Today I wrote a song called "Costumed Characters Face Dangers While On the Job" I suppose its a throwaway for the record. It began as a facebook comment I didn't want to leave because I am too serious and don't wanna be 'serious guy' on the thread - (I never have very witty things to say)
There is a hipster bar in the mission called the Royal Cuckoo and they are experimenting with having a live organist instead of a sound system. It is a cool idea but my friend was put off by how seriously the organist took himself - especially resenting the 'no video' policy. My friend is one of the coolest people alive - and I think what he was really saying is that the organist needs to be a complete ham if he is going to be in that position. Nothing worse than a self important entertainer (I know about that first hand!!) Now while I have never seen this organist and I agree with my friend - I have to say I celebrate the No Video policy. Nothing worse than grinning drunks standing in everyone's way holding up their phones mocking and ironic and think they have a right to 'capture' you. It is so distracting, and cold. I hate that shit.
Addendum: I finally saw said organist and its cool - but yeah its kinda humorless. He should encourage interaction with the crowd in any way possible. Maybe get an old 'organ' drum machine.
Anyway I like my little song - it is also a slight homage to Quentin Crisp who I spotted once on the street in New York many years ago. It was as exciting as the time I spotted Bukowski in a bar in LA (I was afraid to talk to him but I gave the bartender a 20 to cover his drinks).
4 comments:
Hi Mark,
First pardon my english. I am the French fan that you didn't count in your previously post. Then... uhm i must be the fifth. We are 65 million there so you must have a good way of progress if the four others by mouths to ears, come to manage you to move beyond, from the small independent music section of the "Inrockuptible" newpaper. Unlike this fan who mentioned the fact that we should not meet his hero, I must confess that in my case, I do not consider you as a hero. Whatever, Jacques Lacan already said it : Do not give in on your desire. It always betray you.
In truth, concerning myself it's hard to be impressed by anything in life: the Hendrix or Satriani gameplay leaves me unmoved while I recognize to the first these obvious qualities who gave his place in the history of world rock n' roll music. No really you're not a hero but one of feathers among the most gifted comptemporains songwriters I've heard so far ! Sure you are without any hesitation. Obviously your tendencies to self-flagellation are sometimes quite confusing for people and I understand this may "trouble" until your more ferving fan in France or elsewhere. But ain't it what makes your charm too?
Well now you read all of that, you're beginning to say "But what does this guy wants"? "Where do he wants to come with this bullshit pack of"... who knows what you'll add afterward. "He wants me shit my day or what"? Sure not, the fact is that I started to write myself a text (modestly of course). This text is a song and this is called "I wanted Mark Eitzel be my godfather in music". The kind of thing that must certainly have the gift to irritate you... in addition of that message of course. Obviously this is a humorous song or at least it tries to be : self-deprecation, spleen and melancholy are, you can imagine, at the program. I'm not sure to know by what kind of projection from me this is possible (probably should i go meeting a shrink), but you make me think about that guy Earl in that TV serie "My Name Is Earl". Same charisma. This mixture of humility when we meet you, this way of messing without taking you seriously. Humanly you make us feel confortable as the guy we would like to have as a friend : You sound authentic and not really a rock star with in the forehead written "i've been elected best songwriter by Rolling Stones magazine so stop to mess me around with your non sense shit of story". So this song talk about it (euh not that you're been elected by Rolling stones magazine) - It talks about the fact that's you may look to a druken angel bereaved by the fall to earth, that it may happen that you feel as a fork in a soup world and that i surely won't get your caution as the songwriter you are to bless that song because having such that idea suck and you never parainered or sponsored anything in general.
Ok so now you're thinking that your french fans are a curse to you, i'm gonna quit with this message and wish you all the best for your work in progress and (as i didn't wish it yet) for 2011... without any french to your horizon with such illuminated idea :-)). Yours.
you wrote a song on my birthday. yay! now i have to hear it! just like 'caught in a trap' came out on my birthday one year...keep 'em comin' friend.
To Rodolphe I say thank you and thank you. I hope you realize that I only meant to make gentle fun. Ha. I am actually not interested in being a hero - I just want to pay my bills. The truth is I let myself get carried away when I love something - and perhaps that is just as much a way of dismissing something as any. I really hate people that are self important. I can't stand the 'rock star' thing though i understand why people put it on. I would love to hear your music - is there a site with some of it? Finally no my French fans are not a curse (my mother was born near Bayonne) I just wish I had more of them and I could one day play Paris again...
To William: Can't wait to see your next collection!
Hi Mark, I can imagine what you felt when you saw Bukowski. I'm a huge fan of Hank, and would probably have a heart attack if I saw him. Or piss my pants at least. I love the fact you're a Bukowski fan. Gives a GOOD perspective to your music.
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