Malcolm McLaren – Duck Rock (1983)
[Album 786/1001]
“Two trailer park girls go round the outside, round the outside”
– Eminem, Without Me
Admittedly, my math lessons would be so empty without music quotes.
However, after listening to Duck Rock, I realized that for the past decade or so, I’ve been giving credit for a perimeter lesson to the wrong source.
As how does one calculate the perimeter of a 2D figure?
Why, you go round the outside, round the outside, of course!
It would appear that, instead of referencing Eminem, I should have been referencing another M & M: Malcolm McLaren.
When I heard Buffalo Gals for the first time, it was like hearing the sound of a record screeching to a halt (like memories of hearing Under Pressure / Super Freak for the first time, discovering that Ice Ice Baby / U Can’t Touch This didn’t have entirely original basslines).
And upon further investigation, I learned that Eminem was far from the first (or the last) to borrow from the tune, with artists ranging from Neneh Cherry to Sublime, Nelly Furtado to Public Enemy, all finding inspiration/samples from this source.
So belated apologies & appreciation to Malcolm McLaren for the perimeter lesson.
Or, in the event that Mr. McLaren borrowed the ’round the outside’ hook from somewhere else, my thanks to his source material provider!
…..
Verbalize the Positive
It’s been really neat to see what students are doing to help out during the pandemic.
A couple of former students have been working together to make masks, with the proceeds going to Kingston Youth Shelter and the Kingston Humane Society.
Awesome!
https://globalnews.ca/video/7119767/kingston-sisters-make-and-sell-covid-19-masks-for-charity
Maths and music, a match made in Miklagard.
Did you ever discover what a Buffalo Girl is? And why they are enamoured with perimiters?
So far, I am still unclear as to what one has to do to become a ‘Buffalo Gal’ – but I definitely support their enthusiasm for 2D geometry!
Definite shout out for those students of yours Geoff. Doing good in a time of need.
It was great to see that story the other night!
Have you tried another M & M? Modest Mouse’s Neverending Math Equation?
Not yet – but I quite like Modest Mouse and so I can only imagine them + math being even better!
Honestly can’t believe that at one point in time I actually wanted to learn how to breakdance.
Yeah. I did that. Its even worst than I chose to admit it, well into my 40’s. I know who I am. Now. 😉
This is a safe place for such admissions, Daddydinorawk!
Be careful what you wish for…;)
Whew 500 again
Good to be back, Mike!
According to Wikipedia, Malcolm is listed as a writer on Without Me. So he is getting some royalties, at least.
THat’s good to hear – the ‘2 trailer park girls’ hook is the highlight of the song for me!
Yeah, that and the “Guess Who’s Back” part. Tell a friend…