Now I wonder whether that are the actual lyrics of Breeze of Changes by Spiders in the Tackelfordverse, or if these two just spent so much time perfecting the whistling that they neglected paying attention to the words.
The original version of this page featured the actual words and a rendition of the correct notation for the whistling. Then a close friend reminded me that this was a good chance to get another cease and desist. So I amended, and I prefer the new version.
When I was somewhere bigger than tyke and lesser than sir, we were subjected to a propaganda film in the gym-auditorium (I suspect this was my middle school;) It contained some very strong imagery that I don’t really remember (nothing graphic) and two songs: Van Halen’s “Right Now” and The Scorpions’ “Winds of Change”. Both songs are bangers but are rather corrupted in my memory by their role as crass propaganda.
It’s been whispered for years in conspiracy circles that “Winds of Change” was provided, fully written, to the Scorpions by the CIA.
The rise of abstract and pop art in the 1960s has also been ascribed to them, as a counter to Soviet claims that the United States had produced no original art movements.
Oh they definitely funded and promoted pomo art. Winds of change wouldn’t have surprised me. After all, they wrote MLK’s speeches too, there’s some similar “committee vibes” to them, especially given some of the words in the song, that no audience would have known.
The idea that this is absurd because the FBI in particular had it in for MLK should bring your mind back to the 00’s where reporters breathlessly related that Pentagon-funded militias were fighting CIA-funded militias in Syria. As concerns the relation wrt to civil rights leaders and the USG, Malcolm X is probably closest to the truth, to wit, that they were used as tools to promote their own (The USG’s) social agenda at the expense of the civil rights leaders. MLK is just the most prominent figure in this regard. The man was handled by the CIA, that the FBI was trying to bring him down is, rather than unbelievable, laughably American.
I think some people take this accusation too far and claim they ‘invented’ abstract impressionism, which is false. It was simply funded in response to socialist realism to celebrate / promote ideals of individualism vs “collectivism”, a common postwar American obsession, which further should hardly be considered to be completely sincere. The CIA (esp through the now notorious USAID) funded a lot of out-of-pocket things that did irreparable damage to the world.
Nah. Teenie Briars and Donnie the Dog will suddenly appear out of nowhere and snatch the victory. That’s why, a few years later, Lottie will be so determined not to let them beat her again. https://badmachinery.com/comic/2023-03-22/ (Rereading those pages makes me really sad that all the comments are gone. We- the readers- had a lot of fun with those pages, as I recall.)
MoAr competitions? Future talent competition?
What might their masks be?
I can think of quite a few for each, but will never tread on the writer’s lines.
There is a song that is very well known to my family (and the very lucky people who visited my home when I was about 5 and were treated to a very special performance) only, called “By the Waters of Bartehain”. My sister also had an excellent song called “Gloucester Old Spots in the Navy” which was inspired by the Muppets and a book about farmyard animals. Good times.
Karl, I have been singing “down to Ponky Ponk” since 1991. It’s a 34-yearworm. But I feel that my days of creating successful, popular merch ideas are now closer to 1991 than they are to 2025.
Isn’t there anything they can’t do?
Damn you!
I had to go and look up The Scorpions’ original lyrics after reading that
And now it’s an earworm I won’t be able to shake until I listen to it through until the end
Now I wonder whether that are the actual lyrics of Breeze of Changes by Spiders in the Tackelfordverse, or if these two just spent so much time perfecting the whistling that they neglected paying attention to the words.
The Karaoke screen in panel 4 suggests they’re the official words. La!
Neglected? No. They made the words BETTTER.
The original version of this page featured the actual words and a rendition of the correct notation for the whistling. Then a close friend reminded me that this was a good chance to get another cease and desist. So I amended, and I prefer the new version.
And I enjoy the new lyrics you come up with for songs, such as in “Dancing in the Night” and “Time to Be Holding Your Hand.”
Ah, yes, good old Ponky Ponk, located in the city of Mossy Cow.
Dedicated readers will remember that the song Winds of Change by The Scorpions was also referenced in the criminally underrated Wen-Tack
When I was somewhere bigger than tyke and lesser than sir, we were subjected to a propaganda film in the gym-auditorium (I suspect this was my middle school;) It contained some very strong imagery that I don’t really remember (nothing graphic) and two songs: Van Halen’s “Right Now” and The Scorpions’ “Winds of Change”. Both songs are bangers but are rather corrupted in my memory by their role as crass propaganda.
It’s been whispered for years in conspiracy circles that “Winds of Change” was provided, fully written, to the Scorpions by the CIA.
