MusiClack – Thanksgiving leftovers

Michael: Last year at this time, we committed a CommercialClack about Black Friday featuring Maria Bamford, the Target spokesperson who’s made a “comeback” this season, much to many of our chagrins. Although there are several new Target ads on television surrounding the holiday buying season, I just couldn’t bring myself to deal with her again this year. I thought it better to mix it up and put her out of my mind. I’m certain she’s a terrific comedian, but she gets on my nerves.

Tara: If she’s a terrific comedian, she’s hiding it well for the boatload of cash she’s making. I  happened to see the one today where she’s sitting there looking at the Target circular and maniacally screaming “It’s here! It’s here!” You know the one Michael, as you’re probably gritting your teeth right now. She just makes me mad.

Michael: Well, why don’t we not jabber about her then? She does enough of that on those commercials anyway.

So! What’s more timely than doing a MusiClack with a little “bird” theme going on in light of the fact we just wrapped up Thanksgiving?

First up? A Sesame Street spot with none other than Big Bird and his appetite. This video is amusing to me because I sing this song at appropriate times about everyday things being different or when a fitting situation arises to break out the tune:

Tara: Ya gotta love Big Bird. I swear to you I can still remember shouting out the answer to “which thing was not like the other” as a tiny tot. My only complaint is that Susan was in this clip and not Bob. He was awesome. However! I think we can agree that Big Bird is one of the best birds ever.

Michael: He’s a downright childhood staple.

And then there is one of my favorite all-time bands, The Cramps. As a kid, my son used to love this particular song. We had it cranked up on the car stereo at ear-splitting volumes. Good times. It was one of those strangely odd videos that played on the MTV during 3:00 a.m. insomnia slots. It’s definitely more about the music than it was the images.

Tara: I’d never heard this song until you pointed it out. I’m surprised I missed it, as I was a total MTV 3:00 a.m. kinda person. It would be interesting to have a Dad who blared this in the car. My Dad tended to blare Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey. Or sing his own made up songs, of which the best was called I’m Glad I Didn’t Leave My Baby in the Car in Detroit. I miss him.

Michael: Improviser, eh? I do quite a bit of that myself.

Tara: And! This song automatically made me think of the Dire Straits tune Twisting By the Pool which is neither here nor there and has absolutely nothing to do with birds. I know. I’m a difficult writing partner.

Michael: You can be. But you put up with that Cramps video, so you’re all right in my book.

Speaking of which … if that last video wasn’t strange enough, I’ve headed into Funk and Disco territory with the next little morsel. The thing is, Paloma Blanca (“white dove”) doesn’t fit into either of those genres. This catchy, dopey little tune was a bona fide hit back in the day — it was a #1 Hot Adult Contemporary track in the U.S. and Canada (!!!) and it was #26 on the Billboard Hot 100 rankings.  1976 was definitely a strange, strange time for music.

 Tara: I have one word … ick. I blame AM radio for a lot of people going temporarily bonkers back then.

Michael: The last of “the flock” for this edition of MusiClack? Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds.

Tara: Oooooo this is the best! I had no idea this song was called “Three Little Birds!” We loved it back in Michigan State dorm room days. Perfect complement to … oh never mind. Suffice it to say? Even if you’re in the worst mood imaginable this song will make you feel better. Maybe we should have it piped into Congressional buildings on a permanent loop. Then perhaps they’d all kiss and make up and get to work on the fricking economy.

Michael: If you did that, then Congress wouldn’t have any leftovers.

Clacked by Michael Noble
on Nov 25, 2011 @ 14:00 EST5EDT