William Shatner - "Common People"

[Superdude]

Has anyone besides me heard this? It's Ben Folds music with Shanter "singing." And it's frickin' great!

Interesting footnote to this:

Ben Folds was in town several months ago, and performed a concert that I wasn't able to attend, even though a friend had bought me a ticket.

During the concert, Ben explained that he was going to run the crowd through some vocalizing (think the live version of "Army"). After about half of hour of all this, he explained that he was recording the crowd for a new album featuring Shatner. He kept going back, making them sing in high octaves.

When he finished the exercise, he told them that he WAS going to hire a choir for it, but it was too damn expensive. So, instead, he was going to bill the crowd as "The Louisville Chorus."

Sure enough, he did, too.

[jjimm]

It's received a bit of airplay here in Ireland. Despite Shatner's vocals, I agree that it is a fantastic interpretation of a simply superb song. I'd love to hear just Ben Folds doing it on his own (sorry, William).

[Nonsuch]

That's Joe Jackson singing, not Ben Folds. Did Folds write it? There are Anglicisms in the lyrics ("smoke some fags") that made me think it was Jackson.

:confused: And I think it's a great song, even with Shatner on it.

[Superdude]

I've heard that it was a Ben Folds compisition. But Joe Jackson supplies the "backing" vocals.

And Ben, within the last few years, got married and moved to Australia, and that could be were "smoke some fgas" came from, I guess. I don't know it's used a slang term for cigarette Down Under.

Shades of the influence, though, were in Rockin' the Suburbs. During the song Still Fighting It,, where he sings, "the roast beef combo's on $9.95."

In parentheses after the mention of $9.95, it translates the amount into American currency.

[jjimm]

No no, thrice no. It's a seminal song by British band Pulp (http://www.pulponline.com/), written by the lead singer Jarvis Cocker.

[violacrane]

The original was by Pulp, a Jarvis Cocker composition. Who is Ben Folds?

[Jervoise]

It's definitely not a Folds song, it's a cover of a Pulp song.

"Common People" is taken from the LP, Different Class, which is an absolute classic British album of the 90s. I'm don't think it would translate well in the US, but the biting lyrics have a great resonance in the UK even now.

[jjimm]

Here's an article (http://www.nme.com/features/110018.htm) on the song by the NME, complete with streaming audio. It is indeed Jackson on backing vocals, so I presume he's singing on the chorus.

[jjimm]

Heh, thripple post. violacrane you should definitely check out Ben Folds Five - their first album Whatever & Ever Amen is superb piano-based American pop/rock/er... not really sure. It's very good though.

[yosemite]

Someone started a thread about this a few weeks ago. Prompted by the glowing comments on that thread, I bought "Common People" from iTunes. I liked it. (I just pulled it up from iTunes and am playing it right now, by the way!) I then bought some of the other Shatner songs: "That's Me Trying," "Has Been," and "Real." They're all good. It's surprisingly good. I never expected to say that about a William Shatner album.

I don't know much about Ben Folds (I listen to a lot of film music and Classical—don't listen to the radio much), but he's got a lot going for him, if this album is a good example of his work.

[jjimm]

If you can spare the 99c or whatever, you should buy the original Pulp track from iTunes as well. It's very good - one of the most passionate pop tracks I've ever heard.

[yosemite]

Too late, jjimm! I just ordered a used copy from Amazon. After reading the glowing reviews there, I figured I was just pissing money away by buying each song individually, and so I sprung for the whole CD.

Read the Amazon.com reviews (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0002RUPH4/)! People are shocked at how much they like this album. It's really a neat thing to see.

I have to confess, I have a soft spot for someone who has been mocked as a "has been" (though I think Shatner has always done okay for himself). It's nice to see someone defy the odds, and people's expectations of him, and do something that shocks and amazes everyone. This album is a beautiful example of this (in no small part because of Ben Folds). I'm really happy for Shatner, and Folds, and everyone.

