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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 29, 1990)
The Battalion LIFESTYLES Mor Monday, January 29,1990 Lifestyles Editor Mary-Lynne Rice 845-; (Con blurt A ‘delightfully disgusting ’ song ‘Sneaky’ Pete tops Dr. Demento’s Funny Five you b I Th BUI a ffivvo p I Lai Bolin pnd IN ue 1 By CHUCK LOVEJOY Of The Battalion Staff “You know, there are so many im portant questions that confront a man during his lifetime, such as, ‘Why am I here?’ ‘Where did I come from?’ ‘Where am I going?’ and, most important, ‘Who put the booger on my beer mug?’ ” With this introduction. Dr. De- mento, host of the nationally syndi cated radio program “The Dr. De- mento Show,” announced that “Booger on My Beer Mug” was number one among his “Funny Fi ve” wacky tunes for the second week in a row. After playing the song, Dr. De- mento announced that it was per formed by the “pride of Texas A&M, ‘Sneaky’ Pete Rizzo.” On the Texas A&M campus, Rizzo is better known as Dr. Peter Rizzo, an associate professor of cell biology. But to the Northgate crowd, Rizzo is known as “Sneaky” Pete, leader of Wednesday sing-along sessions at the Flying Tomato and frontman of “Sneaky” Pete and the Neon Mad men, a band that specializes in popu lar tunes from the ’50s and ’60s. Rizzo says he got the idea for “Booger” one Saturday morning while walking through his living room while holding a cup of coffee. “Out of nowhere came the thought of ‘Who put a booger on my coffee cup’,” Rizzo says. “Believe me, the coffee cup was clean, but I thought I had to make a song about it and send it to Dr. Demento.” After his revelation, Rizzo says the time he spent writing “Booger on My Beer Mug” and recording it in his eight-track home studio was rela tively short. “This one was rather quick — I had the basics of the song down in 30 minutes,” Rizzo says. “Some songs take years ’cause I feel there’s no hurry to complete them.” For instance, Rizzo says he had one song for 20 years before he fi- “nonsense song with hidden statements about rising costs and such.” Altogether, Rizzo has sent two dozen original or parody songs to Dr. Demento to be considered for the show. He even got the chance to meet Dr. Demento at his studios in Los Angeles while attending a confer ence in San Francisco of the Ameri can Society for Cell Biology. “He is a very zany person, just like on the air — that’s not a put-on,” Rizzo says. Rizzo writes all of his material himself, although other people, in cluding his wife Lori, help to rewrite and polish the songs. In fact, Rizzo says, his wife wrote one verse of “Death on the High way” and one verse of “Yo Bamba,” A Big “Booger’ People are surprised both ways when they find out about one or the other aspects of my personality. Those who know me as a professor can’t believe I play rock and roll, and those who know me as ‘Sneaky’ Pete can’t believe I teach biology, because both things are at different ends of the spectrum and are very stereotyped. I guess I’m not that normal.” “Booger on My Beer Mug” is Riz zo’s third song to make the Dr. De mento show,which gets a large part of its material from songs in by lis teners and fans. , Rizzo is definitely a listener, espe cially since “Booger” first received airplay in November. “As far as I know, the song has been played seven times on the show,” Rizzo says. “And four of those times, it has been in the ‘Funny Five’ .” And how does it feel to have the nation’s wackiest song? “I feel very lucky — Dr. Demento gets hundreds of tapes a week,” Rizzo says. “It’s a great distinction just to get a song on the show, not to mention having one go to number one.” Rizzo describes “Booger on My Beer Mug” as a “delightfully disgus ting” song. The “Booger” chorus best explains Rizzo’s desription: “Who put the booger on my beer mug/When I was dancing with my tushka/Who put the booger on my beer mug/I’m gonna knock ’em in the head.” Although it really doesn’t come through in the song, Rizzo says the song is set at a Polish wedding. And if a song about a booger on a beer mug at a Polish wedding isn’t bizarre enough, perhaps Rizzo’s inspiration for the song is. — Dr. Pete Rizzo, a.k.a. “Sneaky” Pete nally completed it, although he used its melody for breaks during his show. He got the urge to write lyrics for it one afternoon while standing in line to get Aggie football tickets. “I was standing in line and think ing about all the drinking and driv ing that goes on with students at that time of year, and somehow com bined those thoughts with the mel ody I already had,” Rizzo says. The resulting piece is