Posted by Jim Shady at wmgate1.wmintl.co.uk on May 21, 2001 at 09:46:39:
In Reply to: early Beastie Boys... posted by 7 Year Itch on May 21, 2001 at 09:21:10:
: "Fight For Your Right" was a joke. They were completely mocking drunken jocks, and it was sad, because the joke went way over their heads, and the drunks became their target audience. The way they acted back then was never serious, they were mocking the type of people that they disliked.
I was sixteen and at school in England when they first appeared. They were loud, outrageous and above all, FUN. I knew nothing of jocks or frats at the time - to me, it was one of the most perfect teenage rebellion songs I'd ever heard, and I have to say that fourteen years on, I still love it. The lyrics would appeal to any teenager, especially one who wasn't hearing much more than Starship or Rick Astley on the radio at that time.
"Your pop caught you smoking and he said NO WAY!
That hypocrite smokes two packs a day..."
It's a joyous song that reminds me of good times when I was young. And it's also perfect nonsense pop music - nothing serious, just funny. I appreciate they were only acting, but they did it damned well!
And Ad-Rock went out with Molly Ringwald for a time - how glamorous was that to me? Well, I'll tell you - better than Cruise and Kidman or anyone else. I know this is very much my own personal reminiscences, but it was so exciting. Better than Britney and the fool from N-Sync or Backstreet Boys anyway.
Teenage years: strange times, but with the right soundtrack - good times.
Jim Shady
"Please? NO!"