For My Sunday Song #463, we are going to talk the still applicable song today, “Icky Thump” by The White Stripes. Why do I say still applicable today? Well, the song is about immigration and was written back in the George Bush administration in 2007. As you know, immigration is a hot topic today with all the ICE raids and Border Patrol operations (who were recently in Charlotte arresting a lot of people). It is a topic that I don’t see going away anytime soon. The song was released on April 26, 2007 and went to #26 on the Billboard Hot 100 and even #1 on the Alternative Charts going Platinum selling over a 1 million copies. Very successful for sure.
The song was written by Jack and Meg White and they were really having fun this track. The title, ‘Icky Thump’ comes from a Northern English phrase called ‘Ecky Thump’ which are both euphemisms for the word ‘Hell’. I guess that means the song means Hell Hell. Jack is a staunch Democrat and was completely against all the immigration talk back in the day and wanted to remind everyone that the Whites in the U.S. were immigrants at one time too. If they have a problem with immigration they should kick themselves out for that very reason. He was pointing out the hypocrisy of it all. This whole idea of the song is still relevant today.
The song is about a guy that takes a trip to Mexico and has no problems going South into Mexico (unlike those trying to go North into the U.S.). He meets a woman who houses him and feeds him, but she then assaults him and holds him hostage. Which I am sure he greatly deserved. A very weird song lyrically, but the flow is something only Jack White can do.
Musically, it is pure garage rock with lots of distortion. Jack makes his guitar speak a language that is hard to fathom how he does it, In case you are wondering, Jack used a 1959 Univox synth and during the solo he used Zvex Wooly Mammoth and a DigiTech Whammy pedal to get that really cool sound. Meg’s drums were a constant pounding beat like a marching army. It is a rip roaring track that is everything I love about The White Stripes. It is amazing that these two people can make so much incredible music.
Continue reading “My Sunday Song – “Icky Thump” by The White Stripes”
ZZ Top – Raw: That Little Ol’ Band From Texas Soundtrack – (Tower Top Tours / Shelter Music Group / BMG): The ZZ Top documentary was awesome. One of the best I’ve seen in a long while. I think it stopped way too early and would’ve been more informational if it would have continued on until more recent times rather than stop at their MTV Peak. Regardless, they are finally getting around to a soundtrack for the album so get ready to crank this baby out!
Jack White – Entering Heaven Alive – (Third Man)
Joe Satriani – The Elephants of Mars – (Edel Music / earMusic): Joe Satriani never has a shortage of new music. This is his 18th Studio album over the last 36 years which is a new one every 2 years. Can’t beat that (unless you are Guided By Voices). I really loved his early albums but the later albums have been a little spotty for me, but he is still one of my favorite guitarists.
Papa Roach – Ego Trip – (New Noize Records / ADA Warner Music): Now on their 11 Studio album Papa Roach is back to deliver their brand of rock…which is nu metal, rap rock, hard rock, alt. rock, alt metal or whatever you want to call it. All I know, is they have some great songs so will be happy to add some more to the collection.
2 Loud 2 Old Music 