Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Tuesdays with Media: Jack-Ass vs. Strange Invitation

Today, I will be reviewing two versions of the same song, though they each have their own name: "Jack-Ass" and "Strange Invitation."

Jack-Ass

Strange Invitation

"Jack-Ass" was the fifth and final single from Beck's third studio album, Odelay.  It's a lighthearted and fun song that doesn't seem to be about a lot.  Beck's lyrics are noted as mostly being nonsensical (at least at first glance), but when you hear a song's lyrics with the music you can usually suss out the theme, if not the meaning.  "Jack-Ass" is a little different since the lyrics never seem to line up with the music: the words seem to be a narrator putting himself down for his follies.  The title of the song seems to be calling the narrator, or perhaps the audience, a fool.  Though the song does end with a donkey braying, so it may just be a reference to that.

"Strange Invitation" is the same song, but a little slower and a bit more melancholy.  It also removes the prominent sample from "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" by Them.  That sample was the main part of "Jack-Ass" that made it so fun, but it also distracted from the meaning of the song: drifting through life without purpose.  With words like, "I've been drifting along in the same stale shoes" and "When I wake up, someone will sweep up my lazy bones," it starts to become clear as to the songs message.

I prefer the sadder "Strange Invitation."  It feels more honest.  It knows that it doesn't have a happy message to share and it doesn't try to cover it up with a jaunty melody.  Too much art, especially in America, is overly happy.  Life isn't always happy, so I appreciate art that honestly portrays that.

"Jack-Ass" and "Strange Invitation" are distributed by DGC Records

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