Tuesday, 29 April 2025

Tunesday : You Ain't Seen Nothin Yet

 



                                                   You Ain't Seen Nothin Yet

                                                      (Bachman, R) Performed by Bachman Turner Overdrive

  • I met a devil woman
    She took my heart away
    She said, I've had it comin' to me
    But I wanted it that way
    I think that any love is good lovin'
    So I took what I could get, mmh
    Oooh, oooh she looked at me with big brown eyes

    And said,
    You ain't seen nothin' yet
    B-b-b-baby, you just ain't seen n-n-nothin' yet
    Here's something that you never gonna forget
    B-b-b-baby, you just ain't seen n-n-nothin' yet

    "Nothin' yet
    You ain't been around
    That's what they told me"

    And now I'm feelin' better
    'Cause I found out for sure
    She took me to her doctor
    And he told me of a cure
    He said that any love is good love
    So I took what I could get
    Yes, I took what I could get
    And then she looked at me with them big brown eyes

    And said,
    You ain't seen nothin' yet
    B-b-b-baby, you just ain't seen n-n-nothin' yet
    Here's something, here's something your never gonna forget
    baby, you know, you know, you know you just ain't seen nothin' yet

    "You need educatin'
    You got to go to school"

    Any love is good lovin'
    So I took what I could get
    Yes, I took what I could get
    And then, and then, and then
    She looked at me with them big brown eyes

    And said,
    You ain't seen nothin' yet
    Baby, you just ain't seen n-n-nothin' yet
    Here's something, here's something
    Here's something that your never gonna forget, baby
    Baby, baby, baby you ain't seen n-n-nothin' yet
    You ain't been around
    You ain't seen nothin' yet
    That's what she told me
    She said, "I needed educatin', go to school"
    I know I ain't seen nothin' yet
    I know I ain't seen nothin' yet




Continuing on in our year of trying to get out more and do more things, Dave and I went to a concert this past week. As with the Trans-Canadian Highwaymen earlier in the month, it felt good to see Canadian artists perform right now, and this triple bill featured the Headpins (do I ever remember jamming to Don't it Make Ya Feel if it came on City TV's New Music when I was babysitting as a twelve year old on a Friday night), April Wine (we saw them perform before at the Fall Fair, but they deserve this bigger stage; so many hits), and of course the headline act, BTO.  I'm realising now that I was so lame at blogging last year that I didn't even write about the  last concert we saw at the Aud in the fall, so I need to rewind here.

On October 9 of 2024, Dave and I went to see the Doobie Brothers at the Aud. We saw a few concerts last year — I enjoyed The Stampeders more than I thought I would, loved Cyndi Lauper, Ringo Starr & his All-Starr Band was probably my favourite, but I didn't even write about any of that — and although Dave would never think to buy tickets to anything, every time we go to a show, he's just so happy; he says that seeing live music was what he missed most during the Covid lockdowns, so I've been trying to make more of these experiences happen for him. And the Doobie Brothers put on an awesome show: so many great songs, and despite their age, they rocked the house. Here's what I wanted to note: Dave and I were sitting in the eighth row on the floor, and as people started to move to the front of the stage, Dave said, "We gotta go now if we're going," so I said, "Sure!" We went up to the barrier and were singing and dancing and having a great time, until a security guard came up and asked to see our tickets. I pointed to my wristband and said we have floor seats, but he said that only the front row was allowed to stand at the front. Now, all of the front row seats were empty, there was just one row of people standing — no pushing or crowding — and as I was trying to figure out what the problem was, another security guard was asking Dave where our seats were and he pointed to the two empty chairs right behind us and said angrily, "Right. There." So the guards walked away to harass others along the line and Dave and I looked at each other like sorry, not sorry (I know, we're jerks, but we were having fun and not hurting anyone.) Later, during the encore — which I actually did find annoying as the Doobie Brothers were now doing the songs everyone had come for — a bunch of security guards came through again, and one of them said something to me that I didn't quite hear, and when another came by a minute later and said he needed to see my ticket, I pointed at the first one along the line and said an exasperated, "I just showed it to her." And then they left us alone, and within a couple of songs, the concert was over and Dave and I were pleased with our self-serving scumbaggery.

So when tickets went on sale for BTO (with Headpins and April Wine), I bought tickets early and got us front row seats, and we were able to stand at the barrier and dance and sing and have a great time, free from worry that anyone would bounce us. I guess here is where the karma comes in: Even though I bought within a week of tickets going on sale, I paid "surge pricing" of three something a ticket. But I guess most people balked at that price, because the week before the concert, about half of the front row was still unsold and the price went down to $125. And although it was good to have no anxiety about anyone accusing us of not belonging at the front, the security guards never came through to ask for tickets this time (despite a bit of a crowd gathering in the center aisle). I guess we technically didn't need to buy front row, and I guess we overpaid as it was, but in a larger karmic sense, we owed the universe and now I hope we're square.

