Here's Something New To Get Upset About!
Are you aware of the "coastie" controversy that is currently rocking Madison, WI? Apparently it has something to do with this terrible song, which some have accused of being anti-Semitic in its depiction of the titular "coastie," a "privileged East or West Coast transplant, often a woman of a certain look: black tights, Ugg boots, oversize sunglasses and sporting a Starbucks cup." Milwaukee's Journal Sentinel is on the case.
"Most of the Jewish students interviewed for this story said they find the tune and video 'What's a Coastie' by UW-Madison undergrads Cliff Grefe and Quincy Harrison – who are not Jewish – harmless and funny." Wait for it, though: "But some are offended." It seems there are many historical issues concerning prejudice and disdain for those from the nation's shores, which seems odd given that we all know the only victims of regional animosity in this country are those who hail from the middle and southern parts. Anyway, during this holiday season, perhaps we could all join hands and at the very least agree: The song really sucks, no matter where you're from. [Via]
New York's Alright if You Like Saxophones
Also, this song is derivative from Insane Clown Posse's "What is a Juggalo?"
Always it starts with the jokes.
First they made fun of the communists wearing black tights all day, and I did not speak out because I was not a communist…
Brats.
As in rhymes with hats or rhymes with tots?
I might be offended if it were an actual video, but a picture slide show? So Middle-America.
Fail.
I can only assume that the Square Four theatre and mall that was ripped down to build luxury student housing (replete with sidewalk-level retail straight out of some kind of Williamsburg gentrification wet dream) has something to do with it.
And is that KK the Kollege Klub? Really? I am SHOCKED that anything characterized as "stuck up" could also be associated with the Kollege Klub. I used to live in the shithole Chateau co-op across the street (before it was closed for basically, crimes against humanity) and we used to watch the KK crowd come out at night (in their shorts) and pee on the wall, throw beer bottles at our house, and then vomit on their girlfriends.
I wonder if they still serve CMFs there? Lethal.
One night I watched Chris Chelios exit the KK, walk over to a red Spree, pick it up and throw it into a newspaper box. He didn't say a word, just continued on to the Church Key.
That's filming-Back-to-School era trivia!
Senior year I lived above what used to be Brown's Bookstore, before becoming the University Bookstore's Digital Outpost. Once saw the 350 lb. Aaron Gibson stumbling home, propped up by a guy who was barely pushing 175 lbs., during the Packers-Patriots Super Bowl.
Yes indeedy….I can point out many, many friends in the scene on Bascom Hill.
I iz old.
At least you have good movie nostalgia. We got Keanu Reeves filming Chain Reaction.
They tore down the Square Four? I saw DO THE RIGHT THING there.
It's where I saw that terrible "thriller" where John Lithgow plays his own evil twin. I also bought Morissey's Your Arsenal in "The Den" there.
And Paisan's! The gold medal level Italian place that was as close to a fancy meal as I ever had there.
I was going to make some joke about how "coastie" actually refers to Coast Guard cadets, who actually wear snappy white uniforms and only don Uggs and leggings during hazing week, but I'm seriously just phoning it in today.
Also, this just shows how all UW students have gone soft. When older generations were upset at goings-on in Madison, they'd meet at the Nitty Gritty and then go blow up Sterling Hall or something. Now, a song? I bet they cancel classes now for a little snow too (UPDATE: THEY DO!)
They also go to the Nitty Gritty in Middleton instead. Closer to the condo.
Next you're going to tell me State Street has a Starbucks and a Gap….
I love it when Northeastern suburb trash travel someplace gross to be educated against their will and come back talking about how bigoted all the people are in State X.
…but also how their time in State X really widened their horizons and made them more cosmopolitan.
How come all the women in the video are shiksas?
Leave my mother out of this.
I love it at 2:08:
Always up in Van Vleck,
"I have a question"
And the two guys from Wisconsin are sitting there, incredulous, that a person would actually ask a question in a lecture.
When I was in Wisconsin, it really was the norm not to draw attention to oneself in any way; "speak in class if called upon" was the rule. Jewish Honeys might have a hard time with this, having grown up with the Jewish tradition of participatory, dialogue-based learning.
One of these mopes is from Bloomington, Indiana.
A lot of people there thought Bob Knight was Jewish.
My friend mentioned in the Homocide post is from Bloomington.
Well, she sounds like a gem.
Hey, they have a good J-school there, too!!
Yeah, she's really fucking rad.
"J-school" those are called Yeshivas.
If you have one Noodles and Company for every square mile, you have nothing to complain about.
There was at least a $2/beer difference in price from the coastie bars (White Horse/Paul's) and the midwesterners bars (KK, Monday's and that awful one across from the former University Square).
I liked Genna's the best anyway.
Because coasties are rich. Or Jewish or something. WHY IS EVERYONE SO RACIST?!?!?
Brothers!?
Yes! That was the one. Particularly if you wanted to see a fight between large people.
Large people fighting? I would have said La Bamba's at 4 am.
That, Taco Bell (still there!) and Parthenon were the Holy Trinity of desperation, vomit and violence.
Well, I remember when they put the security guard in the taco bell and locked the bathrooms (permanently). That was a sign the arty was over.
They started closing it early, like around 10pm, when I was there. Didn't even want to tempt the latenight crowd. This was in '96 or so.
Gyros! Is there ANYTHING better at 2am? I think not.
Other than the possible company of another human? No. Though the La Bamba burritos came close. A friend once ate two of them. He was never seen again.
I wonder if "Sister Pat" is still yelling at people on State street. "If you have SEXUAL INTERCOURSE as a freshman, you will be a LEZ-BEE-AN by your senior year."
Good times!
Indeed, this video misses an opportunity to mention Scanner Dan and his ongoing efforts to charm the cute co-eds.
Nick's was the best place, as they had cheap good beer AND pie. I liked going to Genna's because at a certain point in the early 00's, it was always good for a game of watch who's drunkenly hitting on the bassist from Garbage.
Genna's was also great because Howard the bartender (black guy, dreads, lots of ink) would take very good care of you if you were a regular.
Is anyone else upset that the coastal fashion stereotype now abroad in Flyover Country is tights? And Uggs? And tights with Uggs? And tights with heels? And tights with v-necks? And tights with anything? I always thought tights were so hideously recherche they must have emerged from the timeless macaroni swamps of Flyover Country like the atavistic reflux of some great sin (probably the term "Flyover Country").