Cheesy "So What"

[Ike Harris]

If you're one who notices what's playing on the Musak while going through stores, etc., you'll relate to this. I was walking through Sears today at our neighborhood mall and was stopped dead in my tracks when I heard a melody that sounded like Miles' "So What". It was a generic rock beat probably done via loop, the melody was NOT done on bass, although the counter(So What) lick was there. It was just overall reduced to another nothing tune that you usually hear over the speakers that sounded like it was done by a society band I have to endure occasionally. I'm sure whoever produced this thing thought he was being clever, but it pretty sickening from my end of things. Has anyone else had "stop in your tracks" moments like these that no one else but us would appreciate?

Ike

[Jeff Guevin]

Once I saw this awful movie where kids sang Trane's My Favorite Things with the worst lyrics you can imagine--all puppies and rainbows and crap. Sheesh.

[ctxbass]

Originally Posted by jguevin

Once I saw this awful movie where kids sang Trane's My Favorite Things with the worst lyrics you can imagine--all puppies and rainbows and crap. Sheesh.

[arto alho]

Originally Posted by Ike Harris

If you're one who notices what's playing on the Musak while going through stores, etc., you'll relate to this. I was walking through Sears today at our neighborhood mall and was stopped dead in my tracks when I heard a melody that sounded like Miles' "So What". It was a generic rock beat probably done via loop, the melody was NOT done on bass, although the counter(So What) lick was there. It was just overall reduced to another nothing tune that you usually hear over the speakers that sounded like it was done by a society band I have to endure occasionally. I'm sure whoever produced this thing thought he was being clever, but it pretty sickening from my end of things. Has anyone else had "stop in your tracks" moments like these that no one else but us would appreciate?

Ike

Yep. Every time I hear Kenny G.
R2

[Jake]

What are you talking about, Kenny G is a jazz legend!!!

[Jake]

You know I was just kidding, right?

[Jake]

BTW, I think those puppies and rainbows lyrics are the original lyrics to My Favorite Things. I know the tune is by Rogers and Hammerstein and I believe it was written for a musical back in the 1930's. It was probably a pretty unexpected tune for John Coltrane to use. I don't think any jazz musicians used it before him.

[Jeff Guevin]

Originally Posted by Jake

BTW, I think those puppies and rainbows lyrics are the original lyrics to My Favorite Things. I know the tune is by Rogers and Hammerstein and I believe it was written for a musical back in the 1930's. It was probably a pretty unexpected tune for John Coltrane to use. I don't think any jazz musicians used it before him.

You know I was just kidding, right?

[TroyK]

I've always felt that Trane picked that tune because it was the dorkiest song ever and he could make it sound cool. A generation went by and people think it's a jazz standard, but they 'aint Coltrane and it's the dorkiest song ever...Someday My Prince Will Come is right on it's heals, though.

Yep, I got that you were kidding and it made me fall out of my chair. Well done.

Troy

[mje]

Originally Posted by TroyK

I've always felt that Trane picked that tune because it was the dorkiest song ever and he could make it sound cool....

I can't imagine a musician like Coltrane picking a "dorky song" just to make some sort of point; I think he picked it because it really does have a great melody.

There are a lot of great tunes whose lyrics are best left unsung. "Alice in Wonderland" comes to mind.

[Ed Fuqua]

And there's something that he liked about that "minor to major with the same root" vibe, as in his own composition SYEEDA'S FLUTE SONG. And don't forget he got the same vibe going with INCHWORM offa that Impulse record....