On driving too long

Well, I nearly ran out of gas today and had to plug $37.75 worth of petrol into the Camry on my credit card, which is only for emergencies (though this was one) and knucklehead that I am, I left the cash and id and debit card at Lance and Sheri's.

Anyway, one of the results of all the driving (to Renton, where Ryan cut my hair, or, as all the rapper hos are calling it, "hurr") is I discovered the inadequate rating system I have plugged into my iPod. Basically, I have a lot of unrated music that I would like to listen to and the "Forgotten Faves" list (ala cousin Stephen) was chockablock with depressing grunge. I mean, I love the Nirvana, but geez, you can't always drive to that stuff.

So I swapped out to a mix I made up myself (but I'm sure is not original, well, except for the name): the Frances the Badger list, which is named after a character in kids' books who, among other quirks of personality, likes to eat so that everything comes out even. In the playlist, any song that hasn't been played 10 times has a chance to play catch-up.

I have the Frances even eating pathology, probably because I loved these books as a kid, and have a slight bit of the same pathology when it comes to my iPod playcounts. I want all the songs to come out even, although I know that some songs are better than other, some songs have more importance to more frequently-used workout playlists.

Anyway, "Beat It" came on, and I thought it would be hard to appreciate and I was right. I kept wondering, if, in 1983, someone had been able to show Jacko a picture of himself circa 2003, if perhaps he wasn't so far gone as to not be appalled. And maybe would realize the depth at which he needed some help. And would have gotten help.

But once I got over that, because part of Jacko's pathology seems to be his wealth and its ability to insulate him and his frequent usage of retreat makes it highly unlikely that, at the height of his fame, he would seek help, I started to appreciate the song a little. Dude has serious phrasing ability. And his pronunciation is fascinating, and I don't mean the word "cheeuwdrin," I mean listen to the way he says "bad" and "fair." It's damn near perfect.

Anyway, "Beat It." It sucks to only be able to enjoy it as a piece of pop history.