Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2011 April 20

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April 20

Those?

Referencing Clara Bow's title as the "It girl", Dorothy Parker famously remarked, "It, hell; she had Those." But looking at this photo for example, I'm not seeing battleship class turrets a la Marilyn Monroe or Mae West. I know that size preferences have fluctuated over the years, but still. What else could Parker have been referring to? Clarityfiend (talk) 03:25, 20 April 2011 (UTC)

Witty retorts needn't be based in actual fact to be funny or understood. Or, as you note, Clara Bow could have just had the right tits, whatever the right tits are for the time. --Jayron32 04:05, 20 April 2011 (UTC)

Get your head out of your trousers! "Those" were her eyes! --TammyMoet (talk) 10:48, 20 April 2011 (UTC)

Or out of someone else's trousers.  :) -- Jack of Oz [your turn] 10:52, 20 April 2011 (UTC)

Clara Bow kept her tits in her trousers? --Jayron32 12:18, 20 April 2011 (UTC)

No, her eyes. Pay attention! —Tamfang (talk) 19:15, 20 April 2011 (UTC)

Having your eyes in your trousers is pretty weird too. Reminds me of the scene in King, Queen, Knave where the luscious* Gina Lollobrigida expressed dismay that her interlocutor (John Moulder Brown, I think; it's been a long time) kept his skin in a bag. (* Yes, even I cannot contain my lust. Theoretically.)-- Jack of Oz [your turn] 21:47, 20 April 2011 (UTC)

Anybody have a New Yorker subscription by any chance? I'm really curious to see the quote's context, but it's not available to the great unwashed. Clarityfiend (talk) 00:31, 21 April 2011 (UTC)

Clarityfiend's link is revealing. Parker's remark was made in a review of Elinor Glyn's novel It, in which it refers to a form of personal magnetism. Parker wrote of the character, Ava Cleveland: "Ava was young and slender and proud. And she had It. It, hell; she had Those." Clara Bow starred in the movie adaptation of It, which had a different plot and characters; Bow's character was named Betty Lou Spence. Parker's review did not mention Bow or the movie, even though the movie came out months before Parker's review was published. John M Baker (talk) 16:00, 21 April 2011 (UTC)

Aah! That makes sense. Thanks. Clarityfiend (talk) 20:49, 21 April 2011 (UTC)

Marc Cohn's Silver Thunderbird

Resolved

Hello, Friends! Short and sweet: Does anyone know (or maybe someone wants to venture a guess) which generation of the Ford Thunderbird does Marc Cohn most likely refer to in his track Silver Thunderbird? The album is from 1991. Thanks! --Ouro (blah blah) 05:54, 20 April 2011 (UTC)

Let's look at the clues in the song:

Great big fins and painted steel ... it looked just like the Batmobile ... all of that chrome

This means it can't be later than third generation, since after that the car lost its fins. The third generation doesn't seem to have "great big" fins, either. Which one looks most like the Batmobile (the original TV series batmobile, presumably)? Probably not the first generation, because it didn't have double headlights.

My old man ... got up every morning, while I was still asleep, but I remember the sound of him shuffling around

So the star of the song is apparently a father. He might not want a two-seater. My guess is therefore second generation. This would also be the new model around the year Marc Cohn was born, if the song is autobiographical - which it apparently is, according to an interview with Q magazine, snippets of which are quoted here: [1] the car was bought "when he was two or three years old" and his dad was "working a seven-day week and not able to support his family". So it could have been one of the brand new third generation, but a second-hand second generation seems more likely.  Card Zero  (talk) 16:11, 21 April 2011 (UTC)

Card Zero, I actually don't know what to say. I probably could have searched this out myself... but I didn't, for some reason or other (it's been hard for me to concentrate this week, I'll grant that). Looking at images of 2nd and 3rd generation Thunderbirds I am inclined to concur with your conclusion that it most probably was a second-hand 2nd generation model. The words 'thank you' are definitely not able to contain the actual awe at the analysis you had performed. I am stunned speechless, so to speak, in the most positive of ways. If you celebrate Easter, I hope these days will be joyous for you. However, if you don't, simply-- all the best. --Ouro (blah blah) 05:35, 22 April 2011 (UTC)

Tom Petty

He has a song in which the corresponding video features a guy playing guitar alongside him who bears a frightening resemblance to the Queen guitarist Brian May, but I'm quite positive it's not really him. Does anyone know what that song is? Thanks in advance. 173.2.165.251 (talk) 07:49, 20 April 2011 (UTC)

This thread suggests it is Mike Campbell, in the song "I Won't Back Down". Ghmyrtle (talk) 08:42, 20 April 2011 (UTC)

I'll confirm that it is 99% certain to be Campbell. Campbell has been Petty's lead guitarist for his whole professional life, and though the physical similarities between Campbell and May is pretty close, close enough to be confusing at times, it is undoubtedly Mike Campbell in any video of a Tom Petty song, and not May, who I don't know ever worked with Petty. Campbell was a founding member of Mudcrutch, which was the band that evolved into the Heartbreakers, and is also the lead guitarist on many works Petty appears on, even those outside of the Heartbreakers, including Full Moon Fever (ostensibly a Petty solo album) and the duet tracks between Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty on Bella Donna. --Jayron32 12:29, 20 April 2011 (UTC)

Coca-Cola advert research

I am trying to find out the name or find a video of two particular Coca-Cola adverts--doing some research of emotional connection to the Coke brand. I believe both of the ads are from the 2000s "Life tastes good" series, but the first one might be "Always Coca-Cola".

1. The ad shows a boy playing football in an Arab/Middle Eastern setting
2. A bride gets ready on her wedding day, she is nervous but then her flower girl (?) gives her a Coke and she feels better.

Any clues, leads or links would be much appreciated. Cheers. I have a reference question (talk) 20:16, 20 April 2011 (UTC)