The rise of abstract and pop art in the 1960s has also been ascribed to them, as a counter to Soviet claims that the United States had produced no original art movements.
Oh they definitely funded and promoted pomo art. Winds of change wouldn’t have surprised me. After all, they wrote MLK’s speeches too, there’s some similar “committee vibes” to them, especially given some of the words in the song, that no audience would have known.
I’m sorry — WHAT.
That’s awfully hard to believe, given how heavily the FBI was working to bring Dr. King down (even trying to push him to kill himself).
The idea that this is absurd because the FBI in particular had it in for MLK should bring your mind back to the 00’s where reporters breathlessly related that Pentagon-funded militias were fighting CIA-funded militias in Syria. As concerns the relation wrt to civil rights leaders and the USG, Malcolm X is probably closest to the truth, to wit, that they were used as tools to promote their own (The USG’s) social agenda at the expense of the civil rights leaders. MLK is just the most prominent figure in this regard. The man was handled by the CIA, that the FBI was trying to bring him down is, rather than unbelievable, laughably American.
Has that conspiracy theory grown past the kinda-defensible accusation of involvement with Abstract Expressionism’s success? I hadn’t heard.
For those that doubt: it wasn’t just painting, and some of it’s solidly on the record! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congress_for_Cultural_Freedom#CIA_involvement_revealed,_1966
And even if it is true, I would would argue that Andy Warhol and the pop artists did that job much more effectively on their own.
I think some people take this accusation too far and claim they ‘invented’ abstract impressionism, which is false. It was simply funded in response to socialist realism to celebrate / promote ideals of individualism vs “collectivism”, a common postwar American obsession, which further should hardly be considered to be completely sincere. The CIA (esp through the now notorious USAID) funded a lot of out-of-pocket things that did irreparable damage to the world.
German power ballads? In this ecenomy?!
It was this, or White Rabbit. I think they chose well, if not wisely.
“Bang!*” by Gorky Park would have seemed crass.
*Say Da-da-da-daa!
I KNEW that was la Caballé!
Looks like we have two winners. Two amazing, incredibly skilled winners.
I’m sure this performance will make Beate love them even more
Yep. This will absolutely not make her more and more invidious and full of hate.
“Invidious” is a paronym of “envious”, but it properly means “*provoking* envy”.
Nah. Teenie Briars and Donnie the Dog will suddenly appear out of nowhere and snatch the victory. That’s why, a few years later, Lottie will be so determined not to let them beat her again. https://badmachinery.com/comic/2023-03-22/ (Rereading those pages makes me really sad that all the comments are gone. We- the readers- had a lot of fun with those pages, as I recall.)
That could explain what she said. Maybe not Donnie but a majestic San Bernardo. It’s really sad to know all our comments are gone.
well thank you for that rabbit hole, ALARIC SHAPLI
The pixellated backdrop is a little visual nod to the prior (future) talent competition.
MoAr competitions? Future talent competition?
What might their masks be?
I can think of quite a few for each, but will never tread on the writer’s lines.
Henry Hoover: suction!
There is a song that is very well known to my family (and the very lucky people who visited my home when I was about 5 and were treated to a very special performance) only, called “By the Waters of Bartehain”. My sister also had an excellent song called “Gloucester Old Spots in the Navy” which was inspired by the Muppets and a book about farmyard animals. Good times.
This may well be your finest hour.
Lottie trying for a last-minute change to hemline length (motion denied by Claire) before they take the stage?
IIRC they are working out some choreography.
Lottie’s knees are far too ribald for public view.
“Ribald” hhrrmm.
“You use that word a lot*. I do not think it means what you think it means.”
*once
She is flashing her garter.
Totally old school.
No dog-dirt songs to be found here
Oh you two unbelievable queens!!
I guess they decided not to name themselves “Schengen”
https://crooked.com/podcast-series/wind-of-change/
My absolute favorite Freddie Mercury performance! He really could do it all, and was taken from us far too soon.
Terrific page!
What a TUUUUUNNNNNNEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They could have tried the Russian language version for added points.
The breeze of changes blows in a circular storm around the eye of the Tackle-verse.
I’m here to report that I’m still thinking about the phrase “down to Ponky Ponk” 24 hours later. Maybe time for merch, John?
Karl, I have been singing “down to Ponky Ponk” since 1991. It’s a 34-yearworm. But I feel that my days of creating successful, popular merch ideas are now closer to 1991 than they are to 2025.
No one wears t-shirts anymore!
Books not boys : best t-shirt
Cooks not toys : best apron