kung Posted January 7, 2004 Report Share Posted January 7, 2004 Just getting into Willis and finding an uncanny similarity between his songs. For instance Alanis Morisette is pretty much the same tune as Beat My Ass, Dumpster My Ass and Elvis Presley. Not that it really matters I'm not sure why I relate so much to this guy. 'Rock over London Rock over Chicago'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
show---whore Posted January 7, 2004 Report Share Posted January 7, 2004 im a huge Willis fan, his songs are the same becuase he plays them on a shitty keybord with limted loops. alot of his music is the same music different words. i have a few Willis live shows, there fucking great. i saw him once in T.O. a few years back even got to meet him after the show, we bumped heads very very crazy vibe around that guy. "cut that mullet" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffhead77 Posted January 7, 2004 Report Share Posted January 7, 2004 kuuuuurt cobain, kuuuuurt cobain....he's got about 3 different beats and a whole ass load of hilarity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bouche Posted January 7, 2004 Report Share Posted January 7, 2004 Where do you guys fall into this stuff? I've never even heard of this guy before, and just now found some audio clips on CDNOW. Alls I can say is "WTF?" I have a casio, I could get high and drunk, hit a a preset rhythm, use the patented CASIO CHORD feature and ramble wildly. I just may, since there obviously is a market for it. Actually, I see a duo happening. GM, you can falsetto "OUTBURST...OUTBURST" over and over can't you? Side project! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kung Posted January 7, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2004 I don't know if you're right there. It's that whole Ween scenario of 'shit if I had a four track, a tank of nitrous, enough pills and weed and a lab cabin I could do this'. In reality, while Willis' music is exceedingly simple, there is a quality to some of the sentiments and the way they're expressed that in fact not everybody could do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guigsy Posted January 7, 2004 Report Share Posted January 7, 2004 i saw the man when he played london when i was college...shook his hand, did the headbutt thing...but overall, i kinda felt sad at the show. wesley really believes that he is playing rock n roll music, and the audience gets a rise out of that disillusionment....they laugh, and scream for more, but he just wants to do what he does: hit a button and tell you about his day. i think, like gm, most people get into him for the comedic aspect, or the social experiment, or, like me, sheer curiosity. the avantgarde thing, in most cases, i cant buy. interestingly enough, though, he could have easily been one of the nicest guys. a friend of mine went to meet him before the show, and wesley ended up staying at her place, and she gave him a ride to his show in toronto the next day. gave the other touring band a break from taking care of him. he really did need to be taken care of. anyways, she said he was a very sincere guy about his life, and his music, and he drew a special picture just for her. he always vowed to come back on vacation and stay with us in london, but, he never made it back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gentlemonkey Posted January 7, 2004 Report Share Posted January 7, 2004 quote:Originally posted by kung: I don't know if you're right there. It's that whole Ween scenario of 'shit if I had a four track, a tank of nitrous, enough pills and weed and a lab cabin I could do this'. We'll have to agree to disagree, my friend. I think he's the forest gump of alternative tentacles. Jello Biafra charity. I think the novelty of ween's early stuff is that they were messed up when they did it. BUT it's is made cool by the fact that when they went out with a full band when they grew up a bit, they were actually all great songs! all different, and still cool even though they weren't fucked on PAM and paint remover. Wesley has a mental disability.. that picture bouche posted pretty much says it all for me. quote:In reality, while Willis' music is exceedingly simple, there is a quality to some of the sentiments and the way they're expressed that in fact not everybody could do it I ask you this- who (in their right mind) would want to make music like that. All of us have a little bit of crazy in us, so i suppose maybe it appeals to that in me (to be able to rant about whatever in no sensible way).. but c'mon. i'm not buyin any of this. anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
show---whore Posted January 7, 2004 Report Share Posted January 7, 2004 i find his music very passonated, he's telling the story of his life in some of his songs, some very politcal, some just fun. Once upon a time, I was cursing in Morning Star Baptist Church I called the evangelist a stupid crucifuck Reverend Richard Price preached about my vulgar language He told the congregation in the sanctuary that I got a nasty filthy mouth Don't curse in God's house Don't curse in God's house Don't curse in God's house Don't curse in God's house At this time, I told the preacher to fuck off I told Reverend Richard Price to suck a male camel's dick Suddenly, he ordered one of the deacons to throw me out of church He then escorted me to the door Don't curse in God's house Don't curse in God's house Don't curse in God's house Don't curse in God's house When I went to church that same Sunday, I picked up a beating stick I went up to the pulpit and clocked Reverend Richard Price in the head He fell to the floor Suddenly, the police was chasing me out of church after I called the preacher an asshole Don't curse in God's house Don't curse in God's house Don't curse in God's house Don't curse in God's house Hardees, we're out to win you over He Goes to Prison Once upon a time, a