most incongruous background music in a restaurant

mongo_jones · December 2, 2003

recently at a thai restaurant in boulder: all of the first velvet underground album. i didn't object of course: nothing quite takes the anguish out of eating an overly sweet pa-nang curry than "venus in furs" playing in the background.

i instituted inquiries: turns out the young college student staff take turns putting on cds of their choice. in case you're wondering, no we didn't make it all the way till "the black angel's death song". a group of guests finally objected and the velvets made way for the dave mathews band. such is life under late capitalism.

tommy · December 2, 2003

the theme to the Price is Right at a less-than-decent restaurant in Venice not too long ago.

mongo_jones · December 2, 2003

the theme to the Price is Right at a less-than-decent restaurant in Venice not too long ago.

now, that's global kitsch for you. almost as bad as venetian gondolier songs in a restaurant in the u.s.

Fat Guy · December 2, 2003

That reminds me of how in Demolition Man the popular songs of the future are 20th Century commercial jingles.

We've been running this site for well over 2 years, and I marvel every day at the ability of eGulleters to come up with brand new topics.

Al_Dente · December 2, 2003

Emerson Lake and Palmer's Brain Salad Surgery at a restaurant in central Turkey.

mongo_jones · December 2, 2003

Emerson Lake and Palmer's Brain Salad Surgery at a restaurant in central Turkey.

now, that's guaranteed indigestion right there.

Al_Dente · December 2, 2003

the theme to the Price is Right at a less-than-decent restaurant in Venice not too long ago.

Il prezzo e buono?

Edited December 2, 2003 by Al_Dente (log)

elyse · December 2, 2003

The burger place at the Parker Meridian. Smashing Pumpkins, followed by sitar music, followed by Johnny Cash, more bizarre stuff that I can't think of.... Really weird mix.

Jason Perlow · December 2, 2003

Some new age song with the sound of the Star Trek transporter effect mixed in at a local Thai restaurant in NJ.

hjshorter · December 2, 2003

Emerson Lake and Palmer's Brain Salad Surgery at a restaurant in central Turkey.

Oh my. :blink: I'd prefer the Velvet Underground.

tommy · December 2, 2003

brain salad surgery was awesome heather. for shame. :angry: :wink:

Edited December 2, 2003 by tommy (log)

Mayhaw Man · December 2, 2003

The burger place at the Parker Meridian. Smashing Pumpkins, followed by sitar music, followed by Johnny Cash, more bizarre stuff that I can't think of.... Really weird mix.

This just goes to show you that weirdness is in the eye of the beholder. I kind of grew up and in live in a musical situation where (to paraphrase Lucinda Williams) at my house playing Charlie Parker, Johnny Cash, Sun Ra, Elvis Costello, and Bing Crosby all in the same mix is considered not only right, but desirable.

elyse · December 2, 2003

The burger place at the Parker Meridian. Smashing Pumpkins, followed by sitar music, followed by Johnny Cash, more bizarre stuff that I can't think of.... Really weird mix.
This just goes to show you that weirdness is in the eye of the beholder. I kind of grew up and in live in a musical situation where (to paraphrase Lucinda Williams) at my house playing Charlie Parker, Johnny Cash, Sun Ra, Elvis Costello, and Bing Crosby all in the same mix is considered not only right, but desirable.

Those are a tad more homogenous than what they were playing at the PM. Wish my memory was better. Maybe someone else from BC will pipe in?

AzRaeL · December 2, 2003

Vietnamese Restaurant in Vancouver only plays hits from the 70s (circa Vietnam War)

mongo_jones · December 2, 2003

well, it isn't just a question of whether the music in question is bizarre or not but of the possible incongruity of it and the setting.

beans · December 3, 2003

This was one of my most favourite Toronto weekend visit memories with my former sister-in-law. We were walking down Younge Street on our way to some club we spotted we'd like to check out (Was it Gotham? I've forgotten) and some 4' 5" grandmotherly woman came popping out of a donut shop swinging her walking cane over our heads cursing and screaming at us "Fucking punk rockers." New Order's Fine Time cd single was recently released and blaring as the door open and shut.

Donuts, New Order and one frightening old woman.

hjshorter · December 3, 2003

brain salad surgery was awesome heather. for shame.

Sorry, I had a roommate with a fatal weakness for British prog rock. I've heard enough ELP, Yes and King Crimson to last me a lifetime. :rolleyes:

Although "Still... You Turn Me On" is a pretty good song. For ELP.

Fresser · December 3, 2003

At Perry's Deli in Chicago, you'll often hear "Shaft" or "Theme from S.W.A.T." over the speakers.

Periodically, Perry will interrupt the music (and the lunch line) to ask trivia questions. The first customer to answer the question correctly gets "a free stale pastry of your choice!"

=Mark · December 3, 2003

This has since been rectified, but when Juanitos, a Tex/Mex place in central NJ first opened they had a CD changer. From what I could gather they were playing 4 discs of Mexican Mariachi music, and... A disc by Enya.

Jason Perlow · December 3, 2003

Vietnamese Restaurant in Vancouver only plays hits from the 70s (circa Vietnam War)

My local Vietnamese place does that too!

Cusina · December 3, 2003

There is a nice white table cloth kind of place in my town that plays what I can only describe as B grade 80s porn soundtrack in the background. Generally, it's low enough not to be heard in the dining room, but it gets louder in the bathroom. Makes me laugh and think of big hair and purple eyeshadow.

Don't even ask how I know what bad 80s porn sounds like. :blink:

jo-mel · December 3, 2003

This was one of my most favourite Toronto weekend visit memories with my former sister-in-law. We were walking down Younge Street on our way to some club we spotted we'd like to check out (Was it Gotham? I've forgotten) and some 4' 5" grandmotherly woman came popping out of a donut shop swinging her walking cane over our heads cursing and screaming at us "Fucking punk rockers." New Order's Fine Time cd single was recently released and blaring as the door open and shut.
Donuts, New Order and one frightening old woman.

Guess that wasn't me. I've never been to Toronto, am 5'8", and don't use a cane ------but it COULD have been me!! LOL!

My peeve is when the music doesn't suit the place. I want Chinese music in Chinese restaurants, and Andrea Bocelli in Italian. In a donut shop? How about nothing? It would distract from the aroma.

FistFullaRoux · December 3, 2003

Not sure if this counts as background music. It was only in the bathrooms. County Line BBQ in Austin, TX plays "Learn to Speak Texan" bits. ie; "Jaeatyet?" "Fixinta" etc. There are a few good ones there.

And I once heard a Muzak version of Depeche Mode's People Are People in a Burger King.

hannnah · December 3, 2003

Our local mom-and-pop sushi place has had the same CD on the last 4 times we've been in - a collection of late 60s instrumentals. We're talking Mantovani, Mancini, and various other stuff that's gotten used in movies over the years.

Why they're so stuck on this CD, I'm not sure - the Japanese music they used to play was much nicer. I can only assume they got sick of hearing it after a while, although they at least had more than one CD of it. :blink:

beans · December 3, 2003

And I once heard a Muzak version of Depeche Mode's People Are People in a Burger King.

I've heard that!!!! :blink:

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