Dorchester state rep: We need 'Roadrunner' as the official Rock Song of the Commonwealth

By adamg on Mon, 02/11/2013 - 10:41pm

Jonathan Richman - Roadrunner (TOTP 1977)

The Globe reports state Rep. Marty Walsh is poised to introduce a bill - at the urging of constituent Joyce Linehan - to give the song by Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers the same status as the black-capped chickadee, cranberry juice and Roxbury Puddingstone as official symbols of the Commonwealth.

You may recall Linehan has long campaigned for an official Dorchester song.

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And now let's hear from the

By Brian Riccio on Mon, 02/11/2013 - 10:55pm.

"Dirty Water" crowd! Though, unlike the Standells, Richman was born here.

Got my vote

By adamg on Mon, 02/11/2013 - 11:19pm.

If only because the song mentions Roslindale (as far as I know, one of only two songs to do so; the other being Roslindale by Birdbrain).

Agreed, and while we're at it

By Neal on Mon, 02/11/2013 - 11:54pm.

We should make the Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers song New England the official song of New England.

The motion passes

By Raised in Dot on Tue, 02/12/2013 - 1:28am.

Standells don't stand a chance- it's a song about the river, not the state.

I also vote for for the Gremies for official Dot song song.
And guess what, Not Whitey, I'm calling you Not Swirly b/c you're just as ubiquitous and clueless on so many topics as she as.

Nice Try

By swirlygrrl at work on Tue, 02/12/2013 - 1:11pm.

Real clever attacking people who haven't even commented yet.

But, don't feel bad, sweety. I'm sure you will come up with something clever and original - at least clever in Dorchester - someday.

There was a NotWhitey post here

By Raised in Dot on Tue, 02/12/2013 - 8:08pm.

Slamming the Modern Lovers.

Not sure what happened to it and don't care. Whitey's becoming as insufferable as you are.

Your bias is showing again, Swirrly. The biggest neighborhood in Boston and you think people are less clever there than, where, Somerville?

Your "townie" and "Masshole' comments are getting as sily as you claiming that compassion was working for the Sob Story Guy b/c he became MORE aggressive. Good Lord, give it a rest.

And to the other Dot dude- I wasn't talking behind anyone's back, I posted what I wanted to say. Not exactly fighting words but I've always backed up everything I've ever said.

Guess what?

By Grew up in Dot on Tue, 02/12/2013 - 3:00pm.

I bet you wernt raised in Dot. You didnt learn not to talk behind people's backs cause you get the shit beat out of you.

Yeah, we should choose this over Aerosmith, Boston or the Cars

By Will LaTulippe on Tue, 02/12/2013 - 2:46am.

I'm sure this band is comprised of nice people, and I'm sure the song (which I didn't listen to) has musical merit, but, man, you gotta earn official rock song of Massachusetts.

Way to educate yourself on the topic before weighing in.

By anon on Tue, 02/12/2013 - 7:42am.

Some fine logic working there.

Great idea Willietulip!

By Snowblind on Tue, 02/12/2013 - 8:43am.

How about Aerosmith's Don't Wanna Miss a Thing? Or Billy Squier's Rock Me Tonight? We can all wear tights and dance around in out bedroom to that one.

Ever see There's Something About Mary? You know the dude who pops up inbetween scenes, singing about what just happend? That's Jonathan Richman. He's NOT a nice person, and he will fucking cut you. Especially if you dismiss the song before even listening to it. But I'm willing to bet you've heard it at a bar at some point in your life, even at a bar as shitty as the White Horse.

Yeah, my bar is really (expletive)

By Will LaTulippe on Tue, 02/12/2013 - 1:15pm.

Sorry, I couldn't hear you over the noise that my 150-person audiences make.

I know

By Snowblind on Tue, 02/12/2013 - 7:13pm.

150 people simultaneously saying "duhhhhhh..." can be pretty distracting.

Why?

By Neal on Tue, 02/12/2013 - 9:40am.

Is commercial success the only way to "earn" status? I would take all of the quirky, brilliantly written, arranged and locally themed music of the Jonathan Richman and The Modern Lovers over any of the ego driven, crowd pleasing, boring-all-sounds-alike hyperdrivel or power ballads of Boston or Aerosmith.

