The latest earworm I have looping in iTunes comes from an unexpected source. Two unexpected sources, actually: PBS’ show of talking heads The McLaughlin Group and rocker Andrew W.K. As John McLaughlin grows older and more senile (Saturday Night Live proves he’s been that way for more than 15 years), his banter with equally insane Pat Buchanan becomes increasingly odd.
MR. MCLAUGHLIN: Question: Does Romney’s endorsement seal the deal? Is McCain now the inevitable Republican nominee? I ask you, Pat.
MR. BUCHANAN: John, absent celestial intervention, I think he’s going to get the nomination.
MR. MCLAUGHLIN: Absent what?
MR. BUCHANAN: Celestial intervention.
MR. MCLAUGHLIN: Well, it happens, Pat. May he rest in peace, Paul Wellstone. John Heinz was killed in an airplane crash.
MR. BUCHANAN: Well, let’s not speculate on it.
MR. MCLAUGHLIN: Death comes in the night on cats’ paws, Pat. You never know.
MR. BUCHANAN: On little cats’ feet. That’s the fog, John, that comes in on little cats’ feet.
MR. MCLAUGHLIN: I changed it to cat – Sandberg be damned.
I’m indifferent to Andrew W.K. and his style, but for some reason he found musical inspiration in this conversation. The resulting mini-tune is addictive as hell. I can’t help thinking that without knowledge of the song’s context, it wouldn’t be nearly half as interesting.
Tags: music