drug dealer was arrested for selling dope He was charged with selling cannabis He was beaten to a pulp before being whisked away to jail He goes to prison He goes to prison He goes to prison He goes to prison When John Cook went to court, he was arraigned He was also prosecuted Evidence showed that he was caught selling crack on the street He goes to prison He goes to prison He goes to prison He goes to prison John Cook was found guilty of possession of cannabis The sentencing date was set He recieved three years in prison He goes to prison He goes to prison He goes to prison He goes to prison Pontiac, we build excitement I Smoke Weed I am a cocaine addict I do a lot of drugs I smoke crack as I speak I get my kicks doing dope I smoke weed I smoke weed I smoke weed I smoke weed I smoke my crack pipe every day I have a good time at it I jack my mother for dope money I do it by threatening her life with a semi-automatic I smoke weed I smoke weed I smoke weed I smoke weed When the police pulled up, I was doomed I was arrested for possession of a controlled substance I was taken to the metal clink I was nothing but a loser I smoke weed I smoke weed I smoke weed I smoke weed Ford, quality is job one Michael Jackson You are a homosexual to the max You are a professional cock sucker in the mix You are a child molester You love sucking little boys' dicks Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson You are a professional cock sucker in hell You are a professional cock sucker to Satan You are a boot-licker to Satan You love sucking little boys' asses and dicks Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson You should be ashamed of yourself You know you are so talented Why don't you stop being a homosexual Stop molesting little boys you freak! Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Carson's, it's the place for ribs Rock and Roll McDonalds McDonalds is the place to rock It is a restaurant where they buy food to eat It is a good place to listen to the music People flock here to get down to the rock music Rock and Roll McDonalds Rock and Roll McDonalds Rock and Roll McDonalds Rock and Roll McDonalds McDonalds will make you fat They serve Big Macs They serve Quarter-Pounders They will put pounds on you Rock and Roll McDonalds Rock and Roll McDonalds Rock and Roll McDonalds Rock and Roll McDonalds McDonalds hamburgers are the worst They are worse than Burger King A Big Mac has 26 grams of fat A Quarter-Pounder has 28 grams of fat Rock and Roll McDonalds Rock and Roll McDonalds Rock and Roll McDonalds Rock and Roll McDonalds Wheaties, breakfast of champions My Mother Smokes Crack Rock My mother is a dope fiend My mother smokes paraphenelia as I speak My mother buys cocaine from a dope man She loves to smoke that crack pipe My mother smokes crack rocks My mother smokes crack rocks My mother smokes crack rocks My mother smokes crack rocks My mother smoked that crack like a cigar She had a good time at it She jacks my brother for dope money She does it by threatening him with a Smith & Wesson My mother smokes crack rocks My mother smokes crack rocks My mother smokes crack rocks My mother smokes crack rocks At 11:00 PM, the police came to my mother's house to eject her They arrested my mother for possession of a controlled substance My mother was taken to the metal clink They locked her up for being a loser My mother smokes crack rocks My mother smokes crack rocks My mother smokes crack rocks My mother smokes crack rocks Remco, it's the go-ahead-and-get-it store the guy has so many songs! i guess it all about what you get out of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kung Posted January 7, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2004 No I definitely disagree GM. I don't know if you listened to him now whether you'd have a different opinion from when you were younger. In terms of art a polite way of describing Willis' music is that it's Outsider Art or L'Art Brut. This movement if you like is mainly thought of as being a painting tradition- art made by the insane or disabled. Whether you like it or not it comes from outside of the sphere of individuals condoned to produce art. Which is really at the core of the matter, what would we have Wesley do not produce his art because schizophrenics are supposed to be seen and not heard. Beyond that I agree with ShowWhore that his music is really passionate. He has these odd turns of phrase like crucifuck and also inserts little snippets from commercials (Pontiac we build excitement, Taco Bell make a run for the border, White Castle it's what you crave) to excellent effect. You could say that he is expressing the sentiments of people from the margins and periphery of society in a bricolage of (seemingly) disconnected sentiments. It says alot about America in it's own way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gentlemonkey Posted January 7, 2004 Report Share Posted January 7, 2004 quote: Originally posted by kung: You could say that he is expressing the sentiments of people from the margins and periphery of society in a bricolage of (seemingly) disconnected sentiments. It says alot about America in it's own way. I guess you could say that.. fiiiiine. I cant believe you used the word 'bricolage'.. hahaha. anyway, I'm not saying there isnt social merit in what he did and said, but i am more of a fan of music than social reasoning or musical charity- which is pretty much how i'm understanding your enjoyment of it. I am a fan of great lyrics- and often enjoy music for that reason alone, but I just can't equate : 'faaaaaast car, slooooooow car' ...with poetry, no matter who wrote it. . THe last thing I want with any music is to think up reasons to enjoy it. I also cant think of a situation (anytime, anywhere) that i would feel the urge to pop on some wesley willis.. so I'm out on that note. argueing about art and music.. what am i thinking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie Posted January 7, 2004 Report Share Posted January 7, 2004 What I like best about Willis' music is that his lyrics are genuine. There is real beauty in their simplicity. And joy in their vulgarity. Any other interpretation be damned! