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Spoon — The Underdog
Album: Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
Avg rating:
6.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1823









Released: 2007
Length: 3:40
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Picture yourself in the living room
your pipe and slippers set out for you
I know you think that it ain't too far

But I hear the call of a lifetime ring
felt the need to get up for it
oh you cut out the middleman
get free from the middleman

You got no time for the messenger,
got no regard for the thing that you don't understand,
you got no fear of the underdog,
that's why you will not survive!

I want to forget how conviction fits
but can I get out from under it?
Can I gut it out of me?
It can't all be wedding cake
It can't all be boiled away
I try but I can't let go of it
Can't let go of it,

Cause you don't talk to the water boy
and there's so much you could learn but you don't want to know,
You will not back up an inch ever,
that's why you will not survive,

The thing that I tell you now
It may not go over well
And it may not be photo-op
in the way that I spell it out

But you won't hear from the messenger,
don't wanna know bout something that you don't understand,
You got no fear of the underdog,
that's why you will not survive!
Comments (180)add comment
"It can't all be wedding cake
It can't all be boiled away"
Pretty much sums it up.  Great song off a great album.

Posted 2 years ago by Jayesea    [ Reply ]
 Proclivities wrote:

I guess that depends on how much one wants to be reminded of Billy Joel.  Generally, I seldom wish to be reminded of him, since during my high school years, his music was distressingly unavoidable.  This tune doesn't make me think of him, or any of his songs in particular, but we all hear (or choose to hear) different things.




I quit supporting him once I learned he fired all his band members, hired them back to tour then dropped them again so he could keep all the profits.  The drummer was painting house interiors in the off times to make ends meet (house painting is an honest profession btw). I turn his music off or skip when on RP.
See the doc on this, don't take my word for it.
Posted 2 years ago by nomnol    [ Reply ]
 Proclivities wrote:

I guess that depends on how much one wants to be reminded of Billy Joel.  Generally, I seldom wish to be reminded of him, since during my high school years, his music was distressingly unavoidable.  This tune doesn't make me think of him, or any of his songs in particular, but we all hear (or choose to hear) different things.



Reminds me of this documentary about 'hired gun' supporting musicians. Worth watching for many reasons, not least because of the way it portrays the relationship between Billy Joel and his band members.  'Hired Gun' documentary, 2017

Posted 2 years ago by ramsay    [ Reply ]
Hints of Van Morrison and Thin Lizzy
Posted 3 years ago by CCSandman    [ Reply ]
 sirdroseph wrote:

Actually never thought of it before, but this DOES sound like Billy Joel.  However I mean that as a compliment.  Haters.


I can hear the Billy Joel sound in the horns,  but Billy would have the piano in the front of his sound.  This song has no keyboards that I can discern.  A couple of the chord progressions also sound similar to a Joel tune, but that resemblance is insignificant.
Posted 3 years ago by the_jake    [ Reply ]
 tm wrote:

Spoon is fucking magic…


Spoon or Spooning? Aw hell, it can be both!
Posted 3 years ago by Ok_Sobriquet    [ Reply ]
Spoon is fucking magic…
Posted 3 years ago by tm    [ Reply ]
I definitely hear the Billy Joel comparisons.
Posted 3 years ago by stevebeaver    [ Reply ]
Nice segue from "When Shrimps Learn to Whistle"!  Hat's off to the master, Mr. G.!
Posted 3 years ago by derhey9416    [ Reply ]
soundfs like a Joel fan that is really a paul Simaon fan..,.
Posted 3 years ago by eduardogarza    [ Reply ]
Billy Joel WISHES he could pull this off!  Spoon rules!!!
Posted 4 years ago by Larrygrrl    [ Reply ]
As lizardking wrote:I'm right there with you, Proc - this DOES NOT sound like BJ (lol) at all to my ears....I've had a 9 rating on this track since way back when.  Long Live RP!!
 

