Musings on the Most Ridiculous Band I Can't Stop Listening To

Tag: john oates

Dynamic Duos

“Now, uh, did Hall adopt you when your parents died?”

“Huh?”

“You know, train you to fight crime via blue-eyed soul?”

“I wasn’t a Robin, Bobby. Daryl and I were equal partners.”

“Most Robins tell themselves that. Another question.”

“Go to it.”

“Did she actually eat the men?”

“The Maneater?”

“She’s the one.”

“No. Just a metaphor.”

“I was fairly certain. Cannibalism doesn’t seem like one of your themes.”

“It wasn’t.”

“More questions.”

“No problem.”

“Is the ‘that’ in I Can’t Go For That the same ‘that’ as in Meatloaf’s seminal I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That)? Sounds like you and Meat are on the same page as far as whatever ‘that’ is.”

“Can I pass on this question?”

“Sure, sure. When you wrote Private Eyes, what came first: the music, the lyrics, or the hand claps?”

“I think I had the riff first.”

“Ah. Is the Rich Girl the one from She’s Gone?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Because that’s a reason to write a sad song right there. When a chick walks out on you, it hurts, but a rich one leaving is painful.”

“I guess, but they’re not about the same woman.”

“Missed a chance to get the Hall & Oates Universe going.”

“Again: I guess.”

CELL PHONE NOISE

“I should take this.”

“Aren’t we playing a song right now?”

“Weir here.”

“HAIRY GARCIA, DO YOU KNOW ELON MUSK’S NUMBER? I NEED TO PLUG MY BRAIN INTO HIS AND MAKE BEAUTY!”

“Oates, it’s for you.”

“Oh, I wonder who that could be. This is totes Oates.”

“OATES, I NEED YOU TO PUT ON AN RC COLA COSTUME AND SNEAK INTO DISNEYLAND WITH ME!”

“Is this Kanye? Dude, you need to see a doctor.”

“I HAVE MASTERED DOCTORISHNESS! MEDICINE IS MINE TO COMMAND! HOW ARE YOU COMING WITH THE RC COLA COSTUME?”

“I’m not.”

“DO NOT SPEAK TO ME THAT WAY! I AM YOUR HALL NOW!”

“Hanging up.”

DIAL TONE NOISE EVEN THOUGH PHONES NO LONGER DO THAT

“Bobby?”

“Oates?”

“What the fuck was that?”

“That was Ye.”

Private Eyes Of The World*

“The problem with you fellas was that you didn’t give the kids stuff to draw on their desks.”

“What?”

“Did Hall & Oates even have a logo?”

“I don’t think so.”

“That’s what I’m talking about. What are your fans gonna doodle on their math books if you don’t have a logo? You, uh, should have called us up. We had a dozen. Could’ve sold you one or something.”

“Our fans were a little older than the Dead’s.”

“Juniors?”

“No, Bob.”

“Ah. Seniors.”

“Grown-ups.”

“Oh, you don’t want those. Adults have bills and responsibilities. You want an audience to follow you around all summer throwing cash at you, get some teenagers.”

“Maybe next time.”

“Did, uh, you know that ‘Oates’ rhymes with ‘votes?'”

“I did.”

“Check out my voting jacket.”

“Wow.”

“She’s pretty sweet. Pockets everywhere.”

 

*I was between this one and I Can’t Go For That’s It For The Other One. Right choice?

Sara Smile, Smile, Smile

“Do, uh, horses ever try to eat you?”

“I’m not actually made of oats, Bob.”

“Why would you say that?”

“Because I thought you were confused about my name. Oates.”

“I had absolutely no idea what your name was. I’ve been asking everyone about the horse thing.”

“Oh, okay.”

“I was kind of the Oates in the Dead. Except, you know: good-looking. And I got to sing lead half the time. So, really, not the Oates at all.”

“If you say so.”

“Oh, uh, my lawyer wants me to ask you something. Did you remember listening to He’s Gone before you wrote She’s Gone?”

“Your lawyer, huh?”

“He’s a curious fellow.”

“I don’t recall.”

“Huh. Well, do you have any detailed calendars from 1976?”

“I don’t.”

“Just asking.”