We had a live band at the LSNC party last night playing danceable "oldies" from the 60's - '80's. I found out that the Pretenders' "Back on the Chain Gang" was on their set list and I asked them before they went on if they would maybe let me sing it. A perk of being one of the organizers of a private party, I suppose. They were very friendly and indulgent about the idea. So I got to be Chrissie Hynde only without the fender telecaster and vegan activism for 3 minutes or so. (Don't get me wrong, as they say, absolutely nothing wrong with vegans as long as they don't too forcefully obstruct my path to the food dish.) I couldn't really hear much in the monitors, so I just hoped that I was mostly in tune, but Ce and others said it sounded good and she was pleased that I even put some movement into my performance (rather than the deer-in-the-headlights style I tend to exhibit).
Just in case you get us mixed up, I've labeled the photos. The distinctions are quite subtle, I realize.
For example,
Chrissie Hynde's birthday is September 7, 1951 and
mine is September 6, 1972. Also she's originally from Akron and I'm from Centerville but our states are both 4 letters.
The slideshow was successful too; a number of the old-timers who featured prominently in the photos were at the party and so far no one has threatened to sue us or demanded that I destroy all the copies. Truth is an absolute defense to slander, after all.
2 comments:
I really liked that song growing up. Sometime when you can plug it in and give your accoustic a litle electric boost I would like to hear your version, How about the movie, did 'Gypsies, Tramps and Theves' make it in?
Not to suggest that you're all that old, WP, but I think the Chain Gang song you're thinking of is a different one. I think maybe you're thinking of the one that goes "Been breakin' rocks on the chain gang, breakin' rocks and servin' my time..." The song I sang was released in 1984 or so, by the band the Pretenders who got their name from the Platters' song "The Great Pretender." However, I think you would like the newer song too.
Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves didn't make the cut, I discussed it with one of my coworkers and we decided that while the humor would be greatly appreciated by some, others might not understand that we were joking. Maybe I'll make an alternate version of the film with a soundtrack that's got more of a bite.
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