I grew up hearing waaay too much Billy Joel and I can't hear any BJ in Spoon. Thank  whoever...
Posted 4 years ago by mobboss    [ Reply ]
 mobboss wrote:
I see all the comments about it sounding like Billy Joel and am baffled. Not to mention he couldn't write such an anarchistic, subversive song if his life depended on it. Solid 8 raised to 9 because of the haters.
 
maybe he is sounding like Phil Lynott, of Thin Lizzy, " boys are back in town" ?

love that tune, too.
Posted 4 years ago by Highspirits    [ Reply ]
 jayhamiljr wrote:
They can play, and write, and arrange. And they are good enough  to overcome what has to be the 2nd worse singer in rock (Bob Dylan proudly holds the trophy).  Sorry, Britt, you need a new front man... but I can't argue with your success. 
 
Nah....Dylan wouldn't accept a trophy so there's no way he's holding it ;-)

Posted 4 years ago by lizardking    [ Reply ]
 Solanus wrote:
Image result for the tick spoon


 
That's hilarious. Not having seen this, I posted, I swear, the EXACT same Tick pic on a different Spoon song.
Posted 5 years ago by danmc    [ Reply ]
They can play, and write, and arrange. And they are good enough  to overcome what has to be the 2nd worse singer in rock (Bob Dylan proudly holds the trophy).  Sorry, Britt, you need a new front man... but I can't argue with your success. 
Posted 5 years ago by jayhamiljr    [ Reply ]
We all hate the top 40 from high school it aint their fault.
Posted 5 years ago by TRC    [ Reply ]
Actually never thought of it before, but this DOES sound like Billy Joel.  However I mean that as a compliment.  Haters.
Posted 5 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
I see all the comments about it sounding like Billy Joel and am baffled. Not to mention he couldn't write such an anarchistic, subversive song if his life depended on it. Solid 8 raised to 9 because of the haters.
Posted 5 years ago by mobboss    [ Reply ]
Love Love Love This
Posted 5 years ago by mccaindesign8034    [ Reply ]
horns just make rock songs better
Posted 5 years ago by mds318130    [ Reply ]
 Proclivities wrote:

I guess that depends on how much one wants to be reminded of Billy Joel.  Generally, I seldom wish to be reminded of him, since during my high school years, his music was distressingly unavoidable.  This tune doesn't make me think of him, or any of his songs in particular, but we all hear (or choose to hear) different things.


 
I'm right there with you, Proc - this DOES NOT sound like BJ (lol) at all to my ears....I've had a 9 rating on this track since way back when.  Long Live RP!!
Posted 5 years ago by lizardking    [ Reply ]
I love how my wife and I got our kids hooked on this song and then...it showed up in Spider-Man: Homecoming. 

We're geniuses. 
Posted 6 years ago by haljordan    [ Reply ]
 Solanus wrote:
Image result for the tick spoon

 
{#High-five}
Posted 6 years ago by SmackDaddy    [ Reply ]
This is interesting.
Decent even. Good enough for occasional rotation on my list, but not too heavy.
Posted 6 years ago by Clyde_Bedow    [ Reply ]
Yep, just following along.  Thought it was Billy Joel, too.
Posted 6 years ago by junebaby65    [ Reply ]
Sounds more like the Waterboys that Billy (meh!) Joel. But Spoon is original.{#Music}
Posted 6 years ago by OMGegan    [ Reply ]
 number7 wrote:

I don't like it because it sounds like Billy Joel.
However I didn't give it the Zero.

 
Sounding like Billy Joel is what makes it good. 7, for being a bit of a rip-off, but an able one.
Posted 7 years ago by le_colonel    [ Reply ]
 jhorton wrote:
OMG. I always thought this was Billy Joel!

Doesn't change the zero rating I gave it on first listen! 

