Shimmering Wang Says: "great Day"

[Shimmering Wang 1]

This story can also be found on my blog @ http://www.shimmeringwang.blogspot.com It's a lot easier to read on the blogsite, because I bolded and italicized for more pleasant viewing. I'm not going to take the time to do that here...It's probably not really worthy of a forum topic dedicated entirely to it, but I'm in a pretty good mood, and feel like sharing...I've been feeling pretty awful the past few days: nausea, aching, general malaise and the like. I mistook it for a hangover originally, before I realized that I hadn't even had anything to drink the night before. (As an aside, it's a pretty sobering moment when you have to "realize" that you hadn't boozed yesterday.)But I awoke this morning just before 11 feeling great. I was still feeling the residual effects of being sick, the slight achiness and fuzzy-headedness, but it was nothing when compared to the last 48ish hours. So I popped a caffeine pill, checked my email, and grabbed a fresh towel from my shelf as concious decision to start my day off fresh and clean. When I pulled the blue bath towel from its place a few feet above my head, something green fluttered to the ground. Upon further examination, it was actually 2 green somethings. Well hot damn, $25 bucks! I don't know why the hell I hid 25 dollars in my bath towel, but screw it; this day probably can't get any better. I soaped myself up, dried myself off, and put on my standard afternoon outfit consisting of gym shorts, a cutoff, and my trusted sweat-soaked Party Poker hat.I tossed on my iPod, flipped it to shuffle, and- after skipping a few depressing tracks I was uncharacteristically in no mood for ("Bulletproof... I wish I was", "No Surprises" and "Let Down"- Radiohead; "I'm Ready to Die"- The Unicorns; "Been Smoking too Long"- Nick Drake; "I Can't Seem to Make you Mine"- The Clientele), I was rewarded with some upbeat pop music. I don't know if there's a happier song to listen to on a beautiful day than Architecture in Helsinki's kid-pop anthem "It's 5." I headed off to Oak Street's Bum Market, planning on getting a newspaper so I could finish the Tuesday crossword and soduku to feel great about myself, and maybe a pack of smokes to reward myself for the last 2 days of monkish living.When I got to the counter, I paid with my newly found $5 spot, and took my fifteen cents change. "Hey, you guys got any matchbooks?" Damn, they're all out. Most days, this would be enough to set me on a downward spiral that's likely to end in a 3-day bender and the failed pursuit of anonymous sex. But today I was not to be deterred. There was a pretty young ghetto-looking kid buying a pack of Newport 100s in the box in line behind me, so I waited for him outside.Wang: "Hey, man. You mind if I borow a lighter? I'd really enjoy a smoke on the walk home today."Newport: (produces Bic) "Sup. I'll sell it to you for a dolla."Wang: (confused, laughs uncomfortably) "Haha, yeah."Newport: (raises eyebrows)Wang: "Yeah, but they sell those for a buck inside."Newport: "Yeah, but you gotta pay taxes inside. I'm'a save you sixpence." (Here I've got to call attention to the fact that he really said "sixpence." I'm afriad if I don't point this out, it'll slip by. It's probably the only amusing part of this anecdote, and it completely floored me at the time.)Wang: (pauses for a few moments, utterly astonished) "Naw, that's alright. I just wanted to get a light for the walk home. I've got a ton of lighters around the corner. Thanks anyway." (slips headphones back in and starts to walk away)Newport: "Yo yo , wait. I'll let you borrow my lighter if you gimme 'dat fifteen cents change you got inside..."Wang: (slightly disappointed he didn't use the British vernacular for change again, but in a generous