What Are You Listening To?
"The last place you think you'd meet a boyfriend is at Creamfields..."
by Carrie Dennis
Chuck, 30
What are you listening to, Chuck?
I'm listening to In Rainbows, by Radiohead. Or, I was, but I just made a Genius list based on Barenaked Ladies.
You got to Radiohead from Barenaked Ladies?
No, I was listening to Radiohead and "15 Step" ended, and I was like, "Well, I don't use my Genius playlist enough," so I hit "What a Good Boy" by Barenaked Ladies. So it went from "What a Good Boy" to "Don't Ask Me Why" by Billy Joel, then "Kodachrome" by Paul Simon, "Goodnight Elizabeth" by the Counting Crows. I think as I walked into work this morning I was listening to "River" by Joni Mitchell.
That's a pretty emotive song. What kind of mood did that get you in for work?
Well, I'm depressed when I go to work anyway.
Where do you work?
Balthazar. I'm a waiter at Balthazar, and I came in at 6:30 in the morning. I was listening to Radiohead because "15 Step" pumps me up, but then I don't know what made me go to all this emo.
Are you thinking about anyone special when you listen to these songs?
Yeah, I'm thinking about my girlfriend a little. She lives in London, so, maybe "What a Good Boy" went out to her.
Do you have any special songs that you like to listen to that remind you of her?
I like to listen to "Melancholy Hill" by Gorillaz, off Plastic Beach. There's a line, "You're my medicine when you're close to me," that reminds me of her because she's not physically close to me that often.
Do you miss her a lot then?
Oh yeah. I just saw her this weekend, though.
What did you do?
We just walked around the city a lot. Went up to the High Line.
Do you guys have any special songs together?
She would probably get mad at me right now if she heard me telling you I can't remember, because I'm sure there probably is one.
Anything special you guys listened to this weekend at any particular moment?
There wasn't that much music going on. We went to a Memorial Day Parade in Connecticut, but that was all marching band music.
That's not very romantic.
No, it's not romantic at all! John Philip Sousa — you don't get down to that.
Commentarium (29 Comments)
Barenaked Ladies...Jonie Mitchell...Counting Crows...Paul Simon...
"I don't know what made me go to all this emo."
Okay, Chuck....
Is it just me, or is Susana way to young to be that jaded and snobbish about music?
I'd say she's the perfect age to be that jaded and snobbish about music. When I was 21, I refused to acknowledge that good music could exist on a major label. I came around, and hopefully she will too.
One would assume "lover of house music" and "music snob" were mutually exclusive categories.
yeah if your taste in house is eric prydz who isn't house as much as dance shit music. there is house music and "house" music. you, just like her, don't see the gigantic gaping chasm between the two. she thinks she is above "American" music taste. you think you are above house music. both of your are snobs but don't really know what you`re talking about as neither have a clue about these genres. creamfields and sensation are the bottom feeding dung of electronic music scene. im telling you that as a certified music snob.
I am intrigued by your theories and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
Did you really just call Eric Prydz "dance shit music"? I hope that post is sarcastic. You clearly have only listened to "Call On Me" and have never heard any of his other work. Prydz is a genius. His work as Pryda and Cirez D is extremely innovative. The man is an absolute legend. I'm not insulting any other producers, because I love nearly all forms of house music (electro, progressive, deep, whatever). You may not personally LIKE Prydz, but that doesn't make his music "dance shit music."
That said, I'm totally with you on the "stop hating on house music" front. There's no reason a person can't enjoy house music and other forms. Most people seem to wrongly dismiss it as easy to produce or lacking complexity. It's okay to be into both "indie" type artists like Fiona Apple and house or trance artists like Avicii or Above & Beyond.
Jesus. Who knew house music fans were as sensitive/insufferable as Ron Paul followers?
"You know, like, Daddy paid for me to take these trips to Europe, have you ever been to Europe? Everyone there is so much cooler than they are in America, and I listened to this really, like cool music and got really into the whole, like, scene over there. I wanted to stay, but Daddy said I have to come back to America because he got me this stupid job in New York."
"Everyone there is so much cooler that they are in America..."
So...what's the problem? The American hinterland has been drained of whatever "cool" thing it once possessed a while ago. Now it's full of hamburger/fry-eating, bible-thumping, gun-toting tards. And the American hinterland is bigger than continental Europe. And cool music is much more ubiquitous there than here. So why the hate? Envy? And New York is ugly as shit. Ever notice?
At least the first guy was honest - that's totally reflective of your average American playlist.
I liked the last guy's anecdote about Graceland. That's totally the perfect soundtrack to a road trip w/ your mom when you're 7. That, or something Steely Dan.
The Barenaked Ladies are triple platinum. Are you?
Why does everyone leap to defend that band so aggressively?
Or defend things by the huge mass of people who like them. By that measure, 50 Shades of Gray is great literature and Two and a Half Men is sheer genius.
They're BNL now? They're that fundemental?
Or, like DMB, they're just that douchey.
Ugh.
House 'music'.
Susana, you suck.
Maybe you're just not minimal enough to get it.
That MUST be it :)
Gosh, Susana is very very beautiful. Her taste in music, aw...not so much
She was attractive until she opened her mouth. It's amazing how a completely douchey personality can ruin a person's hotness.
I was also going to post a comment to that effect. She's insufferable.
Give her a break. She's 21. When I was 21 I missed an opportunity to play drums with a band that's still together and still playing, just because I wanted to play jazz. At the time, the band - all friends of mine, btw - was playing alterna-pop (for lack of a better term) which, while I didn't really object to, just wasn't my bag back then. Now I listen to alterna-pop all the time as well as a lot of other stuff that I wouldn't have listened to - or at the very least would never have admitted to listening back then. I've even been in a couple of bands that played in that style, all quite enjoyable experiences. Give her 10, maybe even just 5 more years and she'll be embarrassed for herself.
Did Jack just eat a peanut butter and crack sandwich?
Why did it take someone this long to mention his mouth?! I'm sure it's just awkwardly photographed cig smoke, but still, dude looks rabid.
BAHAHAHAHA! You two are so right. Peanut butter and crack...that's great.
Kodochrome AND Graceland. I love Paul Simon!
Jack is cool. and cute.
Weirds me out- this is a lot of shit for someone to deal with that just 'answered a few questions for your blog' or whatever...
Just saying...
Now you say something