I've been tagged by Trav over at WireCan, thus I am compelled to answer the call. Watch this drive:
1. Name a book that you want to share so much that you keep giving away copies:
That's tough, because I've lost all sorts of books over the years, but I would have to say that the reigning champ is Ferdinand Celine's Death on the Installment Plan, with three copies floating around the Tri-State (hincty, no?). It's an edifying work that allows one to wallow in the feeling that everybody around one really is an asshole.
2. Name a piece of music that changed the way you listen to music:
"I Heard Her Call My Name" from the Velvet Underground's 1968 masterstroke White Light/White Heat. Imagine Ricky Nelson's "Just a Little Too Much" recast as an Methadrine Ophelia hallucination, with two guitar breaks that sound like a Dodge being fed into a turbine. This track actually makes you feel like you just shot the speed.
3. Name a film you can watch again and again without fatigue: Salo: The 120 Days of Sodom (just kidding). Actually, come to think of it, it would be a three way tie between The Virgin Suicides Monthy Python's Meaning of Life and Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.
4. Name a performer for whom you suspend of all disbelief: Charlie Chaplin. I can't believe someone was ever so possessed of Genius.
5. Name a work of art you'd like to live with: Warhol's Mao Wallpaper. I want my house done in it.
6. Name a work of fiction which has penetrated your real life: Ulysses by James Joyce. GAWD-DAM!
7. Name a punch line that always makes you laugh: "Your Brother wanted to use the car last night". What can you say? Even without knowing the joke, it just sounds funny.
Pass it on, folks.
Funny story about that VU song: When the future Mrs. G and I went to New Orleans 11 years ago (!), we were somewhat embarrassed, but mostly irritated, when the kids staying in the room downstairs began to imitate our, um, not-quite marital relations as we shared a cigarette and wiped sweat-damp hair from our eyes.
ReplyDeleteAfter considering various nefarious plots throughout the next day, we settled on the appropriate revenge. About 3 a.m. the next morning, an hour or so after they came home from the bar and got quiet, we popped in a tape, cued up the song, placed the portable cassette player on the heat vent on the floor and turned it up as loud as those little speakers could blast "I Heard Her Call My Name."
Those kids didn't so much as slam the door for the rest of the week. (This also works for clearing out lingering browsers from your record shop.)
-Travis
One of my most sublime moments as an undergraduate came in a Music Appreciation class.
ReplyDeleteThe Prof, who was majorly cool, allowed me to present on the Velvet Underground and Post Modernism.
With 40 students, and a brand new theater sound system, I put the WL/WH cd in, and cued up "I heard her call my name".
Such a beautiful thing to see 80 hands clap over 80 ears at the same time. The Prof loved it, and I got an A.
Uncle Lou would be proud.