I didn't get this music when I was younger. I knew that people I respected liked Steely Dan but it was just too slow and soft for younger me. Now that I'm older, I love me some steely Dan. Great kicking back music. I'll even listen to it in the gym. Good song though.
This is one of their best songs. From the Album "Aja", which is arguably Steely Dan's masterpiece. The lyrics are very subtle, basically a warning to you girl not to do pose for a sleazy director or photographer because "it will come back to you". Best of all, Michael McDonald sings back-up in open fifths, creating a kind of Hawaiian harmony. Good post, OP.
Gosh it really is one of their best. I used to listen to this one over and over.
Im not sure what its about. I have heard that it was about the tragic starlet Peg Entwhistle. But I think I tend to go with your explanation. She’s a pin-up, perhaps she is Peg because she’s pegged to his wall (or pegged in some other way, metaphorically). Blue could be a ‘blue’ movie or picture. Anyway she doesnt seem to be enjoying whatever it is since she has to be asked to smile over and over again.
It’s just so damned catchy. I can’t remember if I ever knew that was MM in the background but Im senile enough to be surprised by the same factoids at least twice at this point.
[ - ] HughBriss 1 point 2.7 yearsAug 31, 2022 00:03:38 ago (+1/-0)
That's the beauty of the lyrics, just like most of Steely Dan's stuff. It's specific enough to give you the idea, but still vague enough to give some gray area to make it ambiguous. And I agree with you, it's perky and catchy, but it has a dark side to it.
[ - ] HughBriss 1 point 2.7 yearsAug 31, 2022 12:30:53 ago (+1/-0)
I just remembered another nuance. In the 60s, the only nudity allowed in American theaters was in foreign films shown at art houses. He's comparing what she's doing with a "foreign movie". The lyrics are brilliant with the euphemisms.
Oh. I think you are right. I thought “foreign movie” just meant her life was sort of tragic. Because as you know, most hollywood movies used to have happy endings and only foreign movies were depressing and nihilistic. Of course not the case anymore.
We’ll have to do another one sometime. Like pretzel logic or my old school, try and pin down the lyrics.
I was just watching a Rick Beato video where he basically goes through their entire discography and how their sound changed and got way jazzier. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxaxHYxnY9o
[ - ] HughBriss 1 point 2.7 yearsAug 31, 2022 13:47:24 ago (+1/-0)
Their song lyrics have a lot of nuance and subtext. Even their easiest song lyrics, like "Do It Again", are pithy and concise and often have barbs that one needs to suss out to get the full meaning of what they meant. A lot of people miss the humor and sarcasm in their lyrics.
[ + ] UrCoolerOlderBrother
[ - ] UrCoolerOlderBrother 2 points 2.7 yearsAug 31, 2022 03:45:34 ago (+2/-0)
[ + ] Darwinxmachina
[ - ] Darwinxmachina 1 point 2.7 yearsAug 31, 2022 12:04:51 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] HughBriss
[ - ] HughBriss 1 point 2.7 yearsAug 31, 2022 12:32:05 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] HughBriss
[ - ] HughBriss 2 points 2.7 yearsAug 30, 2022 19:45:31 ago (+2/-0)*
[ + ] PostWallHelena
[ - ] PostWallHelena 2 points 2.7 yearsAug 30, 2022 20:32:09 ago (+2/-0)
Im not sure what its about. I have heard that it was about the tragic starlet Peg Entwhistle. But I think I tend to go with your explanation. She’s a pin-up, perhaps she is Peg because she’s pegged to his wall (or pegged in some other way, metaphorically). Blue could be a ‘blue’ movie or picture. Anyway she doesnt seem to be enjoying whatever it is since she has to be asked to smile over and over again.
It’s just so damned catchy. I can’t remember if I ever knew that was MM in the background but Im senile enough to be surprised by the same factoids at least twice at this point.
[ + ] HughBriss
[ - ] HughBriss 1 point 2.7 yearsAug 31, 2022 00:03:38 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] HughBriss
[ - ] HughBriss 1 point 2.7 yearsAug 31, 2022 12:30:53 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] PostWallHelena
[ - ] PostWallHelena 2 points 2.7 yearsAug 31, 2022 13:23:29 ago (+2/-0)
We’ll have to do another one sometime. Like pretzel logic or my old school, try and pin down the lyrics.
I was just watching a Rick Beato video where he basically goes through their entire discography and how their sound changed and got way jazzier. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxaxHYxnY9o
[ + ] HughBriss
[ - ] HughBriss 1 point 2.7 yearsAug 31, 2022 13:47:24 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] PostWallHelena
[ - ] PostWallHelena 1 point 2.7 yearsAug 30, 2022 20:33:17 ago (+1/-0)