Category Archives: music video

Hey Macklemore, can we go thrift shopping?

Thrift Shop is “blowin’ up the charts,” as the kids say, and I’m a big fan of the song. It’s got a good beat, you can dance to it and, more importantly, it preaches some great social commentary on pop culture and it’s effect on consumerism.

Before we dive too much deeper into this, let’s review the tape, shall we?

Fun, right? Now let’s review the lyrics:

 “Thrift Shop” (feat. Wanz)
Hey, Macklemore! Can we go thrift shopping?

What, what, what, what… [x7]

[Hook]
I’m gonna pop some tags
Only got twenty dollars in my pocket
I – I – I’m hunting, looking for a come-up
This is fucking awesome

[Verse 1]
Now, walk into the club like, “What up, I got a big cock!”
I’m so pumped about some shit from the thrift shop
Ice on the fringe, it’s so damn frosty
That people like, “Damn! That’s a cold ass honkey.”
Rollin’ in, hella deep, headin’ to the mezzanine,
Dressed in all pink, ‘cept my gator shoes, those are green
Draped in a leopard mink, girls standin’ next to me
Probably shoulda washed this, smells like R. Kelly’s sheets
(Piiisssssss)
But shit, it was ninety-nine cents! (Bag it)
Coppin’ it, washin’ it, ’bout to go and get some compliments
Passin’ up on those moccasins someone else’s been walkin’ in
Bummy and grungy, fuck it man
I am stuntin’ and flossin’ and
Savin’ my money and I’m hella happy that’s a bargain, bitch
I’ma take your grandpa’s style, I’ma take your grandpa’s style,
No for real – ask your grandpa – can I have his hand-me-downs? (Thank you)
Velour jumpsuit and some house slippers
Dookie brown leather jacket that I found diggin’
They had a broken keyboard, I bought a broken keyboard
I bought a skeet blanket, then I bought a kneeboard
Hello, hello, my ace man, my Miller
John Wayne ain’t got nothing on my fringe game, hell no
I could take some Pro Wings, make them cool, sell those
The sneaker heads would be like “Aw, he got the Velcros”

[Hook x2]

[Verse 2]
What you know about rockin’ a wolf on your noggin?
What you knowin’ about wearin’ a fur fox skin?
I’m digging, I’m digging, I’m searching right through that luggage
One man’s trash, that’s another man’s come-up
Thank your granddad for donating that plaid button-up shirt
‘Cause right now I’m up in her skirt
I’m at the Goodwill, you can find me in the (Uptons)
I’m that, I’m that sucker searchin’ in that section (Uptons)
Your grammy, your aunty, your momma, your mammy
I’ll take those flannel zebra jammies, second-hand, I rock that motherfucker
The built-in onesie with the socks on that motherfucker
I hit the party and they stop in that motherfucker
They be like, “Oh, that Gucci – that’s hella tight.”
I’m like, “Yo – that’s fifty dollars for a T-shirt.”
Limited edition, let’s do some simple addition
Fifty dollars for a T-shirt – that’s just some ignorant bitch (shit)
I call that getting swindled and pimped (shit)
I call that getting tricked by a business
That shirt’s hella dough
And having the same one as six other people in this club is a hella don’t
Peep game, come take a look through my telescope
Trying to get girls from a brand? Then you hella won’t
Then you hella won’t

(Goodwill… poppin’ tags… yeah!)

