Phil

[Phil]

I’ll keep an eye on the other forum…but V and T remain unnamed there. If it makes you feel any better, we got quite a few more than they did.

[Phil]

The forum from which I snagged it didn’t have the answers…they’re probably floating around somewhere, though.

Of course, it’s a good thing, in a way, that we don’t have the answers, because we certainly would have peeked some time ago. As it stands we’ve legitimately identified all but two. Which is surely more satisfying than giving up after our first burst of recognition.

[Phil]

>Ian, what do you think, Ian?

Andrew please get your own catch phrase please or are you not creative enough to come up with one my long haired friend

[Phil]

>you waffle on and create many enemies. Then, in response, you say you don?t really care what the other site regulars say about you. You troll some more, fire some abuse of your own, and don?t really listen to any constructive criticism.

In fact, that’s what we love about you!

[Phil]

>Tanya?s use of ?sudden?

Sorry! I didn’t actually mean that so seem as though I was refuting you, I just thought it was worth mentioning that it is very much a recent phenomenon, grammatically speaking.

Reading it back it comes across as a direct response to you, which is definitely the hazard of posting quickly at work and not bothering to make sure you’re being clear.

[Phil]

>I have just had a look on Wiki,

Hint: when you’re trying to research the reasons for popular language corruption, do not consult a resource compiled exclusively by those in the process of corrupting.

[Phil]

>I don?t think it?s sudden.

Well, in terms of the evolution of language, it IS sudden.

>Language develops when a phrase or word has a new meaning, rather than arbitary changes to grammar, surely?

Unfortunately not always, and not even usually. Language (well, Western language) tends to develop based on overall trends rather than an actual, solidified, agreed-upon change to meaning/spelling/pronunciation. Typically this is lowest-common-denomenator stuff, simply because it catches on and, eventually, steadfast opponents die. That’s a blunt way of putting it, but it’s essentially what happens.

It DOES sometimes work in the reverse…wherein language evolves toward the highest (and therefore narrowest) social class (overall Spanish pronunciation being probably the most obvious example), but historically it’s far more likely that the less-educated corrupt the tongue in some way, and it catches on.

It must catch on, because, after all, every one of us here is posting in a language that English speakers even 100 years ago would consider corrupt.

[Phil]

Hey, I wanted to kiss him first. :-(

[Phil]

My amazement is more that it’d be released in the US, though! I mean, I could almost understand it if it came out in the UK and someone figured, “Well, let’s release it region one and see if they like it.” But to produce and release it especially for region one? I’m baffled. Seems kind of a waste, financially. Especially when there are so many other great British programs that haven’t had a region one release. (ie: Spaced, Peep Show, DARKPLACE, etc.)

[Phil]

If I hadn’t seen it myself I wouldn’t believe it. But Thomas is right:
http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Ages-Collection-Phill-Jupitus/dp/B00004W1T7/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1199922495&sr=1-2

Well, he’s part right. It WAS out in America at some point, but seems to be out of print and only available used. Unless there was a later edition that supplanted this one…that seems extremely doubtful, but maybe Thomas has seen it somewhere?

Pretty interesting if it was released on DVD in America (where I’d bet about a thousand dollars it never even aired) and not in the UK.

[Phil]

Yep, that’s the box, and I know I’ve seen it priced $100 and over. It’s a good deal on its own, and with a $50 gift card I really would be stupid to pass it by. I’ll pick it up by the weekend, I think. It’s been far too long since I’ve seen Scott of the Sahara.

[Phil]

Kiss me you autistic fool.

[Phil]

I stopped by Best Buy a second time (I’m not obsessed…really…I was in the pet shop next door anyway…) and I gave the box a second, much closer look.

One, it’s $74, not $79. So…that’s good. But two: I got so caught up in the fact that there were no really huge special features that I neglected to notice something important: two bonus discs, containing material that the VHS sets didn’t have. To wit: two of the live shows, the Parrot Sketch Not Included clip show (which I adored and literally wore out as a young teen), and the German episodes.

Which means I’ve now decided I’m getting the set. I’d be a fool not to. As stupid as it sounds, watching Parrot Sketch again is going to bring back so many memories for me. In the days before being able to own any Python (outside of the films), that was just a precious commodity for me.

[Phil]

>Call the child Tonguetied junior

This is the first thing Tonguetied has ever said that I am throwing my full support behind.

[Phil]

>The show had the lowest viewer rating of all shows that night

Forgive the question, but what were the viewing figures like for the UK version’s first run? Were they high or was this show a slow burn?

[Phil]

True, it could. Or maybe they make speakers or something (ooh! Maybe it’s Peavey…*googles* nope…doesn’t look like Peavey)…but the fact remains that there STILL can’t be that many to choose from. And yet…it’s completely escaping us.

