Gem Music Video of the Week # 94: A New Moral Compass (the 80’s)
Song: What’s the Matter Here by 10,000 Maniacs
Covered Here By: Natalie Merchant (principle songwriter)
(Songwriters: Natalie Merchant and Robert Buck)
October 22, 2009
Back in the late 80’s, Nancy and I began subscribing to a then fairly new booklet released annually by the Council on Economic Priorities, titled “Shopping for a Better World”. This reputable booklet contained a comprehensive grading of virtually every major company and product available on the market at the time, from gasoline stations to toothpastes; beers to peanut butters. This was not your traditional consumer advocating, however: The CEP booklet’s focus was on an entirely different set of rules. Ratings, which ranged from ‘Outstanding’ to ‘Poor performance’, were broken up into ten categories: 1) Giving to charity; 2) Women’s Advancement; 3) Minority Advancement; 4) Animal Testing; 5) Disclosure of Information; 6) Community Outreach; 7) South Africa (with whom business dealings at the time were considered by many as a no-no); 8) Environment; 9) Family Benefits; and 10) Workplace Issues. There was also an ‘Alert’ column for additional information. The research was thorough and dedicated to, among other things, changing the relationship between business and the environment. I soon found myself using it for practically everything I purchased.
Although Nancy and I were trying to ‘do our part’, there were many who were getting into this new outside-the-box way-of-thinking at a much deeper level. The 1980’s were an interesting transition period for the conscience-minded in the growing number of Rock and Roll generations, who were trying to counterbalance the ultimately prevalent ‘Me, Me, Me’ stamp on the decade. Where during the 60’s and 70’s, the emphasis was to advance causes outside the system, a shift took place around this time to work within the system. Altruistic undertakings were popping up all over the place, often advanced by musicians and supported by fans. There was Live Aid, Farm Aid, and Band Aid, and other events such as “No Nukes” and “Human Rights Now!” (Amnesty International). Pleas were being made incessantly by musicians like Bob Geldof to help reverse the plight of peoples in places like Africa and Bangladesh
A fair percentage of the 60’s counter culture who ‘dropped out’ in the 70’s (discussed for the last Gem) were coming out of their shells guided by a new moral compass (they were symbolized by John Lennon, who emerged from his multi-year Dakota Apartment hibernation to produce an album and reconnect with the general public just before his murder). Where before, there was reaction to issues that directly affected them and their families, now these hippies of yore were focusing more on what affected other people and places, including neighbors they may have never met; poor, displaced and starving people in other countries; collapsing ecosystems on the other side of the planet; and endangered species.
A world view was beginning to take shape in North America and Europe . People were broadening their horizons as they worked their way out of their comfort zones. This was certainly the case for me. Between 1980, when I graduated from high school in the (then) small town of Franklin Ottawa , Canada Europe trips I and II. There was an oddball collection of job descriptions, finally and somehow, inextricably, leading to the US Geological Survey and a professional series position in lines with my degree. There were multiple mailing addresses in diverse locales, ending in an equally inextricable home purchase with Fred. There were back-pack mountain hikes and multi-day canoe trips. There were concerts, weddings and parties of all shapes and sizes. There were causes to walk, jog and run for and eco-centric conference booths to man on weekends. There were a wide variety of new friendships.
And smack dab in the middle of the 80’s, (25 years ago next week to be exact), I met Nancy, who introduced me to terminology and ways of thinking that fit in rather nicely with the big picture of the time. Her focus was on a new health paradigm. Some words she used, like ‘holistic’, ‘organic’, ‘homeopathic’ and ‘immune system’ were new to me. Others like ‘nutrition’, ‘balanced diet’, and ‘juicer’ would take on new meaning (a ‘juicer’, used to grind vegetables into liquid pulp to drink as a morning breakfast, would take on yet another meaning this past decade, with the help of Jose Canseco). Nancy
Eventually, Nancy Nancy Nancy
Since it has been 25 years since we met, I figured the story of our initial chance encounter was worth telling, at least for those who have not heard it (or gotten it in dribs and drabs).