[Hook]

[Bridge x2]
I wear your granddad’s clothes
I look incredible
I’m in this big ass coat
From that thrift shop down the road

[Hook]

Is that your grandma’s coat?
I feel that right off the bat, just from the name of the song, you should be able to tell that this is not going to be your typical hip hop number where it sounds more like product placement than a song. And that’s an important point to my argument. I put forth to you, reader, that modern hip hop and pop music has drifted into a position where it is more important to mention things like “Benjamins” and cars than emotional connection and story. I don’t want to state, definitively, that this is bad or wrong. Art, in my opinion, cannot be bad or wrong it just may or may not be to your taste. “Product Placement Music,” or PPM as it will be referred to in this post, is not necessarily to my taste, but I’d be a filthy liar if i said I didn’t listen to or like a lot of it. It is easy to name check artists who mention brands, going back to the 80’s when Run DMC who sang about “My Adidas” to the constant mentions of Cristal and diamonds by just about everybody, including Jay Z. The push to show off conspicuous displays of wealth  dominates the lyrics of modern pop and hip hop. 

As with all trends, there will be those who reinforce it and there will be those who react against it. With “Thrift Shop” Macklemore and Ryan Lewis have shot a warning across the bow with a hit that directly addresses blatant consumerism in a tight beat.

At first glance it might be easy to laugh off “Thrift Shop” as nothing more than a white rapper novelty song designed to get him on the charts. It worked for Eminem for a few albums allowing him to get into the heads of mainstream America with hits like “My Name Is” but then following up with the deeper, more troubling songs like “Stan” (although, it is worth pointing out that there is far more subtext to ‘My Name Is” than this post gives credit for – that could be a whole different discussion). It wasn’t until I watched the Macklemore and Ryan Lewis  Tiny Desk Concert that I changed my mind. The first song, “Same Love” is specifically calling out the homophobia present in hip hop. There’s no if, ands or buts; Macklemore has a message and he’s delivering it in a fun package.

So let’s take a look at the song overall. “Thrift Shop” starts off with typical bravado, and then quickly draws in the listener with humor referencing R. Kelly peeing on things and how cheap stuff is while also asking for your, yes YOUR, grandpa’s hand me downs. The hook identifies blatant displays of wealth as ridiculous by saying, “I’m gonna pop some tags Only got twenty dollars in my pocket.” For those not familiar with the phrase “popping tags” it is defined by the Urban Dictionary as: “buying shit…poppin’ the tags off of merchandise.” Instead of Bentlys and Rolexes he’s buying broken keyboards and footie pajamas.

But the point really comes home here:

They be like, “Oh, that Gucci – that’s hella tight.”
I’m like, “Yo – that’s fifty dollars for a T-shirt.”
Limited edition, let’s do some simple addition
Fifty dollars for a T-shirt – that’s just some ignorant bitch (shit)
I call that getting swindled and pimped (shit)
I call that getting tricked by a business
That shirt’s hella dough
And having the same one as six other people in this club is a hella don’t
Conformity through purchase, not only is it wasteful, but also unimaginative.

For the record, I’m not advocating that we all stop buying expensive cars and jewelry  I love the way well made clothes fit and feel and they usually cost a bundle and I’m not much of a car guy, but I’ve driven some pretty bitchin’ vehicles and, while I may not want to own them, I can appreciate them. But I think that perspective is important, we, as a society, need to put the right kind of importance on luxury – that is to say almost none as far as I’m concerned. The items themselves mean very little, but the work you do to be able to get those things can mean so much more.

Big ups to Macklemore and Ryan Lewis for making a statement. I paid for the song, that’s my way of adding to those $20 in their pockets.

See you next time!

If you’d like to get the song you can download it from Amazon MP3!

Here’s the original explicit version:

Here’s the radio friendly version:
And here’s the whole album:

1 Comment

Filed under music, music video, social commentary

Uncle Tom’s Cabin – Probably not what you’re thinking.

I’ve had this song stuck in my head all day.

This song conjures really strong memories for me. I remember seeing the music video for the first time (music videos on TV, remember those?) and it was around Halloween time and it was one of the first times I had ever gone to Knott’s Scary Farm and it played on the radio on the way there and it was kind of spooky and got me even more excited to be scared by Knott’s monsters.

