This is a free write, which means I’m not caring about the literary value of this entry or whether I use a dash where I should use a semi-colon. I just need to write and remember where I heard this song that’s stuck in my head.
I’ve been running all over creation, living from ticket to ticket and out of pink suitcases, briefcases, sneakers, iPods and mittens. I think I have issues with pink addiction.
I’ve been thinking a lot about soundtracks for a future entry I’m writing. Have you ever noticed that a couple of days will go by, and all these previously meaningful or presently pertinent or just plain great songs keep playing wherever you go?
It happens to me when things are going well in my life and maybe that’s just because I’m more relaxed and therefore more open to what’s going on around me. Every place I’ve been to over the past few days had some perfect song playing right after I walked in.
And in the middle of a conversation with my friend L and this hot bartender chick at a weird little bar on Monday night, some song I had never heard started playing. I stopped the girls from talking and demanded that the bartender tell me who sang the song.
She grabbed a notepad full of guest checks, ripped one off, scribbled, looked at me and said, “Ok GO!”
I said, “No, tell me who sings this.”
“Ok GO.”
This went on a few more times before I realized the name of the band singing the song was Ok GO. Mind you, I was so sloppy that I walked into a wall at the end of the night. I have no recollection of this (how old am I?).
Anyhow, it’s this song that has such great lyrics that sound so fun and flippant and airy, but they are really a twisted little mindfuck. It’s like a sado-masochism meringue pie and I fucking looooove it. I don’t care that it came out a year ago; I want a slice. And the video (included here) just adds to the nonchalance of the message. So funny.
Further adding to the overall perfection of this song for my life soundtrack was the fact that I heard it while sitting in a bar, and while asking the bartender to play certain songs over again. Yes, that’s it. That stupid bar. It was perfect. All of it. Perfect.
The bartender's note
sit back, matter of fact
teasing, toying, turning, chatting, charming
hissing, playin’ the crowd
play that song again
another couple Klonopin
a nod, a glance, a half-hearted bow
oh such grace
oh such beauty
and lipstick and callous
and fishnets and malice
oh darlin’
(chorus:)
you’re a million ways to be cruel
(one zero zero zero zero zero zero cruel)
you’re a million ways to be cruel
(one zero zero zero zero zero zero cruel)
you’re a million ways to be cruel
i should, i wish i could, maybe if you were i would
a list of standard issue regrets
one last eighty proof, slouchin’ in the corner booth
baby, it’s as good as it gets
oh such grace
oh such beauty
so precious, suspicious, and charming and vicious
oh darlin’
you’re a million ways
oh darlin’
chorus
oh darlin’
oh darlin’
you’re a million ways
oh darlin’
oh darlin’
you’re a million ways
oh, darlin’
oh darlin’
you’re a million ways to be
oh oh oh oh oh
chorus
oh darlin you’re a million ways to be cruel.
Dangerously Enthusiastic 