#The Knack

[happyllamaglama]

TIL: Kevin Bacon has alpacas and he sings to them.

This has made my day

#llama #llamas #alpaca #alpacas #kevin bacon #my sharona #the knack

[robobrainrot]

Y'all ever just make height charts to conceptualize how fucking HUGE our favorite robots are?

In this chart, KO is ~16ft tall. BD is ~20ft tall.

MEANWHILE

In canon, Knockout is ~21ft tall, and Breakdown is ~27ft tall... which is just.... so fucking big. Its one of the complaints I have about TFP. Mass-shifting theories aside, they're SO FREAKISHLY BIG!

Rory and Vehicle modes for scale ❤️

#transformers #The Knack #rory's 5'7 #i think #transformers prime #tfp #knockout #breakdown #kobd

[70s-music-tourney]

#70s music #70s #polls #stevie wonder #the knack

[versus-weird-al]

Please listen to both songs before you vote!

"My Sharona"

"My Bologna"

Bonus Weird Al under the Read More:

Archival footage of Weird Al performing this song on TV in 1979:

#weird al #weird al yankovic #polls #the knack #my sharona #my bologna #music #versus weird al #vs weird al #Youtube

[justbusterkeaton]

Buster Dances

Music: My Sharona by The Knack

#buster keaton #my sharona #the knack #comedy #silent movies #1920s #silent film #silent comedy #1920s cinema #golden age of hollywood #hollywood #slapstick #dancing

[hit-song-showdown]

Year-End Poll #30: 1979

[Image description: a collage of photos of the 10 musicians and musical groups featured in this poll. In order from left to right, top to bottom: The Knack, Donna Summer (x2), Chic, Rod Stewart, Peaches & Herb, Gloria Gaynor, Village People, Anita Ward, Robert John. End description]

More information about this blog here

We have made it through another decade, everyone. As we reach the end of the 1970's, we are also reaching the end of disco. This is something that makes this genre stand out in a historic sense. Because while we've covered many genres tied to their decade (traditional pop with the 50s, doo-wop with the 60s, etc), those didn't necessarily end the moment the decade switched over. We're still in disco's peak (the dance party before the storm), and many of the songs and artists featured on today's poll are still considered classics. Fun fact, the original name for Chic's Le Freak was called Fuck Off!, which in my opinion is the correct way to sing along to it. The song was written after the band couldn't get into Studio 54, the disco hot spot of the 1970's.

Which brings us to the first crumbling pillar that will send disco collapsing. As disco became mainstream, the aesthetics of disco became less about marginalized people surrounding themselves with opulence and luxury as an escape, and more about...the opulent surrounding themselves with more luxury. The communities who had built this subculture were getting priced out of their own hot spots as the upper class and the celebrities flocked to the hot new thing.

But the disco backlash wasn't just marginalized people and disco purists frustrated with the gentrification and commodification of their subculture. In fact, I think it's safe to say that they were the minority. In reality, the disco backlash had two main prongs: the general music-listening public who was sick of hearing disco on every station, and/or bigots who would hate any kind of Black or gay music they heard no matter how commercialized it became.

So, let's talk about Disco Demolition Night.

July 12th, 1979, the rock vs. disco conflict reached its ugliest peak as tens of thousands of people stormed Comiskey Park in Chicago. Disco records were crushed, burned, and even blown up. The event soon broke out into a riot and thankfully no one was killed, but the demonstration still casts an unpleasant shadow over this moment in music history.

I don't want to diminish the ugliness of this event. As Craig Werner, a professor of African American studies at the University of Wisconsin put it:

"The Anti-disco movement represented an unholy alliance of funkateers and feminists, progressives and puritans, rockers and reactionaries. None the less, the attacks on disco gave respectable voice to the ugliest kinds of unacknowledged racism, sexism and homophobia." (A Change Is Gonna Come)

And to quote Chic's Nile Rogers:

"It felt to us like Nazi book-burning. This is America, the home of jazz and rock and people were now afraid even to say the word 'disco'. I remember thinking - we're not even a disco group."

