06/11/08
Text: Nik Mercer
"My Drive Thru" is one hell of a confusing song. It begins with Pharrell attempting a Prince diction while singing some schlocky line ("I want you, do you want me, too?" he wonders), then jumps to the Strokes' Julian Casablancas' brooding on how one must work to be "like us," and leaps once again to Santogold who, with her trademark monotone, mulls over the "prepubescent" nature of some unnamed fakers. Then Casablancas comes back in and babbles in a strangely clean, "how the hell is this Julian" sort of tone. After, Santogold flows about how she simply wants to dance. We're baffled at Anthem. Not only do we barely understand the underlying nature and lyrics of the Converse-commissioned supergroup's single; we're also have no idea why Converse pulled this pinheaded move.
Now, we don't mean to completely hate on Converse here. We all wear Chuck Taylors, and we all love them to death, even though you can purchase them at Gap these days. We don't need our admiration for the classic example of timeless footwear to be hammered into our heads, though, and we certainly don't need it done through such bland and commercial mechanisms. Converse is one-hundred years old, and that's absolutely means for celebration, but the sneaker manufacturer's whole appeal was its under-the-radar ubiquity. Converse infiltrated offices, homes, schools, and every other situation or location under the sun without incorporating any sort of massive marketing ploy. Props for that. Now, Converse is celebrating its centennial in the most materialistic and fiscally-driven manner ever: for music, Julian Casablancas, Santogold, Pharrell, Kid Sister, YACHT, Bradford Cox, members of Gallows, Fiery Furnaces, Does It Offend You, Yeah?, and Care Bears on Fire contributed to the festivities, and while we've only heard the first of many songs to come from this strange lineup ("My Drive Thru"), we're not especially impressed. The song's stale, not especially memorable, and convoluted with weird lyrics and one too many unique vocal talents.
Check it out in the media player to the right or download it yourself. Can't wait for the... music video!? Does Converse thing we're all complete idiots? W.T.F., folks...