a more se rious song called “Death on the Highway,” which Rizzo hopes to talk local radio stations into playing dur ing holiday times. an English parody of “La Bamba” that was sent to Dr. Demento. She also sings on “Booger on My Beer Mug.” Before “Booger’ Because of “Booger” Whatever becomes of his national exposure and success, Rizzo says, he is happy with his dual role as biology professor and researcher (he investi gates chromosomal proteins). He says he tries to separate him self from his “Sneaky” Pete persona by telling students in his cell biology class that “Sneaky” is his twin brother. Booger on My Beer Mug” is his biggest hit so far, R(zzo sa,yS h^ pre fers his second D^. Demento hit, “Wakin’ Up Is Hard to Do,” which also has been played on local morn ing radio shows. The song is a sendup of the old Neil Sedaka song “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,” and features Rizzo’s son Grant, who has a small vocal part. Rizzo’s first Demento hit was a song called “Rhinestones and Polar Bears,” which Rizzo describes as a “We are as different as two people can be,” he jokes. Rizzo s<}ys that several students go through the semester believing his fib. “People are surprised both ways when they find out about one or the other aspects of my personality,” Rizzo says. “Those who know me as a profes sor can’t believe I play rock and roll, and those who know me as “Sneaky” Pete can’t believe I teach biology, be cause both things are at different ends of the spectrum and are very “Sneaky” Pete Rizzo jams on guitar band, the Neon Madmen, entertain as he and his the crowd at Photo by Steven At. Nortjk Waivers Friday night. Rizzo is a part-time musi| cian and an A&M cell biology professor. pose doesn wife, t stereotyped. “I guess I’m not that normal,” Rizzo says. Regardless of which mode he is in, Rizzo says he is happy with both his jobs. But there really are three, if you count his zany solo work separate from his more structured work with the Neon Madmen. “Playing one time a week solo and several times per month with the band is about all I can handle,”! says. “Any more and it wouldKt»| be like work, and I do this maimyf enjoyment. “When it gets to be like work I will be time to quit.” teresti tionall mid-li ‘Me and My Girl’ revives charming love story By MARY-LYNNE RICE Of The Battalion Staff Photo by Steven M. Noreyko The Duchess of Dene (Karlah Hamilton) looks away as Bill Snibson (Adam Graham) fakes suicide because she won’t let him marry his “girl.” OPAS presented the musical “Me and My Girl” Friday night in Rudder Auditorium. In a clash between English gentry and London Cockney, New York’s Music Theater Group gave a daz zling presentation of the hit Broad way musical “Me and My Girl.” Texas A&M’s Opera and Per forming Arts Society brought the re vived 1930s show to Rudder Audito rium Friday night.. The Tony award-winning pro duction, with music by Noel Gay and choreography by Dan Mojica, was written by L. Arthur Rose and Douglas Furber and directed by Joe Leonardo. “Me and My Girl,” a love story, parodies the pretentions of British nobility. Bill Snibson (Adam Gra ham), a witty, boisterous Cockney from the Lambeth section of Lon don, turns up as heir to the centu ries-old Earldom of Hareford. The ever-so-proper Hareford clan is mortified by Bill’s back ground and accompanying social im proprieties. Yet the family name must be sus tained at all costs, and Maria, Du chess of Dene (Karlah Hamilton) vows to mold Bill into a eminently suitable earl. Meanwhile, Lady Jacqueline (Ra chel Kasper), a slinky, blond vamp unwillingly engaged to the insipid, debt-ridden Gerald Bolingbroke (Eric Hoit), crafts her own plan to tempt the new earl into marrying her. Bill, however, remains impervious to the family’s efforts. Every lesson in gentility becomes a farce, and ev ery seductive advance by Lady Jac queline is definitively rebuffed. After another unsuccessful at tempt to entice Bill, Lady Jacqueline announces, “I am not to be cast aside lightly!” “No,” Bill agrees, “you should be thrown with great force.” Although Bill shoots off the best of the musical’s one-liners, the entire cast’s dialogue is sprinkled liberally with jokes, double entendres and general hilarity. But Bill’s good humor disguises his discontent as he struggles with the restrictions and obligations heaped upon him. Only one thing saves Bill from crumbling under the pressures of noblesse oblige — his relationship with his girl, Sally (Evy O’Rourke), another Lambeth Cock ney. Together, they revel in Bill’s good fortune, planning the life they will share as earl and “earless.” They