# Show your patriotism by urinating on Pink Floyd! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 22, 2001, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-your-patriotism-by-urinating-on-pink-floyd/83150 "2001-09-22T03:04:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-your-patriotism-by-urinating-on-pink-floyd/83150/21 "2001-09-22T05:48:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by woodstockbirdybird \* > \*\* > And where’d they find a self-respecting African-American willing to play with Bon Jovi? \*\* To tell you the truth, I don’t know what you’re talking about because I couldn’t tear my eyes off that vision in the skin tight leather pants playing the violin. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-your-patriotism-by-urinating-on-pink-floyd/83150/22 "2001-09-22T05:51:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by newzucanuze \* > \*\*At exactly three minutes into the song ‘On the Run’, in Pink Floyd’s ‘Dark Side of the Moon’, there is a very graphic imagery of a plane crash. > > This isn’t ‘The Wizard of OZ’. But is is a Crusade. \*\* Could you perhaps rephrase this so that it actually resembles a coherent thought? ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-your-patriotism-by-urinating-on-pink-floyd/83150/23 "2001-09-22T06:18:39Z")
He can’t, WaterJ2, because there’s not a single coherent thought bouncing around in that vast void that inhabits his head. ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-your-patriotism-by-urinating-on-pink-floyd/83150/24 "2001-09-22T06:37:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by woodstockbirdybird \* > \*\*Can I just add that insanity has not been kind to Mariah Carey? Did you see _her_ segment? > \*\* Yes, and Oh. My. God. But at least she was dressed and didn’t hit that gawd-awful screeching high note during her solo. She couldn’t contain herself through _America, the Beautiful_, though. You could hear her screeching along in the background. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-your-patriotism-by-urinating-on-pink-floyd/83150/25 "2001-09-22T11:28:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SpoilerVirgin \* > **[sub]boohoo, poor pitiful little SpoilerVirgin, afraid of the Pit…[/sub]** This is where I start backpedaling and apologizing for being so rough and so on, except, since you’re joking, I won’t bother. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-your-patriotism-by-urinating-on-pink-floyd/83150/26 "2001-09-22T12:28:41Z")
I am _ **sooooooo** _ glad that I missed the Floyd rape! I probably would have pulled an Elvis and shot the TV. These people who rewrite a great tune because they _think_ that it will make it “more meaningful for people in the light of current events” really steam my clams. Either the song’s appropriate for the occassion, or its not! If it ain’t, **don’t fuckin’ use it!!!** Shortly after the Oklahoma City bombing, one of the local stations here in Nashvegas decided to take Live’s _Lightning Crashes_ and splice in sound clips from news accounts of the bombing. Totally ruined a great fucking song! Why? Because they thought that it’d be more heartwarming and sentimental. _ **Fuck that!!!** _ If you can’t find an appropriate song to express your feelings, _ **write your own!!!** _ Don’t hack up someone else’s work to try and make yourself feel better. ---
**Author:** ![Oblong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c0e974/32.png) [@Oblong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oblong)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-your-patriotism-by-urinating-on-pink-floyd/83150/27 "2001-09-22T13:26:43Z")
> [@](#): > > And where’d they find a self-respecting African-American willing to play with Bon Jovi? Did I miss something? I didn’t watch the love fest. Why were celebrities manning the phones? Is that their way of ‘doing something’? Are they scared because we haven’t been paying attention to them? Do they think they are special because they took an evening out of the lives for this? Anyone who donated money because Adam Sandler or Goldie Hawn might answer the phone is a fucking moron. Sorry but the cynical side of me can’t accept it when hollywood tries to pat themselves on the back for doing what anyone else would do. Show me a phone bank and I’ll take calls. Give me access to Ground Zero and I’lll pull rubble out. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-your-patriotism-by-urinating-on-pink-floyd/83150/28 "2001-09-22T14:17:24Z")
