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story behind verve pipe's "the freshmen"

iluvcatsiluvcats Posts: 5,153
edited November 2006 in Other Music
do you know the story? our secretary tried to explain it to me yesterday and I was surprised. I honestly thought that it was something that happened to brian vander ark in college. When I've seen him perform it, he puts so much emotion into, sometimes he looks like he's going to cry.
9/98, 9/00 - DC, 4/03 - Pitt., 7/03 - Bristow, 10/04 - Reading, 10/05 - Philly, 5/06 - DC, 6/06 - Pitt., 6/08 - Va Beach, 6/08 - DC, 5/10 - Bristow, 10/13 B'more
8/08 - Ed solo in DC, 6/09 Ed in B'more,
10/10 - Brad in B'more
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • soulsingingsoulsinging Posts: 13,202
    what did she explain? i heard it had something to do with rape...
  • iluvcatsiluvcats Posts: 5,153
    she's having trouble remembering. she thinks it is about a couple in gettysburg, pa and the girl got an abortion.
    9/98, 9/00 - DC, 4/03 - Pitt., 7/03 - Bristow, 10/04 - Reading, 10/05 - Philly, 5/06 - DC, 6/06 - Pitt., 6/08 - Va Beach, 6/08 - DC, 5/10 - Bristow, 10/13 B'more
    8/08 - Ed solo in DC, 6/09 Ed in B'more,
    10/10 - Brad in B'more
  • PearlJamaholicPearlJamaholic Posts: 2,018
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verve_Pipe_The_Freshmen
    http://db.etree.org/PearlJamaholic
  • iluvcatsiluvcats Posts: 5,153
    thanks but you never know what is true on wikipedia. so I clicked on the old post from the vp board. that was the most confusing explanation of a song I think I have ever read.
    9/98, 9/00 - DC, 4/03 - Pitt., 7/03 - Bristow, 10/04 - Reading, 10/05 - Philly, 5/06 - DC, 6/06 - Pitt., 6/08 - Va Beach, 6/08 - DC, 5/10 - Bristow, 10/13 B'more
    8/08 - Ed solo in DC, 6/09 Ed in B'more,
    10/10 - Brad in B'more
  • trappedinmyradiotrappedinmyradio Posts: 1,189
    iluvcats wrote:
    thanks but you never know what is true on wikipedia. so I clicked on the old post from the vp board. that was the most confusing explanation of a song I think I have ever read.

    i don't think it's confusing...he wrote a song about a real situation in his life...and then took poetic license to have the girl kill herself...
    I'll dig a tunnel
    from my window to yours
  • rriversrrivers Posts: 3,696
    trappedinmyradio wrote:
    i don't think it's confusing...he wrote a song about a real situation in his life...and then took poetic license to have the girl kill herself...

    Exactly right, it was not confusing at all. Thanks for posting, this definitely gives the song more meaning. I always thought the "shoe full of rice" line was really dumb but it totally makes sense now.
    "We're fixed good, lamp-wise."
  • StoneG82StoneG82 Posts: 806
    i don't think I've ever heard this song.

    is that weird?
    "What’s Orphans? I don’t know. Orphans is a dead end kid driving a coffin with big tires across the Ohio River wearing welding goggles and a wife beater with a lit firecracker in his ear." - Tom Waits
  • red mosred mos Posts: 4,953
    StoneG82 wrote:
    i don't think I've ever heard this song.

    is that weird?
    No. it's not weird. I think the freshmen was the second single released from their villans album with "photograph" being the first. Aside from the freshmen getting non stop radio play in Texas on the Buzz in Houston and the mix adult contemprary stations, I don't think they had any other chart topping hits. I think some people like tv media programs ended up writing the verve pipe off as a one hit wonder.
    PJ: 10/14/00 06/09/03 10/4/09 11/15/13 11/16/13 10/08/14
    EV Solo: 7/11/11 11/12/12 11/13/12
  • iluvcatsiluvcats Posts: 5,153
    i think our rock radio station plays a later version of the Fresh men. in fact, a few weeks ago, i was laughing at a version of it that i heard on a pop station. i told my husband "that guy is doing a poor cover of that song" and he said it was the verve pipe! i think brian's voice has changed.