So I don't want to imply that Disco Demolition Night wasn't a shameful moment, because it was. However, it didn't kill disco. I see a lot of music retrospectives use this event as the one climactic moment that killed the genre and forced music itself to change. And I get why; it's an exciting and narratively satisfying conclusion to come to. But I don't want to say that, because I don't want to give Steve Dahl, the anti-disco shock jock radio DJ who organized the event, the credit in taking down an entire subculture.

Commercialization killed disco. White executives and artists cramming disco into everything without appreciating its roots killed disco. Gentrification killed disco. Changing tastes killed disco. Homophobia and racism killed disco. Capitalism killed disco.

A radio DJ and his angry drunk white boy fans storming a baseball stadium didn't kill disco. But it was the symptom of a disease that was already coursing through the system.

And despite the genre's historic death, disco would actually continue to live on past this decade in a variety of ways. Much like most other genres, disco was able to change and evolve with the times -- it just couldn't do so under the "disco" label as even the name itself became poison.

Also, as I said I keep these polls focused on the U.S. charts because that's where I'm from so I have a better understanding of the musical and historic context. However, it seems like disco's death was mostly contained to this country. When I glance at the various European charts (and any European followers can feel free to correct me), disco didn't seem to drop off in the same way. This will become relevant when we cover some of the European crossovers in a few decades.

So as we celebrate/mourn the end of the seventies with its last dance party, we can all come together and agree that whether you're a rock fan or a disco fan, at least most of your music has aged better than talk radio.

See you all in the 80's.

#billboard music #billboard poll #tumblr poll #1970s #1970s music #1979 #the knack #donna summer #chic #rod stewart #peaches and herb #gloria gaynor #village people #anita ward #robert john

[serpentinesheldonserpentine]

Speaking of the Raspberries and the Hollies

What the heck was up with that guitar break at 2:40 into My Sharona?

It sounds like the engineer spliced the local 38 Special cover band’s rehearsal tape in to kill time waiting for the Going To A Go-Go drums to come around again.

OK, back to work.

#The Raspberries #The Knack #The Hollies #Spotify

[slowsweetlove]

#my sharona #the knack #Spotify #slowsweetlove.2023 #a year in pictures #austin butler

[mymindlostmefan]

the knack 1979 my sharona single

released 18.06.1979

#The Knack

[robobrainrot]

The Knack

Chapter 2: It’s Not Stalking

Notes: its a Knockout-Centric Fic with a human OC. Breakdown is alive and well. Optimus is alive and well. Set in the Prime Universe: Post Predacons Rising, Pre-RID15

[Chapter 1 Here] [Chapter 3 here]

enjoy my scribbles ✌️

Two weeks later...

Though he’d loathe to admit it, Knockout had returned to that parking spot three times in the last two weeks. Not that he was counting. His excuse to himself was that it was a pleasant covert spot in the shade. The weather was pleasant in this area at this time of year and he deserved a break.

It was merely a coincidence that it was also the way the human artist walked.

He had only seen them once in his last three attempts. They had been walking with a femmine human and didn’t notice him. Not that it bothered him.

Today, it was exactly two weeks after their first meeting. Same time. Same place. Sure enough, they came walking down the hill. When they were about 20 meters away, they finally noticed him.

In Knockout’s rear view mirror, he saw them smile brightly. They didn’t run over exactly, but their posture straightened instantly. The human paused in their stride for a moment. “Hello again, pretty boy.” With nothing more than a flirty finger wave at the car, they continued down the street.

That was it? What a tease.

…

Against his better judgment, Knockout looked up the username the human had given him. He was very familiar with social media. He used it occasionally to find races and fellow car enthusiasts.

Their account was mostly art stuff. Some occasional rambling posts. Scattered memes.

He learned their name was Kylan and they were an art student at the local university. They liked drawing various cool things they found around town. There was a text post referencing a gorgeous red sports car that they forgot to take a photo of.

Attached to that post was a rough approximation of what he looked like. It wasn’t as good as the one they did live, but considering it was from memory- it wasn’t bad. The detailing on his doors was completely wrong.

He scoffed. The purple scribbles they had added made him look like an illegible death metal band logo. Much less elegant than his custom pattern.

“My decals do not look like that.” He commented indignantly.

“Knockout. Darling,” Breakdown’s voice came behind him followed by two large servos on his hips. “What’s got you so revved up? I could hear you from across the bay.”

