Gary says:
I’m reading the latest Thomas Pynchon book, Inherent Vice, and he makes reference to this song.It’s like Tiny Tim is tripping on acid, entertaining children, and predicting global warming — all at once.
Video of Tiny Tim performance mentioned in Pynchon's Inherent Vice
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"It’s like Tiny Tim is tripping on acid, entertaining children, and predicting global warming — all at once."
I think that's exactly what going on here.
Also reminds me of Jim Magas performing with kids on Chic-a-go-go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnR_mVN6q-Y
Just. Wow.
Yes, Pynchon is the man we need to put this into context. A lot of context. Please.
Context: this happens on page 108 (thanks pynchonwiki!) when Doc goes to Vehi Fairfield, the constantly tripping acid guru, Vehi plays this song and gives Doc some acid. Doc has a vision that Shasta Fay is aboard the Golden Fang. It would probably be more accurate to say "Video of Tiny Tim song mentioned..." because Vehi is playing it right off the album.
To me, this is my favorite part of reading Pynchon novels. It seems like every other week I learn some random fact or historical event, and realize "Oh, that's what Tom was writing about." So thanks for posting this you guys!
RIP.
We could use a few more just like him in the world.
Truly a wonderful thing.
Probably one of the most unique pieces of original performance art that we'll ever see. Thanks for the post.
talk about scaring the children...
You know, throw a wig on Andrew Bird and he could probably do an impressive reproduction of this. The resemblance is uncanny. Or better, challenge him to do something equally wacky and see what he does.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HmkLu24w2o
Inherent Vice! Loved it... I had just read Against the Day, and I was happy to get to a sort of gumshoe novel, more akin to Crying of Lot 49 than anything... only with a cooler ending... imho.
It's like Russell Brand meets Al Gore meets the Mad Hatter.
This should be played at the Copenhagen Climate Summit opening.
Every time I think I've seen it all... Boing Boing points me to something like this...
I don't know airdrummer... the little brunette looks like she's thinking: "I would like to have what he's having!". Maybe she did?
I remember seeing Tiny Tim, backed up by Brave Combo at Club Dada in Dallas back in 1988. He absolutely blew the front and back doors off the place. Unbelievable performance.
The man was a performing encyclopedia of early 20th century music and it was one of the most amazing things I've ever seen.
What do you mean "predicting global warming"? We've been a decade away from the end of the world due to global warming since the 60s ;)
It's rather odd, the resemblance between Tiny Tim and Count Orlok from F.W. Murnau's Nosferatu.
I'd been wondering about this performance. Good to see it's just as weird and wonderful as I'd imagined.
I loved Inherent Vice. It's not his best or most profound work, but it's definitely his most fun. I can't think of any other writer of Pynchon's caliber who can write about pop culture with the same appreciation and ability to find weird connections and context.
Not to mention that I read it immediately after Against The Day, his longest and probably most ponderous novel. Lots of wonderful, profound stuff in there, about math and science and time travel and alternate dimensions. It's even got some elements of steampunk. But it was just so goddamned long.
So, the two books reminded me of two completely different aspects of the man, both of which I love. Who else can write about both Sofia Kovalevskaya and Tiny Tim with equal knowledge and affection?
b.
what a brilliant individual
Definitely a Coelacanth.
It's my understanding that Jim Carrey owns the movie rights to Tiny Tim's life.
I worked with a guy in Chicago who would book Tiny Tim shows and put him up in a hotel when he was here through the late 70's and early 80's. He would do it for free in exchange for interviews. Dude's got hours and hours of original material, but can't do anything with it because of Mr. Carrey.
That is some seriously apocalyptic children's entertainment! Children's shows now should give kids even half that much credit, eh?
Yess! Count Orlok, in the new wiggly model!
Wowzers! Dude was truly the King of Weird.
Inherent Vice is a CRAZY good read. Loved it, loved it, loved it. This video puts that scene way more in context.
Awesome.
My dad used to play this Tiny Tim song to us when we were little. It kinda freaked me out then.
oh yes, oh yes... OH YES!!!!
That just washed aways some sins. I really believe it did...
I absolutely love Tiny Tim! This is the awesome! I've heard and read him say in interviews that he's never done any drugs and was very opposed to them. Still you have to wonder... He's such a magical being.
Fabulous. I remember seeing him on some terrible 60s or 70s game show here in the UK. He was impossible to look away from - at once funny, charismatic, slightly scary and wholly other-worldly; a proper pop star, in short. Later I would have similar responses the first time I saw Alice Cooper, Roxy Music, David Bowie. I think my daughter gets a similar vibe nowadays off of Lady Gaga.
w0w! What A visionary