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
"Jack-Ass" and "Strange Invitation" are distributed by DGC Records
No comments:
Post a Comment