is it a girl thing

[jodi, queen of the underground]

i was watching Come Feel Me Tremble today and when it came to the end where everyone is greeting Paul W. on the bus, i burst into tears. i do that every time i watch the movie. am i alone?

[Shell]

No way are ya alone on that one. I can't remember if I've ever cried or not, but it's such a touching scene. Sometimes I have to skip that part in the DVD cus I don't feel like getting all emotional. It's so perfect though....including that in the movie. Those b&w pics by the bus in the Catherine Carter section of the site are great as well.

[scoOter]

i don't think is is really a girl thing... i well up a lot when i watch certain movies, listen to certain songs. the song itself, mmdta, makes me misty. the visuals fit the song perfectly.

i don't wail like a baby, but i definitely get teary. other songs/movies that make cry (no matter how often i hear/view them):

do you realize? - flaming lips
hurricane - dylan
lost in translation

i'm a big baby. you can say it. i'd a little drunk, and i'll admit it.

[FirstAveFiend]

Lost In Translation has a greatness I can't explain. Watched it this afternoon.

[Marz]

You're not alone, Jodi... and I don't think it's just a girl thing. My husband watched it w/ me and he didn't tear up, but he said there was something so moving about the scene. Maybe , that PW just connects w/ fans like no one else. He seems to respect us and it's comforting and touching, but not so much sad.

[Meri]

I'm glad to learn that it's apparently not a girl thing. I hate "girl things."

I do get all goosebumpy, and if I've had enough to drink, then yes - my eyes will well up¹. There, I said it. I loaned my CFMT dvd to a co-worker (very new to things Westerberg) and he commented on what a "powerful" scene that is, too.

¹ = close enough to crying to answer "yes" to the poll.

~~Meri

[brianlux]

jodi, I'd say it's definitely not a girl thing. I always find the scenes you're referring to to be touching. When Paul is presented with the baseball bat with his son's name printed on it, he says "I'm gonna cry now. Gonna cry." And you know he means it.
Just listening to "Meet Me Down the Alley" alone has put me into tears. Feels good to cry sometimes, don't it?

[The Indoor Boy]

Hell no! I've never believed in this macho posturing nonsensica (the word is my own invention, what do you think?) about stiff upper lips and no emotions. And if any wiseacre says otherwise Jodi you let me know, and by god I'll give the sumbitch the beating of (note to self, one f and only one f) his life. Yo!

[Meri]

rallan said:

Hell no! I've never believed in this macho posturing nonsensica (the word is my own invention, what do you think?) about stiff upper lips and no emotions. And if any wiseacre says otherwise Jodi you let me know, and by god I'll give the sumbitch the beating of (note to self, one f and only one f) his life. Yo!

I like it! (the word "nonsensica")

oh, was I supposed to wait for a poll thread before answering?

~~Meri

[The Indoor Boy]

meri said:

rallan said:

Hell no! I've never believed in this macho posturing nonsensica (the word is my own invention, what do you think?) about stiff upper lips and no emotions. And if any wiseacre says otherwise Jodi you let me know, and by god I'll give the sumbitch the beating of (note to self, one f and only one f) his life. Yo!

I like it! (the word "nonsensica")


oh, was I supposed to wait for a poll thread before answering?

~~Meri

Not at all. Only an idle enquiry. I may also have invented the word 'oddments', though I honestly can't remember.

[landshark]

The scene is emotional, I welled up a bit, but as much for the placement of Meet Me as for the visuals -- really, they can't be separated, it's just a case of music and image being incredibly affecting.

[A Regular]

I must be off, but the bus scene is sweet and all, but I don't well up for that.

Oddly, I do get a bit verklept over the I Will Dare scene. I just thought it so cool that the crowd is invited up for an informal hootenanny; I thought that was a more poingnant way to break the barrier between performer and audience.... and that the stage is as much on his turf as on the bus. It symbolizes for me the celebration of his song and acknowledges, in a way, that those songs now belong to us almost as much as they belong to the writer. I think the bus portion was "returning the favor" for the audience..our chance to share either a thank-you, a cigar, or baseball bat.

(Or maybe i just read too much into too many things?)

[kgp]

unsatisfied2 said:

I must be off, but the bus scene is sweet and all, but I don't well up for that.

Thank you. I don't either. I was starting to think I was born without a heart.

Landshark, you're right. The music plays a big part in that scene. Replace 'Meet Me Down the Alley' with, say... 'Wild and Lethal' and you'd set a completely different mood.

(Not that I really think 'Wild and Lethal' belongs there; use any balls-out rocker of your choice.)

I like the scene where Paul's singing 'Crackle and Drag' alone in his basement and being moved to tears himself.

[DaveinDK]

Hell, I cry my eyes out all the way through the whole damn thing.

[prozach]

rallan said:

I've never believed in this macho posturing nonsensica about stiff upper lips and no emotions.

"indoor boy's a girly girl!
indoor boy's a girly girl!"







ahem...


it is a sweet scene. and my wife, who is a casual fan at best, likes it. i still kick myself for taking her straight home after the Cleveland show instead of waiting out back.










"indoor boy! i say,
ol' chap, suck it in
like a man!
have a cognac!"









the scene of Paul smashing a geetar on stage . . . that one she just looks at me and goes "Why would he do that?"











"AN-GUS! AN-GUS!"







okay, i'm done now...

[A Regular]

So, to further hijack this thread, what DO you say when an observer asks..."why did he just smash that guitar?" To answer, "it was slightly out of tune" or "oh, its just rock and roll" both sound insignificant and inappropriate. Is there a good answer?

[Kathy]

prozach said:

"indoor boy's a girly girl!
indoor boy's a girly girl!"

I have it on good authority that Prozach cries when he hears "Pour Some Sugar On Me".

[GtrPlyr]

admin said:

I have it on good authority that Prozach cries when he hears "Pour Some Sugar On Me".

He's not the only one, though it is for different reasons .

[Shell]

unsatisfied2 said:

So, to further hijack this thread, what DO you say when an observer asks..."why did he just smash that guitar?" To answer, "it was slightly out of tune" or "oh, its just rock and roll" both sound insignificant and inappropriate. Is there a good answer?

Good question. I run into the same thing from time to time. I usually mutter something brilliant like "Well, just cus....you know..."

[prozach]

my response was that, he has punk roots, and every thing he does on stage is pretty emotional and spontaneous, and it wasn't some contrived Ted Nugent-y thing. she shrugged.


(then i smashed my signed Bruce Hornsby accordian)