[Phil]

No, she wasn’t Japanese. I said she was hot, remember.

[Phil]

Mine had the compo link, but no leaflet. Of course, mine was also an American release, and they probably wouldn’t have bothered if the competition wasn’t open to us.

[Phil]

Yeah, I should stress that I’m not trying to put you off either. I went to high school with a kid who took Japanese and college and did great at it…despite the fact he was a big fat idiot slob loser. Also, he ended up dating a girl far hotter than anyone else in my circle of friends ever got. And he’s still with her to this day.

I hate him. Fuck you for bringing it up.

[Phil]

The J:
http://www.billiejean.be/Mijn_Collectie/Goin_Back_To_Indiana_TV_Special_DVD_Cover.jpg

Somehow obscure and yet…not.

[Phil]

You’re not helping.

[Phil]

The V really shouldn’t be so hard…how many classic rock bands have a V in their name? Even if we include album titles, there can’t be that many.

[Phil]

No, but I’m reading Mother Tongue right now, which is the Bill Bryson book about the evolution of the English language, and from what he’s told me about Japanese it seems to have developed along a completely different logic to most other living languages. I’d imagine that’s going to make it extremely difficult to master, as you’re going to be coming at it with an idea of what you think language is, and how it works, and Japanese is going to sorely disagree with you on both counts.

Of course, Japanese students manage to master English without too much trouble, but that’s owing at least a small amount to the fact that they start learning it in school immediately.

[Phil]

A – Aerosmith
B = ABBA
C – Chicago
D = AC/DC
E – ELO
F = Def Leppard
G – Gibson
H = Van Halen
I – Sex Pistols
J –
K – Kiss
L – Black Sabbath
M = Iron Maiden
N – The Monkees
O – The Who
P – Deep Purple
Q = Queen
R – Reprise Records
S – Scorpions
T –
U – Rubber Soul
V –
W – The Wall
X = INXS
Y = Yes
Z – Zepplin

[Phil]

James posted the link above, you silly billy. But yeah, I would have definitely bet (prior to this) that that wasn’t Aerosmith. Certainly that’s not the “iconic” version of their logo, which is a bit of a cheat, as you say. With The Who, ABBA, Leppard, even the damn Monkees they went with a letter that was at least recognizable as iconic. This seems kind of pointless. Maybe they thought the later A with wings would be too obvious?

[Phil]

“Hallo! Compu-ter!”

That guy really doesn’t seem to know how to play that scene at all. Granted, Chris Morris was doing his in front of an audience, so he was kind of able to ride that energy, but this German guy just seems to have been told, “Alright, say hello computer six or seven times and periodically look like you’re angry.”

Also, the scene spent plugging in Jen’s computer…in the German one, “Roy” pops back in with a very satisfied look on his face when he realizes what’s happened, and even his tone of voice implies a sort of “I told you! We got you now!” kind of thing.

In the original version it’s about a thousand times funnier because Roy’s emotion is so enormous and vague. It’s not satisfaction that he feels when he jumps back in the room and points…there’s a huge amount of panic in there as well, and a lot of fear that he’s also just exposed HIMSELF as an idiot. Much more complex, and much funnier.

Like John, though, I don’t speak German. Which is why I’m glad we have Marleen here to assure us we’re not missing much.

[Phil]

Yeah. You said you looked at the cover and didn’t think that was it…I assumed you were crazy until I pulled mine out and, sure enough, you were right.

Somehow the “crazier” font from the film must have supplanted the font from the album. Kind of strange, but at least we got it squared away, and I learned something in the process. Also Nick seems to be right about the N, and James about Aerosmith for the A (which surprised me).

Nearly there now!

[Phil]

I wondered what happened to Netscape. Hmm.

[Phil]

Well, judge for yourself:
http://ammaryasir.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/pink-floyd-the-wall-poster-c10289248.jpeg

It looks like the W to me. Of course I was wrong to say it was from the Wall album, where it is also handwritten, but it looks different. They might have wanted a “crazier” penmanship for the film materials…

I didn’t realize we’d confirmed ELO. That’s great then. Butt is being kicked.

[Phil]

I think there’s a ten minute limit for youtube, which may have dictated that. But a side by side for the whole episode would be very interesting.

[Phil]

Did you make that, Marleen?

[Phil]

I still prefer thinking Dave doesn’t have any eyes or hands.

[Phil]

>I?m the current face of autism

I absolutely loved that. No idea how much exposure it gets, but you might possibly be able to get away with insulting strangers for the hell of it now.

[Phil]

>Most of the paid work I?ve had, has been crap. Most of the things I?ve done for free have had a little more artistic merit and some have lead to paid work.

Is it out of line to ask?

