At the show last night, I was talking with my wife and a few of my friends, and the subject of plane crashes came up. That transitioned into what I can only assume is an age-old question: If you're on a plane that's plummeting to earth and you only have time to listen to one more song, what would it be?
At first I thought my song would be Radiohead's "Paranoid Android," which I think is one of the best songs ever written, but I'm not sure I'd truly appreciate the spastic crescendo of that number while free falling with coffee and carry-on luggage flying everywhere.
Next I thought perhaps Pink Floyd's "Time" or "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" or even "Great Gig in the Sky," which I guess would be sort of ironic in that circumstance.
I went through some other possibilities as well, but in the end I went with Fiona Apple's version of the Beatles' "Across the Universe." It's spiritual and mellow and it even includes some chanting, and that just seems like it would really work well with a heavy dose of impending doom.
And you?
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Plane-Crash Song
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31 comments:
"Airline to Heaven" by Billy Bragg & Wilco.
We have a ski run up here in Big Sky called Crazy Diamonds! I try a few lines every time I schuss off.
Loser, Bertha, Tarapin, I know you Rider, that should give the pilot enough time to slow decent to a safe speed.
That's not to say speed is safe.
Mom
rob: I love that Woody-inspired collaboration.
mom: Sorry, mom, no slowing down on this ride. You're taking the Dead to the grave.
MOE.-Plane crash
Up in the sky it's a bird
It's a plane - yeah it's a plane
I'm not afraid to fly, I'm not afraid
Yeah, I guess I'm afraid
Fear is a good thing
It teaches us humility
And it can keep us sane
So I'll fly if I have to
But if I could, I'd take the train
Livin' away from home
On the road all time
Ah, all the time
Driving up and down
And back and forth
No reason or rhyme
Yeah, you guessed right
Makes a grown man confront his fears
Consider options he'd normally decline
I'm gonna buy my ticket to fly
I'm gonna fly, I'm gonna fly
Strap me in tie me down
And roll me a bone
I'm gettin' on an airplane
And I'm flying home
Strap me in tie me down
I'm learning to fly
Drivin' 'cross the country
I get too fucking high
(Too fucking high)
I don't want to die
(Too fucking high)
Too fucking high
(Too fucking high)
Too fucking high
(Too fucking high)
Yeah!
(Removed Verse)*
Yeah they'll fly me so high
Twenty/Thirty thousand
That's pretty high
When they take off my chest sinks
My ears pop
I pray
I lie
I think about the network news
To torture myself
And to pass the time
Hear tell my seat cushion is a floatation device
Pray to god they ain't lying
Strap me in tie me down
And roll me a bone
I'm gettin' on an airplane
And I'm flying home
Strap me in tie me down
I'm learning to fly
Drivin' 'cross the country
I get too fucking high
(Too fucking high)
I don't want to die
(Too fucking high)
Too fucking high
(Too fucking high)
Too fucking high
(Too fucking high)
Yeah!
(Jam)
(Too fucking high)
I don't wanna die
(Too fucking high)
Too fucking high
(Too fucking high)
Too fucking high
(Too fucking high)
Too fucking high - high - high - high - high - high!
(Too fucking high)
Yeah!
don't know what song I'd listen to, but that pint of Guinness you have up is torture, while I'm here at work. You're killing me!
anonymous: What a nice name. That must be a 20-minute song. Are you just trying to delay the inevitable here?
spooge: Perhaps you should choose a Pogues song, then.
Chris Rea, Road to Hell
radiohead is a good choice, but I'd have to go with "Karma Police." if I were in a "deep, cinematic" mood.
otherwise, I'd have to go with "Happy Boy" by the Beat Farmers. :)
got to go with BOB.
THANK YOU LORD.
I sing it everyday on my way into work.
you can find it on Mr. Marley's box set.
josh: I only know Chris Rea by name, but I'm listening to "Road to Hell" right now and it's great. Very Leonard Cohen-ish, and that can only be good.
spooge: I've heard of the Beat Farmers, but I don't know them. I'll have to check them out.
raoul: It's impossible to go wrong with Bob.
Oh wow, your choice is perfect. I love Fiona Apple's version of that song. Love it!
I would have to go with The Pixies "Where is my Mind." I love that song.
Going Down by Glucifer.
I actually think about this very thing every time I board a plane. usually, I wonder what song I'll be listening to when the plane starts crashing,not so mch what i would choose when it starts to go down.
I'm surprised that Zee would choose anything but his favorite song "It's Raining Men".
Oh my God, Rob! I just almost spit stir-fry all over my computer!
Difficult choice, but assuming there will be a good collection on the other side where the past artists themselves might jam for you.......I keep going back to something classical with a Mannheim crescendo lurking til impact.
Road to hell was a great CD,the entire CD is great, however tread softly this is from the same artist whose biggest hit was "Fool if you think its over"...Yes Leonard Cohen, I'm a fan.
melissavina: I really like the original too, but Fiona's version, with her super soft, almost tired-sounding vocals, slay me every time. And I can hear Kim doing that background ooh ooh thing she does in "Where Is My Mind" as I type -- also an awesome song.
I'm kicking the Pixies tomorrow.
zee: I don't know that one, but I do find it interesting how many people are choosing songs that actually narrate the crash itself.
rob: That's two 'men' references in one day from you, pal. Got something on your mind you want to share with us?
dm: Save some for me, please. Pre-spit, of course.
clash: Rachmoninov wrote some stuff that makes me feel like I'm in a plane crash.
josh: I don't know that hit, but I'll check out the rest of Road to Hell.
The Counting Crows-
"There's a hole in the ceiling down through which I fell
There's a girl in a basement coming out of her shell
And there are people who will say that they knew me so well...
I may not go to heaven
I hope you go to hell."
Im going with....."Is That All There Is" by Peggy Lee. It is such an uplifting song. Or Karp's "Get your hands off my cake" because when I know im going to die I do not want ANYONE eating my cake.
Karp! I wonder what their drummer was listening to when he died in that boating accident?
No, he was listening to the guy next to him say, "dude im so wasted maybe I shouldnt be driving this boat". KARP RAWKS!!!!!!!!!
geto boy: You're definitely all about Counting Crows. Good band for sure.
paco: Welcome! I can't tell you how glad I am that you're here. And I'm very sorry about your unfortunate dental condition. I don't know Karp at all, even by name, but it sounds like I should check them out. Same with that Peggy Lee song.
A fine choice Bryan. I thought it was only me on that one.
Matt A: It's a beautiful song, mate. Side note -- Just today I was thinking of the time that you, Duncan and I drove around England in search of traces of the first motocross race. Good times.
I think the Indigo Girls song "Airplane" might be in order: "Up on the airplane, nearer my God to thee, I start making a deal inspired by gravity."
cs: I like those girls, but I don't know that song. I'm going to try to track it down, though. (And it sounds very appropriate.)
I don't know why I didn't think of this before, but Animated Airplanes Over Germany by Superchunk would also be an appropriate choice.
Pull down your blinds
Reach down under your seat
Call me one last time
From the phone in your seat...
zee: But wouldn't you rather choose a song that perhaps causes you to reflect on your life instead of focusing on the plane crash?
No. I'd much rather face my mortality with humor, dignity and grace. The irony of a song that provides a soundtrack to the crash is better for these purposes. Besides, I have been saying since High School (when I cut a slit under the shoulder of my denim jacket to hook my sony walkman onto)that the music carry with me is the soundtrack to my life. This is the death scene, and it will be scored appropriatley. Damnit.
zee: Beautifully said, pal.
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