From: Wade Smith (wade_smith@harvard.edu)
Date: Wed 16 Oct 2002 - 18:32:58 GMT
On Wednesday, October 16, 2002, at 02:06 , joedees@bellsouth.net wrote:
> In five minutes I shall sing "London Bridges". Anyone else can make a
> similar decision regarding a ditty whose melody and lyrics they know,
> that is, whose memetic structure they have internalized.
Let me hear it, or it is not a meme.
(Besides, is that not 'London Bridge is Falling Down'? I don't know a
song called 'London Bridges'. I know a song called 'London' (one of my
alltime faves), and 'The Tricks of London' (not on my fave list), both
by Steeleye Span. So, not only do you have to sing this song of yours
_and_ let me hear it in some way, by realtime or artifactual
transmission, but you need to do this because I have no reference
whatsoever for this song of yours, and I cannot attempt to replicate a
meme I have not seen, and have no reference for. You see the difficulty,
I hope. I cannot sing your song- I cannot replicate your meme, because,
not only have I not heard it, but I have no idea what it might even
sound like. Totally without ground, this meme of yours, which means _you
have to perform it_. You have no other choice, and the meme itself will
not _be_ until you do.)
Besides, you have no idea, really, what that song will actually sound
like. Your voice might crack in the second verse. You might forget the
words.
Haddock's Eyes.
- Wade
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