I’m Old
Adam and I watched the latest SNL last night. We’re not religious viewers, but we keep it recorded for those times we need the medicine of laughter.
What make us laugh the most are, of course, the sketches. Especially the ones with Keenan Thomson.
But lately, the bits that make us laugh the hardest are the musical guests. And the lengths that many of them go to to stand out.
I get it. It’s crowded out there.
Which brings me to Geese, the musical guest from Jan 24. (video below if you wanna follow along.) (I think you should).
Prior to AI, I used to say that you could marry a random adjective with a random noun (do it right now in your head), and the pairing would be as believable as many-a-band name. Velvet Underground.
Now Chatgpt can do that for you. Same random result. Violet Telephone.
That said, Geese is a one word band name, born of the guitarist’s childhood nick name. One could argue it’s as preposterous as ‘The Beatles’ were to my parents.
Like I said, I’m old.
Cameron Winter, the front man is appealing – a “wife-beater” tank, kempt underarm hair, Keith Urban arms. I have to say – my type. So from the start, he’s ahead.
The four-piece plays. They’re undeniably proficient. Super cool intro. I’m intrigued.
Cameron starts singing “Au Pays Du Cocaine” – (not that I knew the title. I had to go online.) Thom Yorke meets Jim Morrison.
“You can stay with me, Baby,” Okay, keep going…
You can stay with me, baby
You can stay with me and nobody would care
You can stay with me
You can stay with me and just pretend I'm not there
Like a sailor in a big green boat
Like a sailor in a big green coat
You can be free
You can be free and still come home
It's alright
I'm alright
You can change
You can change
You can change
You can change
You can change
You can change
You can change
You can change
You can change
Baby, you can change and still choose me
To me this could totally be AI created. I don’t think it IS. But, the point is, it could be. It’s even got a little Dr. Seuss in there:
Like a sailor in a big green boat / Like a sailor in a big green coat
The Times wrote that Geese is one of the most talked about experimental bands of their generation. So I ask you, can you say anything and get away with it as long as you call it “experimental?”
In any event, the medicine is working.
I look at Adam and I said (with all seriousness) “SNL has finally done it. This is a sketch.”
He says I’m wrong. But I am laughing as hard as I was laughing at the sketch about the Trump Awards at the beginning of the show.
He’s right, though. They’re for real.
What do I know? I still listen to “Brandy … you’re a fine girl.” And … to be fair to me, John Mayer. I mean it doesn’t get better than “It Shouldn’t Matter But it Does.” You know why? Lyrics.
But that’s me. And I’m old.
I’m happy for Geese. I am. Or, rather, I’m happy they exist. Because I was totally and euphorically entertained last night. LMFAO. Not just at the song, but at myself – for just how old I really am. And that’s okay because these days I need all the medicine I can get.
PS This piece was originally titled I Think I’m Old. By the time I finished writing it I removed the “I Think.”
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