The song itself is pretty standard for the time, radio friendly hair-metal, but the combination of of the “bayou” guitar/banjo sounds and the creepy murder storyline really matched the feeling of Knott’s spooky Ghost Town. For whatever reason it is cemented in my brain.

I’m not sure why it popped back into my head today, but it was fun watching the video again and maybe now I’ve spread this little ear-worm to you as well!

See you next time!

Leave a Comment

Filed under music video

Project 365 4-7-2010

Along with our membership to Bally’s came a free personal trainer appointment.  Rene and I had that appointment today.  I’m shocked at how out of shape I am.  I thought I was good when I was poppin’ emails and talking contracts on the treadmill – but then Tony, that is the name of my torturer, invited me to workout with him and Rene.

I won’t embarrass myself by explaining how the “simple” cross training exercises made me feel like I was going to puke.  In my defense I knew that I was out of shape and had planned to keep it really light as I felt out my new environment.

I go back Friday for my scheduled ass-kicking.

Today’s pic has nothing to do with anything:

This was a sign outside the gas station that I saw when I was filling up. I always wonder why the gas station has a full on pizza joint in it and this sign does not help answer that question, but I guess I’m happy to know that there is a place to get bread sticks even while I get gas.

Also I like this song and video:

See you tomorrow!

Leave a Comment

Filed under getting fit, music video, project 365 2010, WTF

White Chicks & Gang Signs

An old favorite re-posted for my viewing pleasure.

See you tomorrow!

Leave a Comment

Filed under funny, music video, social commentary, video

Beat It!

Here’s another plug for Pomplamoose. They keep doing their thing and I celebrate them for it!

See you tomorrow!

2 Comments

Filed under blatant plug, music video

You’re gonna’ hate me, but you’ll love me for it!

There is an internet craze that is rarely exploited, mostly because it can get REALLY obnoxious. Here are some links to follow. I’m sorry and you’re welcome.

Shut up, lady, get on my horse!

Llama, llama, duck!

Badgers

See you tomorrow!

3 Comments

Filed under music video, musings, videos

Pomplamoose: Mr. Sandman & The Business of New Business

Below is the new videosong from Pomplamoose. I really like these guys and this version of “Mr. Sandman” sounds like it should be played on a corner in France. But what I like most about Pomplamoose is how they are monetizing their talent in regard to their ideals. Some of their earlier plans involved a thumb drive that contained all of their music for a very reasonable price and involving their fans in an album cover art competition, the results of which can be found on their MySpace page. As you’ll see at the end of this video they are getting ready to do another competition for new t-shirt art. The shirts themselves are going to be made as eco-friendly as possible and contain the art of fans who love the music.

I really dig what these two are doing and it’s my pleasure to promote them in this blog.

Enjoy! See you tomorrow!

2 Comments

Filed under blatant plug, business, music video

White People/Single Ladies

I will be back to my posting glory soon! I just finished a very intensive 3 day, 39 hour seminar and have been pretty much incommunicado since Thursday night. Inorder to get off on a good foot I’m posting this blog of Pomplamoose’s cover of “Single Ladies.” I love these guys!

See you tomorrow!

4 Comments

Filed under music video

Bonus Video Blog: Apache O.G. & Oh No!

Two versions of the song “Apache” originally recorded by The Shadows. I’ve included their video from a TV appearance in 1960. The video after that is of another group who covered the song in the 70’s with some of the same spectacular dancing you have come to expect from the videos I’ve posted.

Enjoy!


1 Comment

Filed under geek, music video, musings

Shameless Plug Post!


What good is a blog if you can’t help your friends? Well, actually I’m sure there’s lots of good a blog can do but this post in particular is nuthin’ but links to my stuff and my friend’s stuff.

If your stuff isn’t on here and you want it to be then post it in the comments.

Yay for shameless self-promotion!!!

Curtis Plugs:

Leave a Comment

Filed under 7k, general, Improv Shmimprov, music video, shameless self promotion, video, videos, Wiggy VonSchtick