Fun
Lazy Sunday: Merle Hazard Is Back!
Dear Kay,
Brand new from the econo-crooning imagination of Merle Hazard—aka Hubbo!—comes “Dave’s Song,” a spookytastic tune of a 21st-century truck driver and his cautionary tale.
It just premiered on the PBS NewsHour this week—so fun to see Dave make his debut.
I really love the music in here—Music Row legend Alison Brown is the producer, the co-founder of Compass Records. The musicians are Grammy winners, amazing session players, just a ton of fun to watch as this came together. Compass Records is the place where some of the best Americana and bluegrass is being recorded these days.
And the animation is amazing—Susan Eaddy created all the characters in her amazing clay, then handed them over to animator/cinematographer/wizard Matt Emigh, who brought them all to life.
I had the chance to visit Susan’s wonderland of a studio to see all the bits and parts of Dave and that rascally Daisy Sue. Here’s a great studio tour by Andrea Skyberg.
If you’re new to the songs of Merle Hazard, there’s a whole world of Merle to explore. His songs are about financial topics, in the toe-tappingest way.
I guess you could say I’m a superfan.
Love,
Ann
Fabulous!
As the wife of a long-haul trucker, I loved it!
Have to agree – fabulous!
Love it! Any chance the Shayne family could adopt me? I think it must be so much fun to be part of your family! ;-D
Me too!
I just finished reading World Without Mind so the timing of this was perfect!
Cute, but I must note from Wisconsin that the Holstein cow on the trailer produces milk, not “beef jerky”. A bit jarring for those in “the dairy state”, and in Texas (beef cattle), I imagine.
Cow-etic license?
I noticed that, too but figured it was probably just the Chick-fil-A cow moonlighting. He must have left his Eat Mor Angus! sign back in the barn.
However did you keep this a secret! Much mazel to Merle! This is the best one yet. Should be climbing the charts!
Literally LOL’d. Do I detect a resemblance between Ann and Daisy Sue??
Terrific-great to hear Merle again
Another winner, Merle! And unlike the duplicitous Daisy Sue, I’m sure your own sweet, big-haired Annie Lou will greet you at the door with a smooch and a “is this burnt orange juicy enough to perk up the blah of the bark brown, what?!, shhh! I’m counting… 6, 7, 8, yo, k2tog tbl, 1, 2….”
Where’s the “like” button?!!
OK — I forwarded the links to my Husbeast, who is a Professor of Economics, thinking maybe he could use them in a class.
He then told me: “I saw him at an ASSA Meeting!”
I also pointed out that someone translated the lyrics to German … and he teaches in Germany sometimes … though he thought there was an issue with the ‘double dipping’ song –something about Bernake fixing it? I’ve only learned this stuff by osmosis, editing papers, and living with him for xxx years…
Merle Hazard does it again! I love the animation.
With the news these days, I keep finding myself humming the old Allan Sherman chestnut “Automation” (https://youtu.be/yLPObMbkNMA — for anyone who’s unfamiliar, be sure to stick around for the twist in the final verse ). So of course I’m loving this latest from Merle! I feel like this production has take the Merle Hazard oeuvre to a whole new level — congrats to him!
Wow, Julia — I was unaware of that song by Allan Sherman, until now. Which is odd, because I have listened to, and enjoyed, many of his songs before. (I think of the Ballad of Harry Lewis not infrequently, especially the line about trampling through the warehouse where the drapes of Roth are stored.) But you’re right, “Dave’s Song” has a lot of overlap with his, thematically. Thanks for pointing it out, what a treat!
Made my day! Thanks!
Gosh, I love Merle! And poor Dave…
I love all of it! So fun!
Nice tip of the hat to Stanley Kubrick (and Hal).
Don’t know how I missed this. Super clever!