| Vampire Weekend – M79 Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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There is truth in what you're saying, it is a restaurant, but it's generally considered a dive. And not trendy at all. You say they don't care about Pakistan, but you have way of knowing that. I do agree however, that Khyber Pass is a sort of metaphor for connecting the east side of Manhattan with the west side, across Central Park. But that said, there are is a degree of cultural awareness that is clearly present, not only in this song, but in others they've done. |
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| Vampire Weekend – M79 Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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In NYC, people form line to board the bus. Buses fill up quickly, so there's a social contract that you form a line. Cutting is really frowned upon. So, as you're waiting for the M79, you'd wait in a line... hence, "like a factory line." http://www.streetsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12_17/KingsHwy_Commuters.jpg |
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| Vampire Weekend – M79 Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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One last thing... "Coronation..." There is another way to cross Central Park, although, you have to catch it at the southwest side of Central Park, that is the hansom (horse and carriage), which are also referred to as a "coronation" coach. People still ride them as part of their wedding celebration in Manhattan. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7pEUAD6CGo8/SL5QTgvZTaI/AAAAAAAABZk/nc7aKbYvfbc/s1600-h/IMG_0459.JPG The coronation carriage is used extensively at royal weddings. |
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| Vampire Weekend – M79 Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Oh yeah, a map... directions: http://www.culturecenterny.org/directions.html |
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| Vampire Weekend – M79 Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| Correction... Ezra Koenig's parents moved him to New Jersey, not Manhattan. | |
| Vampire Weekend – M79 Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Analysis from a New Yorker's perspective: Where would you find a place that references the things cited in the "M79" in Manhattan? The Culture Center, of the Upper West Side of Manhattan, is right on the M79 bus route, on Columbus Avenue, between 79th and 80th. There is a Buddha statue on second floor. There is a glass arch way at the building entrance, after which you have to walk up several flights of stairs to get the Culture Center. http://www.culturecenterny.org/pop4.htm http://www.culturecenterny.org/pop6.htm http://www.culturecenterny.org/sitemap.html There are 3 ways to get across Central Park from the Upper East Side of Manhattan to the Upper West Side: 1. The M79 bus. 2. A taxi cab (all yellow, unless they're gypsy cabs). 3. A cycle rickshaw. http://www.tourism-review.com/temp/page_detail_zoom_2806.jpg http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/63/img3856j.jpg/sr=1 So who does the song refer to when saying they "would not stay"? The Culture Center in Manhattan, produced a documentary called, "Explorer: The Life of Bruce Klepinger" who was a mountain guide, who traveled across Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, the Himalaya's, and who would most definitely have crossed the Khyber Pass. Klepinger also wrote a book called, "The Arc of Life" which is about his travels in this region of the world. Klepinger would likely have worn madra cotton clothes (which are not colorfast, so their colors bleed to a different color on every wash), which are worn in that part of the world. Klepinger, is the ultimate vagabond, he's never stayed in one place too long, "So go, I know you would not stay..." http://www.culturecenterny.org/about.html The mission of the Culture Center is to "produces events designed to promote community and cultural exchange." A definite, anti-hate (based on race, religion, gender identification) type of agenda. You could imagine that an American (like Klepinger) would have to use their charm to traverse the Khyber Pass, between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The M79 is one of the few buses that crosses Central Park and connects the Upper West Side to the Upper East Side of Manhattan; like the Khyber Pass does for Pakistan and Afghanistan. If you ever ride a bus in NYC, you'll see that people line up in a row to get on... cutting is frowned upon. Mostly coincidence? Probably, but interesting trivia nonetheless. OTHER NOTES: Ezra Koenig was born on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, but his parents moved him to Manhattan, and he has no memory of the UWS when he was young. But he did attend Columbia, which is on the UWS, and about 2 miles from the Culture Center, which is on Columbus Avenue. Rostam Batmanglij's parents are from Iran, which borders Pakistan and Afghanistan (which is where the Khyber Pass connects. He's also openly gay. Only he knows why he mentions Jackson Crowther. There is a restaurant called Khyber Pass, but it's in the East Village part of Manhattan, and isn't even close to the M79. They supposedly serve Afghan food, but that's highly debated. I've never been there. And yes, I've ridden on the back of the M79 many times. http://tamrapaselk.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/nyc-buses1.jpg |
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| Regina Spektor – Samson Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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SEj18 - Occam's razor dictates that when choosing "from among competing hypotheses selecting the one that makes the fewest new assumptions" makes the most sense. We know ostensibly that the story is making a parallel to the Bible (Bible is in the lyrics, yet nowhere in the lyrics is cancer). What we don't know is if Spektor is drawing a parallel between these biblical characters, and a personal relationship between herself and another person (a cancer patient or otherwise). The proof: √ "Bible" is in the direct lyrical content of the song. √ "Sampson" is in the direct lyrical content of the song. √ Hair cutting, an allusion to the bible and Sampson √ Loss of strength, an allusion to the bible and Sampson √ Temple columns being knocked over... or lack thereof,an allusion to the bible and Sampson Most people have not read the Bible, but they know the story of Sampson and Delilah; this review of the story does not require one to be a theologian. And the allegory is not some sort of religious agenda, but the Bible does have a slew of interesting stories in it, from which the likes of many great writers has drawn inspiration from, including Shakespeare, Steinbeck, etc.. And if you did a modicum of research on chemotherapy, you'd know that "soft foods", as you call them, are not part of a recommended diet for patients undergoing chemotherpy. And the bread they recommend, is whole wheat bread, not Wonder Bread, white bread. "Astronomically"? I'm not even sure what you mean by that, but what we do know is that people do connect with this song. And people have also connected with other songs that used the Bible as a source inspiration: - Jeff Buckley's "Hallejuiah" which also alludes to Sampson and Delilah. -"Turn! Turn! Turn! (to Everything There Is a Season)" by the Byrds - Taken from Book of Ecclesiastes. -"All Along the Watchtower" by Bob Dylan - Referred to the thieves crucified with the Christ. -Even the Beatles mentioned Gideon's Bible in "Rocky Racoon"... "Gideon checked out and he left it no doubt. To help with good Rocky's revival." -Don McLean's- "American Pie" -Joni Mitchell's "Woodstock" -"Morning Has Broken", recorded by many; made famous by Cat Steven (who converted to Islam). The virtue of a truly great piece of writing, is that it allows for various interpretations. It's clear that whether or not Spektor intended it, many people seem to connect cancer patients to this song. And that is fine. But if you're going to do that to my satisfaction, you'll need more than Wonder Bread to make that connection. Until then, the overt lyrics refer to biblical characters cannot be explained away without a better analysis. |
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