[Phil]

Googling has convinced me, for the time being, that the deluxe set, if there’s going to be one, won’t even be officially announced any time soon.

Rats. Because the more I think about those cuts, the more they bug me. If they amount to a total of a full three minutes over the course of all four series I’d be surprised…but just to know something is missing is frustrating enough.

Oh well. I don’t have to decide quite yet. But I’m surprised there’s nothing conclusive out there.

[Phil]

Actually, yes, I remember those rumors. What ever happened with that? I don’t recall hearing any particularly exciting extras, but I DO know that these versions (as were my VHS copies) edited.

Not much, from what I understand, but there is one Gumby sketch missing completely, and another episode which had a bit of the show continuing after the credits just ends after the credits. I don’t think either was intentional…I’m pretty sure it was just that the person doing the transfer wasn’t familiar with the show and expected that when the credits rolled, the show was done being funny.

So…yeah. If the new versions are coming anytime even remotely soon, I guess I should wait. Here’s where anyone with news on this is welcome to come forward…

[Phil]

Ooh, good one. Great job. 8 to go.

[Phil]

Ian please respond please.

[Phil]

You know, at least one example of “attack” would make you look a heck of a lot less paranoid, right now.

[Phil]

So far confirmed:

B = ABBA
C – Chicago
D = AC/DC
F = Def Leppard
G – Gibson
H = Van Halen
K – Kiss
M = Iron Maiden
O – The Who
Q = Queen
R – Reprise Records
S – Scorpions
U – Rubber Soul
W – The Wall
X = INXS
Y = Yes
Z – Zepplin

9 left. A, E, I, J, L, N, P, T, V.

[Phil]

No offense, James, but I’m not sure you’re approaching the puzzle correctly. The V definitey isn’t Van Halen (you can get a sense of their standard logo typeface from the H pictured), the I isn’t INXS (again, check the X for an example from their logo), Jethro Tull never adorned their J with a heart to my knowledge, Karl is right about the U in Rubber Soul…I’ve never seen U2 use a logo quite that elastic, and there is absolutely no way that TLC ever used typeface like that.

You’re supposed to identify where these specific alphabetical renderings appeared in the history of rock music…not just identify band names that begin with that letter.

[Phil]

>Yes, this is true.. Ian and all the negative comments from everyone on here are the ?direct? cause of my resignation from the club. Thank you all. You are such lovely people.

I don’t know what you hoped to accomplish by saying this, but know that you’ve converted at least one person from being entirely neutral to believing you to be a pile of turds.

[Phil]

Someone on the other forum guessed that the K is Kiss.

Karl? I defer to your superior knowledge on this one…

[Phil]

Only Rock Me Gently.

[Phil]

So, if we leave out the unconfirmed guesses, we have:

B = ABBA
C – Chicago
D = AC/DC
F = Def Leppard
H = Van Halen
G = Gibson
M = Iron Maiden
O – The Who
Q = Queen
R – Reprise Records logo (just confirmed this on a Neil Young album)
S – Scorpions
W – The Wall
X = INXS
Y = Yes
Z – Zepplin

11 more to go…

[Phil]

Yes, you should put some pants on.

[Phil]

I’ll probably (weakly) succumb to the 90s, as well…if only because I did some “research” by way of pumping “one hit wonders” into my p2p program and came up a few 90s tunes I may not be able to resist.

Rest assured, the bulk of it will rest on the shoulders of the 60s and 70s, if only because, oddly enough, those are the decades within which I’m most knowledgeable.

[Phil]

It is in fact a League of Gentlemen reference. Good eye. In fact, I think it’s only in the commentary as a joke they were GOING to use but didn’t. It’s from the chalkboard when Creme Brulee reunites: “Creme Brulee takes us back to the 60s, 70s, whatever.”

Which I stole because it is funny, but also helpful, as it now allows me to hop over into the 80s (or even 50s) if there’s a song or two I really want to cover.

[Phil]

Now that others have had a look, here’s what I got:

C – Chicago (normal typeface in the band logo)
F – Def Leppard (ditto)
O – The Who (printed that way on various merchandise, and the box set)
Q – Queen
S – Scorpions
W – The Wall (cover art from the Pink Floyd album)
Y – Yes (normal typeface in the band logo)
Z – Zepplin (from the “zoso” rune on Zep IV)

[Phil]

>when I first started reading the blog, I thought ?what is this bloke on?..

That is the nicest thing anyone here has ever said to me. And thanks. It’ll be interesting to see how long I can go with songs that are, arguably, immediately recognizable. At the moment it seems pretty limitless…

I’m also hoping to get plenty of people calling me nasty names because I insulted something they enjoy. Debate is always fun, but abuse is somehow so much more rewarding.

[Author]

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