# The Sopranos -- 5/14/07 -- Kennedy and Heidi **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 14, 2007, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sopranos-5-14-07-kennedy-and-heidi/403974 "2007-05-14T00:28:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2007, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sopranos-5-14-07-kennedy-and-heidi/403974/101 "2007-05-15T22:27:51Z")
[QUOTE=FairyChatMom] And I’m feeling like I’m the only person in the world who has never heard or heard of _Comfortably Numb_… [/QUOTE] Oh, you’re not. I don’t recognize any of the music used in TV shows. If it was recorded after 1990, I won’t know it. I haven’t seen **Departed** but I liked the little bit of music I heard in Chrissie’s car. I liked whatever was playing when Tony arrived in Vegas and was driving to the hotel. Anyone know what that was? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2007, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sopranos-5-14-07-kennedy-and-heidi/403974/102 "2007-05-15T22:35:26Z")
[QUOTE=AuntiePam] Oh, you’re not. I don’t recognize any of the music used in TV shows. If it was recorded after 1990, I won’t know it. [/QUOTE] The Wall was recorded in 1982. But I’m not sure if that’s what you are referring to. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2007, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sopranos-5-14-07-kennedy-and-heidi/403974/103 "2007-05-15T22:38:56Z")
[QUOTE=Joey P] The Wall was recorded in 1982. But I’m not sure if that’s what you are referring to. [/QUOTE] I was. (That shows how much I know.) That’s my kids’ era, and my daughter would have recognized the song. I should have said 1964 instead of 1990, but I was listening to country in 1990 so I’d recognize that kind of music. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2007, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sopranos-5-14-07-kennedy-and-heidi/403974/104 "2007-05-15T22:47:28Z")
[QUOTE=AuntiePam] I liked whatever was playing when Tony arrived in Vegas and was driving to the hotel. Anyone know what that was? [/QUOTE] I think the song was “Are You Alright?” (sic), by Lucinda Williams. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2007, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sopranos-5-14-07-kennedy-and-heidi/403974/105 "2007-05-15T23:57:48Z")
[QUOTE=pinkfreud] I think the song was “Are You Alright?” (sic), by Lucinda Williams. [/QUOTE] Might be. It was just on for a few seconds, at 36 minutes in – 3 guitar chords, repeated once, no lyrics. It reminded me of the Twin Peaks theme. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sopranos-5-14-07-kennedy-and-heidi/403974/106 "2007-05-16T01:18:32Z")
Tony said at one point that his house was worth $1.2 million, I think. Seems about right. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sopranos-5-14-07-kennedy-and-heidi/403974/107 "2007-05-16T01:26:43Z")
When Tony threw the Cleaver mug I was expecting some FBI guy to shout, “OW! MY HEAD!” ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sopranos-5-14-07-kennedy-and-heidi/403974/108 "2007-05-16T01:40:04Z")
[QUOTE=AuntiePam] > [@pinkfreud](#): > > I think the song was “Are You Alright?” (sic), by Lucinda Williams. Might be. It was just on for a few seconds, at 36 minutes in – 3 guitar chords, repeated once, no lyrics. It reminded me of the Twin Peaks theme. [/QUOTE] I have verified that “Are You Alright” is indeed the song, according to [HBO](http://www.hbo.com/sopranos/music/episode83.shtml): > [@](#): > > Tony drives on the Las Vegas strip. > Song: Are You Alright? > Artist: Lucinda Williams ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sopranos-5-14-07-kennedy-and-heidi/403974/109 "2007-05-16T01:42:29Z")
[QUOTE=KGS] When Tony threw the Cleaver mug I was expecting some FBI guy to shout, “OW! MY HEAD!” [/QUOTE] I was expecting an angry bear to rush out and attack Tony. That would be quite an ending for him. Instead of being whacked by wiseguys, Tony is eaten by Gentle Ben. But then – whoops – it’s just a dream. Whew. ---
**Author:** ![Subterraneanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Subterraneanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Subterraneanus)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sopranos-5-14-07-kennedy-and-heidi/403974/110 "2007-05-16T03:12:34Z")
[QUOTE=Joey P] The Wall was recorded in 1982. But I’m not sure if that’s what you are referring to. [/QUOTE] 1979 ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sopranos-5-14-07-kennedy-and-heidi/403974/111 "2007-05-16T03:12:57Z")
