Meet Me in Seattle (At The Fair) (1:39)
Seattle, 1962: The last successful World's Fair held in the United States is taking place, and organizers need music to spread the word. The call goes out to Joy and the Boys, and Meet Me in Seattle is born.
There's a reason why you can't write music that appeals to everyone, unless you're the odd genius who can pen an "Mmm...Bop" or "Macarena." When you try, you wind up watering things down to the point where they're meaningless. That's one of two problems with this song. It says nothing about the fair itself, instead serving up a "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" great-date theme, minus the baseball love or love for much of anything. To their credit, the songwriters did slip the marvelous double-entendre, "If you're gonna kiss me, kiss me there" into the lyrics, a lone conceit to songwriting skill handcuffed by the need for that elusive mass appeal.
The other problem with the song is the recording. By 1962 standards, this is dreadful. It sounds like the band was encased in an oildrum and miced from the outside. Audiophiles should note that this recording will likely reverse the magnetic fields in your Harmen-Kardon speakers.
In spite of all this, it's still a good bit of fun, and a nice reminder of the Fair. If you're feeling nostalgic, check out the Seattle Post-Intelligencer World's Fair Site, which is filled with historic photos and commentary on how the Fair shaped modern Seattle.
This is one of a series of terrible songs recorded for that world's fair. The company I work for, Archie McPhee, is selling some of the original postcard records that were used to promote the fair. There are sound samples on the product page.
http://www.mcphee.com/items/M6093.html
Posted by: David Wahl | March 18, 2009 at 05:37 PM
Unfortunately, The Seattle Post-Intelligencer itself is no longer with us. The last print issue came off the presses yesterday.
Posted by: Larry In Seattle | March 18, 2009 at 06:01 PM
You have to admit rhyming Seattle with "that's where I'll be at. I'll.." is genius.
Posted by: Johnny Whiplash | March 18, 2009 at 06:18 PM
IMO the recording quality is actually pretty good for '62. Beats the Hell out of the Kingsmen's "Louie, Louie": "Hey, let's put the vocal mic on the ceiling so the singer has to stand on his toes just to be heard! And let's put the drums and guitar through the same mic!"
Posted by: wandrew | March 18, 2009 at 06:33 PM
More world's fair goodness: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6115746202012512830
Posted by: AnAnonymousParty | March 18, 2009 at 08:17 PM
That rhyme is no worse than the one in "The Black Ball Ferry Line," recorded by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters:
"On the Black Ball Ferry line up in Seattle,
Every single G-O-P and Democrat'll
Hear the whistle blow
And the bells go (FX: clang!),
As the ferry boats go chuggin' right along."
Posted by: John Ross | March 18, 2009 at 08:58 PM
"The Black Ball Ferry Line,"
I'm so tired right now I read that as "The Black Ball Larry Fine," which would have been the greatest novelty song ever.
Posted by: JD | March 19, 2009 at 09:29 AM
I'll go my way by myself here's how that comedy ends
I have to deny myself love and laughter and friends
With clouds in the sky above have put the blocks on my fun
I'll try to fly up above for my place in the sun
I'll face the unknown I'll build the world of my own
No one know that I denied myself I found myself alone
___________
Austin
Luwow Goldman
Posted by: Austin | March 21, 2009 at 08:27 AM
tis my grandpa.....Edward Chambreau.....
Posted by: shelley | June 09, 2012 at 09:20 PM