mood) "Yeah, sure man. Whatever. Here."Newport: "Tight."Click. No flame. Click. No flame. CLICK! No flame... click, click, CLICK!Wang: (raises eyebrows)Newport: (shrugs) "I didn't say it'd work, man."Wang: (stares, makes nonplussed face)Newport: "You see me wearing a sign that says 'Mother****ing Refunds?'"Wang: "No, but you're not wearing a sign that says, 'No Refunds' either."Newport: (looks around) "Fine, call the Better Business Bureau, then."At this point I'm unable to even get angry. So far this thuggish guy has surprised me twice. He used the phrase "sixpence" and then referred ironically to the Better Business Bureau. Anybody who exceeds my usually accurate expectations almost always gains my respect. I'd usually make an issue of getting ripped off- even if it's just 15 pence- out of principle, but I liked this guy. A lot. So **** it, right? I just smile, roll my eyes genially, and nod with an abashed look on my face.Newport: (laughs) "What can I say? I'm a hustla, baby!"Wang: (nods again) "Yeah, I dig." (<---- yes, I said "I dig.") "Take it easy, brother." (<---- yes, I called him "brother.")Newport: "Hey, yo. What'choo listening to on that thing?"The song had changed a few times, and I wasn't even really listening.Wang: "Actually, uh. I'm listening to Dr. Octagon right now. 'No Awar-"Newport: (excitedly) "No ****?! Whiteboy? Not John Tesh? Kool Keith can spit, man."Wang: "Yeah, I'm a fan. I think the next song on the playlist is either something by Bon Jovi or Michael Bolton, though."Newport: (laughs) "You straight, kid. Gimme those headphones, let's see if you lyin' to a nigga."Wang: (shrug) "Sure man. Check it out."I hold tight to my iPod nano, and let him slip the headphones on. He listens for about 30 seconds, satisfied, and hands the earphones back.Newport: "Yeah, nigga. This disc was my motha****in JAM like 6 years ago. What else you got on here?"Wang: "Yeah, it's the jumpoff. I dunno, lots of stuff. Lots of Kool Keith, some Doom, some Blackalicious. Edan. Mrs. Jackson, by Outkast. Deltron 3030. Tons of Ghostface. ODB, RZA. The rest is probably white-boy music."Newport: "Yeah, you a nigga, nigga! Straight-up MY nigga!" (awkward handshake chest bump) "Who the **** is Edan, though?"So at this point I fiddled with my iPod, and let him listen to a few minutes of "Torture Chamber." He seemed to enjot it quite a bit.Newport: "Eden? E-d-e-n?"Wang: "Naw, E-d-A-n."Newport: "You got good taste in music. How about you show me some white-boy music? None of that boring ****. Something with some go in it..."Wang: (shrugs) "Sure. You ever heard of Radiohead? Here, listen to this. It's called 'National Anthem.' It's got a pretty good beat, and it's pretty trippy."Newport: (Listens to the first 3 and a half minutes, and gets visibly excited when the jazz trumpets kick in hardcore just before the 3 minute mark) "Man, you ever get high and listen to this?"So, for the next few minutes we just talked about music. He was pretty interested in finding some "white-boy" music he might download and listen to during those "late-night BLAZE sessions" with his buddies. I was happy to oblige. He handed me a pen and some paper, and I wrote down some Radiohead, Flaming Lips, Pink Floyd, and M83 suggestions I thought he'd be sure to enjoy. In return he told me to be sure to listen to the New DJ Drama/Lil' Wayne and T.I. releases.When I turned to walk away, he stopped me again.Newport: "Hey, yo! I don't usually do this, but... Here you go."He reached into his pocket, dug around for a bit, then pulled out another lighter.Wang: (raises eyebrow) "Thanks man."Click. Flame. Burn. Inhale.Newport: "Oh, here." (flips me a dime)Wang: (laughs)Newport: (cryptically) "Hey man. Time's money."(shrug) He can keep the nickel. This story alone's worth 1000 times that.Wang

