This whole song makes a good example of how to use influences. For this centerpiece of their "British" album, Jack was obviously using Queen as the model, particularly for those "Bohemian Rhapsody" style vocal harmonies. Yet it doesn't come out sounding like Queen. For one thing, Jack and Meg can swing, which Queen just couldn't on a bet.
LM: Yo Al, what do you mean with "swing"? Jack and Meg are a lot of things, but they're not Frank Sinatra.
GA: Wise question, young Grasshopper. I'm referring, of course, to the classic philosophical statement of Duke Ellington, "It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing." I'm using the term broadly, more an indication of a loose rhythmic fleet-footedness rather than a specific musical genre.
It would perhaps be better to say that Queen were only rock, but that the White Stripes are rock and roll. I don't mean to pick on Queen, as they were an excellent band in many ways, and had quite a few good songs. But listen to "Crazy Little Thing Called Love." It's an excellent rockabilly song, but they couldn't perform it properly. Dwight Yoakam totally takes over the song, just by giving it some basic Elvis swing.
It's a big beef with most modern era rock music that they might ROCK you with big loud guitars- but very few have the ROLL that had so much to do with making Chuck Berry and Elvis and Fats Domino so appealing.
LM: So you're basically saying that the White Stripes are more rhythmically supple than Queen or modern rock bands.
GA: Yes. White Stripes got swing, even in this relatively more produced song. Korn and Green Day do NOT swing.
The special depth of the song, though, comes from the mixture of emotions expressed. Variations on "There's no home for you here girl, go away" express at least a couple or three distinct emotions being blended in. There's the idea of a cold command. By the end of it, it's distinctly more a plea. PLEASE quit tormenting me.
More specifically, please Mariah, don't make me cast you from the kingdom into a dark dungeon in Iraq. Jack has to be tough to be a leader — but truly he is not malicious, and wishes no ill upon even so egregious an offender against Public Decency as Mariah Carey. It gives him no pleasure to have send her to an internment camp — but his public duty compels. him. What's he to do?
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Article comments
1 - DJRadiohead
Bravo! Bravo!
The read was entertaining as hell. I have started banishing people to Camp Mimi myself. I fucking love that! The role reversal was nice, too. Most of the time, GA provides the Hammer and LM the glove. This time, LM is bringing the hellfire hatred. Some great one liners in there, HRP.
As a candidate for Secretary of Defense of The People's Revolution let me say, "GA, we can find you a better piece of trim than Mimi. Drive her from The Realm forthwith.
I hear Renee Zellwegger is available again.We'll keep working on that. Perhaps LM could give us a list of acceptable nominees for us to... vet.2 - DJRadiohead
Now, onto the important stuff. This is one of my favorite songs from my favorite White Stripes album. Well done noticing the British sensibilities on Elephant. They managed to broaden their sound without losing their identity. Great, great song and album.