Quote:I am sure everyone asks where you came up with the band name, Blue Meridian...
Donovan : Our namesake actually came from the Tragically Hip song "The 100th Meridian." Ironically, Elvis Costello (probably my favorite songwriter) gave the Tragically Hip the idea for their band name, from "Town Crier" off Imperial Bedroom album. I'm a huge "Hip" fan, but the 2 degrees of separation Costello thing was quite cool to discover.
From: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.ink19.com/issues_F/99_10/ink_spots/005_blue_meridian.shtml">http://www.ink19.com/issues_F/99_10/ink ... dian.shtml</a><!-- m -->
I thought it was Michael Nesmith's video "Elephant Parts" that gave them the name. Can anyone provide some insight?
Here are the lyrics to "Town Crier"
I'm the town crier
And everybody knows
I'm a little down
With a lifetime to go
Maybe you don't believe my heart is in the right place
Why don't you take a good look at my face
Other boys use the splendour of their trembling lip
They're so teddy bear tender and tragically hip
I'm never going to cry again
I'm going to be as strong as them
They say they'd die for love
And then they live it out
They'll give you something to cry about
And suddenly you really fall to pieces
I'm the town crier
And everybody knows
I'm a little down
With a lifetime to go
Maybe you don't believe my heart is in the right place
Why don't you take a good look at my face
Other boys use the splendour of their trembling lip
They're so teddy bear tender and tragically hip
Love and unhappiness go arm in arm
Long suffering friends of your fatal charm
Isn't it a pity that you're going to get hurt
Just a little boy lost in a big man's shirt
I'm a huge Costello fan, so I was always aware of the possible connection, but I vaguely remember being disappointed to learn that the band did NOT use his song as their inspiration for the name. Certainly, there isn't much Costello influence on the Hip's sound, so why would they pinch his lyrics for their name---?
cratch:
Anything i have ever heard or read (including that golf magazine interview with Gord and Paul) says it was the Neismith movie.....
"Imperial Bedroom" was released in 1982, so i wouldn't rule it out, but i'd definitely agree with Killer Whale Tank that the connection is hard to believe. until today the only origin of the name i have ever heard was the nesmith video.
Corby Wrote:the only origin of the name i have ever heard was the nesmith video.
Same here, and that was from the horse's mouth.
MAv.
MAverick Wrote:Corby Wrote:the only origin of the name i have ever heard was the nesmith video.
Same here, and that was from the horse's mouth.
MAv.
Which Horse
What does the name "The Tragically Hip" mean?
From: Tales from the Hip, Winter 94-95 No.1:
"The name, The Tragically Hip, was taken from a Michael Nesmith video called "Elephant Parts." The video contained a clip asking for contributions to The Foundation for The Tragically Hip: poor, afflicted people in need of jacuzzis, Lamborghinis and cocaine. Here is what Paul said about the name once: "There seems to be some confusion about our name...about the kind of band we are. People either like the name, think it's clever and funny or think it's a really pretentious, new-wave thing. We were billed in Germany a couple of times as an American Hip Hop band." --
The Tragically Hip
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.hipbase.com/faq/index.php?p=all#a10">http://www.hipbase.com/faq/index.php?p=all#a10</a><!-- m -->
^ really now, who ya gonna believe, Paul Langlois, who's only claim to credibility is that he is in the band, or Orlando based garage rocker Donovan Lyman, who is best buds with Elvis Costello.
I actually thought the name came from some graffiti on a wall in Kingston painted by Gord Downing to read "The Tragically Hip Live on the Edge" in reference to an earlier band member named David Manley who played the trumpet.
ct
Quote:"The Tragically Hip Live on the Edge"
Wasn't that "The Tragically Hip Live Between Us"?
patiodweller Wrote:Quote:"The Tragically Hip Live on the Edge"
Wasn't that "The Tragically Hip Live Between Us"?
Ahh Patiodweller...I believe you have fallen for the not so subtle touch of sarcasm which we have all come to know and love from Monsieur Tanz...further hints would be the reference to one, Gord Downing, David Manley (who btw is Elizabeth Manley's husband) and let's not forget his mad Trumpet skills.
Goulet!!!
robert goulet Wrote:Ahh Patiodweller...I believe you have fallen for the not so subtle touch of sarcasm which we have all come to know and love from Monsieur Tanz...further hints would be the reference to one, Gord Downing, David Manley (who btw is Elizabeth Manley's husband) and let's not forget his mad Trumpet skills.
Goulet!!!
Kudos, Goulet, you got'em all. 15,000 points.
ct
robert goulet Wrote:Ahh Patiodweller...I believe you have fallen for the not so subtle touch of sarcasm which we have all come to know and love from Monsieur Tanz...
I propose a new HTML tag...
<sarcasm>insert sarcastic statement here</sarcasm>
This would work on forums to convey this important verbal communication, which is very often lost on print, depending on how cynical one is.
Nothin' wrong with bein' earnest!
Damnit Chris, I was expecting to read something about hockey :lol:
Oh well, on topic, In my world Costello is the one true Elvis but I'll second the general sentiment that I put more faith in Tales From The Hip and MAv than somebody I've never heard of and probably wouldn't listen to...unless, does anyone know if this Donovan guy does Hip covers or Costello tunes?
:mrgreen:
There was a Rolling Stone blurb about TTH that mentioned the Costello lyircs as well. I saw it about 10 years ago.
The funny part is that the RS blurb made it sound like they thought TTH was a bunch of liars, saying something to the effect of "They say their name came from a Michael Nesmith video, although the phrase turned up much earlier in an Elvis Costello song."
This is factually inaccurate anyway, since the Nesmith video was released in 1981 and the Costello album came out a year later!!
FYI, there's some good info on the Nesmith video here: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082316/">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082316/</a><!-- m -->
and you can buy it on DVD here: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search/002-2909098-6616809?tag=imdb-adbox&mode=dvd&keyword=B000009OV2%7C%20B0000844IZ">http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/exter ... B0000844IZ</a><!-- m -->
I just stumbled across this: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://snl.jt.org/ep.php?i=8101170">http://snl.jt.org/ep.php?i=8101170</a><!-- m -->
Apparently "The Foundation For The Tragically Hip" was also a commercial spoof from SNL in 1981.