I recently told a friend of mine that if I had an accidental death anytime soon (I am in my 40's)... I wanted them to slip a copy of this CD in my coffin... I really need to know I can hear this CD in my afterlife and for all universal time. I know it sounds a bit maudlin, but this album means everythiing to me. This is my single favorite album of all time. God Bless Donald Fagen...
IGY is great... hope, future, environment and even national pride I can be real comfortable with...
I think that as with so many Fagen lyrics, IGY is meant to be heavily ironic. By 1976, none of those predicted developments had taken place. It was the same old world, and the US was on the edge of the (second) energy crisis and then the crass materialism and selfishness of the '80s. Fagen is looking back at those times (this applies to "New Frontier" as well) from his cynical perch in 1982 and saying, "Well, it didn't quite happen, did it?"
I think that as with so many Fagen lyrics, IGY is meant to be heavily ironic. By 1976, none of those predicted developments had taken place. It was the same old world, and the US was on the edge of the (second) energy crisis and then the crass materialism and selfishness of the '80s. Fagen is looking back at those times (this applies to "New Frontier" as well) from his cynical perch in 1982 and saying, "Well, it didn't quite happen, did it?"
If this were a Steely Dan song, I would agree. But for the most part, Fagen's lyrics are not nearly as cryptic as Becker's. Fagen is much more direct with his words, and far less cynical. He likes to paint ideal pictures and scenarios. He covers romantic relationships in his music, which SD would never have done.
If this were a Steely Dan song, I would agree. But for the most part, Fagen's lyrics are not nearly as cryptic as Becker's. Fagen is much more direct with his words, and far less cynical. He likes to paint ideal pictures and scenarios. He covers romantic relationships in his music, which SD would never have done.
In this case, I think he really is discussing the subject matter with the album's notes in mind. He's a youngster envisioning a high-tech future and he's expressing his optimism for it. Although the song seems topical, to me it's...
In this case, I think he really is discussing the subject matter with the album's notes in mind. He's a youngster envisioning a high-tech future and he's expressing his optimism for it. Although the song seems topical, to me it's actually personal, like most of his songs.
I recently told a friend of mine that if I had an accidental death anytime soon (I am in my 40's)... I wanted them to slip a copy of this CD in my coffin... I really need to know I can hear this CD in my afterlife and for all universal time. I know it sounds a bit maudlin, but this album means everythiing to me. This is my single favorite album of all time. God Bless Donald Fagen...
IGY is great... hope, future, environment and even national pride I can be real comfortable with...
I think that as with so many Fagen lyrics, IGY is meant to be heavily ironic. By 1976, none of those predicted developments had taken place. It was the same old world, and the US was on the edge of the (second) energy crisis and then the crass materialism and selfishness of the '80s. Fagen is looking back at those times (this applies to "New Frontier" as well) from his cynical perch in 1982 and saying, "Well, it didn't quite happen, did it?"
I think that as with so many Fagen lyrics, IGY is meant to be heavily ironic. By 1976, none of those predicted developments had taken place. It was the same old world, and the US was on the edge of the (second) energy crisis and then the crass materialism and selfishness of the '80s. Fagen is looking back at those times (this applies to "New Frontier" as well) from his cynical perch in 1982 and saying, "Well, it didn't quite happen, did it?"
@tmjm
@tmjm
If this were a Steely Dan song, I would agree. But for the most part, Fagen's lyrics are not nearly as cryptic as Becker's. Fagen is much more direct with his words, and far less cynical. He likes to paint ideal pictures and scenarios. He covers romantic relationships in his music, which SD would never have done.
If this were a Steely Dan song, I would agree. But for the most part, Fagen's lyrics are not nearly as cryptic as Becker's. Fagen is much more direct with his words, and far less cynical. He likes to paint ideal pictures and scenarios. He covers romantic relationships in his music, which SD would never have done.
In this case, I think he really is discussing the subject matter with the album's notes in mind. He's a youngster envisioning a high-tech future and he's expressing his optimism for it. Although the song seems topical, to me it's...
In this case, I think he really is discussing the subject matter with the album's notes in mind. He's a youngster envisioning a high-tech future and he's expressing his optimism for it. Although the song seems topical, to me it's actually personal, like most of his songs.
@underbanyantrees "I wanted them to slip a copy of this CD in my coffin... I really need to know I can hear this CD in my afterlife"
@underbanyantrees "I wanted them to slip a copy of this CD in my coffin... I really need to know I can hear this CD in my afterlife"
We regret to inform you that, as they say, you can't take it with you.
We regret to inform you that, as they say, you can't take it with you.