NationStates Jolt Archive

So, let's say you're listening to the radio, doing whatever it is that you do, and suddenly you hear Voodoo Child by the Rogue Traders, fresh off their album Here Come the Drums. Your first thought might be "I like the beat," it might be "I don't think the vocals work," or something along similar lines, since you're listening to music and it's only logical that you think about the song that's currently playing. My first thought is a tad more idiosyncratic: The end of the world.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/80/The_Sound_of_Drums.jpg

For it is to the pounding theme of Voodoo Child that the Master, freshly elected as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, unleashes the Toclafane upon an unsuspecting human race, decimating the planet in true Roman fashion.

For those who haven't figured it out, I am referring to the epic climax of The Sound of Drums, the penultimate episode of the third season of the revived Doctor Who in which, in what I feel was an act of true genius, the monstrous villain unleashes his villainous army to the fast-paced tempo of good old British tunes (Villains are always so fond of classical, and believe me there's nothing wrong with a little Brahms or Chopin, but they always neglect some of the more recent classics. I'm still waiting for Zeppelin to play behind a Bond villain).

Now, you may ask yourself, why am I writing a post about last seasons Doctor Who? Well, I'll tell you....I haven't a clue. Really, I've got no point to make or issue to debate, I just felt like taking about Doctor Who and, since this episode aired on BBCAmerica earlier tonight, it seemed the logical place to start. It's just that, when you go to school in Suburban/Rural Pennsylvania, you don't get much Whoniverse outside of BBCAmerica reruns (Although the new season does begin airing on Sci-Fi next week). Even my Hebrew teacher, who's actually from England, doesn't give me a whole lot of Who-gossip. So, I came to NS, where I figure there's got to be at lease a few Who-ies (From that same Hebrew teacher, a portmanteau of "Who" and "Trekkie").

So, how 'bout that Doctor? Pretty kick-ass, eh?

There's only one Voodoo Child:

http://www.myclassiclyrics.com/artist_biographies/jimi_hendrix_biography.jpg

To be technical, and according to Wiki (Which we all know is never at fault), that's actually Voodoo Child (Slight Return) (Note the parenthesis).

Don't feel bad, I made that same mistake the first time I read the song credits for the episode.

To be technical, and according to Wiki (Which we all know is never at fault), that's actually Voodoo Child (Slight Return) (Note the parenthesis).

Don't feel bad, I made that same mistake the first time I read the song credits for the episode.

Actually, there are two versions; Voodoo Child(slight return) and Voodoo Chile. *nod*

Edit: Some albums leave out the (slight return) also.

Ooooh, sorry again, but Voodoo Child (Slight Return) and Voodoo Chile are acually two distinct songs, albeit appearing on the same album and with the latter serving as the genesis for the former. Don't worry, that one gets an awful lot of people, too.

Ooooh, sorry again, but Voodoo Child (Slight Return) and Voodoo Chile are acually two distinct songs, albeit appearing on the same album. Don't worry, that one gets an awful lot of people, too.

I just said that, and distinct is hardly the word I'd use since they have nearly identical choruses: "'Cause I'm a Voodoo Child! Lord Knows, I'm a Voodoo Child!"

Also, please don't condescent to me: I own every Jimi Hendrix song ever released. He's my muse.

Hey, I will damn well condescend to whoever I please, I have illegally downloaded those same five songs that everybody else has, and looked at his Wikipedia article, so I know what I'm talking about!

Hey, I will damn well condescend to whoever I please, I have illegally downloaded those same five songs that everybody else has, and looked at his Wikipedia article, so I know what I'm talking about!

Ah, well then carry on.

And to think that I was just about to release the scrotum-seeking attack weasels. :p

Just as long as we're all clear on who's who and...and...wait, how the bloody hell did we get here? I wanted to talk about the Doctor, not Hendrix! Damn you Jimmy, you always steal his thunder!

Oh, who am I kidding, I can't say mad at you. Could anyone?

Wait, who lives in PA?