    i love him, i mean his solo stuff.
    9/98, 9/00 - DC, 4/03 - Pitt., 7/03 - Bristow, 10/04 - Reading, 10/05 - Philly, 5/06 - DC, 6/06 - Pitt., 6/08 - Va Beach, 6/08 - DC, 5/10 - Bristow, 10/13 B'more
    8/08 - Ed solo in DC, 6/09 Ed in B'more,
    10/10 - Brad in B'more
  • iluvcatsiluvcats Posts: 5,153
    trappedinmyradio wrote:
    i don't think it's confusing...he wrote a song about a real situation in his life...and then took poetic license to have the girl kill herself...

    well maybe i read it too fast. i read the link from his board. i post over there, well i used to. my name is yourcryinshoulder.
    9/98, 9/00 - DC, 4/03 - Pitt., 7/03 - Bristow, 10/04 - Reading, 10/05 - Philly, 5/06 - DC, 6/06 - Pitt., 6/08 - Va Beach, 6/08 - DC, 5/10 - Bristow, 10/13 B'more
    8/08 - Ed solo in DC, 6/09 Ed in B'more,
    10/10 - Brad in B'more
  • iluvcatsiluvcats Posts: 5,153
    StoneG82 wrote:
    i don't think I've ever heard this song.

    is that weird?

    last yr, he put out a live cd called within reach. it's on there. oh it's in his name, not the verve pipe.
    9/98, 9/00 - DC, 4/03 - Pitt., 7/03 - Bristow, 10/04 - Reading, 10/05 - Philly, 5/06 - DC, 6/06 - Pitt., 6/08 - Va Beach, 6/08 - DC, 5/10 - Bristow, 10/13 B'more
    8/08 - Ed solo in DC, 6/09 Ed in B'more,
    10/10 - Brad in B'more
  • GreenTeaDiseaseGreenTeaDisease Posts: 3,359
    StoneG82 wrote:
    i don't think I've ever heard this song.

    is that weird?

    nope. it was a really terrible 1 hit wonder from 1997 (I remember because I was a "freshman" in college). Every radio station from progressive to top 40 played it over and over and over and over.
  • StoneG82StoneG82 Posts: 806
    GreenTeaDisease wrote:
    nope. it was a really terrible 1 hit wonder from 1997 (I remember because I was a "freshman" in college). Every radio station from progressive to top 40 played it over and over and over and over.

    yeah I just found it on youtube.

    eh.

    it sounds too much like the guy was trying to be eddie at the end.
    "What’s Orphans? I don’t know. Orphans is a dead end kid driving a coffin with big tires across the Ohio River wearing welding goggles and a wife beater with a lit firecracker in his ear." - Tom Waits
  • GreenTeaDiseaseGreenTeaDisease Posts: 3,359
    StoneG82 wrote:
    yeah I just found it on youtube.

    eh.

    it sounds too much like the guy was trying to be eddie at the end.

    during the absolute horrible music period of the late 90s early 00s ALL the guys were trying to be eddie but they all denied it!
  • rriversrrivers Posts: 3,696
    StoneG82 wrote:
    yeah I just found it on youtube.

    eh.

    it sounds too much like the guy was trying to be eddie at the end.

    Of course, Eddie can do no wrong and anyone who sang a song after 1991 is trying to be Eddie.

    It's not a bad song. Get over it.
    "We're fixed good, lamp-wise."
  • StoneG82StoneG82 Posts: 806
    rrivers wrote:
    Of course, Eddie can do no wrong and anyone who sand a song after 1991 is trying to be Eddie.

    It's not a bad song. Get over it.

    haha

    believe me, I'm not one of these self proclaimed eddie worshippers. not in the least bro. I just thought it was noticeable.

    regardless of the vocal wankery, i just didn't like the song.
    "What’s Orphans? I don’t know. Orphans is a dead end kid driving a coffin with big tires across the Ohio River wearing welding goggles and a wife beater with a lit firecracker in his ear." - Tom Waits
  • iluvcatsiluvcats Posts: 5,153
    StoneG82 wrote:
    haha

    believe me, I'm not one of these self proclaimed eddie worshippers. not in the least bro. I just thought it was noticeable.

    regardless of the vocal wankery, i just didn't like the song.

    i've never seen it on you tube.
    9/98, 9/00 - DC, 4/03 - Pitt., 7/03 - Bristow, 10/04 - Reading, 10/05 - Philly, 5/06 - DC, 6/06 - Pitt., 6/08 - Va Beach, 6/08 - DC, 5/10 - Bristow, 10/13 B'more
    8/08 - Ed solo in DC, 6/09 Ed in B'more,
    10/10 - Brad in B'more
  • NakedClownNakedClown Posts: 545
    red mos wrote:
    No. it's not weird. I think the freshmen was the second single released from their villans album with "photograph" being the first. Aside from the freshmen getting non stop radio play in Texas on the Buzz in Houston and the mix adult contemprary stations, I don't think they had any other chart topping hits. I think some people like tv media programs ended up writing the verve pipe off as a one hit wonder.

