It’s true, friends know it: While making weekend plans we did almost forget Sunday was the Super Bowl. But then we thought about Tom Petty, like ya do, and it all came back. The New Republic‘s been doing a little of the same, and has used Tom’s big halftime performance as an opportunity for some Carl Wilson-like analysis into the source of the Petty appeal. First sentence:
I have always been a bit embarrassed by my weakness for Tom Petty.
Wait, why? It’s not like you’re talking about Celine Dion. The Justice Scalia-referencing essay (this is The New Republic, mind) doesn’t really say; it’s too busy defending his “playful, only distantly somber, rock ‘n’ roll.” From whom? We’re thinking most of this self-ascribed shame probably comes from this bombshell revelation:
Petty has never, except perhaps briefly in the late seventies, been cool.
Silly New Republic hipster. You have years of unnecessary guilt to let go of. It’s okay. You don’t have to live like a refugee.
Now, for us to make asses of ourselves. Here’s your Super Bowl prediction, from a bunch of NY-born (Scott, Amrit, Jim) sports ignoramuses: Giants 28, Patriots 17. Even if you don’t want it to be that way, necessarily: Isn’t Tom Brady’s life already sweet enough? We’ll never forget a friend’s comment as we watched a sideline closeup of Brady’s beautiful mug with just seconds left in the Pats Super Bowl victory over the Eagles: “Yo spread the love, god.” And that was before Giselle.
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I see your Tom Petty anti-hipsterism defense and raise you Celine Dion > Tom Petty. Although saying “Celine Dion > Tom Petty” seems like a hipster tokenistic defense mechanism. I guess me and New Republic guy aren’t so different after all (besides the fact that I don’t write for the New Republic, amongst other things).
And here I thought Tom Petty was always cool.
i can’t believe anyone would actually defend tom petty. what horrible pap.
I always imagined Tom Petty was the only artist almost everyone could look up to. George Harrison and Bob Dylan like him that’s good enough for me.
I can’t believe anyone other than Plaxico Burres thinks that the Patriots are only going to score 17 points when they haven’t scored less than 20 all season. If I were putting money on the Super Bowl I’d take the Pats. Since I’m not, I’m saying the Giants will take this 30-24.
Oh, wait…are we allowed to talk sports? If not, I hope Tom Petty plays American Girl. It’s still one of my favorite intros to a Strokes song (where do those boys come up with it).
tom petty rules. sure, not the deepest songwriter out there. but still wrote some really nice tunes.
Horrible horible pop star
It’s okay to like Tom Petty, guys. Bonnaroo gave us the go-ahead back in 2006.
Tom Petty has always been a little more than -just been there!! He’s been on The Simpson’s-is that still cool?
Whether or not Tom Petty is cool or not is meaningless real question is: who is going to be hot on Suday? I am hoping it’s not the Patriots.
Be hard pressed to find someone outside of Neil Young and Bob Dylan who could make an album as good as Wildflowers 20+ years into their career.
Tom Petty is pretty awesome. Even though he is not an artist that I jam to everyday, to put him down in any way shows a complete ignorance for rock-n-roll history.
Tom petty is a loser! I read somewhere he cancelled scalpers tickets so he can rescalp it on fanclub site that was owned or run by Pearl Jam! *LMAO*
1. tom petty is awesome. fought the giant major’s his whole career. also wrote some pretty sweet tunes.
2. the giants could play the best game of their lives, and still lose to the patriots
Tom Petty is above cool. The NR dude’s statement is utterly ridiculous. WILDFLOWERS = PURE EXCELLENCE.
Yeah, that writer has definitely got a case of overly perceived hipness. Try to withdraw that out of your system and realize that Petty has written good rock/pop music over the last couple of decades. “American Girl”, “The Wait”, “Don’t Come Around Here No More”, “Refugee”… c’mon, those songs beat most if not all rock acts these days for their greatness.
If it’s cool to disregard talented, credible musicians then hey, have a good time with that image.
Even thinking of lumping Tom Petty into a group of which you’d consider yourself a “closet listener” is insane. He’s a legendary artist who, as has been pointed out, is well-respected by his (notable) peers and is popular with fans.
Whatever, man. Petty has always sounded good. There are certainly worse artists to rail against.
Did you catch Jordin Sparks (sp?) lipsynching the National Anthem? C’Mon! What the hell was that about?
Yo,
On a different superbowl/indie note, did anyone else catch the “No Cars Go” clip used as a commercial outro/game intro?
(I never saw Win Butler as a Superbowl supporter, but who knows and that has to be a ton of money, which brings me back to that Of Montreal sellout debate)
Ahah, I definitely noticed the tiny clip of Arcade Fire…but as for the original debate: Tom Petty is great! I don’t believe in guilty pleasures..you like what you like, that’s really it.
17-14!
why are you douches reading the new republic anyway?
I told you the Giants would win
i really think that before anyone comments on this write up they should first read the article published ( which i feel is a piece done out of a great deal of respect and admiration towards petty). It seems that most of this area of the “blogosphere” chops the author’s words down before giving them a right to blossom.
the giants defense > tom petty halftime show.
plus, there’s that fucking amazing play by eli and tyree… best this century.
With the exception of the ‘uncool’ remark, Jacob Rubin’s Tom Petty review was pretty good. Tom will always be cool in my book – what’s not to like?
Here are some high quality videos of the half-time show via RedLasso:
http://www.redlasso.com/ClipPlayer.aspx?id=541912fa-43f8-47e0-b266-75f8ed5dcead
tom petty halftime show was alright. prince halftime show, was way better.
I bet the giants are going to win!!!!!1
I’ll admit it. Tom Petty was my favorite Wilbury.