Everybody's Talking At Me
'Everybody's Talking At Me' by Harry Nilsson is a song I only like when it's not the original. Not sure why. I've always thought it's completely corny and stupid. Yet the song itself is good. It's probably just the way Harry sings it.
I realized this just now. It's almost half 11 in the morning. I'm still in my pajamas. My head is completely blocked, but at least my left ear is no longer in pain. (Thank you 24 Hour Cold&Flu meds.) Also, I'm coughing my guts up less. That too is good.
Ok, that's probably too much information. Moving on.
I put the playlist I made last night (focused around the Neil Young stuff I have, plus Buffalo Springfield, The Byrds, Cat Stevens, and a cd I just got in the post - Bonnie Dobson) grabbed my laptop and a cup of herbal tea, and settled in for another morning of not moving around. My iPhone shifts through the songs, and eventually gets to a cover of Nilsson's song by Bonnie Dobson. I sat and thought, "I really like this."
I also thought about my trip home from Paris this past Tuesday. What a not-so-great-morning that was. Sarah left at about 4am. I saw her off and then trudged back up to bed to sleep another 5 hours. I slapped some French TV on and tried to doze - that was a difficult process. I was grateful for the extra time though. I probably would have been in a much worse condition having to wait around 5 hours at the airport for my flight. At least I had a bed I could lie in, even if I didn't sleep.
I checked out of the hostel and walked in a clouded daze to the train station. I slowly found my way to a ticket booth and said a stuffy "Un billet au Charles de Gare". The woman said something I wasn't even going to begin being bothered about not understanding. We exchanged money and ticket and I found my way downstairs to the train.
On the train, I pulled my Kleenexes and book out. I'd read a couple pages, blow my nose, and read some more. Thank goodness I was coherent enough to get myself to a train, for when I was sitting I was lost in a world of snot, French graffiti, and foreign tongues.
But not too far into the train ride I hear the busker in the back play 'For No One.' (electric guitar, mic, small amp) He sang it in quite a weird English accent. He was probably French, but the English words he sang came out in a way that sound very different than when French people *speak* English. [GAH! I wish I could do my PhD....] I smiled at the window. He played a fun Ventures-y/Shadows-y instrumental after that. Then I heard a track of 'Everybody's Talking at Me' come on, which was being sung in French. It was a full track - drums, more guitars, strings. I didn't turn to look behind me, so I assumed maybe the guy was singing with a pre-recorded track ('How lame,' I thought). This was actually the time he walked around collecting money for his performance. Two songs? And then you get your money? But I was too sick, too dazed, and too lacking in my French speaking skills to do anything about it. I gave him a Euro and looked back out the window.
So there you have it. I like the song, but not the original. Now I have some memories I can tag to it, though. That's always good.
Another memory already associated with this song: how Justin [high school boyfriend] used to make fun of the wah-wahs in this song. "Just imagine guys driving around in the car singing those 'wah-wahs' thinking how cool they were," he'd say. What a guy. He sure liked his oldies. He was a good first boyfriend to have.
Ah memories.
Speaking of which, 'Cortez the Killer' has just come on. I first heard this song when I heard it covered by Built to Spill. That was from a mix CD Joe made our book club in June of 2004. What a great summer for music.
I realized this just now. It's almost half 11 in the morning. I'm still in my pajamas. My head is completely blocked, but at least my left ear is no longer in pain. (Thank you 24 Hour Cold&Flu meds.) Also, I'm coughing my guts up less. That too is good.
Ok, that's probably too much information. Moving on.
I put the playlist I made last night (focused around the Neil Young stuff I have, plus Buffalo Springfield, The Byrds, Cat Stevens, and a cd I just got in the post - Bonnie Dobson) grabbed my laptop and a cup of herbal tea, and settled in for another morning of not moving around. My iPhone shifts through the songs, and eventually gets to a cover of Nilsson's song by Bonnie Dobson. I sat and thought, "I really like this."
I also thought about my trip home from Paris this past Tuesday. What a not-so-great-morning that was. Sarah left at about 4am. I saw her off and then trudged back up to bed to sleep another 5 hours. I slapped some French TV on and tried to doze - that was a difficult process. I was grateful for the extra time though. I probably would have been in a much worse condition having to wait around 5 hours at the airport for my flight. At least I had a bed I could lie in, even if I didn't sleep.
I checked out of the hostel and walked in a clouded daze to the train station. I slowly found my way to a ticket booth and said a stuffy "Un billet au Charles de Gare". The woman said something I wasn't even going to begin being bothered about not understanding. We exchanged money and ticket and I found my way downstairs to the train.
On the train, I pulled my Kleenexes and book out. I'd read a couple pages, blow my nose, and read some more. Thank goodness I was coherent enough to get myself to a train, for when I was sitting I was lost in a world of snot, French graffiti, and foreign tongues.
But not too far into the train ride I hear the busker in the back play 'For No One.' (electric guitar, mic, small amp) He sang it in quite a weird English accent. He was probably French, but the English words he sang came out in a way that sound very different than when French people *speak* English. [GAH! I wish I could do my PhD....] I smiled at the window. He played a fun Ventures-y/Shadows-y instrumental after that. Then I heard a track of 'Everybody's Talking at Me' come on, which was being sung in French. It was a full track - drums, more guitars, strings. I didn't turn to look behind me, so I assumed maybe the guy was singing with a pre-recorded track ('How lame,' I thought). This was actually the time he walked around collecting money for his performance. Two songs? And then you get your money? But I was too sick, too dazed, and too lacking in my French speaking skills to do anything about it. I gave him a Euro and looked back out the window.
So there you have it. I like the song, but not the original. Now I have some memories I can tag to it, though. That's always good.
Another memory already associated with this song: how Justin [high school boyfriend] used to make fun of the wah-wahs in this song. "Just imagine guys driving around in the car singing those 'wah-wahs' thinking how cool they were," he'd say. What a guy. He sure liked his oldies. He was a good first boyfriend to have.
Ah memories.
Speaking of which, 'Cortez the Killer' has just come on. I first heard this song when I heard it covered by Built to Spill. That was from a mix CD Joe made our book club in June of 2004. What a great summer for music.