If you have ever watched the half-baked comedy, “What’s up Doc?” starring Barbara Streisand, Ryan O’Neil, and multiple identical briefcases, you can connect with what initially comes to my mind when recalling how Nancy and I met. College buddy Kurt had invited me to a Halloween Party in Winchester Boston
After arriving at the party, and going inside for a few pops, I said to Kurt, ‘Get a load of my costume’. We headed back to my car and I opened the bag. I was shocked. There was nothing in it but a yellow wig, monster mask, and ripped sheet (until then, I was unaware of what Pat had in his bag). I was high and dry and feeling bad, knowing how much effort Mom had put into that costume (I was also wondering what Pat did when he made the bag-switch discovery on his end).
Now, I was never the most forthcoming of guys when it came to meeting ladies, but at that moment, all inhibitions were out the window. I put the costume on and transformed into a yellow-wigged alter ego of myself. Nancy Nancy
Although 80’s music suffered to some degree from the weight of following in the footsteps of what transpired the decades beforehand, it did manage to find its own niche, fed by the moral compass of the times discussed above. One band that stepped to the fore was 10,000 Maniacs, fronted by Natalie Merchant, who carried a fantastic stage presence about her. I could not find a quality Maniacs version of this week’s Gem, “What’s the Matter Here?”, but I did find a very worthwhile viewing of a Merchant solo performance of the song with a backing band. The lyrics (which are listed below) are a perfect example of the conscience that was sweeping the Rock generation of the period. The bridge near the end is one of the best bridges Rock music has to offer.
Immediately below is a list of ‘Great Band Names’. Below that is the Gem video and a number of other videos from the 80’s. Below these are the lyrics to ‘What’s the Matter Here?’.
Next week: The 90’s and ‘Great Song Names’. Input is welcome.
I will close with a favorite 80’s exhortation of Mac’s, who shared many-a-great times with me during the decade…..
Festival!
- Pete
Great Band Names
1. ‘The Butthole Surfers’ (My mind can only go so far with this image before it shuts down)
2. ‘The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band’ (Only a band with a name like this could pen a song titled ‘Death Cab for Cutie’)
3. Bare Naked Ladies (Did they think of the competition when typing this in on
You Tube?)
4. ‘The Dead Milkmen’ (This is what happens when punks perform cow tipping in milking pens)
5. ‘Hot Tuna’, ‘Meatloaf’, ‘Captain Beefheart’, ‘Flock of Seagulls’, ‘Dixie Chicks’, and ‘Trout Fishing in America’ (Six way tie. What is it about naming your band after fish, poultry, and beef?)
6. ‘Rage Against the Machine’ (And have these guys ever lived up to this name)
7. ‘Doobie Brothers’ (Gets the nod over Jethro Tull for refer reference)
8. ‘Limp Bizkit’ (inspired by a pet dog with a crooked step)
9. ‘Sly and the Family Stone’ (They put ‘cool’ back in ‘family’ during an invasion of Partridges)
10. ‘Blue Oyster Cult’ (I believe the name is half the reason why this is Stephen King’s favorite band)
11. ‘Social Distortion’ (This is what happens when amps are cranked up to ‘11’)
12. ‘Shonen Knife’ (‘Swiss Army Knife, the English equivalent, simply would not have held up)
13. ‘Big Brother and the Holding Company’ (An Orwellian double-double entendre)
14. ‘Rat Race Choir’, ‘Boomtown Rats’ and ‘Ratdog’ (3 way tie and I’m not sure why)
15. ‘Thunderclap Newman’ (There’s just ‘Something in the Air’ there)
16. ‘Psychedelic Furs’ (What the Exxon Valdez left in its wake)
Gem Video: Natalie Merchant “What’s the Matter Here?”
