There has been mention here of late about the now famous "Electicity" thread. I know we have had a thread concerning this masterpiece a couple of times over the years since I have been here. As I make mention again of using this song in my high school poetry classes (73- 75), along with several other Joni songs for analysis. But I have always wondered my self, about the influence this particular song had on another artist, and I am wondering if others see this as well. I am speaking specifically about Rickie Lee's "Last Chance Texaco." The use of metaphors and style I find to be uncanny. As I quickly skimmed over the "Electricity" thread from May, I did notice Mia, made some mention of a comparison back then, but no one else followed up at that time.
I am of the opinion that "Elecrticity" was a direct influence on Rickie Lee writing this song -period. So please indulge me while I post MOST of the lyrics to this piece. _______________ But you ran out of gas down the road a heap Then the battery went dead And now the cable won't reach It's your last chance To check under the hood Your last chance She ain't sounding too good Your last chance to trust the man with the star You've found the Last Chance Texaco. Well he tried to be Standard And he tried to be Mobile He tried living in a World And in a Shell There was this block-bused blonde He loved her - free parts and labor But she broke down and died And threw all the rods he gave her But this one ain't fuel injected Her plug's disconnected She gets scared and she stalls She just needs a man, that's all It's her last chance Her timings all wrong her last chance She can't idle this long Her last chance to turn her over and go Pulling out of the Last Chance Texaco __________ Assuming we all know the lyrics to Joni's Electricity, written in 72, is this not one of the single most obvious direct influences of Joni on another artist? AND one that is as successful and artistic in of its self. Without Joni's song, does this song ever get written? I am not, by any means saying it is a rip-off. I feel the song stands alone, but I have always seen a most direct influence between these two songs and I wondered if anyone else see this or has an opinion. "Last Chance Texaco" was written in 78. So I am wondering if the younger song writer went off to write her own "Starry Starry Night" again man. And did so, without drawing too much scorn, well cause it's such a great song as well. I love both of these songs and still believe Rickie's best work was her first album. Although I love several others as well. But I think she totally wrote this song based on her love and admiration of Joni and in paricular here, "Electrcity." Any thoughts, or other more obvious paraellels between Joni and Rickie, or another artist, or songs? As I sit here and my brain cells continue to decrease rapidly, I feel I may have brought this up before, way back. However, I would be interested in hearing it all over again if I did! Peace, Susan Faith Hill - Exclusive Performances, Videos & More http://faith.yahoo.com
