-One freak’s commentary on one song a week-
As I progress in my semi-professional-totally-unprofessional DJing career, I have begun to learn the woes of the “request.” During my first few gigs I loved requests. I relished the opportunity to please the crowd while filling up a few minutes of my set. I didn’t understand why there were so many cantankerous DJs that hated taking peoples’ requests. I thought of this common trait as nothing more than music-snobbery—something I aspire to avoid contracting. However, last weekend I was crippled by a series of nagging requests of which every iota of my being was dead-set against playing.
As if a bus from the Epcot Center had just let people out in front of the Brooklyn bar I was DJing at, the most frequent requests for the evening were Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears, Ashley Tisdale, and I think, the Pussycat Dolls. Now I am a self-admitted popular music whore, but these just seemed to take it too far. Remember, excess in moderation is a good thing. In addition, it didn’t help that the same roving groups repeatedly came up to me after every song and drunkenly inquired if I was playing their requests next. Does that really seem like a good way to get someone to play something for you? I never wanted to be this guy, but there was no way in hell I was playing the new Hannah freakin’ Montana. I’m not happy to admit it, but I felt like hanging up one of those “no requests” signs.
Luckily, to combat my near slip into the narcissism of music-selecting power, the bridge-and-tunnel crowd dissipated and gave way to a class of more discerning listeners. These fresh breaths reaffirmed my faith in the American public. Oddly enough, I got three separate ABBA requests, and when I said I was a whore for pop, I meant it. I played that fucking ABBA con gusto! There was also a “Thong Song” request, which seemed to please everyone from the Miley Cyrus girls to the drunken belligerents to the ironic 90’s music adorers. But my most random/weird/awesome request of the night came from a bespectacled young woman at about 2am.
“Hey. I have a weird request. And I can’t remember the name of the song.”
“Ok.”
“Do you know this band called Os Mutantes?”
“I do.”
“Oh! Do you know that song they have in the McDonald’s commercial?”
“Ummm… Os Mutantes has a song in a McDonald’s commercial?”
“Yeah. I don’t know the name, but it’s the one that goes: ‘dah dah dah da dah dah dah.”
“Haha. What?”
“Like, dah dah dah da dah dah dah.”
“Hmmm… I think I know what song you’re talking about. I’m pretty sure I have it.”
“Awesome! If you find it, can you play it?”
“Most definitely.”
This moment led to many strange reactions, like the obvious one: What the hell is Os Mutantes doing in a McDonald’s commercial? I also admired this stranger’s tenacity. What resoluteness to request Brazilian psych-rock at what had clearly become a generic-pop-parade! I knew it would clear the floor, but to hell with ‘em—they could go freshen their drinks. Within minutes I played Os Mutatnes’ classic jam, “A Minha Menina.”
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Side Note: I found this McDonald’s commercial, and while it’s pretty depressing corporate shillism, it’s probably the best fast food commercial since Dan Cortez’s run as an “extreme 90’s” Burger King spokesman. WTF?! Burger King had table service? And shrimp?
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This article turned into a lot less about Os Mutantes than I anticipated. For those of you that don’t know them, I’ve included a few additional nuggets from their insane catalogue down below. There’s a lot of history with the band and its rotating line-up, including exile, suicide attempts and drug abuse. If you’d like to know more, I found this cool site called “wikipedia.” It’s pretty damn thorough.
In summation: they’re Brazilian, they play psych-rock-pop, they were a part of the Tropicália scene, and they’re awesome. Enjoy.
Os Mutantes – Vida de Cachorro
Os Mutantes & Gilberto Gil – Domingo No Parque
Os Mutantes – I Feel a Little Spaced Out (Ando Meio Desligado)
Man that commercial really got me going. That green team was a bunch of jerks…kinda like Hansel…riding around on the scooter like he’s so cool…jerks.
i love that song! venezuelean (sp??) friends got me into os mutantes a few summers ago.
very strange that it’s on a mcdonald’s commerical now, though.