ENT
Rattle and Hum
by A. Thomas Mamaux
Collegian Staff Writer
"When you get to the bottom /
You go back to the top / And you
stop / And you turn / You go for a
ride / You get to the bottom / And
you see me again”
Such will be the life of U 2.
The words originally penned by the
Beatles will now be used to analyze
U2's career. Since U 2 is now
financially secure they are free to
sing and play whatever the please,
and they take full use of that
advantage. U 2 was the darling of
the media throughout last year.
They were on the covers of such
magazines as; Time, Rolling
Stones, and Musician. They
were seen so much it was overkill.
It got to the point where I and
fellow U2-heads would turn off the
radio if U 2 came on. We would get
together and listen to "Boy" and
"War". We would rent "Red Rocks
Under a Blood Red Sky" and think
of the good old days. We U2-heads
knew that U 2 would come back if
we could just wait. Well the wait
is over because U 2 has just released
Rattle and Hum. Rattle and
Hum is the best U 2 album; a
diverse musical achievement. The
best thing about R&H is that it
won't be played to death on local
radios. U 2 fans will not understand
R&H and heads will devour it.
Being such a diverse album
makes it hard to review. Some
songs are live while others are
recorded in the studio. Some of the
songs are original and others are
cover tunes. The first song has U 2
doing hard rock, the next song
sounds like Willie Nelson, the next
is gospel and then there's blues.
During the Joshua Tree tour,
U 2 visited the deep south, Midwest,
A PUNCH ?
dt LINE lii
It only hurts when you laugh!
Hanks brings his enormous gift of
comedy to the screen with an even
more memorable performance. He
PUNCHLINE. Starring Sally Field plays Steven Gold-- a broke and
and Tom Hanks. Rated R for miserable medical school flunk-out
language and adult situations At whose strategy for covering up his
Cinema World. pain is play ing out antic
by Tammy Furyesz
Collegian Staff Writer
IT has . been said that comedy is of jokes. Each night he performs in
the medicine for a sad heart. Why is a seedy New York comedy club
it then that comedians aren't the called the Gas Station. Along with
happiest bunch of people around? other has-been and would-be-comics,
"Punchline” explores the life of the he waits to be discovered and sent
stand-up comic and the constant ups souring to stardom by over-the-hill
and downs they live with. Tom club comic, a transvestite singer
SO TO THE nOVTES - FREE!!!
When was the last time you could afford to see a movie? Chances are when somebody else paid! Now
you have the opportunity to win two free movie tickets from the Millcreek Mall Cinemas in each
Collegian issue. We will print a movie related trivia question in each Entertainment section. Simply
write the answer, your name, and phone number down and drop it in the box in the Collegian office.
Every two weeks, ten lucky people will win two tickets each!!!
The following people are the lucky winners from the trivia question asked in our last issue (two weeks
ago):
Darrell White
Pam Peter
Heather McKinley
Audra Reibel
Wendy Noble-
The question was, who portrayed Sonny Corleone in The Godfather?
The correct answer was James Caan.
Those of you that answered correctly, if you have not already, can pick up your tickets in the Collegian
office.
THIS WEEKS QUESTION: What did The Wicked Witch of the West write in the sky over the Emerald
City?
jr HVMTS.X Bos Z/UJOYS /? Yart/cocarly
v successful squi/ixEC
&UfttL S6ASOA/...
CIRIfAIIN MICNIf
and west. U 2 was deeply fascinated
by the American Country Western
and Blues styles. Now this heavy
influence can be heard throughout
R&H (it also can be seen). Bono
and Edge can regularly be seen
sporting cowboy hats and western
cut shirts and jackets. "Van
Diemens Land" is the first taste of
country on the album. It is not
sung by Bono and it is not listed on
the credits who does the vocals. To
me it sounds like Willie Nelson,
but it probably is Lanry Mullen Jr.
who made his vocal debut on the
Joshua Tree tour.
U 2 covers "Helter Skelter” from
the Beatles, "All Along the
Watchtower" from Bob Dylan, and
they even do a copy of Hendrix's
"Star-Spangled Banner."
Bono is no longer afraid to share
the microphone. On R&H he sings
with BB King, Bob Dylan, and
Voices of Freedom. U 2 and BB
King do "When Love Comes To
Town" together. BB is one of the
best to learn blues from and U 2 is
willing and eager to learn. And
learn they do. Edge is no longer
the "one trick" guitarist. He now
uses tons of distortion, reverb, and
plays the lap-steal guitar. Bono
more frequently plays guitar and is
a master of the harmonica. Larry
Mullen and Adam Clayton have
also had to learn a new rhythm
section to accommodate country and
blues.
Since U 2 is a Christian band, it
was their destiny that they hook up
with gospel. They hooked up with
the "Voices of Freedom" and totally
redid "Still Haven't Found What I'm
Looking For". The new version is
an inspiring bone-chiller that will
probably find its way into Baptist
hymn books. It is also probably
the only time that Bono has been
upstaged during a U 2 concert.
shenanigans and delivering a barrage
Other songs with a gospel flavor
are, "Hawkmoon 269","L0ve
Rescue Me", and "Heartland".
