Feb 2022 rock computers digital scotch passwords technology
My digital bathroom scale suddenly stopped talking to my smartphone today - maybe a good thing because the BMI was heading towards "Overweight" and I really don't want to know. Tried to log into work from home last week - not happening. My "checking" account got hacked over the weekend and now I have to change all of the automated digital ins and outs. Even posting my first song here required help from the FAWM staff (thanks, Jen!!). Yeah, the digital tasks are getting overwhelming, and I now I guess I need someone to 'splain it me. I'm sure my dad (who passed last year) was feeling the same way back when he had to ask me for help with his first computer (Windows 3.1). OK, back to the laboratory now - I'm busy inventing "Digital Scotch".
EXPLAIN TO ME
c. 2022 raspberry33 (T. Higgins) 2/9/2022
V1:
I used to be the one that answered questions
‘bout floppy discs and modem disconnections
On Commodores and Macs and DOS PC’s
Smart thermostats and VCR’s
Tolls collected from a box in your car
Those questions were the ones that always came to me
V2:
Used to manage to get through the day
Without my laptop crashing along the way
Without bashing the tech department for delays
Without a ping that I’ve been suspended
That all my passwords must be amended
Right now I’m ready to scream, OK?
Chorus:
Used to explain things to my dad
Like how you zoom in on an iPad
Now it looks like I need someone to explain to me
We’ve kicked things up another notch
My Bluetooth scale won’t talk to my I-watch
Can someone please make these things work for me?
V3:
And on to problems that are lower ranking
Can we talk about the fun of on-line banking?
And how my account has been hacked once again
The WiFi’s down, but it’s just as well
I’m tired of navigating password hell
If your brain explodes, do you still feel pain?
Chorus:
Once I was the guy who knew which cable
Connects the preamp to the turntable
Now tell me why my doorbell became a Ring…
My Bluetooth scale won’t talk to my watch
I need a virtual drink – is there digital Scotch?
Can someone explain the latest thing?
Outro: I used to answer all the questions
‘bout floppy drives and secure connections
On Commodores, Ataris and PC’s
Smart thermostats and VCR’s
Those questions always came to me (x2)
But now someone else has to tell me!
@kiffa Mar 2022
It's funny, before I even scrolled down to the previous comments, I was getting a Steely Dan vibe on this one too, so it's not a fluke. I turned 50 last year and see this process happening to me too. I'm still the one who explains everything tech-related to my mom, but I find it all comes to me much less easily than it used to, and there are more and more things that I just don't have the patience or interest to try to understand. I mean, are NFTs really as stupid as I suspect they are, or am I just getting old?
No... they're stupid lol.
@splittybooms Feb 2022
You've made me think thoughts I don't want to think.
When it comes specifically to networking stuff...I have had some of these same feelings lol
For some reason, I've never wrapped my head around this part of tech...do I need a better router...a wi-fi extender...or just pay more for better internet??? Why won't my friggin phone sync with my smart outlet??? How do i work this smart-fridge again...I just want my apple juice outta there!!!
Love the lyrics here (sorry about the account hack - that sucks), SO many common and shared annoyances throughout.
And then of course this really cool feel to the music; perfect style to go with the vocal delivery. The vocals are kinda conversational (love the way you say "OK" in the 2nd verse lol), and the music here really let the focus be on the words while still sounding really good.
Love the piano!
Smooth and subtle groove with bass and just some little embellishes here and there on the drums. Lots of great smaller decisions here on where to do what with the drums, like when you go with the ride cymbal rhythm at 2:42, but then back into the non-snare groove afterwards.
This has a really cool jazzy feel to the whole thing.
This was great! Even though it made me realize I'm not "with it" on the newer tech anymore...
@raspberry33 Feb 2022
Did you ever notice you never see Boz Scaggs and Kermit in the same frame? I like to joke that my drummer in a long-ago band was a reincarnated Muppet, so the influence has clearly rubbed off. But Steely Dan, man, that's a compliment of the highest honor. For someone who's played open mic nites as the "Luckless Pedestrians" doing only cover tunes from the Dan.
@mandolinda Feb 2022
You have perfectly described my life , password hell, getting hacked, iPhone not talking to iwatch. Your voice and music match the song perfectly.
@p3t3h4rv3y Feb 2022
The internet of things explained by a band that somehow channels both steely dan and the muppets, put me down for the album
@dock Feb 2022
I love the feel of the chord changes and the music behind the lyric. It has a sound that evokes the strange fabrics and styles of the 60s and 70s.
They're a perfect setting for the wandering wondering of the lyrics.