Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Bad Luck, Determinism, and Irreverence

The Day the Music Died
Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson all went down in a plane crash on February 3, 1959. Okay, we all know this from Don McLean's rock ballad, "American Pie".

What I did not know is that Buddy Holly chartered a plane to take him and his newly formed Crickets band (Tommy Allsup and Waylon Jennings) to Fargo, North Dakota.1 Richie Valens and "The Big Bopper" were not supposed to be on the plane. "The Big Bopper" came down with the flu and didn't feel comfortable on the bus, so Jennings gave his plane seat to him. Rickie Valens had never flown on a small plane and requested Tommy Allsup's seat. They flipped a coin, and Valens called heads and won the toss.



So in a sense, we could say the following about the plane crash:

1. The flu can be deadly to healthy adult males. Forgive me, Mr. Richardson.
2. Tommy Allsup cheated death with a coin flip. Were I him, I would make all decisions with coin tosses. Okay, over the top.
3. I guess people who believe in determinism would say, "See, we are right. Nana, nana, boo boo." Determinists can be childish.
4. The plane crash inspired one awesome song.

You know, sometimes I wonder about myself. I type some irreverent things, and some could be hurt by these things. I guess it is a mechanism for dealing with them.

Oh, that was a little bit off track.

When I was looking for the YouTube clip, I tripped upon a video by Madonna. What is this world coming to? Madonna2 performing a Don McLean song.


1I never saw Fargo. Was any of this in the movie? Did they make the movie in North Dakota as a subliminal message to the day the music died? Are there any coin tosses in the movie? Are there any determinists acting childish in the movie? I think I need to rent this movie.

2I really don't have a problem with Madonna. She is a talented singer, albeit a (good) self-promoter. Evita was terrific. I guess I want to give her grief for tonguing Britney Spears. She should have had the class to tongue Shakira and her truthful hips.

9 comments:

Jason said...

Remember the end to the movie La Bamba? That's exactly how it went down, a coin toss. Mr. Allsup cheated death with a coin toss, but that same toss was Richie Valens' death sentence.

Jenny said...

It's why I make most of my big life decisions with "Rock/Paper/Scissor" - it's more reliable.

Southern (in)Sanity said...

That's incredible, isn't it? It definitely shows how the little things can make a big impact on a life.

Leesa said...

jason: I never saw La Bamba.

boxer: and how do you do rock/paper/scissors with yourself?

rwa: the only reason I am here is due to a condom that broke. Yeah, really.

mal said...

Fargo was mostly shot in Minnesota. Many of the Highway scenes were along US 10 on the prairie. City shots were in Minneapolis and portions were shot in Brainerd also. All that for what its worth.

The locals here do not get the humour. Being born and bred in California had me getting strange looks from the in-laws as I guffawed and snickered my way through the movie.

The venue that was Buddys last stop is still standing in Clear Lake. I doubt the locals will ever tear it down. It really was the "Day the Music Died" and Don McLean wrote an awesome song

mal said...

OH- do not feel alone. I was conceived post vasectomy. I guess that makes you and me VERY lucky *G*

Tim said...

I know I had some interesting comment to make about Fargo... you need to rent it.... but then I read the comment about Madonna and Shakira and my mind slipped into a gutter.... oh well

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