The songs that were recorded
live are just incredible. The stand
out is "Still Haven’t Found What
I'm Looking For," but "Silver &
Gold” runs a close second.
Basically the song is about a black
in a suppressive white South
African city. He is sick and tired or
suppression and ready to fight back.
"Broken back to the ceiling /
Broken nose to the floor /1 scream
at the silence / As it crawls under
the door." Fight as he may he will
only leam "The warden says / The
exit is sold / If you want a way out
/ Silver and gold." It is probably
one of Bono’s most lyrically
accomplished songs. "Pride” is
also done live on the album and it
is a big disappointment It is as if
they lack the energy to do the song
any justice. No longer does Bono
scream in praise "sing this song for
John Lennon, Jim Morrison, Janis
Joplin, and Jimi Hendrix." Another
letdown is that the songs "People
Get Ready" and "40" are not on
R&H. These songs are staples of
aU2 show. Pulling someone out
of the audience to play guitar on
"People Get Ready" was great And
almost everyone leaves a U 2
concert humming "how long to
sing this song". So there are some
disappointments in the album.
The basic theme of R&H (if
there is one) is love. "God Part n"
is the song that pulls it all
together; U 2 rocks and Bono wails
"I don’t believe the devil / Or in the
work he does / But the truth is
never the same / With the lies the
has made up / I don't believe in
excess / Success is to give /1
don't believe in riches / but you
should see where I live / I believe
in love".
who performs in a nun's habit and a
New Jersey housewife named Lilah
(Sally Field) whose shared
desperation and growing relationship
with Hanks provide the storyline.
The film is written and directed by
David Seltzer. Seltzer clearly has a
great sympathy for the comics he
deals with and persuades us to share
his feelings. The problem is with
the plot— it is slim to a fault— and
with the Sally Field character.
Misconceived and miscast, Field's
Lilah simply isn't funny enough to
make us buy her as an aspiring
comedienne. She does have her
moments though— the best scene is
her pulling off a last minute dinner
at a breaknecked-pace for her
husband's clients. The movie
belongs to Hanks who, in the
tradition of the greatest clowns, isn't
only brilliantly funny, it tears your
heart out.
Michele Beisler
Darrell Freund
Kerry Peterson
Holly White
Kimberly Seiber
The Collegian office is located
between the double doors next to
the RUB desk in the Reed Building.
GOOD LUCK!!!!
Celebrate- Responsibly!
JOBS IN q, '
AUSTRALIA Okateway
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Listed, call now! 4646 Buffalo Road
2 °g 3 £ir 899-6100
October 27,1988
R
E
V
I
E
W
S
New FM
Station
By Tammy Furyesz
Collegian Staff Writer
Tired of the same old beat?
WMYJ-FM (97.9) will offer the
latest opportunity to diversify
your listening pleasure. The new
Erie-area station plays adult
contemporary music aimed at the
25-plus crowd. It is a lively,
uptempo radio station with a lot
of personality. The station’s
playlist includes artists such as
Sade, George Michael, Bruce
Hornsby and the Range, and Peter
Cetera, as well as oldies from the
seventies. The station will play
some reggae and jazz but no metal
or hard rock.
Disc Jockey Scott Stevens,
formerly of WRIE, will play the
all-important wake-up show from
5:30 to 10:00 a.m. Natalie
Massing, formerly of Classy 100,
will report news and also serve as
Stevens' "sidekick.’' "The sidekick
relationship in radio is a very
important one because it can make
or break the show," Stevens said.
"The station's format gives the
DJ's an opportunity to ad-lib and
discuss issues happening in the
Erie area and the freedom to
disagree about topics on the radio.
So many area stations have gotten
into the passive rut which
listeners want a change from."
The station has also managed to
snatch a few other Erie radio
personalities. Ron Kline is no
longer Eddie Munster (JET-FM
102) but... Ron Kline! Another
former JET jock is Mike McKay
(then known as "The Owl").
Jessie Hiller, formerly of KlO4, is
yet another WMYJ convert.
The station has subscribed to
CNN for national news, sports,
and weather. Hourly newscasts
will be broadcast around the clock.
Like most stations, WMYJ will
also conduct giveaways. The first
involves a $9,800 prize (as in Y
-98).
Don't let the fact that the station
plays "slower" music scare you
away. The morning show with
Scott Stevens is a refreshing
change from the same hit songs
being blasted in your ears over and
over. The show also has a
relaxing and appropriate amount of
interesting conversation to bring
you into this harsh existence
gently. Opt for a change from the
overrated safe hit stations and you
are sure to enjoy the pace.
Slippery When Wet
by Robb Frederick
Collegian Staff Writer
A quick glance at any recent
music industry chart will instantly
squelch any doubts about the
popularity of "mainstream metal."