I think I know what Tony finally got. He finally thinks he knows what makes him happy. Most people watch this show for the mafia theme, but this show is essentially about a middle aged, overweight, balding, depressed man. Tony worries about his family and his work like anyone outside the mob would and he also goes to therapy. He is depressed and does not know why. The whole run of the Sopranos has been more or less him trying to figure out what is keeping him from being happy while, it is always staring him in the face - his job. The dream while he was in a coma basically hammered home this point. Even if Tony wasn’t in the mob, he would still be depressed because of his work. He did not go into that house (in heaven or a happy place of some sort) because he would not give up his work. Now Tony gave up his responsibilities for a brief moment and realized how he can be happy. I don’t know how much responsibility he feels he has to give up to remain happy, but in future episode we will find out. Has Tony finally realized that he has to quite his job to be happy, or does he think he has to abandon everything? It would be out of character for Tony to stop caring about his family, so I think he will try to quit the mob. This will be make for some very interesting TV. Has anyone ever seen a mobster come out of his alternate reality and realize that the mob is totally fucked up? I think Tony has just enough self awareness to pull this off while everyone else mixed up in the mob life will forever remain comfortably numb. Of course, if Tony stays in the mob, don’t count on his luck to stay “up”. I think we can count on Chase to come up with the most vicious take down to bring Tony off his lucky streak. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sopranos-5-14-07-kennedy-and-heidi/403974/112 "2007-05-16T11:42:48Z")
[QUOTE=Subterraneanus] 1979 [/QUOTE] So it was, I have no idea where I came up with that. ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sopranos-5-14-07-kennedy-and-heidi/403974/113 "2007-05-16T13:06:58Z")
[QUOTE=Joey P] Did anyone catch Tony’s malapropism for the week. [/QUOTE] Don’t forget Christopher’s “That’s the flying ointment.” ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sopranos-5-14-07-kennedy-and-heidi/403974/114 "2007-05-16T13:54:24Z")
[QUOTE=Lakai] This will be make for some very interesting TV. Has anyone ever seen a mobster come out of his alternate reality and realize that the mob is totally fucked up? I think Tony has just enough self awareness to pull this off while everyone else mixed up in the mob life will forever remain comfortably numb. [/QUOTE] This does not make sense. I looked up the lyrics to Comfortably Numb and apparently there is more to it than the chorus. The song is about a singer that does not want to go and face the pressures of putting on a good show. So someone comes in and gives him some drugs to help him. It looks like Tony is becoming comfortably numb in isolation, not wanting to deal with the pressures of running the mob. Still, the last part of the song says: > [@](#): > > When I was a child I caught a fleeting glimpse, > Out of the corner of my eye. > I turned to look but it was gone. > I cannot put my finger on it now. > The child is grown, the dream is gone. > I have become comfortably numb. I think this means that Tony does not enjoy his job anymore. The childhood dream is gone, Tony wants to away from it all. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sopranos-5-14-07-kennedy-and-heidi/403974/115 "2007-05-16T14:46:09Z")
Comfortably Numb is about suicide; slipping into the numbness of death. The “fleating glimpse” references nearly dying as a child from a terrible fever. On the surface, yeah, it’s about a singer needing a fix to get on stage. But the subtext is all suicide. [QUOTE=Argent Towers] I think Tony is not a sadist. A cold-blooded, calculating guy who doesn’t have a problem with murdering someone? Yes. But the kind of guy that would join in the gang-beating of a black guy after he was hit by the door and then aggressively confronted as if he had done something wrong? I don’t think so. There’s never been any indication that Tony takes pleasure in being violent the way AJ and his friends seem to. From everything that we know about his character, I can’t imagine him being pleased if