 
I don't like it because it sounds like Billy Joel.
However I didn't give it the Zero.
Posted 7 years ago by number7    [ Reply ]
Image result for the tick spoon


Posted 8 years ago by Solanus    [ Reply ]
 Lemonhead wrote:
{#Dancingbanana}

 
I want to be your friend...
Posted 8 years ago by frank_eindhoven    [ Reply ]
{#Dancingbanana}
Posted 8 years ago by Lemonhead    [ Reply ]
Sounds good....for two listens.
Posted 8 years ago by ppopp    [ Reply ]
thank you {#Bounce}

and i love the lead singer {#Whipit}   
Posted 10 years ago by mcdaphne    [ Reply ]
OMG. I always thought this was Billy Joel!

Doesn't change the zero rating I gave it on first listen! 
Posted 11 years ago by jhorton    [ Reply ]
I like Spoon, but this song?....not so much. It's ok, but not as good as Spoon can be. I do hear the continual reference people are making with the Billy Joel sound. Yeah...it doesn't help this song in the least.
Posted 11 years ago by ziakut    [ Reply ]
My favorite Billy Joel song.  Oh, wait...  what?
Posted 12 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
 moonsaura wrote:
is it me or does this tune remind anyone else of billy joel? (don't throw anything at me, k!)
 
Unfortunately, me too.
Really dislike Mr. Joel.
Ruins this song for me.
Posted 12 years ago by smokey7    [ Reply ]
 moonsaura wrote:
is it me or does this tune remind anyone else of billy joel? (don't throw anything at me, k!)
 
I guess that depends on how much one wants to be reminded of Billy Joel.  Generally, I seldom wish to be reminded of him, since during my high school years, his music was distressingly unavoidable.  This tune doesn't make me think of him, or any of his songs in particular, but we all hear (or choose to hear) different things.


Posted 12 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
 dewhead wrote:
Just came on here to say this reminded me a lot of Billy Joel but I see that several people beat me to the punch. Not that sounding like Billy Joel is really a bad thing...
 


Yes, it really IS a bad thing.
Posted 12 years ago by CanyonMan    [ Reply ]
I'm pretty sure the trumpet player is the same guy who performed with Poi Dog Pondering back in the day. Sounds exactly the same, and the timeframe fits.
Posted 12 years ago by cc_rider    [ Reply ]

Thanks Bill....you made my Monday....{#Bounce}


Posted 13 years ago by dbm86698    [ Reply ]
I swear I thought this was Thin Lizzy....not a bad influence to have for sure
Posted 13 years ago by neuticle    [ Reply ]
..Thin Lizzy,only which one...{#Ask}

edit after scrolling; peeps thinking Billy J,well Okey but I still hear a Lizzy song....

Posted 13 years ago by HazzeSwede    [ Reply ]
Uggggh, not over soon enough..... I have a low tolerance for blaring horns.  {#No}
Posted 13 years ago by socalhol    [ Reply ]
I really, really like Spoon and was really excited to hear them open for MMJ this summer.  However, they seemed, not sure how to say it, like a little band in a big place maybe?  I can't really explain it, they just didn't sound as awesome as I thought they would.  Maybe a big amphitheater is not a place to see them or maybe being the opening act doesn't allow them to put out the necessary equipment.  Still, dig them and will try to catch them in a smaller venue.
Posted 13 years ago by Seahunt    [ Reply ]
 sharkey wrote:
Who started this Joel s..t. WTFC's. Spoon is Spoon & they work for me. Why do u all have to compare everything. Can't u all judge every act on it's own merit. JFLGIU
 

Because those of us with a memory longer than a few weeks or months note similarities in songs.  And the older you get the more it happens.  It's not a judgment on Spoon to get worked up about, it's just a casual comment.
Posted 13 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
I like this band, but I heard that the lead singer is a bit of a diva.  I know someone that caught his KGSR appearance at Threadgill's on ACLFest weekend.  He showed up late, only played a few songs and that was it.
Posted 13 years ago by Jack_Jefferson    [ Reply ]

Spoon - The Underdog, Live

"There´s so much more beauty in thist than it seems superficially apparent at first glance. This song is summing up something very important. As far as I am concerned, that´s what popular music is all about. The fact that this group and this music has´nt been discovered yet on a broader scale, says a lot about the state of the music industry and so little about the talent we are exposed too here.!!! Beautiful! "  sertuerner

 

"I point these guys out to people that say beatles era rock is dead. "      2008Messenger




Posted 13 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
 tinamarie wrote:
have I heard this before? does it sound like some other song? or do I just like the horns?! Or was it used in SCRUBS??

