Maybe she likes Wittgenstein...
December 15, 2007 6:14 PM   Subscribe

The Most Wanted Song - Finally, thanks to Ubuweb, Komar & Melamid's Most Wanted and Most Unwanted Songs (recorded in 1997) are now available online! Komar & Melamid have been featured on Metafilter before for The Most and Least Wanted Paintings. Thanks WMFU!
posted by clockwork (54 comments total) 35 users marked this as a favorite
 
the most wanted song is average aor r&b and indeed, pleasant enough

the least wanted song ... well ... i'm about 6 minutes in and it's pure fucking genius
posted by pyramid termite at 6:32 PM on December 15, 2007 [3 favorites]


The Unwanted song sounds like a Mike Patton side project.
posted by basicchannel at 6:38 PM on December 15, 2007 [2 favorites]


Also, unlike Dave Eggers, the Unwanted song is a heartbreaking work of staggering genius.

DO ALL YOUR SHOPPING... AT WALMART!!!
posted by basicchannel at 6:41 PM on December 15, 2007 [3 favorites]


I think they mistakenly uploaded the "most incredibly awesome" song in place of the "most unwanted" one. They should go back and edit their article.
posted by sonic meat machine at 6:48 PM on December 15, 2007


i finished it - classic stuff
posted by pyramid termite at 6:48 PM on December 15, 2007


Ramadan- lots of fun
Lots of praying with no breakfast!
Ramadan - so much fun
Do all your shopping... at Walmart!
posted by The White Hat at 6:49 PM on December 15, 2007 [1 favorite]


Unwanted rocks.



I am now off to start a website where me and a bunch of other hip peeps hang out and make remixes of "unwanted".

We'll have contests...

And bulletin boards....

And funny inside jokes...

And an FAQ to explain the inside jokes so everyone can be can be "down"...

And tons of awesome remixes of "Unwanted".




Fuck yeah.
posted by cloudstastemetallic at 6:49 PM on December 15, 2007


oh yeah...





WALMART!!!
posted by cloudstastemetallic at 6:51 PM on December 15, 2007


The Most Unwanted Song sounds like Sparks and Art of Noise had a mutant baby.
posted by beaucoupkevin at 6:55 PM on December 15, 2007 [1 favorite]


Ok..I just went back and listened to "unwanted" while I toked on some marijuana.






Dude.






Mind.






Blown.



Have you ever listened to "unwanted"...high?
posted by cloudstastemetallic at 6:59 PM on December 15, 2007


My friend Zack told me about this song ten years ago and I have been looking for it on this here internet for the entire ten years. Thank you, thread posting person!
posted by damehex at 7:03 PM on December 15, 2007 [1 favorite]


Well it seems like all 200 of the people who would like the Unwanted Song are on Metafilter, right now. What are the odds?
I was expecting something painful like Metal Machine Music, but this is amazing.
posted by Flashman at 7:05 PM on December 15, 2007


Ten years...that's a mighty long time my friend.


Id say that's about 10 years longer than anyone should ever have to go without "unwanted".









I celebrate this day with you.
posted by cloudstastemetallic at 7:08 PM on December 15, 2007


I enjoy every instrument in the "least wanted" orchestra... parts of this sound EXACTLY like the music I listen to voluntarily... and thenHEY EVERYBODY! ITS LABOR DAY!!!
posted by outsider at 7:16 PM on December 15, 2007


Well it seems like all 200 of the people who would like the Unwanted Song are on Metafilter, right now. What are the odds?

After 8 years hanging out online with this group online, I'd have guessed the odds were pretty damn good.
posted by wendell at 7:21 PM on December 15, 2007 [1 favorite]


I just knew this would be a music thread that we could finally all agree about...
posted by clockwork at 7:27 PM on December 15, 2007


I actually own this on CD somewhere - I read about it and had to have it. And yes, the unwanted song is complete awesomeness.