He minimized the tab quickly. “Nothing!” He looked up at his Conjux. Even leaning down to accommodate his ample chest, Breakdown was still taller. “Just a personal project.”

“You know I support your car junkie addiction… you don’t have to hide it from me.”

“It’s not an addiction. I can stop whenever I choose to.” He huffed. Knockout placed a kiss on his chin. He traced his servos down to intertwine with his partner’s. “If you want to talk about addiction…” he moved both their hands up his torso. “I could go for another polishing soon.”

The larger mech moved closer to press against him. “Hm… That could be arranged. I just got-”

Knockout’s computer pinged. His screens popped back up with the social media interface to let him know he had a notification.

It was a direct message.

“ OMG! It’s you! I thought maybe the drawing got blown away with all the wind. I hope it made you smile! “

“‘Drawing?’” Breakdown read aloud.

Knockout sighed dramatically. “Can we go back to my seamless distraction?”

The Stunticon looked between the screen and his Conjux several times. “After you show it to me. Have you been sneaking off to be a secret art model?”

“Not yet. I am playing the long game.” He wriggled out of his partner's embrace to walk over to his storage crate. It was mostly full of polishes, buffers and other beauty supplies. He picked up a small glass case. Knockout revealed it to Breakdown with a flourish. “A human left that on my window. Evidently, they were so taken by my lustrous finish that they couldn’t help themself from stopping to admire me.”

Breakdown leaned down to look at the tiny image. He squinted.

“And, they know I’m… not a car.”

He raised a brow. “You showed them your root mode?”

“Of course not. They just… know? They thanked me for letting them draw me– not that I had much choice in the matter. They didn’t ask permission.” He huffed through his vents. “They just knew.”

“And… your solution… is to stalk them?”

“It’s not stalking!” Knockout huffed. “They gave me their username with the drawing. Clearly, they wanted this.”

Breakdown took a deep vent in and out.

“I can handle it.” He placed the image back in his crate. Spinning on his wheels, he turned back to him. He reached up to pull him down to eye level.

“Be careful. For their sake, and yours.” Breakdown brought Knockout’s hand up to his eye patch. The hard gray metal contrasted his orange protoflesh. It was a stark reminder for both of them of past mistakes.

“I will, BD.” He smiled at his partner. “Trust me. This isn’t some Hollywood blockbuster. Nothing drastic is going to happen.”

…

After they started messaging online, Knockout was easily able to trace their IP address to know where they lived but he had never actually driven by their house.

Today was the day he finally got curious enough to look. Kylan lived in an old town house. It was white with brown shutters and looked like a scrap heap.He wasn’t exactly sure what he expected to find but there was no obvious sign of the human. It’s not like he could go up to ring the doorbell to ask for them.

The Aston Martin parked across the street and settled down. He must’ve slipped into power down mode because when he woke up, it was dark out.

There was another slip of paper on his dashboard. He smiled to himself.

Glancing up, he saw the lights on in the second story of the human’s house. Zooming in, he could see Kylan sitting at their desk drawing. They had headphones on, wiggling back and forth to whatever they were listening to.

Knockout never really understood human’s relationship with music. Of course, they were good at it. There were plenty of songs he liked the sounds of. It seemed to affect their species more. He could ask their resident radio wiz about it, but he didn’t want to give Bumblebee that satisfaction.

With that, he pulled out of his spot. He headed to his favorite hiding spot and slid under the gas station canopy.

Knockout pulled the slip of paper out of his plating. This time, it was in a yellow-ish envelope. The artist was upping their game. How fancy, he purred to himself as he pulled out the piece of paper inside.

His optics narrowed at the tiny image.

“A parking ticket!?”

…

Over the next month, Knockout learned that they came home at approximately the same time every Thursday. This wasn’t always because he was there. Their posts had consistency at that time as well.

The Autobots kept him busy with various tasks around their new base. Ratchet always needed an extra hand, even if he didn’t want one. Arcee was still tense around the former-Decepticon but things were easing up. She had gone from openly hostile to occasional glaring. Agent Fowler was a similar story. Whenever the other two sports cars returned from Cybertron, they’d burn rubber until someone sprained something. Then, they’d get another lecture from Ratchet.

