# Obvious things about a creative work you realize after the millionth time (OPEN SPOILERS POSSIBLE) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 24, 2009, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117 "2009-07-24T13:20:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 136
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2701 "2017-03-19T20:44:06Z")
> [@Reluctant\_A](#): > > I don’t know whether this counts, but I must have listened to The Jacksons’ _Destiny_ a million times, before I realized that Jermaine did not contribute to that album. It hadn’t even crossed my mind that they had changed their name from “The Jackson 5” to “The Jacksons” in part because Randy had temporarily replaced Jermaine in the group. Spike Lee’s movie about Michael’s “Off the Wall” album mentioned that they had been forced to change the name due to changing their record label; here’s roughly the same information: > [@](#): > > In 1975, Joe had the group sign with CBS Records, in hopes of getting better royalties and more creative control, angered at Motown’s refusal to allow the Jacksons to play their own instruments on record. Motown sued for breach of contract, and although they eventually let the group go, the Jacksons were forced to change their name to The Jacksons because Motown owned the ‘Jackson 5’ trademark. The Jacksons were also forced to trade Jermaine for youngest Jackson brother Randy, since Jermaine chose to stay with Motown and the Gordys. > **[The Jacksons biography - 8notes.com](https://www.8notes.com/biographies/jacksons.asp)** > > The Jacksons Biography - 8notes.com ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Hamsandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4bbf92/32.png) [@Darth\_Hamsandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Hamsandwich)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2017, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2702 "2017-03-20T14:15:10Z")
I was watching the movie Weird Science the other day and in one of the scenes a band of warrior/mutants interrupts the party Anthony Michael Hall is throwing. The [head mutant](http://s13.photobucket.com/user/DCform2/media/After%20the%20Power%202/Weird%20Science/weirdsci-vw9.jpg.html) struck me as overly familiar for some reason, which was strange as I’ve seen this movie plenty of times in the past. It finally dawned on me that the actor (Vernon Wells) was playing his same exact character from [The Road Warrior](http://blog.ricecracker.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Screen-Shot-2012-12-12-at-9.13.17-PM.png). Yeah, I know that most people probably caught onto this, but for some reason I never made the connection. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2017, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2703 "2017-04-08T02:39:23Z")
Not obvious, but I just noticed that the latest episode of “The Goldberg’s” was directed by Kevin Smith (Jay & Silent Bob). Go figure… ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2017, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2704 "2017-04-08T06:38:48Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > As for With a Little Help from My Friends, I originally thought the line was: > > “What would you think if I sang out a tune…” > mmm :eek: It’s _not_? I always wondered why they would expect someone to walk out on them for singing out a tune. They were the Beatles, after all. Oh, speaking of. Ask me how long I was fan before I realized they were the _Beat_les. I’d heard the story of Paul’s weird dream, ‘‘We’re the Beatles, with an A!’’ but I thought it was just them being nonsensical as usual. I didn’t get it was a music-related pun until a few months ago. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2017, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2705 "2017-04-08T07:28:18Z")
> [@FalconFinder](#): > > As for the Audi thing, I would assume A=Audi. The numbers would stand for the number of cylinders it has. It would appear that the numbers do not reflect cylinder counts. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2017, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2706 "2017-04-08T17:48:01Z")
I haven’t read this whole thread, so maybe someone else already pointed this one out. I’ve heard Dolly Parton’s song “9 to 5” probably hundreds of times. This morning I was at the grocery store and the song came on the store radio. All of a sudden I realized the “tick-ticka-tick” percussion line in the song is a typewriter! :eek::smack: ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2017, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2707 "2017-04-08T18:16:55Z")
> [@Dr.Girlfriend](#): > > I haven’t read this whole thread, so maybe someone else already pointed this one out. > > I’ve heard Dolly Parton’s song “9 to 5” probably hundreds of times. This morning I was at the grocery store and the song came on the store radio. All of a sudden I realized the “tick-ticka-tick” percussion line in the song is a typewriter! :eek::smack: In a similar vein, I’ve heard “California Dreamin’” by the Mamas and the Papas for well over 40 years now, and was always bugged by the line “You know the Preacher’s like a Cove… (Preacherrrr…like…a…cooooooooove…)” And a few days ago, as I’m standing in line at Walgreens and it comes on I hear “You know the Preacher _likes the cold_…(Preacherrrr…likes…the…coooooooooold…”)" OOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH! Well THAT lyric suddenly made sense. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2017, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2708 "2017-04-10T16:22:31Z")
> [@Dr.Girlfriend](#): > > I haven’t read this whole thread, so maybe someone else already pointed this one out. > > I’ve heard Dolly Parton’s song “9 to 5” probably hundreds of times. This morning I was at the grocery store and the song came on the store radio. All of a sudden I realized the “tick-ticka-tick” percussion line in the song is a typewriter! :eek::smack: Another musical background one. The 80’s song **She Drives Me Crazy** by _Fine Young Cannibals_. After the lead singer sings “she drives me crazy”, I always thought the backing vocals were just going “Oooo - Oooo”. This weekend I finally caught that they are saying “Koo-Koo” as in crazy = cuckoo. ---
**Author:** ![johnspartan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2709 "2017-05-03T20:19:57Z")
When characters like Yosemite Sam are saying “varmint”, is that meant to be a bastardization of “vermin”? Never even crossed my mind. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2710 "2017-05-03T20:41:51Z")