I can't remember where I put the CD, so having the download is badass!! Thanks a lot!
posted by the dief at 7:37 PM on December 15, 2007


The "unwanted" is a revelation. Where can I get more?? When is the movie coming out???
posted by treepour at 7:42 PM on December 15, 2007


does anyone have the full lyrics to unwanted?
posted by outsider at 7:44 PM on December 15, 2007


In case you missed the liner notes:

The Most Unwanted Song:
Soprano: Dina Emerson
Speaking vocal: Nina Mankin
Children: Emma Ensign, Kate Polsky, Max Polsky
Piccolo/flute: Elissa Kleeman
Harmonica: Wade Schuman
Bagpipe: David Watson
Accordion: Yuri Lemeshev
Harp: Margerie Fitts
Organ: Mary Bopp
Banjo: Dave Soldier
Tuba: David Grego
Percussion: Christine Bard
Bass drum: Komar & Melamid
Conductor: Norman Yamada
posted by Mid at 7:55 PM on December 15, 2007


Unwanted+Garageband's new iPhone ringtone feature=AWESOME!
posted by sourwookie at 8:11 PM on December 15, 2007


Q: What do you get when you toss Klaus Nomi, Harry Partch, Hopalong Cassidy, some sugar crazed children, a tuba and my birthday in a blender and set it on pulse for 25 minutes?

A: My new favorite song!! Thanks, clockwork!

Komar and Melamid are such dang geniuses.
posted by maryh at 8:13 PM on December 15, 2007


The unwanted song pretty much encapsulates every thing I enjoy about music, and I'm quite a music fan. The wanted song was pap. I feel very unique and special now, so thanks for that!
posted by Dee Xtrovert at 8:14 PM on December 15, 2007


they had a frigging conductor?!?!

and, ps : is MeFi already 8 years old?
posted by liza at 8:16 PM on December 15, 2007


Well, I prefer the least liked to the best-liked by an order of magnitude or two, but I still wouldn't sit down and listen to it for twenty-five minutes. Then again, I threw away my bong in the Seventies.
posted by kozad at 8:41 PM on December 15, 2007


See, now this is why I'm a Luddite: I didn't wait for your darn "internet" and your darn modern "downloads" - no, I wrote off and mail-ordered the damn physical object back in the last century.

(And it's hilarious how many Mefites already know about this music.)

Yes, it's awesome, and you kids should all get off my lawn.
posted by AsYouKnow Bob at 8:47 PM on December 15, 2007 [1 favorite]


'unwanted' sounds like Architecture in Helsinki if they hocked half their instruments to hire a soprano.
posted by plant at 8:58 PM on December 15, 2007 [2 favorites]


The conductor was awesome when they performed this live. I can see a conductor decked out in a tuxedo conducting little kids singing about wal mart and roshashana.
posted by outsider at 9:22 PM on December 15, 2007


Unwanted is like the whole soundtrack of the Big Lebowski AT THE SAME TIME.
posted by mike_bling at 9:57 PM on December 15, 2007


...and so much more.
posted by mike_bling at 9:58 PM on December 15, 2007


Yeah, DO WANT the unwanted song.

Holland's least wanted painting is equally(?) amazing.
posted by macrowave at 10:20 PM on December 15, 2007


Opera and Hip-Hop: Two great tastes that go great together.
posted by not_on_display at 11:19 PM on December 15, 2007


The most wanted song is fucking awful. But an operatic singer rapping about cowboys? Massive victory!
posted by obvious at 11:47 PM on December 15, 2007


I can't tell you're all being sarcastic, but the most unwanted song really is enjoyable.
posted by null terminated at 1:45 AM on December 16, 2007


I'd like to take this opportunity to shine a little spotlight on Mr. Dave Soldier (you'll note he is the author of the brief essay from the first link of this FPP). While the original idea, the concept of the Most Wanted and Most Unwanted song springs from the fertile brains of Komar and Melamid, everything else (composition, arrangements, selection of players, etc.) has been the province of Dave Soldier, who did a fine job bringing the whole thing to fruition. And this is only one of the amazing projects this tireless composer/bandleader/player has been involved with over the years. He's also one of the folks behind the wonderful Thai Elephant Orchestra, he's been the leader of various ensembles over the years including the Soldier String Quartet and the Kropotkins (yours truly was a member of the latter group up until departing NYC back in '95: I was replaced by Moe Tucker of Velvet Underground fame!), the marvelous Tangerine Awkestra (kid's free-jazz big band!), plus he's worked with Kurt Vonnegut and lord knows who else... AND, he's a full time professor of neurobiology at Columbia University! So, those of you with a moment to spare, y'all drop by and pay a little visit to Dave's site, y'hear? Mulatta Records.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 3:19 AM on December 16, 2007 [4 favorites]


Finally, thanks to Ubuweb, Komar & Melamid's Most Wanted and Most Unwanted Songs (recorded in 1997) are now available online!

