ECLECTICA 8: WWBD (More Culture Schlock)
compiled May 1999 by Paul Estin

Well, it turned out that I had enough songs left over from "Culture 
Schlock" to put together another mix about cultural media: film, TV, 
video, art, books, music, and comic books.

This time, we start with movies.  Dick Siegel's "What Would Brando 
Do?" is a fun and funky jazz piece by a local artist, and really gets 
things moving.  It also inspired my friend Mike Webster to make the 
"WWBD" button, as seen on the cover).  "Video Bargainville" is 
Moxy Früvous's look at a video store.  Tom Lehrer presents the 
classic art-movie would-be title track, "Oedipus Rex."  Then it's Tom 
Smith, back with more movie horror in "DS8."  Next is the classic 
"Yoda" by "Weird Al" Yankovic, perfect for this month of the 
release of "Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace."

Onward to television.  Weird Al continues with the R.E.M.-styled 
"Frank's 2000" TV."  Then it's on to Whimsical Will with "Black 
and White," his parody of a Michael Jackson song, poking fun at Ted 
Turner's movie colorization.  Sally Fingerett offers a look at daytime 
TV talk show culture in "TV Talk," and then it's back to Weird Al 
for his homage to the Flintstones, the "Bedrock Anthem."  (Query: 
why are Weird Al's lyrics so much better than the originals by Red 
Hot Chili Peppers?)  Representing music videos, the Presidents of the 
United States of America play a cover of the Buggles' "Video Killed 
the Radio Star."

Paintings and other visual art come next.  The Foremen present the 
lively political question "Who Needs Art?" and They Might Be 
Giants continues their educational theme with "Meet James Ensor."  
Then Dan Bern sings about an even less-well-known artist, "Joe Van 
Gogh."

Books follow.  Elvis Costello presents a song I always liked, "Every 
Day I Write the Book."  Then Tom Smith takes on A. A. Milne in 
"Honey Glazed Ham."  Finally, Tom Lehrer sings about a different 
sort of literature in "Smut."

After that, John Forster presents two songs about classical music (and 
some dance, too), "Tone Deaf" and "Classical Music Is Cool."

We finish with comic books.  Uncle Bonsai's "Lois Lane" and the 
Spin Doctors' "Jimmy Olsen's Blues" both take looks at Superman's 
supporting cast, while the Ramones present their rendition of 
"Spider-man."  Finally, Ookla the Mok wraps up this mix with the 
rather poignant "My Secret Origin."


Songs from Eclectica mixes #1-6 that might have also fit the 
"culture" theme:

Jeopardy Theme (Four Bitchin' Babes) (#1)
Superman Sex Life Boogie (Tom Smith) (#2)
Doris & Edwin: The Movie (Christine Lavin) (#2)
I Wanna Be Like You (Los Lobos) (#3)
Cruella DeVille (The Replacements) (#3)
Tra La La (The Banana Splits Song) (Liz Phair and Material Issue) (#3)
Scooby Doo Where Are You? (Matthew Sweet) (#3)
Mission Impossible Theme (FC 7) (#3)
I Want To Be Peter Lorre (Tom Smith) (#4)
The Lazy Boy (Moxy Früvous) (#5)
One Week (Barenaked Ladies) (#5)
When I Go Out With Artists (Crash Test Dummies) (#5)
New Horizons in Musical Appreciation (Peter Schikele) (#6)
Shopping Cart of Love: The Play (Christine Lavin) (#6)


ABOUT THE COVER:
The "WWBD" pin was made for me by the aforementioned Mike 
Webster.  It's actually not as large relative to the size of my denim 
jacket pocket as it appears here, but it looks better this way, thanks to 
the magic of digital image editing.