Actually, the way it goes is that Bernie (who is Elton’s _business_ partner _only_) writes lyrics, much like writing poetry. He batches those and faxes or e-mails (he used to mail or deliver) them to Elton. Elton then takes the raw lyrics and decides what kind of music might be appropriate for them. He then composes the song, never taking more than a few minutes. If he doesn’t have something he likes by then, he tosses it aside and goes on to the next one. In a similar vein, he has never needed more than one take in the recording studio. He’s simply gifted. You can watch him re-enact composing one of their most beautiful songs, _Tiny Dancer_, in a special anthology called [Two Rooms](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/6302179661/qid%3D1001167433/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F0%5F1/002-2271197-5480819). It’s called that because Bernie and Elton have never been together in the same room when a song was composed. It’s a fascinating process. Elton begins by looking at Bernie’s lyrics sheet and goes, “Well, I’m seeing the keywords here… Ballerina, Seamstress, Pretty Eyes… This is obviously not going to be a hard rocker…” Then he roughs in some chords, tries a few different melodies, adjusts the phrasing, and finally adds arpeggios and riffs. Within minutes, he is singing and playing a primatively constructed but very recognizable future hit song. Later, he gets with the band, processes their input and suggestions, and then goes to studio. Lyrics first, then music. Bernie never has any idea what his songs will sound like until Elton has them finished. He says that he has never been disappointed, and has always loved the tunes. His personal favorite was _Candle in the Wind_. (Elton’s personal favorite was _Your Song_.) It’s a great anthology. You’ll get to hear things like Elton explaining how he had to teach Bernie the concept of meter, and Bernie explaining the origin of _Someone Saved My Life Tonight_, and a lot more neat stuff. As to the cover of _Wishing You Were Here_, I liked it very much. I thought it was beautiful. As Bernie points out in the above mentioned anthology, a cover should not be a reproduction. It should be the artist’s own unique interpretation of the song. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-your-patriotism-by-urinating-on-pink-floyd/83150/29 "2001-09-22T14:21:43Z")
Well, that would make the songwriting process easier. I probably misheard becasue I was trying to drive at the time. Either way explains the sometimes awkward integration between the two that might be lessened if they worked more closely. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-your-patriotism-by-urinating-on-pink-floyd/83150/30 "2001-09-22T14:23:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Libertarian \* > **Bernie (who is Elton’s _business_ partner _only_)** LOL! Yeah, another thing Bernie mentioned was how happy his life was, living on a farm (not an international jet-setter) with his wife (a woman). ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-your-patriotism-by-urinating-on-pink-floyd/83150/31 "2001-09-22T14:31:12Z")
Right. Bernie is very straight, but he and Elton love each other like brothers. Bernie even lived with Elton and his mum for a spell. And no, they never composed in the same room together then either! 😉 With respect to integraion, either you’re assuming something that isn’t there or I don’t understand what you mean by “awkward integration”. I think their integration is seemless. They are each too shy to work together. That’s why they’ve worked this way since day one. Criticisms of how they work remind me of a remark made once by Jack Nicklaus when doing guest commentary. Someone hit a shot out of the bunker that trickled onto the green and wandered into the hole. Naturally, Jack had to ruin the moment for the fellow by saying, “Well, his shot went in but technically he didn’t execute it correctly.” […stunned stare…] Ex_cuse_ me, Jack? He executed it _perfectly_, you moron. It went in the hole! Bernie and Elton have enjoyed much success. ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-your-patriotism-by-urinating-on-pink-floyd/83150/32 "2001-09-22T14:39:09Z")
> [@](#): > > Is that their way of ‘doing something’? Are they scared because we haven’t been paying attention to them? Do they think they are special because they took an evening out of the lives for this? [Pollyanna hat ON] I think it’s nice to see celebrities use their visibility for any good cause. I realize the danger (and frequency) of vice versa, but it’s one of those things in which the ends really justifies the means, you know? [tangent within a tangent] That’s one of the reasons I’ve always admired Madonna, although I think she’s a talentless hack. She’s ruthlessly used her own celebrity to raise money for AIDS organizations, and she did it before it was “fashionable” and she continues to do it even when the spotlight isn’t shining all over her. [/tangent within a tangent] [Pollyanna hat OFF] ---
**Author:** ![Ruffian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-your-patriotism-by-urinating-on-pink-floyd/83150/33 "2001-09-22T15:05:31Z")
Wow. Pettiness and cynicism reach an entirely new level. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Big\_Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@The\_Big\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Big_Cheese)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-your-patriotism-by-urinating-on-pink-floyd/83150/34 "2001-09-22T15:55:42Z")
