Rocket Man Meme
I can’t believe I’m almost thirty years old and only just now saw William Shatner’s rendition of Rocket Man (discovered via Wikipedia, indirectly via this excellent episode of This American Life and the “one-day band’s” cover of Rocketman). If you’re almost thirty and you haven’t seen it yet, do it now! In fact, even if you’re over thirty, see it. (If you’re under thirty, you probably aren’t quite ready.)
Once you are up to date on this valuable artifact of cultural history, you can experience the postmodern repackaging as performed by Stewie from the Family Guy.
Addendum: I am also surprised to learn just now that Ray Bradbury (whose work inspired Rocket Man) has never driven a car or used a computer.
Steve Laniel Jan 28
It doesn’t quite compete with staccato-trying-to-be-Sinatra Shatner (please tell me people were laughing at him in the Seventies), but you should look for his version of Pulp’s “Common People.” He’s now self-parody. Or maybe he always was? It’s so hard to say.
Adam Rosi-Kessel Jan 28
Apparently, someone ignored my “under thirty” proviso.
Adam Rosi-Kessel Jan 28
You raise a good question about the Seventies. What were they thinking?
UG Jan 28
I have come Back to the Future to inform you youngsters about what we were thinking in the Seventies. I think the general reaction to William Shatner’s rendition of Rocket Man in the Seventies was, “Far out, Man!” That’s what I think, although I don’t really remember it. Right now I empathize with the many geriatric vicissitudes of Denny Crane.