I feel like the biggest dork in the world, but "Back on the Chain Gang" makes me cry and cry and cry. I used to cry a bit back when I thought it was a song about mournful ex-lovers, and then Hec told me all about how it was the Pretenders' first single after a truly awful couple of years in which they and all their friends and associates had been beseiged by addictions, illnesses, and stupid pointless deaths, and that Chrissie Hynde had lost who even knew how many friends in a very short time, and the song was all about her standing in the living world singing across it to all those people who were stupidly, criminally, tragically beyond her reach.

And that's why it's a great song. Wonder how many funerals it's been played at.

So now that song makes me cry like a bastard. And if I let my mind wander and allow the words "chain gang" to lead me to thoughts of Sam Cooke, I cry even more.

The refrain has a shoutout to "Chain Gang" in it as well.

1989 was not a good musical year. I found maybe 11 songs that wouldn't make me change the channel, and the only ones I'm really fond of are "Love Shack" and "Stand."

STAND?

Oh deer Lawd.

I thought my program of Making You Like My Music was working. Looks like I'll have to play you more early REM in your sleep.

My year was noted elsewhere, and I think I ended up with 10/100. But 1990 was a nadir in music, and I have the excuse of being from Oklahoma. Then I went to college and discovered the Pixies....

Oh, and attention all parents and friends of Buffistas:

STOP BEING SICK AND STOP DYING IMMEDIATELY.

Thank you.

Jesse! Speaking of hand motions ... do you know the right ones for the chorus of I Would Die 4 U?

Speaking of hand motions ... do you know the right ones for the chorus of I Would Die 4 U?

I believe I do. Here's what I do, anyway: two fingers across the eyes for "eye", three fingers in a W for "would," forefinger-thumb gun at head for "die," four fingers for "for," point at someone else for "you."

The Pizza-fork. Looks a little dangerous to me.

STAND?

Oh deer Lawd.

Am I not supposed to be fond of "Stand"? I thought that would please you because I normally don't like REM.

{{{Polgara}}}

I believe I do. Here's what I do, anyway: two fingers across the eyes for "eye", three fingers in a W for "would," forefinger-thumb gun at head for "die," four fingers for "for," point at someone else for "you."

This is exactly what I pictured too.

Aha. Mine was t point at self t point at self t mime slashing throat t 4 fingers t point at other -- I may take your "would" and maybe the "eye."

Looks a little dangerous to me.

Seems right-thinking -- kill off all the weirdos that try and eat pizzas with forks.