(no subject)

[spatch]

I having been trying so very hard not to get all amazed and gawk-like when I find that someone hasn't seen or heard of what, to me and an enlarged social circle, at least, is a popular or well-known phenomenon ("YOU'VE NEVER SEEN STAR WARS?!") I mean, I never reacted in all caps with italics, but I did respond with wide eyes and stuff.

Today however I heard someone in the office talking about Joe Jackson tickets to another person on the phones. Turns out he'll be playing the Somerville Theatre in April and by gum I'll go as soon as I have enough money to mortgage for a balcony seat.

"Holy cats!" I said. "Joe Jackson's playing at the Somerville? Awesome!"

Two people immediately went "Who's Joe Jackson?" Now these weren't your average just-graduated-from-college types, but people actually older than I. I couldn't help it. I had to boggle.

But once I explained he was the guy who sang Steppin' Out and Is She Really Going Out With Him (not to mention he's The Man who gave you the hula hoop) they both went "Ohhhh! Okay!"

But for one brief, not-so-shining moment... confusion reigned supreme.

Comments

[ron_newman]

My reaction is different -- "Joe Jackson still performs?"

[spatch]

We can only wish, hope, and pray.

That would probably be the BEST CONCERT I'D EVER SEE.

[del-the-psycho.livejournal.com]

I seem to render cheezdanish into that state regularly, as I can't remember celebrity names of nearly any variety or venue for the life of me. I just don't. That sort of thing isn't outstanding to me and my memory doesn't retain much of anything anyways, so.

With that said, I have no clue who you're talking about either. Hurf durf. :B

[sernin.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't know the name (and just now checking online to hear those two songs, the music) if Megan hadn't posted about him for the last 10+ years.

[sdn.livejournal.com]

can i steal your icon?

[sernin.livejournal.com]

sure, especially since I can't remember where I snagged it

[quodlibetic.livejournal.com]

Muahaha. I am a bit of a broken record, eh? :)

[hahathor.livejournal.com]

Ooh! Joe Jackson! I wanna go I wanna go!

If I buy two tix, wanna go with (yeah, you'll have to pay me for them, but I trust you to do so).

Of course now I'm all earwormed with Sunday Papers - but that's totally not a bad thing!

I'm also surprised none of your colleagues made Black Sox comments.

This is sure to get you good and miffed...

[fancycwabs.livejournal.com]

Shoeless Joe left baseball and because a famous pop star
And he asked the musical question is she really going out with him
He had a couple albums and a comeback in the 80’s
But he never won a Grammy and he never was the same
And he never could be satisfied with critical acclaim
Cause the critics all confused him with the great Elvis Costello
Yes the critics all confused him with the great Elvis Costello

It would be awesome, although I'd probably go get everyone drinks during "Steppin' Out."

Re: This is sure to get you good and miffed...

[cursethedark.livejournal.com]

Fifty points.

Look Sharp!

[k-sui.livejournal.com]

Had a similar cultural disconnect experience with someone who thought La Dolce Vita was somehow related to Livin' La Vida Loca. There was nearly violence.

Re: Look Sharp!

[sdn.livejournal.com]

::snorts with laughter::

[ron_newman]

Now that I've Googled his recent activities a bit ... does he plan to smoke a cigarette on stage?

[grendelyn.livejournal.com]

(I've never seen Starwars.)

[spwebdesign.livejournal.com]

Neither have I. But Star Wars, on the other hand, is the greatest movie of all time.

[grendelyn.livejournal.com]

I PLEAD IGNORANCE!

I demand lots of friends come over and ply me with popcorn and Star Wars all night long!

(Wow, that sounded erm, different than expected.)

[spwebdesign.livejournal.com]

I would, but I'm in London and don't own a copy of Star Wars. There lies another problem: You cannot acquire a copy of the original Star Wars anymore and probably won't until George Lucas dies. He refuses to make available anything but his adulterated "improved" versions. The original Star Wars, as seen in the theaters in 1977, is the greatest movie of all time. I hope one day you'll be able to enjoy it.

[grendelyn.livejournal.com]

Doesn't solve the problem, but I'm in London too! :)

[spwebdesign.livejournal.com]

And do you also, as your userpic suggests—no, it would not be appropriate to ask in English—Вы гаварите по-Русский? If so, I'm thinking we need to meet. ;)

[grendelyn.livejournal.com]

Only a little, I'm afraid, just from travelling and reading. :)

My dad's family is Polish, I speak that quite a bit better (but not perfectly by any means).

I'm a big Slav whore. A year here, a year there... never learn anything properly, alas.

[spwebdesign.livejournal.com]

Well, I only speak a little as well. I've been taking the fast-track beginner's course at the Pushkin House (Holborn) since September. The second term starts Monday. I need the language for my opera career.

[grendelyn.livejournal.com]

For real? Where are you studying opera?

Thanks for the tip!! I've been looking for somewhere to study Russian with native speakers. How was the first course?

Maybe I'll give them a ring tomorrow and see if they can cram one more into the False Beginners' course.

[spwebdesign.livejournal.com]

Since I was just turned down by Guildhall, I can't claim to be affiliated with them anymore, though I study privately with their top voice teacher. I also take a course at Birkbeck.