Albums from groups like Guns 'n
Roses, Def Leppard and Van Halen,
as well as new efforts by Poison
and Cinderella, have solidified rock
music's place in the top 20. With a
showing this strong, it is only
logical that a group with a similar
style dominates the charts.
New Jersey, the fourth album
by Bon Jovi, was expected to be a
success. In 1986, the group finally
found its deserved audience, through
the smashing success of their
album Slippery When Wet,
which sold more than 13 million
copies throughout the world.
What's a group supposed to do after
an album that triumphant? Why,
make another, of course.
This album, however, is more
than just a repeat of Slippery.
The general sound is more
aggressive, and from the beginning
the listener is bombarded by strong
bass, searing guitar solos and a
forceful, ever-present drumbeat.
The opening track, "Lay Your
Hands on Me," instantly assures
listeners that their money was well
spent. Drummer Tico Torres
produces a charging beat that is
joined by David Bryan’s keyboard
effects and the guitar wizardry of
Richie Sambora. A sudden tempo
change allows frontman Jon Bon
Jovi to introduce the song’s chorus,
and then the band dives into what
may be the greatest track on the
album. This song is followed by
"Bad Medicine," the first single
released, which has already seen
immense amount of airplay on both
radio and MTV.
This forceful, energetic style is
continued throughout the album.
Songs like "Bom to be my Baby”
and "Homebound Train”
demonstrate the band's ability to
produce strong, catchy music. "99
in the Shade," with its lyrical
description of sexual desire,
perfectly conforms to the stereotype
of rock and roll music. A short,
catchy chorus and a fast beat can
provide enjoyment for even the
moronic of listeners. Although
this song may be an insult to the
intelligence of members of the
group's audience, the infinite,
creative references to sexual activity
deserve some merit
• •••••••••••••••••••••A
! CONCERT CONNECTION!
9 Oct. 28
• Oct. 28
Prince
Morton Downey Jr.
• Oct. 29
New Edition,
Bobby Brown,
A 1 B. Sure
• Nov. 4
Mylon & Broken Heart Syria Mosque
Jimmy Page
Nov. 9
• Nov. 12
Reba McEntire
& Steve Warmer
0 OTHER EVENTS: 9
Nov. 15 -20 Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey Circus a
Pittsburgh Civic Arena
••••••••••••••••••••••*
Pizza Etc.
The House of Great Pizza
and Fine Italian Foods
Dine In / Cany Out / Delivery
2034 East 38th St.
825-6861
Free Delivery
on any large pizza or equivalent price ($7.00)
Fresh dough and our own sauce
Dine In / Cany Out Specials
1 slice of pizza and salad
$1.75
with coupon; Exp. 11/20/88
Free liter of Pepsi
with purchase of any large pizza
or bucket of wings
with coupon; Exp. 11/20/88
Spaghetti, salad, bread and butter
$2.15
with meat sauce or meatballs
$2.45
with coupon; Exp. 11/20/88
Fans of Bon Jovi's previous
ballads will not be disappointed
with this latest release. Tracks like
"Living in Sin” and "I'll Be There
For You" painfully explain the
frustrations found in many
relationships. These songs also
touch upon the themes of
friendship, loyalty and doing what
you feel is right. The song "Blood
on Blood” best combines these
principles. Jon Bon Jovi's
convincing, inspired vocals
transport listeners to the days of his
youth, when friendships were
established for life. He sings of the
experiences they shared and the
troubles they caused. As the song
nears its end, he speaks about the
current occupations and lives of
these friends, and he repeats his
promise of loyalty in the track’s
final verse. "Through the years and
miles between / It’s been a long and
lonely ride / But if I got a call in
the dead of night / I'd be right by
your side," he sings.
Although the final product is
better than any previous effort by
the band, there were difficulties
during the creation of New
Jersey. The group's manager. Doc
McGhee, was convicted earlier this
year on charges of drug smuggling.
Practicing their beliefs about
loyalty, the group remained faithful
to McGhee, although production
was slowed. Another problem
resulted from difficulties with
Polygram, Bon Jovi's recording
label. New Jersey was originally
titled Sons Of Beaches, and
was intended to be a double album.
When Polygram disregarded the
possibility of a twin-set, the group
abandoned the title as well.
The group also experienced
difficulty in the choosing of the
album's songs. An excess of
material, magnified by the reduction
of available vinyl, forced the band
to turn to its fans for assistance. A
group of 50 youths was invited into
the studio, where they voted on the
songs to be used. Bon Jovi used
this procedure during the production
of Slippery When Wet, and the
approach apparently worked.
In spite of the problems
encountered during the creation of
New Jersey, the group managed
to release an album that could
improve on the success brought
from Slippery When Wet. The
finished work is perhaps the best
the group has ever released, and it
will undoubtedly dominate the
music charts for a long time.
Pgh. Civic Arena
Shay's Theater - Buffalo ®
Memorial Audi Theater
Syria Mosque
AJ Palumbo