With a baton in one hand and a pistol in the other
August 23, 2006 10:51 AM   Subscribe

I know it's YouTube. But Spike Jones^ must be seen as well as heard.
posted by Astro Zombie (42 comments total) 20 users marked this as a favorite
 
Bonus: Click the word "well" for an unbelievable performance by Perez Prado.
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:51 AM on August 23, 2006


I can't take the way he sings, but I love to hear him talk
posted by jonson at 11:08 AM on August 23, 2006


You sire, (Astro Zombie) are a fucking genius.
EXcellent post.
posted by squidfartz at 11:17 AM on August 23, 2006


...and 'Sire', I'm your 'Squire'
MeFi might consider a re-edit option sometime.
posted by squidfartz at 11:18 AM on August 23, 2006


OMG, I [heart] the City Slickers. I can't click the links yet, but I hope at least one of them is from a USO tour back in the day -- I've heard they were terrific live.
posted by pax digita at 11:23 AM on August 23, 2006


jonson wins.

This awesome post alone demonstrates the incredible value of YouTube. All those who whine about YouTube posts on MeFi are now encouraged to cease their whining.
posted by Dr. Wu at 11:25 AM on August 23, 2006 [1 favorite]


damn, i have to go to work right now, but thanks much
posted by pyramid termite at 11:26 AM on August 23, 2006


Damn! I'm at work and can't access. But I will say now - Astro Zombie, you (tentatively) rule!
posted by ObscureReferenceMan at 11:30 AM on August 23, 2006


I just reflect the glory and manic vaudeville inventiveness of the City Slickers.
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:33 AM on August 23, 2006


Fantastic. Fantastic beyond words.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 11:35 AM on August 23, 2006


I've heard Prado scream a hundred times, but I haven't seen him scream until now, thanks.
posted by PHINC at 11:39 AM on August 23, 2006


While I appluad the comedic genius and musical chops of Spike and the City Slickers, some of their songs were pretty jingoistic, and are a lot less listenable now that the war is over:
You're A Sap Mister Jap
Der Fuher's Face

Just sayin'...
posted by cosmicbandito at 11:53 AM on August 23, 2006


cosmicbandito, obviously, you're correct, but these songs must be viewed as products of their times, when such things were far more acceptable. Not to mention that everyone, especially in the entertainment world, got into the act of wartime propaganda.

Finding such stuff offensive misses the point, I think. I mean, sure, it's offensive(ish), but, more to the point, it's a history lesson: by listening to such songs, we can and should observe how standards of acceptability and tolerance have changed.
posted by Dr. Wu at 11:57 AM on August 23, 2006


Is this something I'd have to be 93 years old to care about?
posted by xmutex at 11:58 AM on August 23, 2006


Yep.
posted by Astro Zombie at 12:00 PM on August 23, 2006


Yeah Dr Wu, I'm aware of the context, but it makes it much more difficult to listen to the song and enjoy it as a simple piece of music when I have to remind myself that racism and rampant nationalism were the norm then. I like Spike, but everytime the wartime songs come on, I skip them. I want to enjoy the music, not be reminded what a shitty time in history this was.
posted by cosmicbandito at 12:04 PM on August 23, 2006


Astro Zombie, I want to have your babies.
posted by kyrademon at 12:06 PM on August 23, 2006


Damn it. I already gave them to a group of hobos.
posted by Astro Zombie at 12:08 PM on August 23, 2006 [1 favorite]


Fair enough, cosmicbandito. I guess we're looking for different things in the music. Personally, I find that considering the historical situation enriches my enjoyment of the songs on a musical level. But I am 93-year-old dork.
posted by Dr. Wu at 12:09 PM on August 23, 2006


Yeah Dr Wu, I'm aware of the context, but it makes it much more difficult to listen to the song and enjoy it as a simple piece of music when I have to remind myself that racism and rampant nationalism were the norm then. I like Spike, but everytime the wartime songs come on, I skip them. I want to enjoy the music, not be reminded what a shitty time in history this was.
posted by cosmicbandito at 12:04 PM PST


