Freedying
by Will
Inspired by Glennis’ call for new slang…
When Hines Bro Brian and I find ourselves playing the same song over and over and over because we love it so much we CANNOT STOP LISTENING, we call it “Freedying.” That is because in 1997, when we were driving up to Cornell to see Hines Bro Kevin graduate, Brian played a mix tape which had the Freedy Johnston song Bad Reputation, which I had never heard, on it. I made him play it at least six times in a row, because I loved it and NEEDED NEEDED to hear it again.
So now it’s very common for Brian to call me or IM me and say “Been Freedying on the new <whatever> song.” That is a normal thing to say. Perhaps you, music lover, could incorporate this word into your vocabulary. Brian once gave me a mix titled “Freedying-Ready.”
A postscript: I had a chance to tell Freedy Johnston this story after watching him perform in Manchester, CT a few years ago. He was both wonderful and terrible in concert. His songs were great — he has what I consider to be a magically good voice. But his in-between song banter consisted of the most petty and juvenille bitching and moaning. “Uh, I was SUPPOSED to have been brought out here earlier, but no one got me, that’s why there was a long pause after I was introduced,” and “This guitar is so hard to tune! You know what I mean?” No, Freedy, I don’t. Shut up and sing. Then he sang the Dolly Parton song “Here You Come Again” and it was so good I forgave him and all jerks everywhere for everything bad they’ve done.
Afterwards, I approached him and told him how my brother and I say Freedying. He seemed only mildly creeped. Then I brought up that the last time I saw him perform was in front of the World Trade center in August 2001, which depressed everyone. And I criticized HIS banter.
Comments
“And It Isn’t Just Talk, Talk, Talk”
I saw Freedy a few years ago at a small club in Arlington, VA. I agree with your assessment of his banter. The follow-up album of Freedy’s was nowhere near as good either. Freedy seems embittered that fame has passed him by I think. In sharp contrast, I saw John Wesley Harding play at the same club and his between song banter is excellent and I did talk to him afterwards. He wanted to know which beer he should get, so we mulled it over.
Will also considered telling Freedy that he was Freedying on “Evie’s Tears” as opposed to “Bad Reputation” because Johnston was most likely sick of hearing about that one song. But, Will stuck to the true story and told Freedy he was repeating his hit single.
I’m currently “freedying” Dropkick Murphys’ song “The Green Fields of France”. Fucking Beautiful.
Would it be weird if I started Freedying this post? And I do mean some serious Freedying.
DO IT!
I’ve Freedyed on both “Bad Reputation” and “Evie’s Tears” before.