[fckthis 0]

wow. Wang, you just got a new fan.

[LadyGrey 6]

I really enjoyed this story, you wrote it up very eloquently and the word 'vernacular' was a nice touch.

[Dirtydutch 8]

Wang, tell me which three Radiohead albums to download (this is more a command than a question. Might even go with an exclamation point)!Also, smoking looks really cool. Asian kid playing piano: looks lame. Anyone playing piano while hanging head and smoking: awesome. It looks like I'm picking up the habit.

[Shimmering Wang 1]

Wang, tell me which three Radiohead albums to download (this is more a command than a question. Might even go with an exclamation point)!Also, smoking looks really cool. Asian kid playing piano: looks lame. Anyone playing piano while hanging head and smoking: awesome. It looks like I'm picking up the habit.

Very difficult, but I think this is the correct answer. I'm going to explain first.Pablo Honey was their first. It had "Creep" but wasn't great.The Bends was the beginning of their rise to prominence. It's a pretty awesome brit-rock album, full of guitars, and a little of the production weirdness that will become their staple later. It's one of my 20 favorite albums, no contest.OK COMPUTER- Okay. Here's where the Best Band in the World thing started. Most music cognescenti consider this one of the best albums ever, and the best album of the 90s, hands down. They keep some of their rock background, but start experimenting with the ambient "Pro Tools" sounds that are their staple today. The album changes gears in a heartbeat, but it's epic. My favorite album ever, and it's not even close. It basically occupies my entire top 5.Kid A- Wholly fuck, what is this? Sounds like OK Computer crossed with Brian Eno. Amnesiac- Pretty much just Kid A Bsides. Takes a lot of flack, but I still think it's good. Not as good as the previous two, though.Hail to the Thief- Partly a return to OK Computer/Bends days, but still a fabulous album. It's a pretty special thing to be able to guide somebody through his virgin Radiohead experiences. My roommate TomThom did it with me Freshman year, and it changed my musical life. Here's what I think you should do, and others may disagree.1) Download "The Bends" and listen to it once or twice. Don't worry if nothing jumps out at you. It's important to see where the band's coming from. Don't spend too much time on it yet. Just hear it.2) Spin "Ok Computer" for awhile. It takes a while, like most great music, to really appreciate how beautiful it is. Some songs will pop out at first, and then others later, until the whole thing sounds as incredible to you as it does to everyone else. At this point, going back and listening to The Bends again's a good idea. Just helps you appreciate that album so much more.3) Blow your mind by listening to "Kid A." I can't explain it.4) By this point you SHOULD be close to fully appreciative of Radiohead. Now you can savor the rest of their music. It's an experience to treasure, and I'm jealous of you. Listen to Amnesiac and then Hail to the Thief. 5) Fun's not over. Radiohead has such an absurdly incredible B-side catalogue that it's unbelieveable. Some diehard Radiohead fans fill their top 20 Radiohead-tracks list almost entirely with B-sides and unreleased tracks. And it's not because their pretentous super-alt pricks. They just made so much incredible music over the years that some of it didn't find it's way onto albums. For example, a version of "Talk Show Host" (which was on the Romeo and Juliet Soundtrack) is my favorite Radiohead track. PM me if you need any suggestions.Sorry for the treatise. Let me know how it goes. I take my role as Radiohead counselor pretty seriously. I'm not being melodramatic about that.Wang

[lvpro 0]

Very difficult, but I think this is the correct answer. I'm going to explain first.Pablo Honey was their first. It had "Creep" but wasn't great.The Bends was the beginning of their rise to prominence. It's a pretty awesome brit-rock album, full of guitars, and a little of the production weirdness that will become their staple later. It's one of my 20 favorite albums, no contest.OK COMPUTER- Okay. Here's where the Best Band in the World thing started. Most music cognescenti consider this one of the best albums ever, and the best album of the 90s, hands down. They keep some of their rock background, but start experimenting with the ambient "Pro Tools" sounds that are their staple today. The album changes gears in a heartbeat, but it's epic. My favorite album ever, and it's not even close. It basically occupies my entire top 5.Kid A- Wholly fuck, what is this? Sounds like OK Computer crossed with Brian Eno. Amnesiac- Pretty much just Kid A Bsides. Takes a lot of flack, but I still think it's good. Not as good as the previous two, though.Hail to the Thief- Partly a return to OK Computer/Bends days, but still a fabulous album. It's a pretty special thing to be able to guide somebody through his virgin Radiohead experiences. My roommate TomThom did it with me Freshman year, and it changed my musical life. Here's what I think you should do, and others may disagree.1) Download "The Bends" and listen to it once or twice. Don't worry if nothing jumps out at you. It's important to see where the band's coming from. Don't spend too much time on it yet. Just hear it.2) Spin "Ok Computer" for awhile. It takes a while, like most great music, to really appreciate how beautiful it is. Some songs will pop out at first, and then others later, until the whole thing sounds as incredible to you as it does to everyone else. At this point, going back and listening to The Bends again's a good idea. Just helps you appreciate that album so much more.3) Blow your mind by listening to "Kid A." I can't explain it.4) By this point you SHOULD be close to fully appreciative of Radiohead. Now you can savor the rest of their music. It's an experience to treasure, and I'm jealous of you. Listen to Amnesiac and then Hail to the Thief. 5) Fun's not over. Radiohead has such an absurdly incredible B-side catalogue that it's unbelieveable. Some diehard Radiohead fans fill their top 20 Radiohead-tracks list almost entirely with B-sides and unreleased tracks. And it's not because their pretentous super-alt pricks. They just made so much incredible music over the years that some of it didn't find it's way onto albums. For example, a version of "Talk Show Host" (which was on the Romeo and Juliet Soundtrack) is my favorite Radiohead track. PM me if you need any suggestions.Sorry for the treatise. Let me know how it goes. I take my role as Radiohead counselor pretty seriously. I'm not being melodramatic about that.Wang

