So I’m in the car the other day after a long hike, riding home with some people I know from Barcelona. I jokingly ask if they have any Bryan Adams to make the ride home more interesting. We all laugh at the prospect of listening to Canada’s greatest export, but two minutes later I hear the opening notes of Summer of ’69 on an acoustic guitar. Turns out they had the Bryan Adams Unplugged album on CD. Who knew that he had an Unplugged album?!?
Firstly, I am a Bryan Adams apologist. I loved “Everything I Do, I Do It for You”. I really loved “Heaven.” (Let’s be honest though, that song with Rod Stewart and Sting really sucked). His songs are poppy and corny, but if they catch you at just the right moment they can mean a little more than they should. Needless to say, hearing Bryan Adams on a sunny, warm afternoon after a long hike was awesome. Let me give you another example.
In undergrad I started to date this girl. She had a car, which was pretty rad for the 90s. And the first few times we drove around in it as a couple, Summer of 69 kept coming on the radio. A truly uncanny amount of times. Eventually it became ‘our’ song, all ironically, tongue-and-cheek style. A few years later, when I learned guitar, me, her and her roommate used to jam out to this. It was easy to play and even easier to shout along to.
Fast forward to 2010. When I hear this song now, it sounds a little different. The nostalgia of youth gone by that Bryan sings about is a little more real in my thirties. My enjoyment of it is a lot less ironic. In fact, it speaks to my own Summer of ’69. I’d like to think the halcyon days of the late-90s weren’t the best days of my life (we’d all like to think that they’re still ahead of us, right?!?!), but they were pretty damn good. This song for me now captures it.
Of course, it could have been any other song on the radio a bunch of times when I first started to date that girl. But it wasn’t. Bryan Adams, you’re officially on my life’s soundtrack. All the more amazing, it’s un-ironic.
Now please don't make any more shitty songs with Sting and Rod Stewart...
-P$
-P$
I gotta say, I pretty much hate Bryan Adams, but "Summer of '69" is the exception. I never get sick of it.
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Matty, do you imagine Pat to be like that guy in the Seinfeld episode where he makes everyone stop talking when "Desperado" comes on the radio?
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Totally. Elaine's ex-boyfriend has The Eagles' "Desperado", I have Lennon's "God", and Patiodee has Bryan Adams' "Summer of '69". What do you have, Kevin?
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I realize that some things, such as comedy, are subjective. But they aren't THAT subjective. "Seinfeld" is and was amazing. Still rewatchable to this day. It is the seed that eventually spawned "Curb Your Enthusiasm". And there is definitely room for both in the comedy landscape.
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Agreed, Kev. Though I would say that "Seinfeld" has gotten slightly dated over the years, it still holds up as one of the greatest of all time. And while I do love "Curb" it doesn't get me laughing nearly as hard as "Seinfeld" does.
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You have got to be kidding me. "Seinfeld" completely owns, its better than "South Park" and its leaps and bounds and miles funnier than anything that was ever shat out on "That 70's Show", which sucks and shouldn't even be in the same conversation about great sitcoms. I was never into South Park until I saw the movie, and while it isn't the greatest thing on Earth, it has its moments. I've actually started watching it a bit more frequently now. There's some good stuff there but not all time classic or anything. Sorry that you don't get it, buddy.
ReplyDelete"Seinfeld" seems dated now just because anything from the nineties feels dated now. But, like I'll just keep repeating, its still funny. Still makes me laugh. I currently find it more rewatchable then older Simpsons, which, growing up I thought would never happen.
-K
Know what was weird? Where did that whole "South Park" thing come from? No one mentioned "South Park".
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I just like to hate on South Park any opportunity I can. It bothers me that people like it so much.
ReplyDeleteI will say that Seinfeld had its moments (I liked the episode when Kramer stole the talk show set), but South Park is completely useless. Not redeemable in any way.
Note that I'm not saying that Seinfeld is horrible. Just overrated. And not as good as That 70s Show. It's still better than Becker!
I don't know, Patty. It sure sounds like you think "Seinfeld" is horrible. I've heard a lot of people hate on "Seinfeld" because the characters are annoying or unlikeable or whiny, and I understand that to an extent. But the fact that they could base an entire show that was as consistently funny and clever without ever really having a plot is pretty amazing. Yeah, it can seem dated with it existing in the early-mid 90's and all, but the characters and nuances are still there and, like Kevin, it keeps me laughing again and again.
ReplyDeleteI've actually warmed up to "South Park" over the years. I'm not the biggest fan and I feel that many episodes are not funny at all. Most of the time the second half is nearly unwatchable. But what I can say is that their social commentary can be pretty funny. They take shots at everyone and pick apart all kinds of events/people/circumstances which keeps it interesting for me. The recent episode where they make fun of Kanye and Carlos Mencia is hysterical, the one where they pick apart "Family Guy" to describe why it's not funny or clever is extremely acute, the Scientology episode was actually where I first learned what Scientology was all about, and the episode where Stan coaches a pee-wee hockey team that ends up playing the Detroit Red Wings is all kinds of wrong, but it still has its moments.
Having said all that, I do agree with Patty that "That 70's Show" is very funny and for me, might be the last great traditional comedy what with all the laugh tracks and such. Since then we've been dealing with more mature comedies in the likes of "Arrested Development", "The Office" "30 Rock", and my most recent favorite "Eastbound and Down". So I'm with you on Fez and Hyde and Kelso, Patty. But you know what does suck? Anything on CBS.
-M