And the song "Has Been" really strikes a chord with me. Not that I've been a "has been" in the same context, but pretty much any artist or creative person will tell you that there are plenty of "Never Done Jack" or "Don't Say Dick" types who have never ever really done anything themselves, but oh, my, they're quick to criticize those of us who have at least tried. "Though they have not done shit" (as the song goes), they're quick to jump on those of us who are still striving. We may fail, but we're still striving, while they sit at home with their Nintendo taking potshots at us.

It's a great song. Very funny. Biting. I love it.

[jjimm]

Too late, jjimm! I just ordered a used copy from Amazon. After reading the glowing reviews there, I figured I was just pissing money away by buying each song individually, and so I sprung for the whole CD.I'm talking about the original version of the song - by British band Pulp.

I think the thing about Shatner isn't necessarily that he's a has-been, but that he was never any good in the first place.

[yosemite]

Oh! The band Pulp, eh? I'll have to look that up.

And regarding Shatner never being that good anyway—well, I'm not a big fan either way, but there is something grating about a "Never Done Jack" type taking potshots at someone, even if they are kind of mediocre. Shatner (or any of the rest of us who keep sticking our necks out and trying) at least has done something, while the "Never Done Jack" types haven't. They've never taken that risk. They're too lazy or to scared to do so.

I really should start a whole thread about this sometime. Like I said, every artist or creative person can probably tell you stories about people who have never taken a risk, never put in the effort, but somehow they get this feeling of smug superiority telling the rest of us (who have risked and tried) how much we suck. I think that "Has Been" expresses my feelings on this issue pretty well.

[yosemite]

Ack. "They're too lazy or too scared to do so."

I don't know why I keep leaving that last "o" off of "too." I really do know better.

[jjimm]

there is something grating about a "Never Done Jack" type taking potshots at someone, even if they are kind of mediocre.Without wishing to hijack this too far, a) it's an assumption to say that I haven't done jack (though you'd be largely right), and b) I am entitled to an opinon, regardless. This guy has chosen to market himself as an artiste to make money from the public. As a member of the public, if I don't like it, it doesn't matter what my qualifications are: I still have a right to say so. MacArthur Park and Lucy in the Sky are, in my opinion, two of the worst tracks I've ever heard, and Shatner's performance on them is laughable.

[DooWahDiddy]

Heh, thripple post. violacrane you should definitely check out Ben Folds Five - their first album Whatever & Ever Amen is superb piano-based American pop/rock/er... not really sure. It's very good though.

You're right about Ben Folds Five being superb, but Whatever and Ever Amen was not their first album. They have an eponymous album that, in my opinion, is just as strong (if not stronger) than Whatever... that came out first. There's also a live album called Ben Folds Live (go figure) that includes a track where he used the audience in the manner described by the OP (and indeed, did that when I saw him perform in Central Park as well).

[yosemite]

Without wishing to hijack this too far, a) it's an assumption to say that I haven't done jack (though you'd be largely right), and b) I am entitled to an opinon, regardless. This guy has chosen to market himself as an artiste to make money from the public. As a member of the public, if I don't like it, it doesn't matter what my qualifications are: I still have a right to say so. MacArthur Park and Lucy in the Sky are, in my opinion, two of the worst tracks I've ever heard, and Shatner's performance on them is laughable.
No no, I think you're misunderstanding where I'm coming from here.

It's one thing to simply not like someone's body of work, to think it sucks. I feel that way about a lot of people. We all have opinions. We don't have to have worked in that same area (or even in any other) to know whether something pleases us or not.

However, I'm assuming you haven't experienced some of the scenarios that I have. Let me give you some hypothetical examples: You've done some artwork, you've sold some artwork. You aren't really great, but you're trying. Then imagine that you have a friend, that you know hasn't really ever done anything that required them to stick their neck out too far. And imagine that this friend almost pounces on the flaws in your work—enjoys telling you that this sucks, that sucks. Gets a real kick out of it. This is a "Never Done Jack" type of person. I've met a few of them in my day.

