[Aaron Novick]

this thread is your chance to convince me it's not Danny Brown's "octopus in a straightjacket"; best of luck my friends

https://youtu.be/EnfPzODj1kI?t=66

[John Isbell]

I think my favorite Arctic Monkeys title is "perhaps vampires is a bit strong but...": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjzOUf0AEiQ
A great song. This I don't think matches octopus in a straitjacket, which is indeed splendid IMO.

On the other hand. It's not my favorite Amy Winehouse song, but I think my favorite image of hers is in "Some Unholy War": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAD0WNBTA0Y
Now this song opens,

If my man was fighting
Some unholy war
I would be behind him ...

which I think is pretty damn cool.

Cheers,
John

[John Isbell]

Hi Aaron,

So ... are you convinced or not? You seem to have abdicated here!

Cheers,
John

[Aaron Novick]

The Winehouse is a nice sentiment, but "octopus in a straightjacket" is raw power.

The straightjacket gives you constraint; that it's an octopus, with its eight arms, shows you viscerally just how much potential is being inhibited. Plus, the image is just straight up hilarious.

This last point is important, because the whole song is about Brown using his pain for others' entertainment. This is clear from the official video for the song (which I didn't post initially because the verse with the image in question is cut in the video). So "octopus in a straightjacket" is basically the entire song in miniature. Incredibly powerful four words. The Winehouse doesn't come close.

[John Isbell]

Yes, you make a fine argument for octopus in a straitjacket. But I've never seen a partner assume her beloved might be "fighting some unholy war," as say the fallen angels did, and announce her allegiance to it. Winehouse was dead at 27 and the image to my mind goes some way to illustrating how she viewed her notoriously toxic relationship. I think it's more powerful than you've yet given it credit for.

Cheers,
John

[Mark McDonnell]

It's a bit Captain Beefheart, isn't it?

"A squid eating dough in a polyethylene bag is fast and bulbous."

Great tune though!

[Aaron Novick]

I had intended to post the video, but forgot. It's very good: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7L4JnAuW00k