Tag Archives: my ipod

My iPod #288: They Might Be Giants – Doctor Worm

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Whilst browsing through game websites and looking for anything good to pass the time; I came across this “Worm” game. It is essentially “Snake”, the popular game that everyone had on their Nokia phones. But instead of circling around in a square trying to eat the object as a snake… you’re a worm.

A thirty second or so sample of music played before coming to an abrupt end and then started all over again as I played. The opening lyrics were from the perspective of a worm who is called “Doctor Worm” by people but isn’t an actual doctor, though it insists that it is an actual worm. I loved this short sample. To me it was jolly music that made playing the ‘Worm’ game more fun.

However, with every listen came a suspicion that the voice who was singing these lyrics sounded familiar…….. The silly, nonsensical but funny subject matter with the upbeat music and blaring horns. There was no way. It couldn’t be.

I searched up the lyrics in Google, and sure enough….. the song was indeed by They Might Be Giants. A song about a fictional worm who plays the drums in a band? What else couldn’t these people write about?

It was first released as a new studio song on the band’s live album “Severe Tire Damage“, released back in 1998.

My iPod #287: The Beatles – Doctor Robert

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Near the end of the album “Revolver” is “Doctor Robert”, one of the more normal sounding songs on it. What I mean is, it’s just the four guys playing their respective instruments. No violins, sitars, tambouras, backward guitar solos. It’s a standard rock song. Now I know there’s “Tomorrow Never Knows” or “Eleanor Rigby”…… “Here, There and Everywhere”, those are usually the ones that people would say are their favourite tracks from “Revolver”. “Doctor Robert” is mine… say what you wanna say.

Carried along by a durable rhythm section and a crackly, rough guitar by Lennon for the verses, “Doctor Robert” is the perfect advertisement for…. a doctor. Day or night, Doctor Robert will be there anytime. He does everything he can. The song’s based on a real doctor. Actually, there are contradicting ideas on who Doctor Robert actually was. It is ‘most likely’ about a doctor who dosed some of the members with amphetamines in his Vitamin B injections. You didn’t think this song was about the hard-working doctors who save most lives on a daily basis. Ohh no. What would be the fun in that.

Yeah, the track’s a whole big nod to drugs and stuff. A really nice track, though. When the lead guitar rings in at the last moments in the second verse, the chorus begins with on-point, choir-like vocal melodies between John, Paul and George and a heavenly B chord provided by a harmonium, you feel like everything’s going to be okay.

Surrounded by the other tracks, “Doctor Robert” seems like the least interesting one on “Revolver” but it is moments like that one which remind us that at the most unusual times the group could pull the rabbit out of the hat and amaze us with their magic.

My iPod #286: The Who – Doctor Jimmy

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Happy Easter everybody.

The first post today marks the start of the “Doctor” trilogy. This particular song is not about someone who is in that line of work. The second post coming later on today, and tomorrow’s are. Maybe tomorrow, ’cause I’ll be at my friend’s place. The next three songs all have the word ‘Doctor’ in them, basically.

“Doctor Jimmy” is the longest track on The Who’s album “Quadrophenia“, coming in at a hefty 8 and a half minutes. It only contains three verses and the “Is It Me?” segment that is meant to represent John Entwistle’s personality. Apart from that are some rather long instrumental passages where the band jam and play off one another.

In terms of the album’s concept, Jimmy – the main character – is pissed off with everything. The Mod life he believed in was all a lie. He starts drinking gin to see if it can ‘hold [him] down’, but instead the alcohol brings out the absolute worst. A bit like that story by Robert Louis Stevenson.

In the midst of it, he is still able to think about which one of the four personalities he possesses is actually his – hence the “Is It Me?” part. Overall, it’s all too much to take so he steals a boat, heavily intoxicated and sails off into the sea.

Dramatic stuff.  Very tense.

Instrumentally, so much happens in the track that I don’t think I could even describe it to you. It’s The Who really, what more do you need.

My iPod #285: Franz Ferdinand – Do You Want To

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After a year and a bit of waiting, “Do You Want To” was Franz Ferdinand’s ‘we’re back’ single in 2005, their first one from their then upcoming second album “You Could Have It So Much Better” with Franz Ferdinand. The band went on to shorten the name.

I remember the first time I watched the “Do You Want To” video well. And the second time…. and the third. And so on. That’s because (after, again, premiering the day before on Channel 4) it was repeated every hour on MTV2. The band pretend to be drunk, or just act really stupidly, at a casual gathering. It seemed that they were pleased that everybody’s favourite Scottish band had returned, after what seemed like a long, long… long year and a bit. It was very hard to hear the same thing over and over without getting a bit sick of it; fortunately it isn’t an annoying track.

The anticipation towards a night out is the subject of many songs. Take this one, for example. That is what “Do You Want To” is about too. But in this case, Alex has his eyes on someone that he wants to take out for a night in the town. That someone is the listener… and we are very lucky to be chosen. With the infectious “doo doo doos” and the memorable chorus, it’s very hard to refuse Alex’s offer.

My iPod #284: The Kinks – Do You Remember Walter?

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This is the second track from The Kinks’ 1968 album “The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society“, a collection of fifteen songs about living in the country, nostalgia, and general English culture. Without listening to the albums that came before it, I have come to the conclusion that the album was the group’s last best one. I’ve heard “Arthur” and “Muswell Hillbillies” but they were such a drag to listen to. The only song on “Village Green” that I can’t really listen to casually is “Last of the Steam-Powered Trains”, but the rest are light-hearted, carefree, sometimes tragic but still upbeat. “Walter” fits in with those last two adjectives.

Did you have a friend in primary school who you felt was like a brother to you? Were you inseparable? You thought you could take on the world together when you were grown ups? (Or at least keep in touch with each other every day at the start of Year Seven?) That’s nice. I had one of those friends…. We haven’t kept in touch so much. I actually haven’t spoken to him in about three years. He’s got new friends; I have mine. But the memories of our times in school stay strong.

That’s essentially what “Walter” is all about. I’m sure a lot of you will be able to relate to it.

There are more songs to talk about from this album. Their time will come. Have fun with this one for the time being.