Gem Video 94B (in case this weeks Gem Video cannot perform all its duties throughout the course of the week *although I doubt it*)
The Talking Heads ‘Wild, Wild Life’
The Pretenders ‘My City was Gone’ (the ultimate anti-suburbia-sprawl song)
Tom Petty ‘Jammin’ Me’ (I’ve always wondered if one of the names mentioned in the lyrics lead to Petty’s house going up in flames not long after the song’s release)
Smithereens ‘Blood and Roses’ (A Nancy fav band)
R.E.M ‘Orange Crush’
UB40 ‘Red Red Wine’
Dire Straits ‘Industrial Disease’
Blondie ‘Heart of Glass’
Lyrics to ‘What’s the Matter Here?’
That young boy without a name I'd know his face.
In this city the kid's my favorite.
I've seen him. I see him every day.
Seen him run outside looking for a place to hide from his father,
the kid half naked and said to myself "O, what's the matter here?"
I'm tired of the excuses everybody uses, he's their kid I stay out of it,
but who gave you the right to do this?
We live on
Morgan Street;
Morgan Street;
just ten feet between and his mother, I never see her,
but her screams and cussing, I hear them every day.
Threats like: "If you don't mind I will beat on your behind,"
"Slap you, slap you silly."
made me say, "O, what's the matter here?"
I'm tired of the excuses everybody uses, he's your kid, do as you see fit,
but get this through that I don't approve of what you did to you own flesh and
blood.
"If you don't sit on this chair straight
I'll take this belt from around my waist and don't think that I won't use it!"
Answer me and take your time,
what could be the awful crime he could do at such young an age?
If I'm the only witness to your madness offer me some words to balance out what
I see and what I hear.
All these cold and rude things that you do I suppose you do because he belongs
to you
and instead of love, the feel of warmth you've given him these cuts and sores
won't heal with time or age.
I want to say "What's the Matter here?"
But I don't dare say.
About the Video: Natalie Merchant with a 5 or 6 piece band playing in an ‘unplugged’ like environment, perhaps around the mid 00’s. A red-hair woman is playing the upright double bass (with rod) behind her.
Video Rating: 1
Best Feedback: Joe
Pete - great grabbing lunch today....I am still sweating from the sauce...I did a quick search on great band names...could not make it past A -
A Cat Born In An Oven Isn't A Cake
Above Average Weight Band
Abstract Penis Brigade
Admiral Poopy Pants and His Dancing Teeth
The Advil Monkey
Aha, the Attack of the Green Slime Beast
The Al Roker Death Cult Wind Ensemble
Albino Toilet Boys
Alien Nymphos from Uranus
The Alien Puppets
Almighty Lumberjacks of Death
Amish Meth Lab
The Anally Devoted Husbands
An Emotional Fish
Angry Amputees
Are These My Pants?
Armed and Hammered
Armpit
The Arrogant Worms
Arthur Loves Plastic
Ashtray Boy
The Atomic Bitchwax
Avenging Lawnmowers of Justice
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And Madeline: Pete,
Thanks for reminding me of one of the best Halloween parties ever! Congrats to you and Nancy on the 25th anniversary of your meeting. That flew by!
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And Jen:
Fun recounting your chance meeting with Nanc. Funny story. And I really liked 10,000 then Natalie Merchant, back in her day. Have some of hers on my playlist, heard Festival just yesterday, running.
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And Bob:
Hi Pete,
You have done an excellent job over the years in providing the glue to keep us all in touch. The Gem Video was a great idea and I enjoyed reading your weekly mails. Your writing skills as well improved to such an extent that I am really amazed at how well you articulate your thoughts. You definitely have a lot of talent.......I think the perfect job for you to be writing free lance for the Rolling Stones mag.
You have done an excellent job over the years in providing the glue to keep us all in touch. The Gem Video was a great idea and I enjoyed reading your weekly mails. Your writing skills as well improved to such an extent that I am really amazed at how well you articulate your thoughts. You definitely have a lot of talent.......I think the perfect job for you to be writing free lance for the Rolling Stones mag.
Cheers
Bob
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