 
It's over 3 years old and according to wikipedia "was used in the movies 17 Again, Cloverfield and I Love You, Man as well as the How I Met Your Mother episode "Spoiler Alert"."

So yeah, you prolly have heard it before.
Posted 14 years ago by ziggytrix    [ Reply ]
LIKE!
Posted 14 years ago by mem_313    [ Reply ]
 tinamarie wrote:
have I heard this before? does it sound like some other song? or do I just like the horns?! Or was it used in SCRUBS??
 
Maybe you read about it in Private Eye's Me and My Spoon column. "Has anything amusing ever happened to you in connection with spoons?" 

Posted 14 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
Mute
Posted 14 years ago by tulfan    [ Reply ]
have I heard this before? does it sound like some other song? or do I just like the horns?! Or was it used in SCRUBS??

Posted 14 years ago by tinamarie    [ Reply ]
Spoon has got to be the funnest band out there now!{#Dancingbanana}
Posted 14 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
My local grocery store used to play this song all the time, keep me bopping through the aisles!{#Lol}
Posted 14 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
 lbaltz wrote:


Definitely hear the Billy Joel thing. But its a great song and they surely have their own unigue groove going...
 
Yep - "O-only the good die young..." {#Bananajam} (Why isn't there a horn-playing banana?)

Posted 14 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
 tdola2 wrote:
God I hate this song...
 
 
Seriously!
Posted 14 years ago by isocky    [ Reply ]
 moonsaura wrote:
is it me or does this tune remind anyone else of billy joel? (don't throw anything at me, k!)
 

Definitely hear the Billy Joel thing. But its a great song and they surely have their own unigue groove going...
Posted 15 years ago by lbaltz    [ Reply ]
At the beginning, I was liking it, but then I started doing something else and thought, what's that annoying sound in my ears. {#War}
Posted 15 years ago by samsamsupersam    [ Reply ]
 moonsaura wrote:
is it me or does this tune remind anyone else of billy joel? (don't throw anything at me, k!)
 
Totally Billy Joel.  You're not the only one.

Still quite groovy {#Dancingbanana}
Posted 15 years ago by lysisphere    [ Reply ]
is it me or does this tune remind anyone else of billy joel? (don't throw anything at me, k!)
Posted 15 years ago by moonsaura    [ Reply ]
God I hate this song...
 
Posted 15 years ago by tdola2    [ Reply ]
Can't believe this only is rating at 6.8 - what a great song I gave it a 9
Posted 15 years ago by roccoeugene    [ Reply ]
8 > 9... Spoon is just Awesome!
Posted 15 years ago by whtahtefcuk    [ Reply ]
This guy always sound like he needs a good nose blow—but it REALLY works for him. Dig the Spoon!

Posted 15 years ago by copymonkey    [ Reply ]

YAY! What a feel good song this one is!{#Dancingbanana_2}


Posted 15 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
I like!{#Jump}
Posted 15 years ago by tanyhon    [ Reply ]
                                                       {#Dancingbanana_2}{#Bananajam}{#Dancingbanana}{#Drummer}

and a hansom lead.......
Posted 16 years ago by strawberryblonde    [ Reply ]
 {#Bananapiano}

Posted 16 years ago by Candela    [ Reply ]
{#Sunny}

Makes me want to get up and dance around the room! 
Posted 16 years ago by sporkster    [ Reply ]
{#Bananajumprope}{#Jump}{#Bananasplit}
i like the way this guy moves when he plays guitar

Posted 16 years ago by strawberryblonde    [ Reply ]
 sharkey wrote:

Why do u all have to compare everything. Can't u all judge every act on it's own merit. JFLGIU


 

Well said sharkey.

