It also shows the virtues of state-of-the-art 80s production: awesome synths, big drums. John Oates' harmonies alone justify his existence, and put to rest the myth that he was just a mustache and mullet.
Oh, and I love how Hall's voice ascends the scale when he sings the "You move so we-l-l-l-l-l!" line
Case closed.
― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 23:32 (nineteen years ago) link
― The Brainwasher (Twilight), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 23:34 (nineteen years ago) link
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 23:42 (nineteen years ago) link
― matth, Wednesday, 6 April 2005 23:44 (nineteen years ago) link
― Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 23:45 (nineteen years ago) link
― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 23:50 (nineteen years ago) link
― Ferlin Husky (noodle vague), Wednesday, 6 April 2005 23:52 (nineteen years ago) link
― Susan Douglas (Susan Douglas), Thursday, 7 April 2005 00:21 (nineteen years ago) link
― Eisbär (llamasfur), Thursday, 7 April 2005 00:38 (nineteen years ago) link
― Eisbär (llamasfur), Thursday, 7 April 2005 00:52 (nineteen years ago) link
― Eisbär (llamasfur), Thursday, 7 April 2005 00:53 (nineteen years ago) link
― Jeff Reguilon (Talent Explosion), Thursday, 7 April 2005 01:44 (nineteen years ago) link
― j blount (papa la bas), Thursday, 7 April 2005 01:48 (nineteen years ago) link
― mike a, Thursday, 7 April 2005 01:53 (nineteen years ago) link
― Roadkill Bingo (Roadkill Bingo), Thursday, 7 April 2005 03:11 (nineteen years ago) link
― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 7 April 2005 03:13 (nineteen years ago) link
What about those of us who've always liked H&O back into our early days? I remember listening to Casey Kasem on Sunday afternoons just waiting to hear "Private Eyes" with my finger readied to press the record button.
― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 7 April 2005 03:26 (nineteen years ago) link
New here?
― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 7 April 2005 04:08 (nineteen years ago) link
― irrigation can save your people (irrigation can save your peopl), Thursday, 7 April 2005 04:22 (nineteen years ago) link
― Schwip Schwap (schwip schwap), Thursday, 7 April 2005 05:07 (nineteen years ago) link
― Schwip Schwap (schwip schwap), Thursday, 7 April 2005 05:08 (nineteen years ago) link
― earinfections (Nick Twisp), Thursday, 7 April 2005 05:18 (nineteen years ago) link
― Susan Douglas (Susan Douglas), Thursday, 7 April 2005 05:59 (nineteen years ago) link
― billstevejim, Thursday, 7 April 2005 06:13 (nineteen years ago) link
― John Fredland (jfredland), Thursday, 7 April 2005 09:30 (nineteen years ago) link
OTM John on its karaoke greatness.
― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Thursday, 7 April 2005 10:21 (nineteen years ago) link
god help me, I still love that first record. Might've been my first cassette.
― Will(iam), Thursday, 7 April 2005 11:40 (nineteen years ago) link
― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 7 April 2005 12:31 (nineteen years ago) link
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 7 April 2005 13:06 (nineteen years ago) link
― Rick Massimo (Rick Massimo), Thursday, 7 April 2005 13:13 (nineteen years ago) link
― Will(iam), Thursday, 7 April 2005 13:21 (nineteen years ago) link
― Roadkill Bingo (Roadkill Bingo), Thursday, 7 April 2005 14:30 (nineteen years ago) link
― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Thursday, 7 April 2005 14:57 (nineteen years ago) link
hall and oates have also aged well (looks-wise) -- oates STILL looks like john oates, and darryl hall looks like yer coolest uncle!
― Eisbär (llamasfur), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:06 (nineteen years ago) link
― miccio (miccio), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:08 (nineteen years ago) link
― miccio (miccio), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:09 (nineteen years ago) link
― Eisbär (llamasfur), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:11 (nineteen years ago) link
― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:15 (nineteen years ago) link
― miccio (miccio), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:16 (nineteen years ago) link
― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:19 (nineteen years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:21 (nineteen years ago) link
what's wrong w/ "private eyes"?!?
("maneater" is musically fine, but lyrically kinda dumb.)
and now many of us are old enough to be dads ourselves, so = h&o AND steely dan DOES = DADROCK yay!!
― Eisbär (llamasfur), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:22 (nineteen years ago) link
― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:23 (nineteen years ago) link
― Schwip Schwap (schwip schwap), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:25 (nineteen years ago) link
― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:25 (nineteen years ago) link
in what world is pinkerton weezer's most commercial record?
― Eisbär (llamasfur), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:31 (nineteen years ago) link
― Schwip Schwap (schwip schwap), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:44 (nineteen years ago) link
― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:47 (nineteen years ago) link
― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:51 (nineteen years ago) link
― Schwip Schwap (schwip schwap), Friday, 8 April 2005 05:11 (nineteen years ago) link
As Douglas Wolk has pointed out elsewhere, "Las Vegas Turnaround" from Abandoned Luncheonette is TOTALLY a B&S song.