> [@johnspartan](#): > > When characters like Yosemite Sam are saying “varmint”, is that meant to be a bastardization of “vermin”? Never even crossed my mind. Well, hmm. Yes, “Varmint” came from “vermin” but it has been around since at least 1829 with a version going back to the 1530’s. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2711 "2017-05-03T22:42:35Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > :eek: > > It’s _not_? > > I always wondered why they would expect someone to walk out on them for singing out a tune. They were the Beatles, after all. > > Oh, speaking of. Ask me how long I was fan before I realized they were the _Beat_les. I’d heard the story of Paul’s weird dream, ‘‘We’re the Beatles, with an A!’’ but I thought it was just them being nonsensical as usual. I didn’t get it was a music-related pun until a few months ago. It’s “… Sang out **of** tune” ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2712 "2017-05-03T22:49:28Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I always wondered why they would expect someone to walk out on them for singing out a tune. They were the Beatles, after all. I don’t know if this has been mentioned before (it is a long thread, this is my first dipping of my toe in it) but this makes me think of the James Taylor song _Carolina in My Mind_–why would a friend of his hit him from behind? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2017, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2713 "2017-05-20T18:03:21Z")
It took me a while to get the idea behind Kristofferson’s The Pilgrims lyrics; From the rocking of the cradle to the rolling of the hearse The going up was worth the coming down. Get it? Rock and roll. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2714 "2017-05-23T13:25:56Z")
When I graduated from high school in 1974, one of my gifts was Elton John’s _Goodbye Yellow Brick Road_ album. I became very familiar with most of the songs and had their lyrics memorized. “Saturday Night’s All Right For Fighting” for instance. For more than forty years, I was struck by the discrepancy between Elton’s East End Bad Boy overall hooligan nature, and the fact that he was a really supportive brother to his sister, who must surely be going through school enduring taunts like “metal mouth.” He was so supportive that he even sang that she looked “cute” in her braces and boots (and handful of grease in her hair). It never occurred to me until last year that he was talking about her suspenders, NOT her orthodontic hardware. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2715 "2017-05-23T13:34:57Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > He was so supportive that he even sang that she looked “cute” in her braces and boots (and handful of grease in her hair). It never occurred to me until last year that he was talking about her suspenders, NOT her orthodontic hardware. “Suspenders” in the American sense of the things that hold up your pants, and not in the British sense of the things that hold up your stockings, right? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2716 "2017-05-23T13:40:30Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > This is an old one but another thread spurred it to memory. There’s a Far Side comic with a couple of scientists staring at some goofy looking people behind a pane of glass. The caption is the lead scientist saying “Yes, they’re all fools, gentlemen. But the question remains: What kind of fools are they?” > > In my defense, the first time I read that comic I was likely in the single digits and not entirely familiar with the phrase “What kind of fool would…?” That doesn’t explain the hundreds of other times I read the comic while re-reading my collection until one day, some 25+ years later, I’d be sitting in my car thinking of something unrelated and then audibly say “OOOOHHHHHhhhhh…” > > That was a real event that I still vividly remember. > [@CalMeacham](#): > > I always assumed that the caption was inspired by the 1962 song **What Kind of Fool Am I?** : > > [What Kind of Fool Am I? - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_Kind_of_Fool_Am_I%3F) > > So, apparently, does Wikipedia. > [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](#): > > What kind of fool would think that?! 😉 Anthony Newley. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2717 "2017-05-23T13:40:47Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > He was so supportive that he even sang that she looked “cute” in her braces and boots (and handful of grease in her hair). It never occurred to me until last year that he was talking about her suspenders, NOT her orthodontic hardware. I was similarly confused when I first read _The Hobbit_, and in the opening paragraphs was told that Bilbo leaned back in his chair and stuck his thumb inside his braces. I couldn’t figure out why the hobbit would be putting his thumb in his mouth, especially since he was smoking his pipe at the time. It didn’t occur to me until later that this was a British book, the hobbits, with their medieval level of technology probably didn’t have advanced orthodontics, and Tolkien undoubtedly meant what we Americans call “suspenders”, for holding up pants. But I still get that mental image of Bilbo sucking on his thumb while talking to Gandalf. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2718 "2017-05-23T15:43:01Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > He was so supportive that he even sang that she looked “cute” in her braces and boots (and handful of grease in her hair). It never occurred to me until last year that he was talking about her suspenders, NOT her orthodontic hardware. Well, I didn’t know until JUST NOW! My contribution: I just watched Star Wars, but the Special Edition. I’ve managed to only see it a few times compared to the hundred or so of the “real” version. In the Deathstar attack, I always snarkily replied to Luke after he cockily says he’ll have no trouble pulling up out of the trench: “It’ll be just like Beggar’s Canyon back home” with a “But, I’ve never flown Beggar’s Canyon!” Well, now with the deleted scenes added, I note that the guy he’s talking to isn’t some random rebel, but Biggs, his buddy from Tattooine. Hmm, maybe he HAS flown into Beggar’s Canyon, and it’s not a stupid line. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2719 "2017-05-23T16:40:27Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > In the Deathstar attack, I always snarkily replied to Luke after he cockily says he’ll have no trouble pulling up out of the trench: “It’ll be just like Beggar’s Canyon back home” with a “But, I’ve never flown Beggar’s Canyon!” Well, now with the deleted scenes added, I note that the guy he’s talking to isn’t some random rebel, but Biggs, his buddy from Tattooine. Hmm, maybe he HAS flown into Beggar’s Canyon, and it’s not a stupid line. I’ve been chastised in the past for saying it was dumb to cut Biggs’ scenes out of the original movie because he also mentions him after the two robots are bought: “Oh, Biggs was right. I’m never gonna get out of here!” Evidently SOME people think we should automatically fill in the holes when faced with discontinuities like this. On the other hand, everyone I’ve ever known who saw the movie at the same time just looked around in bewilderment: “Biggs? Who’s Biggs?” ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/2720 "2017-05-23T16:52:42Z")
The Biggs scene was needed to fill in some holes, but I can see why Richard Chew cut it. It interrupted the overall flow. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117.md?page=135) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117.md?page=137)