The first Russian course was fantastic. If you already have some very basic Russian under your belt, you might want to join us. We meet Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:30 to 9-ish. It's a small group (3-4 of us), and I know they would happily take another. Call 020 7831 5330 and ask to speak with Lucy. Be sure to let them know Derek Henderson referred you: maybe they'll be nice and give me a little discount if you sign up. ;)

[grendelyn.livejournal.com]

Thanks Derek! I'll give her a call tomorrow. I'm really shy about foreign languages on the phone alas, but I'm sure I'd be ok. Do you use some books and things? Or just 'talk therapy'? (I used to teach English.)

You can also email me, grendelyn at gmail.com

Nice to meet 'ya.

[spritelord.livejournal.com]

This is no longer true. Recently he reissued the "special" editions in super-primo-I-want-more-money versions, each of which contained a "bonus disc" which had the original cuts on them. Of course, not from the original masters, no. From the early '80's laserdiscs, because the masters are "lost or destroyed." Which, of course, you can translate as "due to be released as Higher Quality Versions" for the 40th anniversary.

[spwebdesign.livejournal.com]

It was my understanding that these versions from the laserdiscs are also "updated." I've heard the masters are available and Lucas simply refuses to use them.

[spritelord.livejournal.com]

I don't think they are. Han still shoots first, anyway.

[pushupstairs.livejournal.com]

Word.

[spwebdesign.livejournal.com]

I had never heard of Joe Jackson (without the "Shoeless" prefix, that is) until I read your last post mentioning him. That said, I still don't know any of his music. I suppose I should look up those songs you mention?

[ron_newman]

Now to me, those are totally famous songs. But then, I'm Old.

[spwebdesign.livejournal.com]

Since my CD collection is two-thirds classical and contains such gems as the Sons of the Pioneers, Joe Horton, The Association, and numerous other stars from bygone eras, I cannot claim youth as an excuse. I just simply don't know Jackson.

[fancycwabs.livejournal.com]

This is a good starting place.

(Can United Kingdomites download music from Amazon? I know iTunes puts the kibosh on buying foreign stuff)

[ruthling.livejournal.com]

Joe has taken a couple of rather odd songwriting style turns over the years.

[sdn.livejournal.com]

i've never actually seen star wars. not kidding.

[juldea.livejournal.com]

I never heard Stepping Out before dating londo and his music collection, and never heard Is She Really Going Out With Him? before Da Vinci's Notebook covered it, and have still never heard the original. I didn't even know it was not their original song. So nyeah?

[quodlibetic.livejournal.com]

Gaaaah!

(sorry, huge huge Joe Jackson fan...)

Check out a vintage performance of ISRGOWH by Joe Jackson here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=3RWyFX3UO_E . It's good, I swear. :)

[juldea.livejournal.com]

It took me two months, but I finally got around to watching that. Seems kind of mellow punkish, with a definite groove, although I can't say I was overwhelmingly swept off my feet by the awesome. However, now I have heard the original, and that was the point of this exercise.

[bex77]

I tend to boggle at my office mates a lot, because I work with college students.
But the absolute worst was when I came back from a new restaurant (since closed)
called Hoffa's. I told them it was fine, other than the unfortunate name. Blank
stares. It reminds me of Jimmy Hoffa, I say. Who? KIDS!

[ron_newman]

Some folks think Bloc 11 was not a great choice of name for the new coffee shop in Union Square. (Scroll down to fourth comment.)

[bex77]

Eeew...that is gross. I wonder what Bloc 11 means to them, and why no one googled it to check on the it. Ugh.

[ron_newman]

The owners say that 'Bloc' is a semi-synonym to 'Union' (as in Square, and a place where people come together), while '11' is from the café's street address, 11 Bow Street. I believe them.

I do not know whether many people are concerned about this, or if it's just one guy placing these comments everywhere (Yelp, Chowhound, the Somerville Journal blog, etc.)

[agharta75.livejournal.com]

The worst name I've seen around here is "RedLine Real Estate" in Davis Square. I suppose they'll say they named it after the train, but try saying that at the Ashmont end of the line ...

[cursethedark.livejournal.com]

I was actually introduced to Joe Jackson by the cover of "I'm The Man" by Buck-O-Nine. It's still one of my favorites.

[minkrose]

Andy does that to me sometimes - aside from him being 3 years younger, he grew up in a cabin in northern minnesota with no running water. Electricity, sure, but they only rented videos from their local library, which did not have a great selection.


I've been introducing him to all sorts of music and movies that he had never seen before. We just recently finished up the Indiana Jones series. But at least I have the advantage of having him around all the time so I *can* expose him to all the good stuff!

[quodlibetic.livejournal.com]

Lucky ducky. :) I'm a bit miffed that Joe's not hitting the US until April. I'll likely have a 1-2 week-old daughter when he hits NYC, and will not be able to attend. Fooey. (Thankfully, a few Joe Jackson mailing list folks have offered a bootleg of a show when one surfaces.)

[pecosy.livejournal.com]

I was just listening to Joe Jackson's Jumpin' Jive yesterday at work.

I have a similar reaction with Oingo Boingo, except that I name song after song and still get blank stares. Sometimes "Weird Science" rings a bell, but even that's rare. Damn, what did these people do in the 80s?!!

[ron_newman]

And how do they react to "Are we not men? We are Devo!"

[hahathor.livejournal.com]

Tickets went on sale at 10 am. I got on the Ticketmaster website at about 10:05, and the only tix they had were for auction, starting at somewhat over $100 a ticket. I don't know how high they'll go by the time they sell. I'm planning to hit the theater itself when their BO opens at 3 today, but I'm not overly confident.

Just thought you should know.