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Art-of-Eric-Wayne β Help, I'm a rock
Published: 2012-04-08 08:45:20 +0000 UTC; Views: 1786; Favourites: 20; Downloads: 0
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Description
A joke (sort of an existential-angst-karma joke.) The idea comes from a song by, "The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Ensemble Band." I've just been going around saying, "Help! I'm a rock!" a lot. It kinda' got in my head and I thought about how it would suck to be a rock, and no one could hear one's pleas.Addendum: Turns out I heard a cover version from 1967, and the original is from Zappa, in 1966.
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Comments: 38
Naah. That's a misunderstanding. The WCPAEB and zappa songs are entirely different from eachother, apart from the recurring lyric "help I'm a rock".
If it's inspirational borrowing or just a coincidence... I dunno.
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You actually know the WCPAEB? They are pretty damned obscure. Some of their stuff is quite interesting or amusing though.
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Knowing weird old music is kinda my thing.
"Transparent day" is a beautiful track, though most of WCPAEB I don't care for very much.
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Can't go wrong with weird old music. Just in case you haven't discovered this site, here's a good one for finding more of that type of music: [link]
I also love obscure, often forgotten music. I like about a half dozen of the Pop Art Ensemble's songs that I know of.
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Thanks, nice! 
By the way, see if you can find danish prog rock band Culpepper's orchards first album on some chineese service. It goes by either what time is it -the 17th century or simply "selftitled" (The title isn't easily visible, so many people will miss it)
Especially their debut was really good, and nowadays it's a rare record as hell. I saw an LP in good condition sell for SEK2000 (~$300).
Maaan I wish I had had the money to buy it.
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That's waaaaaay too obscure for China's "baidu.com" I think I've heard of this band though. I don't have anything from them in my tens of thousands of downloaded songs though. Just checked.
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I've got their debut as a CD reissue, if you're interested.
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I'd be interested in hearing it, but not sure how that could transpire.
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I could give you the account details for one of my dropbox accounts, set up an FTP server, UL it to an online service for you to DL from, or simply mail them to you.
Your choice.
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That's awesome. I'll be back in the land of the somewhat more, comparatively speaking free in a few months. Everything will be easier in terms of mail and uploading and downloading then. My internet has been a complete nightmare lately, and I've thought I might have to give up on DA for a while, but it's blazing at the moment. Mail here is, uh, well, difficult at best.
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Oh, so you're an american by birth?
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Most definitely!
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May I ask how you wound up in China?
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Long story. Got fed up with working for corporate America, and after 9/11 things kept getting worse. When Shrub was re-elected, I decided to see more of the world and try a different life-style. Decided to teach English overseas. Ended up in China, but I've also taught in Vietnam, and did my training in Thailand. So, I've seen a fair amount of Asia (traveled in Burma, Laos and Cambodia as well). In fact, I've spent rough 10% of my life in Asia.
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Sounds wise, and rewarding. I've traveled way too little, up until a few years back I spent my semesters studying and working, then I took the summers off and spent two months in front of my computer, writing music and becoming a recluse in the process.
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I've done the months in front of the computer, too. It was rewarding, but I'm not sure how wise. Maybe it was and maybe it wasn't. I certainly didn't make much money. OK, I guess it was undeniably wise in terms of giving me more insight into other cultures and another angle on reality = wise for increasing wisdom. Definitely glad I did it, but now it's time to focus on art.
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Yeah. That's what I did in front of my computer. Wrote music.
But I'm done with that, composing is no good for me, it makes me neurotic.
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I think you're onto something with your photography. I was checking out some of your work today, which is why I requested the one with the bike and the water flooding through.
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You should know though, that It isn't water, it's snow.
You're used to warmer climates, huh?
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It snowed here once a couple years ago. Haven't had real snow since living in New York. Snow. At first I thought it was a manipulation, but very quickly wrote that off.
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Oh, my. Now you got me all paranoid. xD
... Meh, anyway. I'll be sure to look for that song and listen to it. Sounds like it's pretty interesting. ;dd
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Not sure why paranoid. Do you worry about waking up as a conscious rock unable to express your condition to the outside world? It would be kinda' rough, I'd think. Plenty of time to sit around and just day dream though.
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It would be very rough... xD And yeah, that's exactly what I was thinking... ;d
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Schit! I just got your 2bl-entendre. Now I'm not sure if you think it "rocks" or were just making a pun.
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Oh cool. Glad you like it. Just a sudden whim. After doing all those bad art pieces I picked up a few new skills I can use for other stuff.
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Oh, is this the same song that's on the Zappa and Mothers album "Freak Out"? It changes into "Help, I'm a cop". I like this, dood, it's funny yet slightly disturbing somehow. Strangely reminds me of the bedridden war victim in Metallica's "One", as well.
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Zappa might have done a cover, or used it as inspiration, or it's "parallel development." The "West Coast Pop Art Experimental Ensemble Band" also uses the cop rhyme. Something about "I'd rather be a cop."
There's is a disturbing element about it, like, reincarnation gone wrong. Bring a rock with consciousness would suck, probably. It can only shout thoughts, but can't make a sound. It's trapped being a rock. The whole scenarios is bizarre and silly but makes me imagine what it would be like just a bit.
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Zappa did it in 1966, when did these guys do it? Yes, I agree it has some deep connotations, all of which are, needless to say, in the mind of the observer.
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The song comes from 1967. Lemmie look them up and see how similar they are.
Ha, you're right! They did a cover of Zappa. Hmmm. I haven't heard the Zappa version.
[About a quarter hour laterβ¦] Now I've heard it. Nice.
Strange that I heard the cover version by a much lesser known band first. I'll update my description to include Zappa.
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Good idea. BTW that "Freak Out" album is amazing. If you ever get a chance to hear it, it comes highly recommended. Like most of Zappa's stuff, though, it's kooky, but there's a definite hint of genius about it.
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My favorite Zappa song is "Inca Roads." I have trouble getting into his stuff, but I have some and sometimes it sneaks up on me, like this song. The keyboards in it are massive.
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Yes, I love "Inca Roads", the guitar work in it is awesome. Actually, even though I'm a fan, I admit that Zappa can be a douche sometimes, just plain silly. That first album, however, is not like later "typical" Zappa, it's kinda different.
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I think this expresses existential anxiety, but's funny.
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