In my immediate post-high school years ('90-'94), I picked up the nickname "Loser" as in "Loser Dave." Nominally, this nickname distinguished me from the 5 other Daves that flitted in and out of the social circle, but was also indicative of the twin facts that I didn't go to college and worked fast food for a living. Of course, these were the grunge years, so the appellation "Loser" had some positive cache. Anyway, the Descendents' "I'm Not a Loser" became my unofficial theme song, at least until Beck's "Loser" came along and I moved to Baltimore. That said, I was never a big fan of the homophobic message at the end of the song, although I think I recognized that the Descendents were making a statement about how the pain and anger of socital rejection can lead one to lash out randomly at something everyone hated more than you.
On the three occasions I was able to see either All or the reunited Descendents, this was the song I enjoyed moshing to the most. It kicks ass. Back then, I had that skater haircut where your hair was shaved aroung the sides and you let it grow long and wore it in a ponytail. Looked like a coonskin cap. Unleashed, my hair hung down about 6 inches past my chin. About the same length as my goat. I enjoyed flinging my hair around as I banged my head to "Hurtin' Crue." Go ahead, undo the ponytail and fling your hair around now.
This is simply my favorite song of all-time.
we need -- nay, we *must have* -- photos of skater haircut-era dave.
ReplyDeleteNot sure they exist. Surprisingly, "Loser Dave" era coincided with "no one much interested in taking pictures of Dave" era. Ging and I have never been what you'd call "picture people."
ReplyDeleteI, too, request photo documentation. for the record: said "skater haircut" is better known as the Paloza-Pony where I come from...
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