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Shannon
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John interview / *added TV interview on page 2*
« on: Sep 25th, 2006, 7:14am » |
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Accidental anthem
Goo Goo Dolls singer Johnny Rzeznik thought he was writing a Christmas song. Instead, after Katrina, 'Better Days' became a musical rallying cry for a determined city.
Monday, September 25, 2006
By Keith Spera
Music writer
Goo Goo Dolls frontman Johnny Rzeznik is not, by his own admission, a "jingle bells, Rudolph kind of guy." So when he tried to write a Christmas song, he came up with "Better Days" instead.
"I'll take three years just to write two verses and a chorus," Rzeznik recalled this week during a phone interview. "For some reason, that song just dropped out of the sky on my head. I finished it pretty quickly."
He wrote "Better Days" long before Hurricane Katrina. But such lyrics as, "You ask me what I want this year / and I try to make this kind and clear / Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days" have taken on new meaning post-K. CNN has prominently featured "Better Days" in its coverage.
"I was like, 'Wow, it does fit,' " Rzeznik said. "It was a shock to me. But maybe it was meant to be for that, and not really about Christmas. The lattice of coincidence . . . I'm not sure how to explain it. I wish it was my original intent.
"It's a song that I'm grateful that I wrote, and that maybe helped bring some attention to what's going on (in New Orleans)."
To further that end, the Goo Goo Dolls agreed to be part of today's reopening of the Superdome for the Saints' home opener against the Atlanta Falcons.
They'll perform an hour-long set starting at 4:20 p.m. outside the Dome on a stage near Gate C. U2 and Green Day are team- ing up for a three-song set inside the building just before kickoff. Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas and Kermit Ruffins will render the national anthem.
The Katrina disaster touched the Goo Goo Dolls camp. Glen Ballard, the producer of the band's current "Let Love In" CD, is a native of Natchez, Miss.; his sister lived in New Orleans and lost her house to Katrina. "It was difficult to watch him," Rzeznik said. "He was really grieving about what was going on."
Also, the Goo Goo Dolls' assistant, Tara Fritz, is from New Orleans. Her family's house was damaged, and Fritz's rent doubled in the wake of the storm. She now rooms with Rzeznik in Los Angeles.
During the band's New Orleans visit, Fritz plans to give Rzeznik the disaster tour.
"I can't say that I'm looking forward to it," Rzeznik said. "We're going to take a camera along and put (footage) up on our Web site."
Over the years, the Goo Goo Dolls have often passed through New Orleans. Their rise from local clubs to arenas mirrored the band's evolution from scruffy barroom rockers to adult pop hit-makers. Rzeznik harbors fond memories of multiple gigs at Tipitina's (he was relieved to learn the club survived), on the Tulane campus and at the UNO Lakefront Arena.
A visit with victims of Hurricane Rita in Sabine Pass, Texas, proved to be an eye-opener.
"I couldn't believe it," he said. "You start talking to people and . . . everybody wants to rebuild and continue on with their lives. I never understood why people whose homes are destroyed by tornadoes or earthquakes build them again, but it's home. That's what you know and where you need to be, and there's a deep emotional connection."
To Rzeznik, the necessity of New Orleans' recovery is beyond question.
"You can't sacrifice one of the deepest cultural centers of the United States, as far as music and art. It's unique. And from a business standpoint, the port of New Orleans is incredibly important.
"Every night that we're on tour I tell people, 'Just because you see people drinking hurricanes on Bourbon Street doesn't mean that this place is together,' " he said. "It's still so vulnerable. That worries me."
While Rzeznik admits he's not much of a sports fan -- "I'm from Buffalo, so how can I like football?" -- he realizes that when he sings such lines as "tonight's the night the world begins again," he's speaking directly to the theme of Monday's game.
"It's going to wind up being really emotional," Rzeznik said. "I was honored to be asked to do it. I'm going to do my best to do my best."
. . . . . . .
Music writer Keith Spera can be reached at [email protected] or (504) 826-3470.
_________________________
PREGAMEPALOOZA!
The musical lineup before tonight's Saints-Falcons game
OUTSIDE the Superdome near Gate C
3:05 p.m. Storyville Jazz Band, 4:20 p.m. Goo Goo Dolls, 5:30 p.m. Rebirth Brass Band
INSIDE the Superdome
7:20 p.m. Green Day sings "When September Ends"; Green Day and U2 sing "The Saints Are Coming"; U2 sings "Beautiful Day."
7:37 p.m. Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas and Kermit Ruffins perform the national anthem
ON the tube
6 to 7:30 p.m. Taped excerpts of Goo Goo Dolls; U2 and Green Day live on ESPN
The Goo Goo Dolls will perform outside the Superdome today as part of the Saints-Falcons pregame festivities.
http://www.nola.com/entertainment/t-p/index.ssf?/base/living-6/115916219 477640.xml&coll=1
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| « Last Edit: Sep 27th, 2006, 11:12am by Shannon » |
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nmf016
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Re: John interview / Superdome lineup
« Reply #1 on: Sep 25th, 2006, 2:58pm » |
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Be watching those news channels. The Goos just popped up on Fox News.