Overall, life after the war was pleasant, though strange. There wasn’t anyone threatening him every other minute of the day. He was allowed to just be.

Integrating Breakdown into the team was more of a to-do. Bulkhead and Wheeljack were not keen on the idea. But, with time and conversation, they came to a mutual understanding.

The ex-Decepticons got their own remote warehouse. Originally, they had been staying with all the Autobots, but that lasted about 2 weeks before someone put in a noise complaint. Their little home away from home gave them some much needed space from the other bots. It was dinghy but it was theirs.

Knockout leaned against a crate as he stared at the blankest wall of their space. It was gray metal, like the landscapes of Cybertron. It was distinctly not light the bright colors of the planet he currently resided on. Over time, he had become quite attached to the rainbow of hues that made up Earth’s environment.

“Breakdown,” He called to his conjux, “I think it’s about time we got some color in here.”

[ >> NEXT CHAPTER >> ]

#transformers #maccadam #transformers prime #tfp #knockout #THE KNACK #transformers OC fic #transformers oc #rory magellan #canon divergent au

[julio-viernes]

"Heartbeat" la descubrí hace 400 años en la fantástica versión de The Knack en su LP debut de 1980, "Get The Knack". Luego supe que era de Buddy Holly y me gustó, pero menos que la de Knack, jaja. Lo mismo me pasó antes con The Beatles después de escuchar en 1977 - hermanos oremos, porfa- el popurrí disco (estaba a otra, era un niño) tipo Rockollection de canciones de los Beatles por los franceses Café Creme. ¡Después de eso los Betales me parecieron sosos y ralentizados! ¡Un rollo al lado de la martxuki de los Creme! ¡JAJAJA! Mm... más tarde me hice de los Beatles y condené a Creme por horteras y babiosos ¡pero acabé sustituyendo hace unos años el single de Creme por el maxisingle, que suena mejor, ¡jajaja! Era un medley increíblemente bien hecho, y lo sigue siendo. Bueno, todo esto viene a cuento de que hace poco me compré el segundo álbum de Humble Pie, "Town & Country" (Immediate, 1969) y me encontré con esta poderosa versión de "Heartbeat" ni tan contundente como la de Knack, ni tan popi como la de Holly. No me lo esperaba, lo agradecí y me acordé de todo lo anterior.

#humble pie #buddy holly #the knack #the beatles #cafe creme #youtube

[versus-weird-al]

Please listen to both songs before you vote!

"Baby Talks Dirty"

"Baby Likes Burping"

#weird al #weird al yankovic #versus weird al #vs weird al #music #polls #the knack #baby talks Dirty #baby likes Burping #Youtube

[spaceintruderdetector]

The Knack  claimed that "My Sharona" was written in 15 minutes. Why did it take so long?

#the knack #pop music #put down

[myimaginaryradio]

Good Girls Don't - The Knack - 1979

#the knack #good girls dont #classic rock #70s #good and bad #Youtube

[churchofsatannews]

The Metro #713

This week on The Metro, Rev. Jeff Ivins brings you the 80s from the following bands: Kim Carnes, The Knack, Fools, Wham!, Roxy Music, Red Rider, Bruce Hornsby & The Range, The Cars, Eddie Grant, Gleaming Spires,Cutting Crew, Split Enz, Roman Holiday, and finaling with Golden Earring. Stream The Metro #713. Download The Metro #713.

View On WordPress

#Bruce Hornsby & The Range #cutting crew #Eddie Grant #Fools #Gleaming Spires #Golden Earring #Kim Carnes #radio free satan #Red Rider #Reverend Jeff Ivins #Roman Holiday #Roxy Music #Split Enz #the cars #The Knack #the metro #Wham!

[theknucklehead]

There are so many funny moments in Weird: the Al Yankovic Story, one in particular is the lyrics to Al's songs spoken by him and others as though it's how he got his inspiration for them.

By the way, Weird is finally on DVD and Blu-Ray so you don't have to watch it on Roku if you don't have that service.

#weird the al yankovic story #weird al yankovic #weird al #daniel radcliffe #lin manuel miranda #madonna #steve jay #nick yankovic #mary yankovic #my bologna #eat it #like a surgeon #fat #michael jackson #the knack