That's right.

By John-W on Tue, 02/12/2013 - 12:35pm.

I'd prefer the local toiler in the trenches over the group that formed here and then made it big and went away. Granted Brad Delp was a real local kind of guy - but Steven Tyler just testified in the State House...in Hawaii. Summers in NH like Mitt Romney. Aerosmith and Boston make great bands for Boston to claim (Cars were mostly transplants - in terms of the two frontmen) but for Massachusetts? Willie Alexander, Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers (which includes a member who went on to the Cars), good examples of people who kept it local (maybe not by choice).

And as someone else said, not the version that's in that video.

(My own personal preference for a local band - not song- to be so honored would be The Bags, as they have a song that name checks Spot Pond and Ponkapoag.)

Oh, that's such a terrible version of the song

By anon on Tue, 02/12/2013 - 3:23am.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgRYncR1Nog

And if you like Country

By cybah on Tue, 02/12/2013 - 5:42am.

Why not this song?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Es1xpUxrMhU

It specifically names Boston... plus has some neat shots of Boston in the 1980s (one of the few videos actually shot here)

Don't forget

By Nonymouse on Tue, 02/12/2013 - 12:02pm.

Aaron Lewis's "Massachusetts" if we're going to go all country. He's not a superstar like Reba but at least he's a native and that song makes me kind of weepy now that I'm exiled to the Midwest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g22LRQ6un-M

Thank goodness they're using

By TheVanJones on Tue, 02/12/2013 - 7:09am.

Thank goodness they're using their time so well on Beacon Hill.

If this goes to a referendum...

By Modern Lover Lover on Tue, 02/12/2013 - 9:18am.

....it would have to appear on the ballot as Proposition 123456.

THAT is brilliant. I am going

By Joyce Linehan on Tue, 02/12/2013 - 3:46pm.

THAT is brilliant. I am going to bring it up. -Joyce

There's something about this video ...

By Ron Newman on Tue, 02/12/2013 - 10:52am.

... that doesn't make sense. It says it is from a 1977 TV show called 'Top of the Pops', but the caption (at 1:05) refers to There's Something About Mary, a movie that came out in 1998.

Looks like a clip show

By JohnCostello on Tue, 02/12/2013 - 11:05am.

This looks like a TOTP clip show from the 90's or early 00's flashing back to unusual hit songs based upon the graphics. Jimmy Saville probably had the week off so he could go molest more 14 year old girls in hospitals(Look it up).

The Sex Pistols have a great cover of this song where Lydon just kind of gives up on the lyrics about 4/5ths of the way.

I am in full favor of giving the hammond organ version of this song, not the horrid version of it in the video Official Rock Song Status. Really, anyone crank up All Hail To Massachusetts when it comes on the radio? Anyone?

4/5ths?

By rsybuchanan on Tue, 02/12/2013 - 12:55pm.

Johnny doesn't even know how it starts, which is part of the awesomeness. He's way more into the song he barely knows and is too drunk to sing than that pallid imitation of the Modern Lovers at the top of this post.

Probably NSFW, depending on your office (Johnny Rotten a potty-mouth!?! Say it ain't so!).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkcBqpSjnVk

All right, I'll be the one to say it....

By Pete Nice on Tue, 02/12/2013 - 11:11am.

This "roadrunner" song is horrible, and should not be associated with the State of Massachusetts in any shape or form, now or in the future.

Whaaat?

By Nancy on Tue, 02/12/2013 - 11:17am.

I'm going to Stop and Shop with the radio on (with the radio on). It doesn't get much more Massachusetts than that.

well, YOU'RE not in love with Massachusetts

By ijustworkhere on Tue, 02/12/2013 - 11:25am.

Or 128 when it's dark outside. Or the highway when it's late at night.

Seriously, this could help revive a great local anthem, perhaps provide a counterbalance to "Shipping Up To Boston" which, God bless the Murphys, if I hear ONE MORE TIME, I will smack someone with my wooden leg. With the radio on.

Dorchester state rep: We need 'Roadrunner' as the official Rock Song of the Commonwealth

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