Can we Thank “The Eagles” for the Name “The Tragically Hip”? - Printable Version
+- PunBB (https://punbb.in)
+-- Forum: General Discussion - Hipbase.com (https://punbb.in/forumdisplay.php?fid=4)
+--- Forum: Tragically Hip Discussion (https://punbb.in/forumdisplay.php?fid=7)
+--- Thread: Can we Thank “The Eagles” for the Name “The Tragically Hip”? (/showthread.php?tid=16484)
+- PunBB (https://punbb.in)
+-- Forum: General Discussion - Hipbase.com (https://punbb.in/forumdisplay.php?fid=4)
+--- Forum: Tragically Hip Discussion (https://punbb.in/forumdisplay.php?fid=7)
+--- Thread: Can we Thank “The Eagles” for the Name “The Tragically Hip”? (/showthread.php?tid=16484)
Can we Thank “The Eagles” for the Name “The Tragically Hip”? - potsie - 05-17-2017
39 years ago, in May 1978, the Eagles played the writers and editors of Rolling Stone magazine in a softball game in Los Angeles. The game was the culmination of a spat that was started by RS editor Charles M. Young when he called out the Eagles in the pages of the Random Notes section of RS. RS founder Jann Wenner and Eagles manager Irving Azoff also “engaged in hours of long distance shouting matches” leading up to the game, according to Don Henley and Glen Frey.
The day of the game Irving Azoff showed up wearing a jersey that read “Is Jann Wenner Tragically Hip?” In a summary of the game (won 15-8 by the Eagles) written by Henley and Frey and published in RS a month later in June 1978, they discuss the crowd at the game: “The Eagles bleachers were filled to capacity with the likes of Joni Mitchell…, Donald Fagen, Chevy Chase, etc, while the RS bleachers were relatively empty except for Daryl Hall and a collection of cute, young cheerleaders from Hollywood High, yet another tragically hip move by RS.”
I’m unsure of how common a phrase “tragically hip” was in the 1970’s, but these are two early mentions by the Eagles. As most everyone knows there have been two explanations put forth for the origin of the band name “The Tragically Hip”. By far the most common is from the Michael Nesmith video compilation “Elephant Parts”. Interestingly the one minute skit “The Tragically Hip”, which was later included in the video compilation, first aired on Saturday Night Live on January 17, 1981 as a pre-taped segment (Cheap Trick was the musical guest that night). I wonder if a band member was actually watching that night and picked up on the phrase then or whether one of them later owned a copy of the Michael Nesmith video.
[youtube]NiUtry0A-M8[/youtube]
Gord Downie is on record in an October 1989 interview as stating the Nesmith skit as the origin of the band name but he also mentions it being a phrase in an Elvis Costello song. The song is “Town Cryer” and the lyric is “Other boys use the splendor of their trembling lip, They're so teddy bear tender and tragically hip”. This song was released in 1982.
I wonder whether the legendary story of the Eagles vs. RS softball game and Irv Azoff’s jersey, or the subsequent write-up by Henley and Frey in RS inspired Nesmith to base a skit on the phrase. Were the Eagles the first to use “Tragically Hip” in a highly publicized manner or was it not an uncommon phrase? I’ve never really heard or seen it being used anywhere else. Regardless, when you really think about it, it is a great pithy phrase.
Re: Can we Thank “The Eagles” for the Name “The Tragically H - NWOntario - 05-18-2017
[youtube]h1WJqKWqUHQ[/youtube]
Re: Can we Thank “The Eagles” for the Name “The Tragically H - potsie - 05-18-2017
NWOntario Wrote:[youtube]h1WJqKWqUHQ[/youtube]Ah ha! Not much of a fan either but did get a new appreciation of them after watching "The History of the Eagles". Part 1 is a fantastic documentary, Part 2 was completely unnecessary. Henley and Frey were two of the most arrogant dicks in the music industry and that can make for some some interesting interviews. Lots of jealousy, in-fighting, hotel room destruction, throwing of beer bottles at band mates heads...
I just liked the softball story. The only thing that would have made it better was if the Eagles had gotten crushed.
Re: Can we Thank “The Eagles” for the Name “The Tragically H - direwolf74 - 05-18-2017
Can't see the video, but I'm assuming it's The Dude? If so, you beat me to the punch. I was just coming in here to post the same thing, haha.
Re: Can we Thank “The Eagles” for the Name “The Tragically H - spottrax - 05-20-2017
potsie Wrote:NWOntario Wrote:[youtube]h1WJqKWqUHQ[/youtube]Ah ha! Not much of a fan either but did get a new appreciation of them after watching "The History of the Eagles". Part 1 is a fantastic documentary, Part 2 was completely unnecessary. Henley and Frey were two of the most arrogant dicks in the music industry and that can make for some some interesting interviews. Lots of jealousy, in-fighting, hotel room destruction, throwing of beer bottles at band mates heads...
I just liked the softball story. The only thing that would have made it better was if the Eagles had gotten crushed.
I agree with you regarding the History of the Eagles roc doc. I was never a fan of those guys at all until I seen the doc. It put things in a bit of a different perspective...Still not among my faves but at least I don't automatically turn the channel when they are on the radio
Re: Can we Thank “The Eagles” for the Name “The Tragically H - andrew sharpe - 05-23-2017
Great story, thanks for sharing!