___ RTS Wednesday, October 18, 1989 The Michigan Daily The g s ngle Page 7 reatest t me1 of all '96 Tears' makes its Mark in history BY NABEEL ZUBERI OBSESSION: I am a stylus Question Mark & the Mysteri- ans' "96 Tears" provides vindication that pop music is more important than Mahler and more sublime than Shostakovich, Schubert or anything else that cultural elitists care to throw at us. My engagement with this piece of vinyl plastic is com- plete. I'm swallowed whole in its depths and moved by all its intimate vibrations. It's rare to be so absorbed by a cultural product. After all, isn't this what every art aspires to - complete entanglement with it. My dangerous liaison with "96 Tears" is sensual, erotic, downright physical. I seek to penetrate it and discover all its potentialities. I'm embedded in its groove; I imagine myself a sty- lus. PRE-HISTORY: Yanks copy Brits copying Yanks The Beatles first came to the U.S. in 1964 but it was the subse- quent invasion of other British groups that was to send satanic shiv- ers through American youngsters. These groups had grown up on dirty rhythm and blues; the Rolling Stones, the Animals, Pretty Things, and The Yardbirds studied every riff and vocal inflection on records by Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson, Chuck Berry and James Brown, and then produced their own bastard offspring. Jagger clapped his hands above his head, did the J.B. shuffle, and American youth was instantly aroused. Flushed girls crossed their legs and boys gripped their guitar necks with purpose. Across the land, young men cranked out songs of angst and frustration in their parents' garages. Punk was born. The phe- nomenon produced countless classics by the likes of The Shadows of Knight, Count Five, Mouse & the Traps, The Standells, the best of whom could transform any song into "Louie Louie.", After Dylan turned the Beatles on to LSD, some of these youngsters experimented and produced the weird- est garage punk. The Chocolate Watchband, Electric Prunes and 13th Floor Elevators had a brief and fruit- ful existence releasing such nuggets as "Fire Engine" and "I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night" before the genre became too laid back, too Californian, and submerged into a trough of "concept" music. Just be- fore the downswing Question Mark & The Mysterians released "96 Tears" on the Cameo Parkway label in 1966. HISTORY: The thing itself The Mysterians were four Mexi- can boys, average age 18, from Aca- pulco: Bobby Balderamma (lead gui- tar), Frank Lugo (bass), Eddie Ser- rato (drums) and Frank Rodriguez (vital organ). After a sojourn in Texas, where they probably chewed too much loco weed, they ended up in Flint, Michigan. Yes, Flint! Lead singer Question Mark joined the group one night when they were playing at the at Mount Holly Ski Lodge. Not even the group were said to know his real name (Rudy Martinez) or anything about his past. He lived alone and reputedly never removed his sunglasses. "96 Tears" was written by Martinez and was No. I for two weeks, selling a million by the end of November 1966. All this historical data is satisfy- ing, but I yearn for the real nuts and bolts of history. I ask the important questions:.Did Question Mark have his shades on when he sang? Did the band record more than one version? What time of day was it when they recorded it? Was it raining outside? What did the guys eat that day? I want to know everything, from the quality of the light to the consis- tency of the air in the studio. SADOMASOCHISM: I love you, I hate you, I need you, you suck Where does the potency of "96 Tears lie? Obviously, a lot of it has IL CLASSIFIED ADS ** ATTENTION: Supreme Course T1ran- scripts, the LS&A lecture notetakmg service, has the following notes avail. at Alpha- Sgraphics Printshops at 715 N. Univ.: Anihro 10r, Anthro 161,Anthro 368 Astro 101/11 Astro 102/112, Class Civ 161 Comm 103, Comm 320, Econ 201, Econ 262, Econ 395, Geog 101, Geol 100, Geol 101, Geol 107, Geol 115, Geol 222, Ilist 160, lust 200, Hist 332, Hist 366, Physics 125 Physics 140, Physics 240 Poli. Sci. 395, lh siology 101, Psych 171, Psych 331 Psych 3'68. Ca ll 663- 6816 for more info. ' UY QUALITY. "CAMPUS REPS NEEDED" ear big com- missions and fre e trips by selling Nas- sau/Paradise Island, Cancun, Mexico, Ja- maica & ski trips to Vermont & Colorado. For more information call toll free 1-800- 344-8360 or in Ct. 203-967-3330. DIAL A JEWISH STORY. 