dis cuss their grand plans to convert the palatial Hareford estate into a real Cockney home, including installing linoleum and ditching the old por traits an suits of armor. For a while, the family sadly toler ates his devotion to Sally and his vis its to her at the Lambeth pub. Un wittingly, Bill slowly decimates Hereford tradition with his continu ing faux pas. Soon enough, however, Maria de mands that he find a “proper” lady. The provisions of the will forbid the new earl from marrying anyone from a class beneath him. Bill refuses to abandon Sally, but she is reluctant to stand in the way of his inheritance. She advises him to forget her and marry a woman with “good blood.” Bill protests, “What are you, anemic?” Nevertheless, Sally disappears without a word to Bill. Desperate to find her, Bill dispatches dozens of detectives to track her down, but to no avail. But Sally has been aided in her departure. In an unabashed refer ence to the musical “My Fair Lady,” Sally is sent for lessons in proper speech, manners and dress by Sir John (Allen Karpe), a sympathetic member of the Hareford clan. Sir John is inspired by the love Bill and Sally share, and he conspires to preserve their relationship despite Maria’s disapproval. Sally makes her debut as a proper gentlewoman at a party given in Bill’s honor just as Bill is about to leave the Hareford mannor to search for her. Dressed in a tiara and a white satin gown, Sally charms the crowd, revealing her new image to a stunned, ecstatic Bill. He can only See ‘My Girl’/Page 5 namec ‘Driving Miss Daisy ’ has rare simple charm ‘the bi ByTODD STONE Of The Battalion Staff “Driving Miss Daisy” is a won derful film able to charm even the most die-hard “Friday the 13th”fan. “Miss Daisy” is the kind of movie that takes the fear out of guessing which new film has a chance of being entertaining. Fear not, fellow moviegoers, this movie is a gem — guaranteed to be worthy of the second mort gage needed to afford today’s movie ticket prices. Jessica Tandy (“Cocoon,” “Bat teries Not Included”) stars as Miss Daisy, a wealthy Jewish south erner who can no longer drive herself safely around town. When she cannot even get the car out of the garage, it becomes apparent that something must change. DRIVING MISS DAISY Starring Morgan Freeman and Jessica Tandy Directed by Bruce Beresford Rated PG Cregoi Miss Daisy’s son, played by Dan Aykroyd, hires a chauffeur, Hoke, to drive for his mother. Hoke, played by Morgan Free man, is a simple but delightful older black man with a contagious charm. Miss Daisy has no interest in having a driver and seems im mune to Hoke’s charm. Fiercely independent, she resents the fact that she needs Hoke at all. The interplay between Hoke and Daisy is acting at its finest. Daisy is strong-willed, quick witted and initially spiteful. Still, Daisy’s stiff, lady-like pretentions have a certain sweetness. Jason himself would drop his machete for afternoon tea with Miss Daisy. The contrast of Daisy’s prim- and-proper mannerisms and Hoke’s country charm is delight ful. A friendship develops in spite of their different social, economi cal, educational and racial back grounds. The friendship seems natural, not forced by overzea- lous screenwriters, and continues for more than 15 years. The filmmakers bring up the racial difference between Daisy and Hoke, but they never fully develop the issue. Daisy stereotypes blacks occa sionally and sometimes forgets that Hoke is a friend who de serves her respect. Still, their friendship blossoms from mutual caring, so the racial issue is never compelling. Director Bruce Beresford keeps the spotlight on Freeman and Tandy, with great results. Alfred LIhry, who wrote the play, “Driving Miss Daisy” ,also wrote the screenplay. Uhry devel ops a unique depth in the charac ters of Daisy and Hoke. They also exchange amusing dialogues that are quick, clever and fun. The supporting cast also was first-rate. Aykroyd gave a solid performance as Daisy’s son. He spoke with a good southern ac cent and mixed well with Free man and Tandy. Esther Rollewas a pleasant surprise as Daisy's maid, and her character and per formance were worthy of more screen time. Freeman and Tandy deserve Oscar considerations for their performances, which were bol stered by an engaging on-screen chemistry. Furthermore, few sig nificant outside forces acted on Hoke and Daisy, so Freeman and Tandy’s performances had to carry the film. If you need a tug at the heart, this film will deliver. With the heartwarming and touching performances by Tandy and Freeman, “Driving Miss Dai sy” is simply a joy to see.