Album: Circle Jerks, Wönderful, 1985
Acquired: I picked this up at a skate shop in downtown Norfolk in 1986. I didn't skate -- too lummoxy -- but my friends at the time did. Posers unite. Or untie. Or something.
Best Track: "Mrs. Jones"
Lasting Memory: In December 1987, the Norfolk Catholic Crusader wrestling team traveled to Green Run High School for a tri-meet with that school's Stallions and the Cox Falcons. My Crusaders -- I wrestled heavyweight -- narrowly defeated the Stallions even though Green Run had around 3,000 students, while Catholic had an enrollment of just over 400. The Falcons, who were defending Virginia AAA state champions steamrolled us Crusaders 60-0. I was pinned in the third period by the Cox heavyweight, who was a two-time state title winner.
But that's not what I'm here to tell you about. What I'm here to tell you about is how even though Green Run had a really bad team, they did this very cool thing at the beginning of each home match where they ran out of the locker room to a blasting heavy metal song. At Catholic, we just sort of shuffled out of the locker room and waited for the ref to say it was time to stop chewing gum and start kicking ass.
On the bus home from the Green Rum tri, we were debating whether we should do a musical entry into the arena. Joe, our 98 pounder, had the winning but never implemented suggestion: He said it would only make sense for the Crusaders to take the mat to the inspiring refrains of the Circle Jerks' "Killing for Jesus."
If you just clicked and came back, please keep your politics in your pants. I also think the video is sophomoric and baiting, but then so would have been a bunch of Catholic high school kids alerting their opponents that pinning them was all part of God's ineffable plan. Neither quite rises to the level of irony, but both are good for a cheap laugh.
If nothing else, one has to give the Circle Jerks credit for understanding the value of the cheap laugh. The band name alone is a dead giveaway, there. I will also give credit to the band's members for being better musicians than practically any of their '80s California punk peers and for actually trying to make politically and socioeconomically relevant points.
The weird thing that struck me this morning, though, is that if they read without the intended (and delivered on record) snark and sneer, the overwhelming majority of the lyrics on Wönderful could be sung by Toby Keith or even Michael W. Smith and receive roars of approval from your average 2007 country music fan.
The second verse of the title track admonishes the kids
Acquired: I picked this up at a skate shop in downtown Norfolk in 1986. I didn't skate -- too lummoxy -- but my friends at the time did. Posers unite. Or untie. Or something.
Best Track: "Mrs. Jones"
Lasting Memory: In December 1987, the Norfolk Catholic Crusader wrestling team traveled to Green Run High School for a tri-meet with that school's Stallions and the Cox Falcons. My Crusaders -- I wrestled heavyweight -- narrowly defeated the Stallions even though Green Run had around 3,000 students, while Catholic had an enrollment of just over 400. The Falcons, who were defending Virginia AAA state champions steamrolled us Crusaders 60-0. I was pinned in the third period by the Cox heavyweight, who was a two-time state title winner.
But that's not what I'm here to tell you about. What I'm here to tell you about is how even though Green Run had a really bad team, they did this very cool thing at the beginning of each home match where they ran out of the locker room to a blasting heavy metal song. At Catholic, we just sort of shuffled out of the locker room and waited for the ref to say it was time to stop chewing gum and start kicking ass.
On the bus home from the Green Rum tri, we were debating whether we should do a musical entry into the arena. Joe, our 98 pounder, had the winning but never implemented suggestion: He said it would only make sense for the Crusaders to take the mat to the inspiring refrains of the Circle Jerks' "Killing for Jesus."
If you just clicked and came back, please keep your politics in your pants. I also think the video is sophomoric and baiting, but then so would have been a bunch of Catholic high school kids alerting their opponents that pinning them was all part of God's ineffable plan. Neither quite rises to the level of irony, but both are good for a cheap laugh.
If nothing else, one has to give the Circle Jerks credit for understanding the value of the cheap laugh. The band name alone is a dead giveaway, there. I will also give credit to the band's members for being better musicians than practically any of their '80s California punk peers and for actually trying to make politically and socioeconomically relevant points.
The weird thing that struck me this morning, though, is that if they read without the intended (and delivered on record) snark and sneer, the overwhelming majority of the lyrics on Wönderful could be sung by Toby Keith or even Michael W. Smith and receive roars of approval from your average 2007 country music fan.
The second verse of the title track admonishes the kids
Don't smoke, don't litter
Don't step on a beetle or ant
Always walk on the sidewalk
Never tread on the grass
Be kind, be courteous
Open the door for your mom
Help an old person across the street
Give the bum something to eat
In "Making the Bombs," the Circle Jerks do a fine job of giving voice to the inner dialogue of the patriot Toby Keith caricatures in "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American)." Don't believe me? Here's a few verses from the Circle Jerks:
Now here's a good bit of what Keith sings:
Listen to a clip from "Mrs. Jones"
Up Next: Eric Clapton, 1983 (A cassette reissue of a Polydor compilation that was originally released in the Netherlands in 1970 as part of the Music for the Millions series)
I spend my nights in the factory
Building bombs for the good of the nation
It's my job can't you see?
Massive plutonium radiation
They're gonna rock and destroy
Made from the finest of alloys
They're gonna fly under the radar
Six feet over the Russian horizon
[Chorus:]
Making The Bombs!
Making The Bombs!
I install electronic components
The little chips that know where home is
I get a thrill going through my section
When I give 'em my final inspection
I like the kind that save the buildings
Why take it out on pillars of stone?
You gotta kill you gotta maim
The real estate is not to blame
[Repeat chorus]
Making the world a nicer place
For us to be
Making the world a safer place
For you and me
Now here's a good bit of what Keith sings:
Now this nation that I loveThe intent is undeniably different, but the words are shockingly similar. I guess politics, like comedy, is all in the delivery.
Has fallen under attack
A mighty sucker punch came flyin’ in
From somewhere in the back
Soon as we could see clearly
Through our big black eye
Man, we lit up your world
Like the 4th of July
Hey Uncle Sam
Put your name at the top of his list
And the Statue of Liberty
Started shakin’ her fist
And the eagle will fly
Man, it’s gonna be hell
When you hear Mother Freedom
Start ringin’ her bell
And it feels like the whole wide world is raining down on you
Brought to you Courtesy of the Red White and Blue
Justice will be served
And the battle will rage
This big dog will fight
When you rattle his cage
And you’ll be sorry that you messed with
The U.S. of A.
`Cause we'll put a boot in your ass
It's the American way
Listen to a clip from "Mrs. Jones"
Up Next: Eric Clapton, 1983 (A cassette reissue of a Polydor compilation that was originally released in the Netherlands in 1970 as part of the Music for the Millions series)
1 comment:
Kieth's song is one of the nightly favorites of the gang at the BRASS BELl. You definitely don't want to be PC at the BRASS BELL.
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