Song of the Day 4/26: Fleetwood Mac, “Tusk”
Does Weird Al Yankovic take requests? If so, would someone please forward mine? I think this Lindsey Buckingham tune screams out for use as a salute to the current world’s richest man and second-greatest egotistical con artist, Elon Musk. C’mon, Al! A waiting world needs “Musk.”
“Tusk” might be Fleetwood Mac’s unlikeliest hit — it reached No. 8 after its 1979 release as the title track and first single from the band’s 1979 follow-up to “Rumours,” but its pounding tom-toms and loud horns make it sound unlike anything else in their catalogue.
The brass was provided by the University of Southern California marching band, whose 112 members made this the Top 10 hit featuring the most musicians. Their participation also helped make the tune a marching-band staple, still heard in football stadiums around the country every fall.
The video was shot in Dodger Stadium, but John McVie was in Tahiti at the time, which is why Mick Fleetwood carries a cardboard cutout of the bassist in a few shots.
I’ve been lookin’ for some tusk.
Considered Tusk to be trash when it came out, change it to Musk and it’s got to be an improvement. Especially if it’s dripping with satire.
I’m not breaking news to say that “Rumours” was lightning in a bottle and such a towering smash that whatever came next was doomed. I never liked the song until just now. Re the video: nice opportunity for Stevie Nicks to show here baton chops.
They were pretty good early on when the great Peter Green was playing guitar. Bluesier, of course.
Nothing good to say about Elon Muskrat.
Didn’t like the song or the album. Having said that, I give them props for trying to avoid the formulaic.
Seems to me you could do a whole lot with this song. Maybe I’ll work on an alternative set of lyrics:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBYV_7a0FQs
Toni Tennile was a hell of a singer, but I’m afraid of what the algorithms will serve me having watched that video.
Always hated this band. Meh.