Having just finished seeing EC 30 minutes ago, as far as comparisons between him and H&O, well, I can't go for that (no can do), just because there's really not much in common there (plus EC's catalogue's a lot better)
― Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Friday, 8 April 2005 05:37 (nineteen years ago) link
― John Fredland (jfredland), Friday, 8 April 2005 08:58 (nineteen years ago) link
After listening to "Big Bam Boom a couple of times, I conclude that it's a better album than "Punch the Clock." But no damn way is "Private Eyes" a better album than "Trust," nor is "Abandoned Luncheonette" a better album than "This Year's Model."
EC can still write great songs, while H&O's original inspiration seems to have dried up. Frankly, I dont think they listen much to the radio; they were always great synthesists. Maybe if you played Daryl Hall the new Beck he'd show Mr. Hansen how to do soul right.
― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Friday, 8 April 2005 11:30 (nineteen years ago) link
― John Fredland (jfredland), Friday, 8 April 2005 21:08 (nineteen years ago) link
― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Friday, 8 April 2005 22:22 (nineteen years ago) link
― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Friday, 8 April 2005 22:23 (nineteen years ago) link
― John Fredland (jfredland), Friday, 8 April 2005 22:33 (nineteen years ago) link
YES I AGREE!
― Susan Douglas (Susan Douglas), Friday, 8 April 2005 23:57 (nineteen years ago) link
― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Thursday, 28 April 2005 17:27 (nineteen years ago) link
Weezer is so entirely inconsequential.
I am frequently castigated for my H20 love. I'm so glad there's H20 love on ILM.
― Brooker Buckingham (Brooker B), Thursday, 28 April 2005 17:38 (nineteen years ago) link
― billstevejim, Thursday, 28 April 2005 21:35 (nineteen years ago) link
I'm always amazed that Hall'n'Oates has all these singles people are ape for and its fucking "Private Eyes" and "Maneater" I hear everywhere.
Miccio totally OTM! I've been gradually really getting into H&O over the last year or so, and it's not like I've never been to a dentist's office before...they just never play the really great shit!
Also, I would fucking love to hear Hall and Oates in their prime covering "Say It Ain't So." The Weezer performance is one of the high points of 90s rock (certainly the best thing they ever recorded) - but I think Hall could pull it off.
― Doctor Casino, Thursday, 13 December 2007 05:47 (sixteen years ago) link
Yeah, since this thread started I've heard "SIIS" and it is sweeeet. "Say It Aint So" might be one of my least favorite Weezer singles, though it's still fine enough.
― da croupier, Thursday, 13 December 2007 05:54 (sixteen years ago) link
There was this band in my high school that did basically Beach Boys songs, "Runaround Sue" and "Say It Ain't So." Singer was a fat kid with a cowboy hat.
― da croupier, Thursday, 13 December 2007 05:56 (sixteen years ago) link
They weren't an intentionally quirky band or anything, they were just kinda inexplicable.
― da croupier, Thursday, 13 December 2007 06:01 (sixteen years ago) link
I'm ready to like "Say It Ain't So" a little now, but still.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Saturday, 26 April 2008 13:13 (sixteen years ago) link
I take back what I said about Weezer.. Of course around the time I wrote that message was probably around the last time I listened to 90s Weezer up until a few weeks ago. Their streak of brilliance pretty much ended when Sharp left, obviously.
This TS is still very difficult for me. "Say It Isn't So" might be my fav H&O song.
― billstevejim, Saturday, 26 April 2008 23:38 (sixteen years ago) link
This is that Weezer song I was trying to remember the name of some weeks back while I was in the car and couldn't! Yeah, I liked that one at the time, I really did, but it makes me wince now. It's got that same "cooler-than-thou" thing that so much fucking emo crap has these days, and it's really just a bunch of power chords and little else isn't it? The Hall & Oates tune on the other hand has never been one of my faves of theirs, but I like the way they make it sound like everything is echoing. So yeah, Hall & Oates win. Which I didn't expect when I first clicked on this thread!
― Bimble, Sunday, 27 April 2008 01:40 (sixteen years ago) link
it's really just a bunch of power chords and little else isn't it?
Well to be fair/pedantic it does start off with the full chords and has a few bitching licks/good solo.
― jim, Sunday, 27 April 2008 01:45 (sixteen years ago) link
And Say it isn't so is probably my third least favourite song on the Hall & Oates greatest hits I have after One on one and Wait for me.
― jim, Sunday, 27 April 2008 01:47 (sixteen years ago) link
Alfred! He dared to diss One On One! My heart is breaking. Please stop now.
― Bimble, Sunday, 27 April 2008 03:13 (sixteen years ago) link
I haven't stopped.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Sunday, 27 April 2008 03:19 (sixteen years ago) link
The laid-back Southern rock comping on "SIAS" is actually pretty good, but its not nearly one of my favorite Weezer songs.
― The Reverend, Sunday, 27 April 2008 06:20 (sixteen years ago) link
The weezer tune is great but the progression is basically lifted from "Where is My Mind" by The Pixies.
― St3ve Go1db3rg, Sunday, 27 April 2008 06:44 (sixteen years ago) link
OMG the H&O video ends with a shot of the WTC. "SAY IT ISN'T SO" INDEED.