I just got a huge e-boner from reading this. You nailed it right on the head. Talk Show Host is my favorite Radiohead track too. They performed it when I saw them 3 years ago.

[fckthis 0]

OK computer is easily one of the best albums of all time. Its so fresh, and timeless, that you love it everytime you listen to it. Coldplay's A rush of blood to the head is almost as brooding, but not as innovative.Carry on.

[Shimmering Wang 1]

I just got a huge e-boner from reading this. You nailed it right on the head. Talk Show Host is my favorite Radiohead track too. They performed it when I saw them 3 years ago.

I got SOOO lucky when I saw them. They performed Talk Show Host, True Love Waits, and during soundcheck played Polyethelene and Alligators in New York Sewers and parts of Blackstar.'Twas the shiznit. The best part of the concert though was easily "No Surprises." I was soooo stoned. My weed tolerance is so low, and I don't smoke a ton, so I got MEGA burned. The song lasted at least 45 minutes, and I had no idea where I was, who I was. I was unaware of anything but that glockenschpiel and Thom Yorke's hypnotics.Wang

[Dirtydutch 8]

I elected to go with the whole 46 discography torrent. Call me thorough.

[Shimmering Wang 1]

I elected to go with the whole 46 discography torrent. Call me thorough.

Please trust me, and try to experience the band in the order I suggested? I promise you, my friend: allowing me the honor of being your consigliere in this matter will pay dividends...WangPS- More talk about my story. I'm an ego maniac

[Dirtydutch 8]

Please trust me, and try to experience the band in the order I suggested? I promise you, my friend: allowing me the honor of being your consigliere in this matter will pay dividends...WangPS- More talk about my story. I'm an ego maniac

I always planned on it. I wouldn't have asked if I wanted to go rouge. I judt saw an opening, and I had to take it. How else do I fill my 40 free gigs?Also, thanks to some clever prioritizing, The Bends should be done in about 15 minutes.

[lvpro 0]

I got SOOO lucky when I saw them. They performed Talk Show Host, True Love Waits, and during soundcheck played Polyethelene and Alligators in New York Sewers and parts of Blackstar.'Twas the shiznit. The best part of the concert though was easily "No Surprises." I was soooo stoned. My weed tolerance is so low, and I don't smoke a ton, so I got MEGA burned. The song lasted at least 45 minutes, and I had no idea where I was, who I was. I was unaware of anything but that glockenschpiel and Thom Yorke's hypnotics.Wang

I was completely sober, but I still totally tripped out on their performance of Idioteque.Oh, and your story? Awesome. I'm an avid reader of your blog. Brilliant stuff.

[Shimmering Wang 1]

I'm an avid reader of your blog.

