Richard Blum, alias Handsome Dick Manitoba, heeft vandaag de leeftijd van 69 jaar bereikt. Van harte en nog vele jaren, Dick!
Manitoba verwierf zich in de jaren ’70 faam als mascotte en leadzanger van de New Yorkse pre-punkband The Dictators. Over de artistieke kwaliteiten van The Dictators zijn de meningen verdeeld. Dave Marsh vond het helemaal niks en gaf het debuutalbun Go Girl Crazy! nul punten, maar veel vroege punkbands zeiden beïnvloed te zijn door Manitoba en zijn maatjes. Zelf kan ik er prima naar luisteren, al zijn de humoristisch bedoelde teksten soms wel héél erg melig.
I didn’t have to do that, you know
I didn’t have to show up here
With my vast financial holdings
I could’ve been basking in the sun in Florida
This is just a hobby for me
Nothing, you hear
A hobby
[Verse 1]
I used to shiver in the wings
But then I was young
I used to shiver in the wings
Till I found my own tongue
[Chorus]
I sock ‘em everywhere that I sing
Cause you know baby
I’m the Next Big Thing
[Verse 2]
I knocked ‘em dead in Dallas
And I didn’t pay my dues
Yeah, I knocked ‘em dead in Dallas
They didn’t know we were Jews
I sock ‘em everywhere that I sing
Cause you know baby
I’m the Next Big Thing
[Bridge]
I’m a fuel injected legend
I don’t wanna be a bore
I just wanna live a rich life
And I wanna die poor
Poor
Poor
Poor
Poor
Poor
Sorry baby, I just can’t get it on anymore
[Verse 3]
But I won’t be happy
Till I’m known far and wide
With my face on the cover
Of the TV guide
[Chorus]
I sock ‘em everywhere that I sing
Cause you know baby
I’m the Next Big Thing
I sock ‘em everywhere that I sing
Cause you know baby
I’m the Next Big Thing
I sock ‘em everywhere that I sing
Cause you know baby
I’m the Next Big Thing
I sock ‘em everywhere that I sing (oh, daddy)
Cause you know baby
I’m the Next Big Thing
I sock ‘em everywhere that I sing
Cause you know baby