Posted 16 years ago by snowcat    [ Reply ]
Monkeysdad wrote:
I'm sold, gonna get this one! Anyone else hear smacks of Nick "The Jesus of Cool" Lowe in their material?
YES! I completely thought this was Nick Lowe!
Posted 16 years ago by ginathelintqueen    [ Reply ]
High gas prices always seem to bring us another Billy Joel
Posted 16 years ago by rwags    [ Reply ]
Who started this Joel s..t. WTFC's. Spoon is Spoon & they work for me. Why do u all have to compare everything. Can't u all judge every act on it's own merit. JFLGIU
Posted 16 years ago by sharkey    [ Reply ]
Hey guys, it's okay to admit that you once liked Billy Joel..no need for the forced indignation and disgust.
Posted 16 years ago by copymonkey    [ Reply ]
Hey, anyone notice that this sounds a little like Billy Jo----
Posted 16 years ago by sdn    [ Reply ]
jhorton wrote:
Sounds like Billy Joel, minus his meager talent.
No kidding, I would be embarrassed Spoon, this no less than a total rip off. And please, let Billy stay in the 70's. Hum, I guess they're ga ga ga ga ga for Billy Joel
Posted 16 years ago by Blasserman    [ Reply ]
This song is getting overplayed this year everywhere. Tone it down please.
Posted 16 years ago by greener    [ Reply ]
Wow, and here I was thinking that I was really clever in observing that Spoon was channeling Joel on this track.
Posted 16 years ago by coldatlantic    [ Reply ]
Sounds like Billy Joel, minus his meager talent.
Posted 16 years ago by jhorton    [ Reply ]
I'll refrain from saying what I think about this as I'm in a bad mood tonight and nothing sounds good. This might be better next time around.
Posted 16 years ago by CafeRacer    [ Reply ]
Rothimus_Prime wrote:
1973.
:)
Posted 16 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
LIke this band, but this song does sound like that jackass Billy Hole. 1
Posted 16 years ago by smehan55    [ Reply ]
thewiseking wrote:
exactly when did it become cool to sound like Billy Joel?
1973.
Posted 16 years ago by Rothimus_Prime    [ Reply ]
Good song..a bit over played though
Posted 16 years ago by EssexTex    [ Reply ]
exactly when did it become cool to sound like Billy Joel?
Posted 16 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
ERERER wrote:
Too overplayed. Agreed. Time to park this one for a while.
Totally. Agree. Oh wait, that whole thread started with me! Wow, I've lapped myself. :) This one gets turned down when I hear it.
Posted 16 years ago by Ahnyer_Keester    [ Reply ]
Too overplayed. Agreed. Time to park this one for a while.
Posted 16 years ago by ERERER    [ Reply ]
Maybe we should call this "The Overplayed" vs the underdog...
Posted 16 years ago by stevo_b    [ Reply ]
Good song, but I agree. Let's give it a rest for a while.
Posted 16 years ago by felam    [ Reply ]
Ahnyer_Keester wrote:
Good song, getting a little worn out on it though. Can we give it a break for a while?
I second that. I'm tickled these guys are getting airplay, but they're SOO much deeper than this song... I'm torn about the local 'alternative' station playing this one to death...
Posted 16 years ago by gandalfbmg    [ Reply ]
Yes it sound Billy Joel, but still a make you feel god song i believe
Posted 16 years ago by marcucho    [ Reply ]
Billy Joel should be suing these morons, like yesterday.
Posted 16 years ago by basilpapademos    [ Reply ]
To Billy Joelish for my taste Mostly like the rest of the album, though.
Posted 16 years ago by oldman    [ Reply ]
Good song, getting a little worn out on it though. Can we give it a break for a while?
Posted 16 years ago by Ahnyer_Keester    [ Reply ]
figsout wrote:
for a CD that was this hyped up before and after release, I didn't think it was that good. It was OK