Uh....Frank? I think he lives somehwere in PA. Does he count?

Uh....Frank? I think he lives somehwere in PA. Does he count?

Which Frank? Come on man!

I dunno, I'm sure there are plenty of Franks in PA. It's a relatively common name.

I dunno, I'm sure there are plenty of Franks in PA. It's a relatively common name.

So where are you? And is Dr. Who really worth watching?

There's only one Voodoo Child:

http://www.myclassiclyrics.com/artist_biographies/jimi_hendrix_biography.jpg

This man is correct.

Well, personally, I'm at a certain point in space somewhere east of Oregon and west of Vermont; to get more specific than that would simply not fit with my pattern of internet paranoia.

But yes, Doctor Who most certainly is worth watching. In a span of three episodes you go from a 21'st century hospital abducted to the moon to a visit to Shakespeare and (believe it or not) an episode that is actually the main characters stuck in traffic. It's certainly not hard science fiction, I mean it actually makes about as much sense as an episode of Star Trek (And those who know me know how much I absolutely hate, loathe, and in all ways abhor the science of Star Trek), but it's whacky fun that does travel the whole of time and space and bring you along for the time of your life.

For those who don't know, Doctor Who revolves around the character of "the Doctor" (His name is never, was never, and will never be revealed) a Time Lord of the planet Gallifrey. Though each episode inevitably draws him into some from of nefarious plot, usually aimed at the destruction of humanity in some way, shape, or form, all that he truly wants to do is see the universe and experience the wonders of what's out there. He usually has a "companion" that travels with him, often a "normal" person of today to give the audience somebody to relate to, and they embark on fantastic adventures together. It began airing in the '60's (Yes, over 40 years ago) and was on the air continuously until 1989. It went on "hiatus" until 1996 with a TV movie, and in 2005 came back to regular seasonal airings.

It's often described as a cult show, but that never quite made sense to me since, for example, last year an episode was the second most watched program in all of Britain for the whole of 2007 (Not exactly what qualifies for "cult" status in my book). It's not always a message show, not "look, here's a moral to take from this episode," but it does try to work positive thoughts into the series and never does tire of slamming the "potential" of humanity down our throats.

I think that's a relatively nice summary, and if not, tough, since it's 1 a.m. here and I get grouchy when I'm counting down the time until new Who episodes (FYI: The next new episode begins with, get this, the TARDIS, the Doctors' time/space ship, crashing into the Titanic).

Here Come the Drums! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNV2EEz_DUA)

A BUMP by any other name....

I've been a Dr Who fan since I was a kid - great stuff.
Minor quibbles about story continuity aside, I really like the new series.

Definitely happy that the newest companion is NOT a romantic interest. I was always appalled by their attempt to sex it up by having that tension between the Doctor and his companion. The Doctor had always been, and should always be, more of the affable old uncle, not some stupid tragic lovers story. Sex between the companions, that is all good, but the Doctor is 900 years old - that kind of age difference gets a bit creepy (even if he doesn't look old, just think about the differences in maturity and life experiences).

Fantastic to see that it is so incredibly popular that it now has two spinoff series: Torchwood and the Sarah Jane adventures. Torchwood season 2 was even better than the first, and I am looking forward to watching Sarah Jane when I get a chance.

I could have thought of loads of songs that would be better than that monstrosity.
still Dr who is okay despite that, i like the random alien plots they use. I don't get why the doctor has a different female friend for most of the series but meh that's just a wee quibble.

Oya, one of my biggest complaints was the constant "Oh, we're not a couple, we just have loads of tension and gaze longingly at one another" that went on between the Doctor and Rose. Sure, it was kinda funny for a bit (Henry Van Statten got a few good chnuckles out of it), but it got old real fast and still hasn't gone away. The tension with Jack was at least treated with the comedy that any relationship with the Doctor deserves, rather than becoming a Soap-in-Space.

Oh, and the Sarah Jane Adventures are now airing in the US on Sci-Fi, the first episode premiered last Friday (4/11).