Uummm, back to the OP. I’ve never heard Limp Bizkit who I think Fred Durst plays with, and I’ve never heard the Goo Goo dolls, I actually feel foolish just saying that name, and I’m not a big fan of Pink Floyd, but I liked the song last night. I loved the camera work and lighting while they were singing too. I thought it was excellent all around. I don’t mind if they add lyrics, who says you can’t? It had feeling and I think it was one of the top performances last night, along with Stevie Wonder & Take 6. ---
**Author:** ![djf750](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@djf750](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/djf750)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-your-patriotism-by-urinating-on-pink-floyd/83150/35 "2001-09-22T16:56:34Z")
Clint Eastwood scared me. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-your-patriotism-by-urinating-on-pink-floyd/83150/36 "2001-09-22T19:36:43Z")
Is it just me, or does the thread title sound like something an insane carnival barker would say? “Hurry, hurry, hurry! Step right up! Show your patriotism by urinating on Pink Floyd! Only twenty-five cents!” ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-your-patriotism-by-urinating-on-pink-floyd/83150/37 "2001-09-23T00:19:53Z")
I said it in MPSIMS and I’ll say it here: I don’t mind what they did with the Floyd song lyric-wise necessarily (comes with the territory in situations like this, I suppose), but why did they have to choose two guys to sing it who can’t carry anything remotely resembling a tune between them? I’ve seen Mr. Eastwood in _Paint Your Wagon_ and he’s a better singer than these two turkeys. I’ve never heard anything by either of those two bands before, and now I know I haven’t missed anything. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-your-patriotism-by-urinating-on-pink-floyd/83150/38 "2001-09-23T00:44:26Z")
I used to be like you people who got all pissed or whatever whenever a loved song was performed by someone poorly, or covered badly. I guess because I was _supposed to_. But you know what? I can still put in my Pink Floyd disc and enjoy “Wish You Were Here” **exactly** as much as before the Tribute. I can even listen to Don McClean’s “American Pie” and like it just as if Madonna never covered it! Imagine that. I have to wonder why anybody cares. There’s lots of music I don’t like, I just turn the channel. ---
**Author:** ![\_somewhat\_damaged](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/ccd318/32.png) [@\_somewhat\_damaged](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_somewhat_damaged)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-your-patriotism-by-urinating-on-pink-floyd/83150/39 "2001-09-23T01:03:14Z")
I agree. I didn’t enjoy listening to Fred Durst and Johnny Reznic(sp) doing their own rendition of Wish You Were Here. I never liked Limp Bizcut to begin with, but that’s a whole different thread all together. I did like seeing Niel Youn sing Imagine. Apparently there are people pissed that he sang that song. Imagine that. People angry over hearing a song about peace, solace, and security during a time like this. Would they have preferred he sing Four Dead in Ohio? “Tin soldiers, Bush is coming?” It sounded like Springsteen and Wonder came up with new material, and I enjoyed their contributions to the show as well. Mariah Carey…well. Nevermind. It’s odd how song written years ago can take on a whole new meaning like, Tom Petty’s, Won’t Back Down. I also wondered if he either gained weight or if it was the beard. _shrugs_ And the only newer artist that performed that I felt had any talent was Alicia Keyes. Did Dion do that damn Titanic song? If so, I say send her off to Afghanistan. Bin Laden will surrender shortly after. If not…can we still send her? It’s nice what they did, but I’d have to agree with some sentiment expressed ealier. If a person only made a donation so they could talk to a celebrity, were they really doing it out of a sense of chairity. _somewhat~damaged_ ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-your-patriotism-by-urinating-on-pink-floyd/83150/40 "2001-09-23T06:14:09Z")
> [@](#): > > …but why did they have to choose two guys to sing it who can’t carry anything remotely resembling a tune between them? It’s very interesting how differently such things can be subjectively seen. My wife and I were remarking about how beautiful their voices were, and how well they blended, which we thought was fairly unusual for two males. […srugh…] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-your-patriotism-by-urinating-on-pink-floyd/83150.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-your-patriotism-by-urinating-on-pink-floyd/83150.md?page=3)