March 4th, 2009 9:44am
Better Late Than Never
Chaz Jankel “Get Yourself Together (Hercules & Love Affair Hercbump Mix)”
I’m not sure if “Get Yourself Together” is the right title for this song. That phrase implies that the singer is issuing some sort of ultimatum, whereas the actual sentiment of his words is a lot more passive, even when his language comes across as a demand. Basically, Chaz Jankel is singing about not understanding his lover, and the confusion that comes from not being able to anticipate — much less comprehend — their mood swings. In some cases, this is a surefire sign of a self-absorbed person who can’t handle the inconvenience of other people’s emotions, but in the context of Jankel’s sweet falsetto and Andrew Butler’s lush yet subtly anxious disco arrangement, it’s easy to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he’s genuinely trying to please and understand the person he is addressing.
Buy it from Juno
3/4/09 2:14 pm
“Careful” is actually my favorite Wu-Tang video. I think what it lacks conceptually and creatively is made up for with Joseph Khan’s great cinematography, direction, and lighting. I think it’s a simple yet aesthetically effective way of conveying an idea, which is actually why I also like Capone N Noreaga’s new video for “Rotate”, although I’m sure they took that approach due to financial limitations rather than creative vision. However, the whole idea of “Careful” along with “Gravel Pit” and “Protect Ya Neck” comprising a short film is wack and poorly thought out. Yes, I am also aware that the video was never officially released due to quality concerns and then deceptively masked under the “MTV banned it” defense, even though I think they would have banned it anyway. SMH at Method Man for refusing to participate in this video due to its gratuitous violence yet promoting blatant misogyny in the “Gravel Pit” video.
I also think The Hidden Chambers compilation is great, but in my opinion no collection of Wu-Tang rarities is complete without RZA and GZA’s “Third World” from the Soul Assassins Ch.1 album:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDsy2IGiviw
3/4/09 3:37 pm
See, I thought the Jankel track was called “Get Myself Together”—that’s what he’s singing, after all…
Hm. Let Google decide.
5,290 hits for “chaz jankel”+”get myself together”
1,060 hits for “chaz jankel”+”get yourself together”
Looks like the intarwubs are just as confused as I am.
3/4/09 5:34 pm
The record sleeves all say “Get Yourself Together”!
3/4/09 10:41 pm
So they do—even the so-called “original album version” included on the 12″. And yet it appears on the tracklisting of the album My Occupation as “Myself”. Very odd.
Great song, no matter what you call it and how it’s mixed.
3/5/09 12:06 am
Is “Hercbump” a verb or an adjective? I’m enchanted by it.