Nitpick: they've been available online for a while, just not for free: iTunes, emusic, Amazon MP3.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 3:20 AM on December 16, 2007


My wife just asked me, of the unwanted song, "Is this that song you guys always sing at karaoke?" Oh man, I wish.

(Also, I can independently confirm that Thai Elephant Orchestra is one of the greatest recordings ever.)
posted by No-sword at 4:00 AM on December 16, 2007


Kept thinking during the beginning of the least wanted one 'where's the bagpipes? I thought they were the most universally hated instrument...?" then the kicked in and I had to stop listening.

Still I lasted longer than the R&B mush of the other one... if that's the most wanted it goes a long way to explain the dire state of the music industry.
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 4:02 AM on December 16, 2007


this is the BEST christmakwanzashana present EVER!!!!!!!!!!! i write, of course, of the unwanted song. anything that can mix accordions and bagpipes and throw in some operatic cowboy rap with a soupcon of political commentary is right up my alley.

and flapjax, thanks for the mini-bio on dave soldier. i discovered the elephant orchestra a few years back (most likely either from here or from ubu), and have meant to order the disc. seeing that twink has released on his label is an added bonus. the problem now is deciding what to order.

thanks for the post, clockwork!
posted by msconduct at 4:14 AM on December 16, 2007


Oh my fucking god I'm laughing my ass off here. Unwanted is pure genious. Amazing, thanks clockwork!

HEY EVERYBODY! IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME!!!
posted by sveskemus at 4:47 AM on December 16, 2007


Fewer than 200 individuals of the world's total population will enjoy this

He's joking, right? Downloaded it.
posted by ersatz at 8:04 AM on December 16, 2007


The part that makes the "Least Wanted Song" even better is imagining how much fun it must have been to create.
posted by honeydew at 9:59 AM on December 16, 2007


The most wanted song sucks.
posted by OverlappingElvis at 11:20 AM on December 16, 2007


Jeez, Unwanted sounds like half of my music collection. (The good half.)
posted by Benjamin Nushmutt at 11:52 AM on December 16, 2007


I'm glad you pointed that info out, Flapjax. I've had this CD for a few years, alongside the Thai Elephant Orchestra.

Ah, the worthless/awesome things I learned in college.
posted by OrangeDrink at 12:01 PM on December 16, 2007


(And it's hilarious how many Mefites already know about this music.)

Some of them might have read about it on Metafilter.

Great to finally hear the whole tracks - the unwanted song is a genuine masterpiece.
posted by nylon at 12:25 PM on December 16, 2007


Shahaaakin my booty to the unwanted song right now.
But then again, I also love Nina Hagan.
posted by stagewhisper at 1:24 PM on December 16, 2007


the inspiration?
posted by stagewhisper at 1:31 PM on December 16, 2007


oh man... one of nylon's links has a powerpoint presentation with some of the survey results!
posted by clockwork at 2:41 PM on December 16, 2007


yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
posted by unknowncommand at 2:44 PM on December 16, 2007


I ordered the CD of this the first time it came out. The Most Unwanted Song has since been once of my favorite creations of all time. I used to play it in lab all the time until I was forced to stop.
posted by pombe at 9:18 PM on December 16, 2007


the Most Wanted and the Most Unwanted are both horrible for different reasons. The Most Wanted is so *generic*. It sounds like the radio format of middle-of-the-road offend-nobody stations across North America. It kills by cliche`

Whereas the Most Unwanted is interesting, but uninspired. I was doing fine until about 20 seconds before the end where some woman began shouting over a chorus. The sound of her voice was like nails dragging across a chalkboard. My, that Dave Soldier sure knows how to push buttons, there's a little something in there for everybody.
posted by seawallrunner at 10:06 PM on December 16, 2007


oh man. I just listened to the Wittgenstein part four times in a row. Well done, friendo.
posted by felix grundy at 8:37 AM on December 17, 2007


This is freakin' awesome, I'm another person who's wanted to hear the full 22 minute version of the Unwanted Song for years now (well, ah, not enough to pay for it though, apparently). Speaking of things that are not free, there was a segment of This American Life about this project and the painting project, from whence I first heard of it.
posted by whir at 10:26 AM on December 17, 2007


« Older Medieval Church Wall Paintings   |   Computing In Dark Rooms Newer »


This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments