my evil idea

[spatch]

Huh. I think LJ is having crazy issues.

There should be two posts made today -- one is public, and the other one was filtered. My computer clock decided to be 12 hours behind itself the other day (THANKS DST, THANKS WINDERS) so I think I fixed the problem, but I can't tell if the posts actually showed up or not. If you see only one post, cool. If you see the one and the filtered one (and you're in the filter group) then cool too, and you don't have to say anything about it (but if you can help, that'd be great.) If you can see this post, then even awesomer.

Now comes my evil idea.

It came to me last night while playing AudioSurf and having a hard time figuring out which was sadder: that I fed the game "My Pal Foot Foot" by the Shaggs, or that I got the top score -- and actually dethroned someone else who'd already played.

Anyway.

The Shaggs, of course, were a trio from New Hampshire in the 60s whose father decided his daughters would be rock and roll stars. He gave 'em instruments and, according to who you listen to, a month or a year's worth of lessons. Then he paid for recording time at a studio and cut an album or two. The results are some of the worst music you ever heard -- or the most genius, depending on how you look at it. On the one hand it's so neat to see people with no skill whatsoever just playing the music however they can, apparently without one whit of a "I don't think we're doing this right" thought. On the other hand, boy howdy it's so bad it's good.

Well, my evil idea is to take Shaggs songs like My Pal Foot Foot and actually make them rock songs. Arrange them right, try to use as much of the original words and cadence and melody (forget the chords, I think they open strum a few times) as possible but make it actually sound like a song. I dunno, I gots crazy ideas.

Who's with me?

Comments

[fancycwabs.livejournal.com]

I'll help you, Spatch! Although my favorite Shaggs song is a cover of The Carpenter's "Yesterday Once More," which, you know, already IS a song.

(I only got one other post today, but I may not be on the special filter)


Fun fact! Kurt Cobain thought The Shaggs were the greatest band ever. Which explains the whole Courtney Love thing.

[ubiquity75.livejournal.com]

Oh my God, I posted my comment before I read this one, and look! We are full circle!

[dskasak.livejournal.com]

I thought that was a plot point in the play Philosophy Of The World, where the Shaggs hear the songs in their head as "normal," but something goes awry in the process of actually creating them, thereby producing the wonderful noise by which we know them.

[ubiquity75.livejournal.com]

1. I've seen all the posts just fine.
2. The idea is no crazier than my current desire to relive the entire Carpenters back catalogue, and to dress up like Dusty Springfield.

In other words, I'd be with you.

"Who aw pawents?"

[sdn.livejournal.com]

haha! those accents.

would you wear the heavy makeup and the wig and everything? how i love dusty.

[ubiquity75.livejournal.com]

That's what my plan is, to be sure. I hope to obtain a big wig and wear the heavy eye makeup, and do a sort of tunic/bell bottom pantsuit for outfit.

And, of course, the hand gestures (where she had the lyrics written).

Everything's coming up Dusty, lemme tell ya.

[scholargipsy.livejournal.com]

I love The Shaggs, and used to listen to them in high school. "My Pal Foot Foot" used to make us laugh until our abdomens couldn't contract any farther.

[mcduff.livejournal.com]

Wait, the father called his daughters' band "The Shaggs"? That's not creepy at all, no sir!

I'm not near you but I do know a thing or two about this "recording" malarkey, so I'd be happy to help out if I can.

[hahathor.livejournal.com]

It's been done. Well, not all rockin' but enough, and a lot of the versions are quite good.

Yes, I'm obsessed with covers.

[lediva.livejournal.com]

This must happen. I hath decreed it.

[subbes]

how do i know if i seeeeee them

[eustaciavye.livejournal.com]

you need to talk to slipjig, he'd be all over this project. ANd he is a good guitarist.

[sdn.livejournal.com]

oh god the shaggs. there is, btw, an nrbq/shaggs connection -- maybe they did some "shaggs reunion" thing or covered the songs ... and i also believe the new yorker did an article about them years ago.

go wiggin sisters!

[spatch]

I can totally see NRBQ doing that -- I mean, they're the group that gave us "Dr. Fine, Dr. Howard, Dr. Fine" so they are no stranger to OMG WHAT DID I JUST HEAR THAT WAS AWESOME LET'S HEAR IT AGAIN stuff.

[ron_newman]

Am I in the filter group? If not, can you add me?

[ketzie.livejournal.com]

This is the only post I see from today. Do you no longer luuurve me?

[zhym.livejournal.com]

I can only see the unfiltered one, too. So...something.

[tyopsqueene.livejournal.com]

I only see this post (but your calender says you've got another one yesterday that I can't see - not that I'm stalking or anything).

I Want In!

[(Anonymous)]

Hey, Spatch, if you need a bass player, drop me a line.

suldog@aol.com

[kpht.livejournal.com]

http://jezebel.com/367472/today-in-catalogs

someone halfway down the page mentions how much they love cat town.

[boggle-e-oggle.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to have someone telling me about the Shaggs, instead of the other way around. And what's this about a play, Philosophy of the World? And Jean Shepard? Learn, Boggle, learn!