I've got to put the breakdown/takedown of Worst That Could Happen under the BEST category. Just like Young Girl, it is just pure, simple, classic Best Show. Just Tom going off on something that has probably flown under the radar, where you've heard it before, a million times (as someone who grew up on CBS FM's oldies, I know I have), but never put too much thought into the lyrics and their real meanings and implications, it had me genuinely laughing out loud on my way home from work, listening to the podcast. I even must have been laughing after getting out of the car, around 11:35 PM, as I approached my door, as my wife asked if I was laughing when I got inside, having heard me. I don't laugh out loud like that enough, so when something does get me to, I really appreciate it.
After hearing the segment, I almost want the song more, so I was dissappointed to hear iTunes doesn't have the proper version. Maybe I'll hit up Amazon's digital selection. Also, I looked it up on Wikipedia to see what was said about the song. It apparently has shared roots with another old Best Show song target, MacArthur Park. Apparently written about the same girl, Susan, that Jimmy Webb had a relationship. Another interesting nugget from the entry really caught my attention, though:
"The song appeared on the list of songs deemed inappropriate by Clear Channel following the September 11, 2001 attacks specifically and inexplicably listing the Johnny Maestro & The Brooklyn Bridge version, but not the 5th Dimension version, despite their note-for-note similarity." It really puts things in perspective, eh, Johnny Maestro? Maybe there are truly worse things. Also, from there, I went to the article for that list and found this:
"The list contains 165 songs, including all songs by Rage Against the Machine as well as certain songs recorded by multiple artists (for example "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" by Bob Dylan and the same song by Guns N' Roses).[4]" This was only 1 of 165 songs deemed inappropriate to play, following that tragedy. Also, I think all songs by Rage Against The Machine should be on a list to not be played, in general, as a side-note.
-Zach