As for the concert: All three groups put on a fantastic show. Randy Bachman is showing his age — he sits on a stool to play and sing, and when he goes to stand, a roadie stands behind him and pushes forward on his upper back as he removes the stool — but Bachman's voice and guitar playing are as strong as ever. It was a nice added bonus that Tal Bachman tours with BTO and we got to see him perform She's So High.


The question might be asked why I didn't choose Takin Care of Business for this Tunesday, but I've used it before: It was one of the songs my eye surgeon was listlessly singing along to on the radio while I was having a semi-traumatic experience during cataract surgery. I must have made enough of a deal about it, eight years ago, that both of my kids were worried about it triggering me during the concert, but, of course, despite that picture up there, I was dancing and singing and having a great time throughout. Another great evening out with my favourite guy and more experiences to come.

                                                                     You ain't seen nothin' yet
                                                      B-b-b-baby, you just ain't seen n-n-nothin' yet
                                        Here's something, here's something your never gonna forget
                                  baby, you know, you know, you know you just ain't seen nothin' yet

Tuesday, 8 April 2025

Tunesday : It's All Been Done

 



It's All Been Done

(Written by Steven Page, Performed by Barenaked Ladies)

I met you before the fall of Rome
And I begged you to let me take you home
You were wrong, I was right
You said goodbye, I said goodnight


(Ooh-ooh-ooh) It's all been done
(Ooh-ooh-ooh) It's all been done
(Ooh-ooh-ooh) It's all been done before

I knew you before the west was won
And I heard you say the past was much more fun

You go your way, I go mine
But I'll see you next time

(Ooh-ooh-ooh) It's all been done
(Ooh-ooh-ooh) It's all been done
(Ooh-ooh-ooh) It's all been done before

And if I put my fingers here
And if I say, "I love you, dear"

And if I play the same three chords
Will you just yawn and say
'Ah, I hate it'

(Ooh-ooh-ooh) It's all been done
(Ooh-ooh-ooh) It's all been done
(Ooh-ooh-ooh) It's all been done before

Alone and bored on a thirtieth-century night

Will I see you on The Price Is Right?
Will I cry? Will I smile?
As you run down the aisle?


(Ooh-ooh-ooh) It's all been done
(Ooh-ooh-ooh) It's all been done
(Ooh-ooh-ooh) It's all been done before
(Ooh-ooh-ooh) It's all been done
(Ooh-ooh-ooh) It's all been done
(Ooh-ooh-ooh) It's all been done
(Ooh) It's all been done
(Ooh-ooh-ooh) It's all been done
(Ooh-ooh-ooh) It's all been done before




Months ago, Mal told me that the Trans-Canada Highwaymen were coming to a local small venue, and as Steven Page (formerly of Barenaked Ladies, a band we've seen as a family several times over the years) is one of the members of this Canadian supergroup (along with Chris Murphy of Sloan, Craig Northey of Odds, and Moe Berg of The Pursuit of Happiness), I agreed that this would be a great night out for us (with the addition of Dan and Rudy).

As an aside: There was a headsup on the event information that seating would be limited, so we arrived early to stand in line — only to be let inside and discover that "limited" means "nonexistent", save for some benches on the wall off to one side. We were able to secure a standup table, though (of which there were only two or three, so that was a win for our drinks and ability to stake out an unmovable area in the growing crowd), and as hundreds of others pushed and surged around us, it was agreed that arriving early was definitely worth it.

I chose this song because it was the opener, but also to note that every song was familiar and "done before": from Page belting out Brian Wilson to Moe Berg bringing down the house with I'm an Adult Now in the encore (Mal told the table, "I've heard this song exactly two other times in my life: when Mom sang it to Kennedy on her 18th birthday and when she sang it to me on my 18th birthday"), we at least knew the chorus to every song. And I have to say: for a "supergroup" formed of basically famous-in-Canada-indy acts, Trans-Canada Highwaymen are incredibly talented and perform together with what looks like ease and joy; it was a fantastically fun and nostalgic evening and I was so glad to be out, singing and dancing along, with all of my favourite people.

And further to my aside: As we were out walking in the parking lot afterwards, I said to Rudy, "Well, I guess what we learned this evening is that we're too old for general admission seating; that crowd was brutal." And a man of about our age upon overhearing me said, "Nah, you just have to know how to handle them," and then he did a front kick in demonstration. I laughed and nodded and added, "Chairs would have been nice." And despite the recent bravado, he quietly said, "Yeah, chairs would have been nice."

Great music, great company; the year of interesting experiences is proceeding nicely.