Its good, but not as good as Gimme Fiction, I don't think....
Posted 16 years ago by Darlington    [ Reply ]
for a CD that was this hyped up before and after release, I didn't think it was that good. It was OK
Posted 16 years ago by figsout    [ Reply ]
Candela wrote:
Hadde aldri hÞrt om Spoon fÞr RP, den er bare pang! Ja ;)
Tack vare RP, har jag hört musik jag aldrig skulle ha hört annars. Hej till Norge, som alltid slår oss i skidor!
Posted 16 years ago by Darkmatter    [ Reply ]
Wait a minute....we just heard another song off this album exactly three hours ago. I like Spoon, and I like both songs, but that's a little too close together IMO.
Posted 16 years ago by musikalia    [ Reply ]
I guess everyone else thought the same thing as I did. Total Billy Joel. Alert the easy listening stations.
Posted 16 years ago by JGD    [ Reply ]
linden wrote:
Yes! And for that reason, I'd like to hear Spoon cover "Captain Jack." They should just come out of the Billy closet.
I'd certainly listen to that cover.
Posted 16 years ago by Marr    [ Reply ]
Marr wrote:
Don't forget that Billy was young and rebellious long before he turned into...... whatever it is he is now. And that young Billy was pretty cool.
Yes! And for that reason, I'd like to hear Spoon cover "Captain Jack." They should just come out of the Billy closet.
Posted 16 years ago by linden    [ Reply ]
mandolin wrote:
...my brain says billy joel - eww!..
Don't forget that Billy was young and rebellious long before he turned into...... whatever it is he is now. And that young Billy was pretty cool.
Posted 16 years ago by Marr    [ Reply ]
...my brain says billy joel - eww!..
Posted 16 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]
Kind of tired of this one.
Posted 16 years ago by Ahnyer_Keester    [ Reply ]
Glockman45 wrote:
I hear an earlier Billy as well.
Ditto!
Posted 16 years ago by Kristi    [ Reply ]
This always puts me in mind of the Private Eye Spoons column. "Has anything amusing ever happened to you in connection with spoons?" "No!" (Apologies to non-Eye readers :))
Posted 16 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
Darkmatter wrote:
I love songs that end with a bang!
Hadde aldri hÞrt om Spoon fÞr RP, den er bare pang! Ja ;)
Posted 16 years ago by Candela    [ Reply ]
I love songs that end with a bang!
Posted 16 years ago by Darkmatter    [ Reply ]
8! :P)
Posted 16 years ago by Candela    [ Reply ]
:D :)
Posted 16 years ago by Candela    [ Reply ]
I will admit to being on a particularly ugly bender, but in my addled view, this tune has no karma. 3.
Posted 16 years ago by keller1    [ Reply ]
Glockman45 wrote:
I hear an earlier Billy as well.
It has that "only the good die young" feel to it.
Posted 16 years ago by nate917    [ Reply ]
This band has been consistently good throughout the years. This CD is no different. Their first CD, Telephono (1996), is a must have.
Posted 16 years ago by chyk5    [ Reply ]
Marr wrote:
I've gotta disagree. The voice may not be identical, but it's close enough to make me think of Billy every time this song comes on. But then perhaps my ears are different.
I hear an earlier Billy as well.
Posted 16 years ago by Glockman45    [ Reply ]
I love this song. Thanks RP for introducing this band to my ears.
Posted 16 years ago by Arowana    [ Reply ]
xkolibuul wrote:
Wizz, the only thing that is not Billy Joel about this song is the vocals.
I've gotta disagree. The voice may not be identical, but it's close enough to make me think of Billy every time this song comes on. But then perhaps my ears are different.
Posted 17 years ago by Marr    [ Reply ]
I was thinking of this song today.. and here it is! Yeeeeay!!
Posted 17 years ago by Candela    [ Reply ]