5090 by FAWM: "Joey's Independence Day"

Joey's Independence Day

11 weeks ago by @odilongreen

Skirmish: Independence (or the lack... (@robinleaf)

Joey's Independence Day

odilongreen

00:00

Liner Notes

I’m sure everyone knows about Joey Chestnut’s dispute with Major League Eating, but in case, somehow, you don’t:

https://www.cbssports.com/general/news/joey-chestnut-blames-nathans-hot-dog-eating-contest-for-his-ban-still-open-to-returning-to-the-competition/

Some time after watching today’s (rather competitive, for the first time in a long while) hot dog contest on ESPN2, I logged into 50/90 and saw the skirmish prompt “Independence” (https://fiftyninety.fawm.org/skirmish/299). Joey’s new independence from Major League Eating was, of course, the first thing I thought of. I did this after the skirmish period and so didn’t strictly hold myself to an hour, but it’s pretty close.

I’d kind of intended this to come out more rocking, but that’s not what emerged as I started recording, so I just went with it. I’m still happy with it, especially because the first song is always hard for me (as I know it is for others); it’s difficult to “break the ice” and get in the right mental mindset. Now that I’ve got my first song posted, I’m hoping to turn soon to some of my broader conceptual projects.

Live electric uke (both rhythm and “lead” (ahem)); programmed Toontrack drums; keyboard-played bass plugin.

Here’s a (rather scary) AI image inspired by this song:

#fuc #eating

Lyrics

Joey’s Independence Day

VERSE 1

Well do you think I ate those 75 hot dogs for you?
- It ain’t true
And do you think I should be grateful and just quietly swallow my food?
-All nice and chewed
And do you think that I’m stuck here and I got nowhere else to go?
- I don’t think so
I think it’s time at last to bring the impossible to the show
-Don’t you know

CHORUS

Now I’m eating for me
Time to eat for me
You know I’m finally free
I’m at liberty to eat …
To eat for me

VERSE 2

Well I think it’s time to claim my appetite as my own
-It’s mine alone
And I think it’s time to leave the table my mouth has outgrown
-Leave my safety zone
And I think the biggest feast of my life still lies ahead
-The world’s my spread
It’s time to follow destiny to keep my body and soul well fed
-Cause like I said

CHORUS x2

Comments

@freshspotlessyouth 10w

Damn right, Joey! This is a pretty crafty arrangement. You manage, as you frequently do, to take a silly subject and make it somehow poignant and uplifting--and catchy too. Never let them take your power, Joey!

@loveonamixtape 10w

haha, so fun! Love the call and response on the verses. Great chord progression and love the sunny, jangly arrangement! Fabulously fun and toe-tapping!

@fuzzy 10w

Hahaha so good!
This is really catchy.
Love how you turn this news story into an epic struggle for freedom!!
You really rock that electric uke.

@gordonanderson 10w

I love the weirdness here - I say that in the best way possible. It reminds me maybe of They Might Be Giants. Songs like this get me in the best way.

@gfandme 10w

Again a fun song, you really have a knack for this stuff. Enjoyed the listen!

@musicsongwriter 10w

Very cool song. Fun and inspirational too. Well, I'm glad he didn't contest to eat beards :)

@stuartbenbow 10w

That was a refreshingly different take on the prompt. I hadn't heard of the contest, the conflict or the banned hot dog consumer, but that inspiration really worked for you. Cool tune!

@gwynjones 10w

Haha! What a fine slice of joviality...a treat for sure!
You win the Songs About Eating Contests hands down...

@barkstales 10w

What a fun tune. Very interestingly developed story.

@funnypunkband 10w

Haha I love this so much. The theme is right up my alley. The lyrics are so good and clever. Fun wordplay but also just love the straightforward parts about hot dogs and eating them. Bravo.

@mikeb 10w

A good 'message' song - I has read the story, and thought the hot dog company that banned him from the contests are idiots - did they offer any monetary compensation? Nope!.

@dr_griff 10w

Silly, lighthearted and fun. I had never heard of the contest until yesterday! The lyrics imply he's got more important things to do than an eating contest; it contrasts well with the beat and the upbeat, major-scale flavor of the chord progression.

@jerrypettit 10w

I actually watched the contest for the first time ever yesterday, while I waited to eat my own dinner at a seafood bar. Love the lyrics, love the music, love the performance. Great job!

@val 10w

I haven't watched a Nathan's competition in a while, but professional eaters do kinda intrigue me. So yeah, I like the topic. Makes for an interesting lyric. I like the ukes too. Those sound great even if it's not as rock as you wanted. I like that 90s style jangly sound. It's cool.

@ttg105 10w

Back to a familiar theme! As always, it's upbeat and catchy with hints of pathos and deeper emotions. I like the commenting "radio voice" and all the lyrics. Thoroughly entertaining!

@billwhite51 10w

eating contests are always funny, but your song just made them funnier. love the goofy melodies that service the lyrics so well.

@darcistrutt 11w

You have me smiling! The little echo bits are awesome.

@robynmackenzieMod 11w

This is actually a pretty sweet narrative. There's something so freeing about doing something without someone else's constraints after you've been under rigid expectations for so long.