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bouche Posted January 8, 2004 Report Share Posted January 8, 2004 ---quick note: make your own Wesley Willis song here --- I don't know if anyone here (except for Giggles and maybe Bug) has been to the Rideau's 'open mic night' in Smiths Falls, but that was a prime example of people being entertained by people with mental problems. Basically, every wednesday night, a band plays and then a little later this band becomes the host for the open mic where anyone can get them to play a song, and then get to sing it. The regulars that were there to 'sing', are mostly a little off-kilter, and tend to sing the same songs every week. Mind you, the songs aren't really even sung, and mostly mumbled or sung with a 'street-cat making love' sound. The crowd that comes out to get drunk to this is cheering and laughing AT them. I went one night, and found it to be the most bizarre regular event No one there seems to see anything wrong with it. Apparantly Tom Green featured it on his old Rogers show. It sounds like alot of people found the same kind of entertainment out of this Wesley guy. These people in smiths falls didn't have the mental capacity to see what was really going on, yet they truely do have a blast on the stage. I guess there's the good part - they enjoy it. The bad part is the type of entertainment that the patrons got out of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikey d Posted January 8, 2004 Report Share Posted January 8, 2004 GM: quote: but I just can't equate : 'faaaaaast car, slooooooow car' ...with poetry, no matter who wrote it. . I dont think anyone can really judge the validty of another person's poetry. If you look at alot of songs, by any artist (coughphishcough), alot of the lyrics are shit, but that doesn't make them any less poetic. sure, the music itself is of quite poor quality, but it's a sound all of his own; nobody could try to immitate him properly. And I don't think it's wrong for anyone to watch Wesley just for humour's sake, though I realize he is quite serious about his music. Nobody's was getting hurt, and aslong as no one was outright rude, there is realy no problem. I can't say I enjoy his music very much, myself, though . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gentlemonkey Posted January 8, 2004 Report Share Posted January 8, 2004 Wesley got famous because people like to make fun of big crazy black people. Pretty sad that half the audience that went to his shows were there to laugh at him... "hahaha, a schizophrenic!! hahaha. look at the blank look in his eyes, hahaha, he's headbutting everyone, hahha!!" his keyboard has about 3 different swings and you'll notice they are all over that record at different tempos, all the songs have the same formula too.. ramble>badly sung chorus>ramble. (repeat x 2) anyway, he's dead now, and I cant believe i ever thought it was funny.. at least he got to see some of the world i guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
show---whore Posted January 8, 2004 Report Share Posted January 8, 2004 i never really looked at it that way GM. sure at the show there were people there to point and laught. but there was alot people from the avongarde scene diggin his music for what it was. his music is very free becuse he didn't give a fuck he'd stand there and yell into the mic ramble on about nothing in a Jimbo sorta why. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kung Posted January 8, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2004 I know what you mean GM. I find myself laughing to myself and wondering would I think this is so funny if he wasn't schizophrenic or 'disturbed'. It's hard to draw too fine a line though, this provided him with presumably a modest living, a livelihood, an outlet for his internal conflict. It also gave him a chance to talk about riding on the bus talking to himself and getting slashed across the face with a box cutter. I see something quietly dignified in his so-called insanity. I can't see how he would have been unaware that at least some people were coming to make fun of him, but I'd rather get paid to get laughed at than slashed with a boxcutter anyday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gentlemonkey Posted January 8, 2004 Report Share Posted January 8, 2004 hmmm... I'm not sure what the boxcutter stuff is about, but yeah- of course I agree its always better for an individual to have an outlet for personal conflict/turmoil than to be one of the unheard, and its better that hes on a stage making a living for his 'art' then getting slashed in the face or smoking crack in an alley or whatever, but it doesnt make his music any better, does it? I mean you can respect the avantgardeness of it all- because its definitley in theory something comepletely different than say a rock band. But is it really any different than a freak show?? I mean lobster boy could've been skulking around lake ontario for ever but instead he caught his big break eh? In reality, I dont even really think its music. Actually, I know that I bought the album in highschool out of novelty, listened to it once full through, played it for friends for a joke for a while, and sold it back. I'm not saying its wrong to like it or be a fan, I just have a hard time accepting that people actually like it, or where into it for anything besides the accepted ridiculing or the social experiment aspect of it. These are not things I crave for in my music listening, but thats me. and I probably didnt feel this way a year ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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