    I actually liked Photograph more than I did Freshman...

    I still have that CD (because I don't get rid of anything)...I popped it in once last year and listened a few times... dates 90s rock... but I liked it ack then... and I still like the Photograph song...
  • bladworth116bladworth116 Posts: 344
    Brian Vander Ark has that stream of consciousness style of songwriting not unlike Gavin Rossdale. It's an acquired taste but I really like it

    It is an absolute crime that The Verve Pipe was lumped into that one hit wonder band catogory. Villians was very strong, their self-titled follow up was two but their record company didn't know how to promote it. By the time they released "Underneath" (a pop/rock gem of an album) no one cared by die hard fans.

    The band truly deserved a better fate imo
  • dirtdirt Posts: 398
    Villans was okay but I really liked the two Verve Pipe records after that one... The song Underneath from their final record was great. Brian Vanderark is an excellent songwriter. Loved his solo cd, Resurrection too.

    I would agree with those who say they didn't get the right kind of promotion and support -- def not a one-hit-wonder type of band. Too bad for them.
    drive less - RIDE MORE!
  • iluvcatsiluvcats Posts: 5,153
    well brian plays in tiny venues and cafes now. you guys might want to check him out.

    11/4 The Melting Point/Athens, GA (with Bain Mattox)
    11/7 Legion Arts/CSPS/Cedar Rapids, IA (with Garrison Starr)
    11/8 Acadia Café/Minneapolis, MN (with Garrison Starr and Casados)
    11/9 High Noon Saloon/Madison, WI (with Garrison Starr)
    11/15 Rhythm & Brews/Chattanooga, TN
    11/17 Blue Horse Music Hall/Augusta, GA
    11/18 show at Downstairs Live, N Augusta, SCSC [Sold out!]
    9/98, 9/00 - DC, 4/03 - Pitt., 7/03 - Bristow, 10/04 - Reading, 10/05 - Philly, 5/06 - DC, 6/06 - Pitt., 6/08 - Va Beach, 6/08 - DC, 5/10 - Bristow, 10/13 B'more
    8/08 - Ed solo in DC, 6/09 Ed in B'more,
    10/10 - Brad in B'more
  • iluvcatsiluvcats Posts: 5,153
    dirt wrote:
    Villans was okay but I really liked the two Verve Pipe records after that one... The song Underneath from their final record was great. Brian Vanderark is an excellent songwriter. Loved his solo cd, Resurrection too.

    I would agree with those who say they didn't get the right kind of promotion and support -- def not a one-hit-wonder type of band. Too bad for them.

    I love resurrection too :)
    do you have the live cd he put out in 2005?
    9/98, 9/00 - DC, 4/03 - Pitt., 7/03 - Bristow, 10/04 - Reading, 10/05 - Philly, 5/06 - DC, 6/06 - Pitt., 6/08 - Va Beach, 6/08 - DC, 5/10 - Bristow, 10/13 B'more
    8/08 - Ed solo in DC, 6/09 Ed in B'more,
    10/10 - Brad in B'more
  • iluvcatsiluvcats Posts: 5,153
    I like this song
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLzs5JV8cjw&mode=related&search=
    9/98, 9/00 - DC, 4/03 - Pitt., 7/03 - Bristow, 10/04 - Reading, 10/05 - Philly, 5/06 - DC, 6/06 - Pitt., 6/08 - Va Beach, 6/08 - DC, 5/10 - Bristow, 10/13 B'more
    8/08 - Ed solo in DC, 6/09 Ed in B'more,
    10/10 - Brad in B'more
  • iluvcatsiluvcats Posts: 5,153
    brian vander ark sent us and email and he said to go to his website
    http://www.brianvanderark.com
    and click on the demand button and type in a city where you would like to see him
    http://eventful.com/performers/P0-001-000011942-2/demand
    (not sure if this link will work or not)
    9/98, 9/00 - DC, 4/03 - Pitt., 7/03 - Bristow, 10/04 - Reading, 10/05 - Philly, 5/06 - DC, 6/06 - Pitt., 6/08 - Va Beach, 6/08 - DC, 5/10 - Bristow, 10/13 B'more
    8/08 - Ed solo in DC, 6/09 Ed in B'more,
    10/10 - Brad in B'more
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