The Girl Least Likely To: A Social History of the Pompadour

I used to have really long hair–long enough that if it had lasted until Halloween, I could’ve passed for a young James Iha of the Smashing Pumpkins. Long enough that it earned me a few cat calls from men who’d seen me from behind, regular instances of being referred to as “Miss.” I’d always wanted to wear a pompadour, and when I got tired of wrapping my head in a towel post-shower I went to Tomcat’s Barbershop in Greenpoint and […]

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Chuck Berry’s Kids: The many covers of “Memphis, Tennessee”

Posted by Jason Diamond “Memphis, Tennessee” isn’t just one of the greatest Chuck Berry songs, it’s one of the greatest rock n’ roll songs ever written, recorded, and covered over and over by a variety of different artists.  The lyrics of the song lead you to believe that there is a relationship between an older man and a six-year-old girl, until the story finally unfolds and we find out it’s a father trying to get in touch with his daughter.  Whether or not […]

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