Anyway, the H&O song is too damn long. I choose Weezer for brevity.
― al.b, Sunday, 27 April 2008 18:09 (sixteen years ago) link
That's cuz the video uses the 12" version!
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Sunday, 27 April 2008 18:47 (sixteen years ago) link
Holy shit, I think Steve's on to something re: Pixies. I've played them side by side now and it isn't really a ripoff but the comparison is definitely valid. And I feel like I knew that subconsciously. Wow.
― Bimble, Sunday, 27 April 2008 19:02 (sixteen years ago) link
-- St3ve Go1db3rg, Sunday, April 27, 2008 6:44 AM (12 hours ago) Bookmark Link
isn't every chord progression pretty much lifted from some other pop song?
― Surmounter, Sunday, 27 April 2008 19:03 (sixteen years ago) link
The video uses the 12" version! Hahah. I love it.
xpost
― Bimble, Sunday, 27 April 2008 19:03 (sixteen years ago) link
Perhaps, Surmounter, but an awful lot of bands ripped off the Pixies.
― Bimble, Sunday, 27 April 2008 19:04 (sixteen years ago) link
I feel the chord sequence is fairly common. Is it not also in "Teenage dirtbag"? :/
― jim, Sunday, 27 April 2008 19:11 (sixteen years ago) link
a lot of chord sequences that make for really catch songs are fairly common, IMO
― Surmounter, Sunday, 27 April 2008 19:12 (sixteen years ago) link
it's really just a bunch of power chords and little else isn't it
There is more to rock music than chord progressions.
― billstevejim, Sunday, 27 April 2008 19:42 (sixteen years ago) link
Say It Ain't So and Where Is My Mind share the same chords but in a different order, and the tempos are similar.. however they also have different vocal melodies, different counter melodies, different guitar fills, different production, different lyrics, and the musicians play the songs differently, and also Frank Black and Rivers Cuomo do not have similar vocal styles.
― billstevejim, Sunday, 27 April 2008 19:46 (sixteen years ago) link
also the instruments used on both songs are different
― Mr. Que, Sunday, 27 April 2008 19:47 (sixteen years ago) link
also different producer
Yeah.. what I was saying is that I'm sick of people saying that song was "ripped off" from another because the chord progressions are similar.
― billstevejim, Sunday, 27 April 2008 19:50 (sixteen years ago) link
H&O didn't!
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Sunday, 27 April 2008 19:58 (sixteen years ago) link
I don't think SIAS was "ripped off" from WIMM and I don't think the shared progression takes anything away from it being a great song. But I think the case for WIMM influencing SIAS is strong and I think it's an interesting connection. It's not a super-obscure chord progression (and not just power chords-- WIMM verse goes E C#m G# A, SIAS verse goes C#m G# A E), but it's not exactly a "standard" progression either. The G# following the C#m rather than preceding it and then resolving deceptively to the A is pretty distinctive.
― St3ve Go1db3rg, Monday, 28 April 2008 00:53 (sixteen years ago) link
Can we get back to discussing what is clearly the superior of the two tracks?
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Monday, 28 April 2008 01:00 (sixteen years ago) link
I love this thread.
― Bimble, Monday, 28 April 2008 01:15 (sixteen years ago) link
What if you think they're equal?
― billstevejim, Monday, 28 April 2008 20:45 (sixteen years ago) link
Hall & Oates' "Say It Isn't So" is the greatest song of all time.
― TikTok to the (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 8 January 2020 03:33 (four years ago) link
Are you people out of your fucking minds? I hoped that the hipster world's brief foray into Hall and Oates apreciation ended that stupid week where Ben Gibbard made that dumb list on Pitchfork, then Pitchfork had that dumb news feature about their tour. It's not like the Weezer "Say It Ain't So" falls under their dubious ironic period, it's just great.― Roadkill Bingo (Roadkill Bingo), Wednesday, April 6, 2005 11:11 PM
I listen to H&O about 10x more than Weezer, but "Say It Ain't So" is Rivers' best song, and "Say It Isn't So" wouldn't make my list of top 20 H&O tracks (I'm sure Alfred already made this list, so I'm off to compare it with my own mental list).
― enochroot, Wednesday, 8 January 2020 13:22 (four years ago) link
https://humanizingthevacuum.wordpress.com/2017/01/02/mano-a-mano-the-best-of-daryl-hall-and-john-oates/
― enochroot, Wednesday, 8 January 2020 13:26 (four years ago) link
Say It Isn't So would sound amazing coming from nearly any other band, but it's up against things like I Can't Go For That and Kiss On My List.
Why haven't Weezer ever put out a greatest hits btw? They're totally a singles band.
― does it look like i'm here (jon123), Wednesday, 8 January 2020 14:50 (four years ago) link
they did, it's the one with the blue cover
― frogbs, Wednesday, 8 January 2020 14:57 (four years ago) link
No Head, no cred.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhTa2PeIdxs
― Briania, Wednesday, 8 January 2020 15:57 (four years ago) link
I would not have guessed that that guy had a soft-rock/folkie period
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 8 January 2020 16:17 (four years ago) link