Or, another variation is someone who has done something, but they would scream bloody murder if you treated them the way that they treat you. They seem to think that they get extra "cleverness points" for pointing out every flaw in your work. They obviously enjoy it—it makes them feel superior.

And another thing: you may think that some of Shatner's work is shlock (and I wouldn't disagree with you), but would you go up to him and tell him how much he sucked, to his face? I doubt it. Most people have more class. The "Never Done Jack" types often don't. They enjoy telling people how much they suck. And since they've Never Done Jack, they know that nobody is ever going to look at their acting, their writing, their artwork, and tell them how much they suck. They're always on the giving end (telling people they suck) but never on the receiving end (being told that they suck). They'll never risk that. They're too chicken.

[violacrane]

Heh, thripple post. violacrane you should definitely check out Ben Folds Five - their first album Whatever & Ever Amen is superb piano-based American pop/rock/er... not really sure. It's very good though.

Cool, never been thrippled before. I'll check 'em out.

[Nonsuch]

Someone started a thread about this a few weeks ago. Prompted by the glowing comments on that thread, I bought "Common People" from iTunes. I liked it. (I just pulled it up from iTunes and am playing it right now, by the way!) I then bought some of the other Shatner songs: "That's Me Trying," "Has Been," and "Real." They're all good. It's surprisingly good. I never expected to say that about a William Shatner album.

"Familiar Love" has a great 70s soft-pop sound and is a keeper as well. But the track you have to have is "I Can't Get Behind That" with Henry Rollins. Words simply fail me.

[Hey, It's That Guy!]

Cool, never been thrippled before. I'll check 'em out.

Just so ya know, "Whatever and Ever Amen" is actually Ben Folds Five's second album, not their first. Their first album is self-titled, and probably harder to find due to being on Caroline Records, an independent label. But they're all terrific albums--Ben's solo album (without the Five) "Rockin' the Suburbs" and his recent live album are worthwhile purchases too. You can always listen to samples on Amazon.com!

[DooWahDiddy]

You're right about Ben Folds Five being superb, but Whatever and Ever Amen was not their first album. They have an eponymous album that, in my opinion, is just as strong (if not stronger) than Whatever... that came out first. There's also a live album called Ben Folds Live (go figure) that includes a track where he used the audience in the manner described by the OP (and indeed, did that when I saw him perform in Central Park as well).

Indeed. ;)

[gobear]

I have fond memories of watching the Pulp video in a bar in the university district of Shinchon in Seoul; love this song. Shatner's version is actually pretty cool.

[Superdude]

You're right about Ben Folds Five being superb, but Whatever and Ever Amen was not their first album. They have an eponymous album that, in my opinion, is just as strong (if not stronger) than Whatever... that came out first. There's also a live album called Ben Folds Live (go figure) that includes a track where he used the audience in the manner described by the OP (and indeed, did that when I saw him perform in Central Park as well).


I saw him a few years ago, when Rockin' the Suburbs came out, and we got to sing the background vocals then, too.

Chronologically, though, was the self-titled released before Naked Baby Photos?

[Sean Factotum]

Chronologically, though, was the self-titled released before Naked Baby Photos?
Nope. Naked Baby Pictures came out between Whatever and Ever... and The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner. The latter is the one with "Army" on it.
NBP is a collection of live, B-sides, and other material that never made it to the first two releases. It was put out by Caroline when BFF switched labels (went to Sony), much in the same way IRS released Eponymous when REM jumped to Warner.

And as I have said in other threads, I love Has Been.

[Sean Factotum]

I mean, yes, Ben Folds Five was released before NBP, but NBP it does have some stuff on it that was recorded before the first was released ("Evaline" comes to mind.)
Confusing enough for ya?