29x the Fun/Pain

I have been asked a good few times what my internet nickname means. Well it is more a homage to one of my most favourite songs in the world. The classic 29x the Pain by The Wildhearts. The song was written and recorded as a quick B Side to the Suckerpunch single in 1994 and released to help promote the band headline the second stage of Donington.

A very simple song and easy to play is certainly not a technical highlight by the band but it does have one great thing and that is lyrics. It was written by a man who is a huge music fan and loves many diverse and exiting bands. Nearly all of the lines have one or more references to another band or artist. The song name in its self is derived from Hüsker Dü's song "59 Times the Pain".

The 29 part is a funny one but it has been explained by the song writer Ginger as the 29^th Wildhearts song and he wrote it when he was 29.

The song was only ever put out on a B Side and is pretty much the most popular song the band play live. A re-recording was made in 1996 with a guitar into added and a reference to Richie Edwards replacing Kurt Cobain.

The single made it to 38 in the UK charts a then fell out of the uk top 100 the next week but it will always be a great song and one that many people love.

The song has a rather odd outro in the form of a mini rap called the "Duck Song". To this day when the band play the song live the audience finish the rest of the tune by singing the "Duck Song".

 

Be kind to your web-footed friends

'cause that duck might be somebody's mommy

They live in the rivers and swamps

Where the weather is always damp

Well you may think that this is the end

Well it is

 

29 has also been a bit of a lucky number for me as one time when I was a student I was down to my last £10. I was in the casino and placed it on 29 Black and won.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HfIQnDDL8o

 

29 x the Pain

 

Here, sitting in my room,

With the Replacements and Husker Du

Like a rebel without a clue

And the Beatles and the Stones

Get to hang out with Ramones

And the Pistols shot in fame

As they sing the old refrain

Like they always will again

Like 29 times the pain

 

I see Starz

And the moon is Big and Black

It's a full sheer heart attack

And the Cheapest Trick of all

Is when I here that London Call

I need something and I need it fast

I need Jason scorching past

I need to know they feel the same

Cos when they almost know my name

It's like 29 times the pain

Times the pain

And it all ends up the same

 

Kiss my Heart

Never felt that from the start

Come on make me feel like me

SLF and BOC

Give me old, give me new,

Let me know you feel it too

To the sound of Twisted Girls

There's a brave new world oh

How, how can I get down?

When I've got all my friends around

I want to be here once again

I'm gonna miss Kurt Cobain

Like 29 times the Pain