Chrissie Hynde of the Band Pretenders Roots for West's Loss Against Iraq "GIVE US WHAT WE DESERVE"

San Francisco Chronicle via Drudge ^ | March 3, 2003 | Neva Chonin

[DeepInEnemyTerritory]

Ten songs into the Pretenders' Saturday show at the Warfield, singer- guitarist Chrissie Hynde pithily summed up her group's enduring appeal and, in the process, the appeal of rock music as a whole.

"I think our band represents all the great losers of the world," she told a cheering sold-out crowd. "Because it's all about the losing." With that, she handed off her guitar, grabbed the microphone and led the Pretenders into the power ballad/anti-anthem "The Losing," off their 2002 album, "Loose Screw."

[kaktuskid]

Or Toby Keith

[battlegearboat]

You and I have something in common.

[Libertina]

BUMP for like minds :)

[Senator Goldwater]

"She is probably getting royalties for his playing it."

She should. I'm all for rewarding one's creativity. It happens to be a great number.

[DBtoo]

The trash broad may have bad politics, but she is very talented. ZZ Top and the Pretenders were/are 2 of my favorite bands.

[raccoonradio]

Yup. She's from Akron, OH (a pretty nice city; I have a friend in the radio biz there and visited him last year).
The song Rush uses is called "My City Was Gone" (presumably about the Tire City) and does pop up on classic rock/alternative stations. Lyrics, in case you're wondering (found on Net):

(the pulsating bassline you hear on Rush's show starts, and then...)
I WENT BACK TO OHIO
BUT MY CITY WAS GONE
THERE WAS NO TRAIN STATION
THERE WAS NO DOWNTOWN
SOUTH HOWARD HAD DISAPPEARED
ALL MY FAVORITE PLACES
MY CITY HAD BEEN PULLED DOWN
REDUCED TO PARKING SPACES
A, O, WAY TO GO OHIO

WELL I WENT BACK TO OHIO
BUT MY FAMILY WAS GONE
I STOOD ON THE BACK PORCH
THERE WAS NOBODY HOME
I WAS STUNNED AND AMAZED
MY CHILDHOOD MEMORIES
SLOWLY SWIRLED PAST
LIKE THE WIND THROUGH THE TREES
A, O, OH WAY TO GO OHIO

I WENT BACK TO OHIO
BUT MY PRETTY COUNTRYSIDE
HAD BEEN PAVED DOWN THE MIDDLE
BY A GOVERNMENT THAT HAD NO PRIDE
THE FARMS OF OHIO
HAD BEEN REPLACED BY SHOPPING MALLS
AND MUZAK FILLED THE AIR
FROM SENECA TO CUYAHOGA FALLS
SAID, A, O, OH WAY TO GO OHIO

[js1138]

I have great news for Chrissie Hynde. the Iraqi people ARE winning!

[SamAdams76]

Message to Chrissie Hynde...

How do you like us now?

V

[js1138]

THERE WAS NO TRAIN STATION

It's about cincinatti. I've been through it a dozen times and thoughtit was the ugliest thing I've ever seen -- until they started tearing it down. Then it was suddenly beautiful.

The marxist tile murals were moved to the airport where they continue to pollute. I wonder how they got past security.

[Yeti]

Not to offend anyone, but didn't one of her pre-success songs say "yeah, well I shot off my mouth and he showed me what that hole was for" or something like that?

I am almost sure that was her. I'm thinking maybe she showed some real insight about herself when she wrote that.

[raccoonradio]

Oh, OK; I thought it was about Akron--since she refers to it as "my city" (she's an Akronite) and "Cuyahoga Falls"
is right next to Akron. If Cincy is the real subject of the song, though, then I stand corrected :)

[js1138]

maybe it's about all cities. I don't want to give them much credit for poetry, but I've felt that way about my home town.