What do you do when you find out a popular So-Cal punk band has written a song about how much they hate you?
Well this happened to me in 1999 after The Ataris released a song detailing an evening when I supposedly was unknowingly a little rude to the singer of the band at a gig.
Anyway, I've always found the best strategy for dealing with awkwardness is to double down and make the situation a little more awkward. So...I covered the song.
Instant empowerment. I used to love doing this on tour. The audience would howl with laughter and I got to live out a practical demonstration of how to take one on the chin and keep on keeping on.
On that note, I now proudly present to you, the greatest anti-me song ever written "Ben Lee" by the Ataris.
► Listen on DSound
► Listen from source (IPFS)
Love the song but I equally love your mantra:
"I've always found the best strategy for dealing with awkwardness is to double down and make the situation a little more awkward"
These are indeed words to live by:) Thanks Ben Lee!
Damn straight!
I had previously ignored the fact that I didn't know you were THEE Ben Lee when I interacted with you about seeing Blondie and Rush and then bragged that I saw Squeeze at a small venue. Only afterward did I realized that you are the "Catch My Disease" Ben Lee of which I'm a fan. I was going to ignore that awkward moment, but now I will double-down by telling you that I know that I a local keyboard player who plays at weddings and Bar Mitzvahs and if you want I'll share some of your demos with him in case he's interested - although I can't promise anything:)
hahaha i feel my big break coming!
Dear Dr. Ben - I posted what I thought was a clever and humorous post the other day and it turned dark and awkward. This was before I learned your wise rule of doubling down at the first sign of awkwardness. Instead, I apologized with my ugly American elitist tail between my legs. What advice do you have for this scenario? (In all seriousness, I hadn't even phathomed that Steemit provides the only source of income to some people and that's both sad and great)
Signed - Confused in New Jersey
https://steemit.com/macrophotography/@popsoz/steemit-makes-you-think-differently
I think the kids have figured this out - "jk"
Hoo boy they sound a little bit too passionate for people who don't care who you are... at least you made an impact :'D
"Thou doth protest too much" :)
Maybe if you didn't suck so much, people wouldn't write songs about it.
Maybe try sucking less; just sayin'
Food for thought! haha
sucking dick and swallowing vast volumes of delicious semen is great for vocals, you should try it Matt
I'm guessing you've spent a lot of time online but not very long here?
This very much sets the tone of conversation. If something could be taken one of two ways, the reader tends toward the nicer interpretation simply because genuine trolling is so incredibly self-destructive.
Good luck here, mate.
Ha I stayed out of that cos I thought you two were friends and that was your style of conversing... Oy vey...
ps thank you for the tips, I upvoted your reply too. Cheerio
I did interpret your comment as friendly banter and actually hoped that you might interpret my comment as friendly banter as well - this would've lead to something funny and interesting. I thought the absurdity of the comment would be a dead giveaway. Sorry that you took it the wrong way. Maybe I should've put sucking dick in camp italics to lend it some frivolity.
This rules my man. Genuinely good and also genuinely hillarious. I had a horendous experience on tour via the ataris that I will, in the spirit of steem positivity, leave out of the conversation, but yeah. Great great.
Much love from mike and Maserati.
Ah curious now!
Now that’s bold... and I imagine quite shameful for the people who wrote it. Brings it right back to reality of you being a human. Xx will have a listen after.
I still find it humorous. Ive always believed in not being afraid of a bloody nose!
Yes... I respect that. And also when you Know Who You are, things don’t tend to shake us as much.
I didn’t have a chance to actually listen to the song before just responding to the text. And I gotta say what an A-hole for the person writing it. Also you sang it well. And respect to you.
hilarious, best way to deal with such situations 😂😂😂
Totally. Get in front of the story.
I'd love to see you and snoop have at it! You suck Ben... Haha
Ive actually got a photo with him Ill dig up sometime
keen to see that
How brilliant is that!! Thanks for sharing. Loved what you said about amping up the awkward! Imagine how much the world would change if we all took that on? Not just with awkward, yet also with something like shame (which so many people turn a little awkward into as they don't know how to feel or how to process feelings). What an amazing role model you are
Thanks @biancawhite - life can be a war of attrition sometimes! The one who doesnt freak out or panic but just keeps on moving forward whatever comes up is the winner :)
I read your response right after staying calm through an epic toddler meltdown, & thought your comment was a perfect description for that experience ;-)
And if I tell you that I'm composing a song with your name too, do you believe it? But this time, it's about good things! Hah
Looking forward to hearing it!
They did a good job on the song, they must have put a lot of effort into it. Just can't help similing when listening to you sing about yourself makes it sort of not real in a way canceling it out.
Takes out the sting.
Omg dude you keep amazing me each time,keep it up,love your pubs
the circle is complete
Aligned with nature
I want more details. What constitutes "a little rude to the singer"?
Ha I actually dont know. I heard he asked me something at one of my gigs and I didnt stay and chat. I really dont know what the situation was....I have no memory of it.
Ha! Awesome. And on top of that you've now monetized it.
Oh @benleemusic ! What a genius, gentlemanly and creative way to deal with that situation! But you missed out on having an Eminem vs Everlast public feud moment. Maybe you should've rapped it?! hehe
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