SoTD: Phish “Funky Bitch”

I felt the urge to throw a little Phish out there for today’s SoTD, and I tried to find a song that people who aren’t Phish fans might actually take the time to listen to. I settled on Funky Bitch, which is a cover of a Son Seals song and one of my very favorite Phish covers. It’s kind of funny how many people just roll their eyes at the mention of this band. I had a friend whose mother absolutely despised Phish and would make a big show of her disgust any time he played it in her presence. I once asked her what she found so offensive about the band, and her response was “they just play too many notes, there’s just way too much music.” I was too dumbfounded by the concept of a song containing too much music to even formulate a reply.

I guess that was her way of confirming that the average person simply wants 3 tidy minutes consisting of a few trite verses and an oft-repeated chorus. Maybe people are way too easily bored to be bothered to take in a full 20+ minutes of a live version of You Enjoy Myself or The Divided Sky. Rather than get invested in a piece of music that ebbs and flows, they’d prefer to consume the audial equivalent of a McDonald’s value meal; quick, convenient, devoid of craftsmanship and exactly the same as every one that came before it. I guess this is why Katy Perry and John Mayer have more money than talent and so many talented musicians have to scramble to scare up two nickels to rub together.

Anyway, if you can handle your ears being assaulted by actual musicianship (well, Mike’s vocals aside), then I hope you enjoy today’s song.