If you live to 93, perhaps you'll feel the same way about some of today's Country music. Or the parodies played on the Rush Limbaugh show.
posted by rough ashlar at 12:11 PM on August 23, 2006


Der Fuher's Face

Der Führer's Face, courtesy of YouTube and the Disney Corporation.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:12 PM on August 23, 2006


cosmicbandito, we were in a real war back then, and Der Fuhrer was a genuine menace. I'd say "Der Fuhrer's Face" was an entirely appropriate (and funny) call to arms. Ditto You're a Sap. Apart from the racial slur (which was culturally acceptable at the time) the lyrics are pretty mild. You can re-define the 1940's in terms of baby-boom peacenik values if you want, but you're trading historical facts for rather a rather dubious and unearned feeling of moral superiority.
posted by QuietDesperation at 12:13 PM on August 23, 2006


obligatory bitching about annoying caret notation and excessive youtubing.

however, in spite of all that, this is a fine post. well done.
posted by casconed at 12:14 PM on August 23, 2006


Yeah, the dumbdumbdumb caret notation is semantically meaningless and annoying, but the post is good. Thumbs up, AZ.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:16 PM on August 23, 2006


By the way, I recommend Jordan Young's bio, The Man Who Murdered Music.
posted by QuietDesperation at 12:18 PM on August 23, 2006 [1 favorite]


Love this guy. Thanks
posted by pointilist at 12:19 PM on August 23, 2006


It's called a caret notation? All this time I've been calling it a CARROT notation. God, I feel like an idiot!
posted by Astro Zombie at 12:19 PM on August 23, 2006


Great post AZee.
This guy has to be Spike's illegitimate grandson.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 12:25 PM on August 23, 2006


And here I was assuming this was just a mispelled Spike Jonze post.
posted by smackfu at 1:07 PM on August 23, 2006


You know me better than that, smackfu. I spel good.
posted by Astro Zombie at 1:08 PM on August 23, 2006


Great, I watch all those cool videos just to wind up with "You're A Sap, Mister Jap" stuck in my head.

At least our propaganda pop was better than Hitler's

They totally would've whomped us in the film department if we didn't have the looney toons.

anyways, yay for Perez Pado and Billy Barty!
posted by elr at 1:23 PM on August 23, 2006


I'd like to say it was Spike Jones who inspired me to become a percussionist. But I'd be lying. Spectacular post! Way to use the powers of YouTube for good!
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 2:32 PM on August 23, 2006


And I want his suit.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 2:37 PM on August 23, 2006


And the caret worked for me- took me right where I thought it would (checking to see if you had meant to spell Spike Jonze).
posted by pointilist at 4:40 PM on August 23, 2006


Excellent!!!!
posted by ObscureReferenceMan at 5:21 PM on August 23, 2006


This is wonderful. I listened to Spike Jones records all the time as a kid, and have just recently loaded up the old iTunes with about five or six album's worth of stuff -- but I have never seen any live performances, so this is quite timely!
posted by Robot Johnny at 6:32 PM on August 23, 2006


Johnny I'm with you. I credit Spike with developing my sense of humor by being around on 78's when I was little and of that age where everything needed to be played over and over. Of course the most played were "William Tell" and "Dance of the Hours".
Lets go to Doodles down on the track. and of course the winner was always ..........[crash bang whoop whistle]
F e i t l e b a u m
posted by mss at 6:52 PM on August 23, 2006


Is this Spike "Goon Show" Jones? Curse my job and its "no-streaming-videao" rules!
posted by lekvar at 6:56 PM on August 23, 2006


No, lekvar, that would be Spike Milligan, you great simperng git.
posted by lekvar at 6:58 PM on August 23, 2006


This was the bestus thing all day. Entertainment from an era when men had hands and knew what to do with them. The Perez Pado "Secret Love" competition is just beautiful. Thanks!
posted by eegphalanges at 7:34 PM on August 23, 2006


Late to the party here, but, holy hot shit Astrozombie, this post is like a much long, cool, lime cordial on a dry and dusty day.
posted by Jofus at 5:39 AM on August 24, 2006


much *needed* dammit. Much Needed.
posted by Jofus at 6:13 AM on August 24, 2006


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