he were to see what AJ did. [/QUOTE] He probably wouldn’t be thrilled to see what AJ did, but that’s only because he doesn’t want AJ in “the life.” But Tony has pretty much always been depicted as a sadist, if a little less so in recent seasons. Think back to season one; remember Tony’s glee as he ran down that guy on the quad, then got out and proceeded to kick the shit out of him? He was laughing and smiling the whole time. Also, his laughter and up-beat enthusiasm after talking to Hesh to find out how to convince the Jew to back off of whatever? “Get the pliers!” He didn’t feel bad about the torture; only the fact of being called a golem. > [@](#): > > I always thought the kind of true high roller who would get a comped jet would be worth a lot more than the 6 million that Hesh apparently put Tony’s wealth at a few episodes ago. I interpreted that scene to mean Hesh figured Tony had only 6 _figures_ in liquid assets. As in, a few hundred grand if he really needed it. His girlfriend gasped and replied with something like “but he’s a boss!” That reaction would seem out of place if Hesh meant 6 million; 6 mil is more money than I’d expect a mob boss to be worth. I agree with the sentiment that Tony is nowhere near a big enough whale to merit a private plane. I just figured that when your semi-regular semi-high-roller is a mob boss, you pull out all the stops for him. His business, after all, usually includes a bunch of guys, none of whom are particularly lucky. The guy on the phone asked if the guys were coming; if not, no big deal, you eat the cost of the comped plane to keep the steady stream of money-as-opposed-to-breaking-my-kneecaps rolling in. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sopranos-5-14-07-kennedy-and-heidi/403974/116 "2007-05-16T14:53:17Z")
I doubt the guy in Vegas was setting Tony up just because he’s a high roller. Tony has probably done him some favors in the past; I doubt anyone becomes a mob boss anywhere without making some friends in Vegas. He also asked if “all the guys” were coming out, so it may just be that Tony brought in a big crowd of big spenders on several occasions. ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sopranos-5-14-07-kennedy-and-heidi/403974/117 "2007-05-16T15:10:14Z")
[QUOTE=Lakai] I think this means that Tony does not enjoy his job anymore. The childhood dream is gone, Tony wants to away from it all. [/QUOTE] Over the last few episodes I almost think the opposite is true. I think we’re seeing Tony “come back” to his core being. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sopranos-5-14-07-kennedy-and-heidi/403974/118 "2007-05-16T16:23:19Z")
Last scene in the show. After Tony and Phil both die in the gang war, AJ sitting with his Dr. Melfi explaining how he doesn’t like running the mob but was forced to do wrong to avenge his father and ended up on top. His Melfi asks if he would like to explore his relationship with his father. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sopranos-5-14-07-kennedy-and-heidi/403974/119 "2007-05-16T18:46:39Z")
[QUOTE=gonzomax] Last scene in the show. After Tony and Phil both die in the gang war, AJ sitting with his Dr. Melfi explaining how he doesn’t like running the mob but was forced to do wrong to avenge his father and ended up on top. His Melfi asks if he would like to explore his relationship with his father. [/QUOTE] So, to really understand the, ahh, evolution of everything, would he also have his mother on speakerphone? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sopranos-5-14-07-kennedy-and-heidi/403974/120 "2007-05-16T20:20:27Z")
[QUOTE=Ellis Dee] Comfortably Numb is about suicide; slipping into the numbness of death. The “fleating glimpse” references nearly dying as a child from a terrible fever. [/QUOTE] Is this your interpretation or is it official? I’m not saying it’s wrong, just that I have always had a different interpretation. Yours is interesting, I will have to think about it. I always saw it as more like the numbness was a complete inward retreat (apathy being a symptom of depression). Insanity being one of the more common PF themes, and the character of Pink being in such a state several times in the movie of The Wall, it is just how I always thought of it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sopranos-5-14-07-kennedy-and-heidi/403974.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sopranos-5-14-07-kennedy-and-heidi/403974.md?page=7)