person". We can even put it on urban dictionary.
ReplyDeleteIt could be something as simple as 'third-personed' or 'thirded', as in "Scott thirded all over FIWK"
What's wrong with the third person?
ReplyDeleteAnd that was a very random (and well hidden!) link to "logical punctuation". "Any specific reason?"
ReplyDeleteBecause I didn't want an English major getting mad at me for leaving the punctuation outside the quotation marks.
ReplyDelete"Scott referred to himself in the third person." is too long, even though it is the correct way of explaining how Aaron can be talking about himself.
"Scott thirded." is both more concise and funnier (in a juvenile way).
Interestingly, in your two latest uses of quotation marks, you adhered to the American method of enclosing the period in said marks. Despite your ninja link to logical punctuation. Any specific reason?
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to think of a song where there's a bass and a guitar, and I guess Seven Nation Army is the best example. Maybe they just do (or did) the two-instrument songs live and nothing else.
ReplyDeleteAnd I guess I'm the only one who missed the ninja link, though I still commend you, Aaron, on expert punctuation usage.
And I categorically refuse to say something as foul-sounding as "Scott thirded all over FIWK." (period inside the quotes, which, to be honest, feels very wrong to me)
Wait - why didn't Adlai I name his son Adlai II? Why'd they skip a generation?
ReplyDeletePS - there's a Borden in the Stevenson family!