Celebrity Jukebox #133: Gene Hackman

The Reaper's been busy again.

If I'd had time, I'd have paid individual tribute to each of the following over the past couple of weeks...

Rick Buckler

The Jam - A Town Called Malice

Roberta Flack

Roberta Flack - Killing Me Softly With His Song

Michelle Trachtenberg

Buffy - Once More, With Feeling - Dawn's Ballet / What You Feel

Henry Kelly

Shed Seven - Going For Gold

The biggest name we've lost recently though is Gene Hackman, along with his wife and his dog. As I write, the true story of their tragic end has yet to be revealed, but I don't want to dwell on that. I just want to remember Lex Luthor, Popeye Doyle, Sheriff "Little" Bill Daggett, Captain Frank Ramsey and, best of all, the heroic sacrifice of the Reverend Frank Scott in The Poseidon Adventure.

On the television, a ship was sinking

It seemed so real, but it was just a movie

Made by Irwin Allen, boy, what a relief

And on the ship was Ernest Borgnine

Brave in the face of certain death

He played a cop on a pleasure cruise

Along with his wife, an ex-prostitute

Of course, Shelley Winters

She was on the ship

She was good, too, but she died

As did Gene Hackman, a preacher

Who gave his life so that others could live

He died shouting "How many more lives?"

Killdozer - Man Vs. Nature

I didn't need to dig far to find a song or two in tribute...

My Top Ten First Time Songs

If this is your First Time... I hope it's not your worst time.



10. Spearmint - First Time Music

7 minutes and 39 seconds, and not a second of it is wasted. Spearmint: should have been million sellers.

9. Foreigner - Feels Like The First Time

Yes, I said Foreigner. What's your problem? Don't you like Foreigners?

8. Mercury Rev - First-Time Mother's Joy (Flying)

The Rev at their most magical.

7. Billy Joel - Get It Right The First Time

He doesn't believe in first impressions... says the bloke who copped off with Christie Brinkley.

Still, look how that ended up.

6. Arab Strap - The First Time You're Unfaithful

As bleakly, morbidly, scathingly hilarious as you'd expect from a song with that title from this band.

5. Barenaked Ladies - Falling For The First Time

I'm so cool - too bad I'm a loser.

Great opening line, which could easily have made it onto Monday's Top Ten too.

How many extra hits will I get for featuring both Arab Strap and Barenaked Ladies in this post?

4. Bobby Goldsboro - Summer (The First Time)

Young Bobby's first time is with a woman twice his age... shocking!

I swear I've heard this covered by somebody cooler, but I can't for the life of me think who.

3. Stars - The First Five Times

I was pleased to discover that Stars are still together, recording and touring, since I've heard very little from them since this, from their excellent 2004 album Set Yourself On Fire. The First Five Times tells you about exactly what you think it's going to, right down to an old man watching from a tree. When you get to my age, you grab your thrills wherever you can.

2. Roberta Flack - The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

Written by Ewan MacColl, recorded by everybody from Elvis and Johnny Cash to Celine Dion and the Stereophonics, but it's Roberta's version that beats them all... particularly for fans of Play Misty For Me. 


1. Pulp - Do You Remember The First Time?

Jarvis can't remember a worse time.

Don't watch the video if you've had too much to drink tonight.





If it was your First Time, do leave a comment and introduce yourself.