Perhaps it is because I am a librarian that proper and correct citation is always essential, no matter the setting. In person - alright, use your air quotes (and hand parantheses if you must) - but it should go like this:
"Hey, hey, hey....it's [whoever just entered stage left]!" (you know, as One may say in everyday conversation) should really be, "As Fat Albert says, "Hey, hey, hey....!"" or more correctly, "As Bill Cosby wrote in the character of Fat Albert says, "Hey, hey, hey....!""
...if one where being Bartlettian about it. Sticklers, there's one in every happy hour crowd.
But more seriously, it kind of tousled my librarian's bun the other night watching American Idol when Blake (He of Morrissey-esque pouty singing mouth) picks a “Tim McGraw” song. [Ed. note: The quotes here representing sarcasm - the favored use of the accessory actually.]
Blakissey could have named any Tim McGraw song and I would have kept my head in my (citation) book because what are the chances I am going to know a Tim McGraw song. But when I heard the song title, “When the Stars Go Blue.” Well, I pushed my glasses up my nose and had to adjust my rabbit ears - and the TVs - because that song title sure sounds like a lovely little ballad by one Ryan Adams. And sure enough there he drawls, "Dancin' when the stars go blue..."
My ears half smiled as I was reminded of how beautiful that song is.
He (Blakissey) did a lackluster delivery of the song - his performance was too affected. That song needs to be soft, the lyrics coaxed gently. For that, Tim can leave the big band at home and The Corrs can dump Bono in the trashcan. (I am reminded of their version, although better than Tim's, but Bono get out of my ear buds already.) And apparently some One Tree Hill kids sing a version too but I'm sick of this already.
I'm not here to bash karaoke! I'm here for citation purposes.
That song is Ryan Adams, originally sung by and penned by. It should be properly cited as such, don't ya' think, Idol?
What's next? Are you going to have Gwen Stefani sing her song, "It's My Life"?*
*It's Talk Talk circa 1984.
1 comment:
At least he gave credit to Robert Smith when he did Lovesong (at least The Cure), although he had to add in there that it was the 311 version. That, however, does not excuse the Tim McGraw thing. Did you know that I had a debate with someone over the appropriateness of Bonnie Raitt during country week. My position was that she is more appropriately blues, but that sometimes the lines between blues. roots, & country are blurred. The person I debated with was insistent that she always knew Bonnie Raitt as country and never as blues. My fear is that a generation of young people will have the wrong assumptions about music.
Post a Comment