'Another project of the Chabad House. Call 995-5959. Pregnant? Give your baby a loving start in life & help an infertile married couple throu h ado tion. Call collect after 6 PM. 412- 5-0667. Cathy and Alan. SEX!!! Now that we've got your attention, listen up! If you're sing[e and looking for someone to have a good time with then check out T'he University Singles Connection. The University Singles Connection is the weekly pubication where U of M singles come to- ~ ther! For more information about The onnection, write to- The University Singles Connection P.O. Box 7154, Ann Arbor, 48107. Still curious?Take initiativel SUPER QUICK. Everything you need from the drugstore. Village Apothecary. 1112 S. University. THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE. Certified practitioner. Debra K. Rozek, M.A. 663- 7547. to do with the simple, but awe- somely catchy organ riff (Farfisa or Hammond?). But the heart of its greatness is that it's the most honest song written about the torture and pitfalls of love. And apart from Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart" and Iggy's "Your Pretty Face is Going To Hell," "96 Tears" real- izes the paradox of fragility and mal- ice on vinyl. Few songs have such a malicious tendency yet aching heart at the same time. It's plain that Question Mark had known pain to write and sing with such conviction. Just imagine Dostoyevsky's Under- ground Man talking to his prostitute girlfriend. Question Mark initially explains how his girl is "on top," the femme fatale to his subjugated self. The central theme is the subor- dination of one's personality to a lover. Question Mark manages to turn the tables (he doesn't tell us how) on her and he becomes the master, "on top," leaving her to cry 96 tears. But remorse and regret enter the picture as he realizes that he's lost her love forever and he's the one now crying those four score and 16 tears. But the most intriguing and disturbing aspect of this minor, tragedy is the finale, in which Ques- tion Mark repeatedly exclaims, shouts, berates, spits: "you're gonna cry 96 tears/ all night long/ night and day/ let me hear you cry." Has there ever been such a sadistic fade- out in 45 RPM history? Is he con- soling himself in the thought that she will be unhappy as well - that he won't be alone in his misery? Aristotle would have been proud of these boys' abilities to induce catharsis in the listener. You may also ask why 96 rather than 25 or 47 or any other figure. Has Freud told us, or is it a biblical reference? My pet theory - an extremely fanciful one, I'll admit - is that 96 is an inversion of 69, the sexual position, which is itself an inversion of the "norm," and the song deals primarily with inversion of power in a roman- tic relationship. Put that in your pipe and smoke it! POST-HISTORY: The fallout, and am I the song? "96 Tears" has continued to exert a fascination for musicians. Aretha See '96 TEARS', page,8 rr- Read Jim Ponlewozik Every Wekendm Ad vanced Deg ree ,'4 11 /l .. fi ', '', ,. ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT APPLYING TO GRADUATE SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN SCHOOL OF EDUCATION? If es, cme to a meeting: WHEN: 'TODAY, 6 p.m. WHERE: Room 1322 (Tribute Room) School of Education Bldg. Faculty ,and staff will be available to answer questions about programs, financial aid OppOrtunities, and admission requirements. /j"you have questions, call.' OFFICE OF ACADEMIC SERVICES (313) 764-7563 1033 School of Education Bldg. Ulf OffU PhD/MS Quantitative Physical Scientists Physicists Engineers Mathematicians Economists Statisticians/OR The Center for Naval Analyses will be interviewing on campus at the Student Activities Building in the Career Planning and Placement Center on Thursday, October 26, 1989. CNA conducts scientific analyses of operations, system performance, investment, and planning problems for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. We seek people with advanced degrees and strong quantitative backgrounds to conduct studies vital to national security planning in this era of new uncertainty. Check the Career Planning and Placement Center for written and video information. If interested, please schedule to meet our representative. Candidates After 100 After your first 100 copies of a single sheet original, the rest are Half Price!