More Musical Fun
Funny how you'll buy things you normally wouldn't as long as it's not really your own money being spent. (This is such a basic human impulse that I'm surprised anyone would be surprised by bloated government spending).
I recently got a $10 iTunes gift certificate as well as an iTunes Music Store card good for 10 songs. As the result, I purchased the William Shatner spoken word collection entitled Has Been.
I never thought I would say this about a Shat album, but, well, GET THIS ALBUM. It is produced by one of my favorite contemporary musicians, pianist Ben Folds, and features such noted guests as Joe Jackson and Aimee Mann.
In particular, check out the song "Common People." It starts off with a great retro new-wave riff straight out of the late 70s/early 80s (high bass guitar, Vox/Farfisa organ bleeping), and Shatner sets the stage with an atypically restrained reading of these lyrics:
She came from Greece,
She had a thirst for knowledge.
She studied sculpture at St. Martin's college.
That's where I
caught her eye.
She told me that her dad was loaded.
I said,
"In that case I'll have a rum and Coca Cola."
She said, "Fine."
And in 30 seconds' time she said:
"I want to live like common people.
I want to do whatever Common People do.
I want to sleep with Common People --
I want to sleep with Common People like you."
Well, what else could I do?
I said,
"I'll see what I can do."
And it just gets better from there, with a strong punk/new wave vibe, a children's choir, Joe Jackson singing, and Shatner emoting as only he can.
Check it out. You won't regret it.
Update: I should note that "Common People" was originally written and recorded in 1995 by the UK band, Pulp, on their Different Class album.
Common People is the reason I bought the album, but "Ideal Woman" and "Has Been" are great too. The songs in the middle are relentlessly depressing, though.
Posted by: BWS at October 27, 2005 04:51 PM