I dunno

[calimac]

There's been a lot of discussion online of the meaning of either mourning or mocking the death of Glenn Frey of the Eagles. I'd like to weigh in on this, but I really feel unqualified to discuss it.

The Eagles are the band that did "Hotel California".

I have just stated the entire sum of my knowledge of the Eagles.

Comments

[sturgeonslawyer.livejournal.com]

Two other things you are probably familiar with:

1. "The Flight of the Sorcerer," which was used as theme music for < b>The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

2. "Take it Easy," which was as inescapable on radio around 1973 as "Hotel California" was around 1976.

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

I may have heard them - I don't remember any theme music to "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" - but not knowing them either by title or as Eagles songs means they don't count as anything I know about the Eagles. Whereas if you say "Hotel California" I at least know what song you're talking about.

(ETA that I wasn't listening to pop radio either in 1973 or 1976. I know "Hotel California" because it has continued to be inescapable ever since.)

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I never realised that about HGttG: I assumed the BBC had commissioned something quirky with banjos for the purpose.

[sturgeonslawyer.livejournal.com]

It's actually not the Eagle's original performance (which I believe is on their Desperado album), but is a close copy.

[andrewducker]

Pedant: Journey of the Sorcerer.

Pertinent bit, about 1:05 into this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rOMGIbY-9s

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

Report:

"Take It Easy" - nope, doesn't sound at all familiar.

"Journey of the Sorcerer" - oh yeah, now I remember that from HHGG, but compared to almost anything else in that show, it's thunderously unmemorable.

I've also actually listened to "Hotel California" for the first time ever, as opposed to hearing it in the background somewhere, and like many such songs it sounds a lot better when only dimly made out against a background of shopping mall noise.

[whswhs.livejournal.com]

I have "The Last Resort" (the final track on the album that has "Hotel California") in my political track. I think I actually disagree with their political slant, but it's an evocative song with some interestingly ironic language. I think it's my favorite of theirs.

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

I've listened to the song, and it is musically attractive. I'm not quite sure what its political slant is - song lyrics are not a very specific genre - apart from "overdevelopment sucks."

[supergee.livejournal.com]

I know one more thing about them: Big Daddy's Del Shannon pastiche version of "Hotel California" is awesome.