In 8th grade, older brother played me Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus" for the first time. I thought I had FOUND MUSIC. It was pure genius. Important things I did not realize at the time:
1. I was about 10 years too late to be considered cool because I listened to DM (a pattern that defines my taste even now).
2. The music is actually quite terrible.
The man playing the electric violin at the Union Square subway station today didn't get the memo (or maybe his position on the cultural bell curve is even more regrettable than mine). Let me paint you a mental picture. The man had his violin plugged into a little violin amp. Who knew those even existed? Even better were the neon lights coming from within the violin, producing a laser light show of sorts in tandem with his jammin'. His long, gloriously feathered hair was tied in a low pony tail. Hey, violin man thought, if I grow a lot of hair in the back, no one will notice that I have none in the front! His blouse billowed around him as he worked his magic on that violin, his pointy faux-Italian shoes protruding from his too-tight Levis. And what was the gentleman playing? Why, Depeche Mode, of course! I didn't realize it at the time, but I was able to recall the lyrics in an instant. Bi-annual dentist appointments have paid off two-fold: clean teeth and the ability to recall the words to innumerable Kool Jazz/Easy Listening songs. I came home, looked it up, and the song was "Enjoy the Silence" by Depeche Mode.
Needless to say, it was a spectacle. I laughed a lot. Then I ate a piece of cheese and watched the subway almost squish a rat and nearly barfed the cheese back up. While I cannot provide you with a reenactment of the show (my electric violin is in the shop), I can link you to the original video! May 1990 live on forever in our hearts...and subway stations.
7 years ago
1 comment:
fucking hilarious and only understandable to us new yorkers. Reminds me of these Native American wind instrument players who continually set up shop in the 34th st herald square station, ALWAYS playing the same song. I'm sure it sounds lovely to the tourists passing by but for me it conjures memories of of a nail salon i used to go to on 3rd ave for 5 dollar manicures. The place must have bought the cheapie cds the Natives put out in front of their 34th st show as they sway to the sound of their flutes, their patterned ponchos completing the picture. In any case, the ONE song they play used to repeat over and over in this nail place (needless to say I stopped going) but every time i hear it i am reminded of the kind of Japanese water torture-esque repetition of the same sound can have on an already fragile mind.
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