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Shannon
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Re: John interview / Superdome lineup
« Reply #2 on: Sep 25th, 2006, 6:21pm » |
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So who saw the guys at the top of the hour? It was so good to see them involved in the re-opening. I was so proud of them and Better Days....what a perfect anthem.
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nmf016
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Re: John interview / Superdome lineup
« Reply #3 on: Sep 25th, 2006, 6:31pm » |
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Short answer: I did!
Long answer which makes everyone hate me: I was disappointed by how "disaster footage" laden the performance was. This obviously isn't directed at the Goos and yes, I understand that Katrina is the reason the Goos were even playing at all. But the Tree Lighting Ceremony last November, the Extreme Home Makeover performance, and this one had over 50% footage cut into the Goos. I can't help but wonder why the organizers didn't save some money and just play a recording of Better Days while the footage ran. U2 and Greenday will be performing because of Katrina as well, and I'm willing to bet a fair amount that half of their performance won't be cut out for footage. Every channel has been showing Katrina footage for the last year, and before and after the Goos performance. Would it have killed anyone to just show the whole damn performance for 3 minutes?
And, pictures are slowly coming up at www.gettyimages.com. Go to editoirial, then click the Superdome title or search for the Goo Goo Dolls.
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| « Last Edit: Sep 25th, 2006, 6:32pm by nmf016 » |
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Shannon
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Re: John interview / Superdome lineup
« Reply #4 on: Sep 25th, 2006, 6:41pm » |
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on Sep 25th, 2006, 6:31pm, the red o wrote:Short answer: I did!
Long answer which makes everyone hate me: I was disappointed by how "disaster footage" laden the performance was. This obviously isn't directed at the Goos and yes, I understand that Katrina is the reason the Goos were even playing at all. But the Tree Lighting Ceremony last November, the Extreme Home Makeover performance, and this one had over 50% footage cut into the Goos. I can't help but wonder why the organizers didn't save some money and just play a recording of Better Days while the footage ran. U2 and Greenday will be performing because of Katrina as well, and I'm willing to bet a fair amount that half of their performance won't be cut out for footage. Every channel has been showing Katrina footage for the last year, and before and after the Goos performance. Would it have killed anyone to just show the whole damn performance for 3 minutes?
And, pictures are slowly coming up at www.gettyimages.com. Go to editoirial, then click the Superdome title or search for the Goo Goo Dolls. |
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I was thinking that too but just didn't say it. ESPN just broadcast most of that Katrina footage just prior to the Goos performance during their piece on Reggie Bush. You're right....U2 and Green Day will probably get full coverage.
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the green o
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Re: John interview / Superdome lineup
« Reply #5 on: Sep 25th, 2006, 7:34pm » |
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You called that one right.
U2 and Green Day got full coverage.
But I gotta say...it was an awesome collaborative performance.
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carlyn
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Re: John interview / Superdome lineup
« Reply #6 on: Sep 25th, 2006, 8:23pm » |
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I missed it!  I didn't think it would be on so early, I usually end up waiting until the end of the show to get to see them. I must have been setting the tape when they were on. 
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rzezniksangel
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Re: John interview / Superdome lineup
« Reply #7 on: Sep 25th, 2006, 9:08pm » |
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I had to stay at the office late and missed the whole thing!!! *pouts* 
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pink boa lady
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Re: John interview / Superdome lineup
« Reply #8 on: Sep 25th, 2006, 9:30pm » |
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i didn't see the performance on tv yet, but ya'll won't understand how amazing it was to be there at the dome (even though it was a clusterfuck)...there is nothing else this city talks about except katrina (or the many murders)...but the local station did an interview with goo...from hearing they showed katrina footage... i don't think john (or any of the guys) would have minded (even though fans do).
sorry, but until you live and breathe it here everyday...it's still awful. yeah there's life coming back, but drive by some of the areas that STILL aren't cleaned up...the smell is worse than your garbage bag sitting in your house for a week. the houses with the x mark's and the houses that you can see nobody has even gone back to see what they have lost... not to mention, there are still places that aren't open. don't take for granted you can go eat at any hour of the day at your favorite restaurant, because we still can't do that here. if you're hungry after 9pm, forget about finding something...better hope you have a bag of popcorn at home...cause you aren't getting anything out. or if you want to go shopping, the mall 10 minutes from your house was burned...and the places that are open and thriving, they don't get new shit that often...grocery shopping, walmart shopping... the shelves never look like they're filled anymore. i guess they think we don't need stuff to get by with.
i'm glad we're still getting coverage, we need it. we still don't have hospitals open...you're basic needs...don't take that for granted either. so just realize, they show it on t.v. and ya'll maybe tired of it, but remember...we still live it.
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Shannon
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Re: John interview / Superdome lineup
« Reply #9 on: Sep 25th, 2006, 10:05pm » |
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I'm sorry if you took what I said as being uncaring. It wasn't meant to be. I only meant that since the Goos were playing live, as a fan, it would be nice to actually see the live footage. They always seem to get gypped in that respect. The crowd looked incredible and vibrant and it made me so proud to see.
You're right though. Unless you've been there and live it you can't even comprehend what it's like. I see the footage and it saddens and angers me. But I imagine the footage doesn't even begin to convey what it's really like there every day.
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