Toss in some comments. There's nothing that makes me happier in my e-world than people commenting on my blog. Even criticism is incredibly appreciated. Someday, if I ever get my life together, I'd like to take writing a little more seriously. Even though my weblog is pretty casually put together, I still try to work on my style a little. I feel like my "voice" could use a little work. COMMENT!Thanks, yo.Wang

[Dirtydutch 8]

I just talked to a friend about Radiohead. He says they're pretty much the same band as Coldplay, so I should just listen to them. I guess I'll just do that.

[Shimmering Wang 1]

I just talked to a friend about Radiohead. He says they're pretty much the same band as Coldplay, so I should just listen to them. I guess I'll just do that.

My sophomore year I was at a houseparty in Ann Arbor, and I was running the Keg. That's what I do at parties. I go to the keg, socialize while running it, and hook my friends up and people I like because I like to be powerful. Usually there are some pretty Machiavellian machinations going on while I'm holding the tap.But I heard a fratboy say Radiohead was just like Coldplay once, and all his friends were going on about it and agreeing. I told them I wouldn't give them beer until they retracted that statement, while I proceeded to explain to them in very small words how the two bands similarities could pretty much be summed up as "They're both from England, and they both have male singers that have good-sounding falsettos." I ended up getting booted from the tap, and having a 30 minute argument outside with 5 or 6 people that almost resulted in Wang getting a massive beatdown. To be fair, the kicker was something like, "Why am I even having this conversation with a bunch of Theta Chi meatheads?"Wang

[tobytobey 0]

Am I the only one who thought that Wang would be minus 1 Nano by the end of his story?

[speedz99 145]

Great story.

[Dirtydutch 8]

My sophomore year I was at a houseparty in Ann Arbor, and I was running the Keg. That's what I do at parties. I go to the keg, socialize while running it, and hook my friends up and people I like because I like to be powerful. Usually there are some pretty Machiavellian machinations going on while I'm holding the tap.But I heard a fratboy say Radiohead was just like Coldplay once, and all his friends were going on about it and agreeing. I told them I wouldn't give them beer until they retracted that statement, while I proceeded to explain to them in very small words how the two bands similarities could pretty much be summed up as "They're both from England, and they both have male singers that have good-sounding falsettos." I ended up getting booted from the tap, and having a 30 minute argument outside with 5 or 6 people that almost resulted in Wang getting a massive beatdown. To be fair, the kicker was something like, "Why am I even having this conversation with a bunch of Theta Chi meatheads?"Wang

My friend really did tell me that. I picture that had you been there you would've begun whaling on him as it passed his lips. Even I know that that doesn't make sense.

[Shimmering Wang 1]

My friend really did tell me that. I picture that had you been there you would've begun whaling on him as it passed his lips. Even I know that that doesn't make sense.

Nope. Assuming I'd never met the man before, I would have clenched my jaw, dropped my head, looked down, left, then right, before looking the guy in the eyes, nodding cajolingly, and asking, "Really? You think so? Why's that? I'm just kinda curious." Wang

[Dirtydutch 8]

I'm listening to The Bends right now. No verdict yet.

[CardWarfare 4]

Newport: "Yeah, but you gotta pay taxes inside. I'm'a save you sixpence." Newport: "You see me wearing a sign that says 'Mother****ing Refunds?'"Newport: (excitedly) "No ****?! Whiteboy? Not John Tesh? Kool Keith can spit, man."Newport: (cryptically) "Hey man. Time's money."

I'm instantly convinced that this individual is my new hero.

Great story.

Compelling and rich.

[Don Giovanni 0]

I just talked to a friend about Radiohead. He says they're pretty much the same band as Coldplay, so I should just listen to them. I guess I'll just do that.

you shouldnt be freinds with people who say these kinda thingssince this has turned into a radiohead topic though, i have to mention that my favorite part of OK Computer is in Lucky when TY goes "its gonna be, a gloooooooorious day" that part is amazing

[fckthis 0]

Am I the only one who thought that Wang would be minus 1 Nano by the end of his story?

totally thought the ************ was gonna jack him lol. I was like, umm wang, is this another "bad beat" story.

[Mercury69 3]

I love the Wang.

[fckthis 0]

I love the Wang.

Adding THE, just makes it even more funnier.