4 - The Michigan Daily - Weekend etc. - Thursday, September 29, 1994 Dee Dee' By MATT CARLSON The Ramones. An American clas- sic band. Four guys from Brooklyn furiously pounding their guitars and drum set seemingly without reason and creating some of the best rock 'n' roll ever pressed to vinyl. Dee Dee Ramone, the band's bass player and main songwriter, always had a rough time in the spotlight, however. He usually blended in with the seedy underbelly of New York City - the grimy clubs, the hazy Ramone: alleyways, the darkened streets. And, Dee Dee, like so many other rock icons from the '70s, battled a heroin addiction that seemed to in- spire his song writing with a dark passion, bringing his words to new heights. He co-wrote "Chinese Rocks," detailing the perils of dope. Some people must have certainly thought he returned to shooting smack in 1989, when he released "Standing in the Spotlight," his first solo album. raps him Good ol' Dee Dee, always thejokester, released an album of rap songs, with enough camp to rival Adam West. But therein lies the joke - Dee Dee was not joking. Quite suddenly after leaving the Ramones, he began to think of himself as a streetwise rapper. "Dee Dee isn't a rap artist," said Ramones' drummer Marky, "he's a seff up into a new package A U U AVOID RUSH! You are already accepted at CAMPUS CHAPEL 1236 Washtenaw Court (one block south of Geddes & Washtenaw) 668-7421/662-2402 SUNDAY WORSHIP: 10 a.m. & 6 p.m. Wednesday: 9-10 p.m., Undergraduate University Student Group Meeting-fun, refreshments, provocative discussions. rock artist. I thought it was sort of unusual. One day he started wearing Mercedes Benz chains around his neck and gold rings. It was crazy. You know, I really think he lost his mind." Oh yes, he definitely did lose his mind, at least temporarily. "Standing in the Spotlight" will go down in the annals of American popular music as one of the worst recordings of all time. Which, naturally makes it one hell of a great collector's item. Dee Dee's style of rap is some- thing out of Snoop Dogg's and Chuck D's worst nightmares. Imagine, ifyou will, a pimply-faced teenager whose voice keeps cracking. Now, throw in an adult's voice from Charles Schultz's "Peanuts" cartoons. You know, the indecipherable "wah-wa- wah-wah." Finally, imagine a rapper who has no rhythm. Presto! You have Dee Dee King. Listen to his wise words. Actu- ally, you don't have to listen closely, for Dee Dee has included the lyrics, a good thing, because you may not be able to hear them over the roar of your laughter. Now, the Ramones' lyrics aren't exactly on the same literary levels as Shakespeare or Milton, or even Mad Magazine, but Dee Dee plummeted to the depths of stupidity for these "gems." "Standing in the Spotlight" opens with a cover of the oldie but goodie "Mashed Potato Time," with a little of Dee Dee'sown embellishment with the words: "The mashed potato is in the groove / It's gonna make your body move / Make you snap, crackle and pop!/ I'm the master of hip hop." Or: "I'm as cool as they come / you other rappers better runI I'm as strong as Sly Stallone /I take the beat home." At least Dee Dee copped the right attitude for this one. Everyone knows that all rappers love to brag about their dope rhymes and beats. But, unfortunately, Dee Dee ends up brag- ging about a rap that's done in some sort of off-rhythm samba beat. Dee Dee saved the best for later though, as you'll never be able to recover from the brilliant stupidity of "German Kid." It appears as if Dee Dee is proud of his ancestry for in this little ditty he raps "You wouldn't be- lieve / The places I've been / It's pretty cool / To be half German /Slap me five / Give me some skin /1I used to live / In Berlin." He then actually spews forth some rhymes in German! And you don't have to be multi-lin- gual to figure out that the words aren't much better in a different language. Oddly, the album was produced by Daniel Rey and released on Sire Records. Also, as another added bo- nus, Debbie Harry sings backup on "Mashed Potato Time" and "German Kid." So, many people were involved. "Standing in the Spotlight" was a very embarrassing joke for Dee Dee Ramone. He managed to eventually live it down (except when Tower Records' employees placed the record at the front of the bargain bin when Dee Dee frequented the store) and has gotten back into the rock scene with !his new band The Chinese Dragons; Dee Dee is and will always be 4 ,Ramone, but for one not-so-shini4 moment, he was Dee Dee King -- tough, suave and very idiotic. "Stand- ng in the Spotlight" is definitely a priceless gem worth picking up. Fall Lessons Every Sunday Night Main Dance Room, CCRB 7:00pm Beginning Lessons 8:00pm General Dancing Everybody is welcome! No partner necessary! It's Free! There is no pre-registration. Just show up at the beginning of the. lessons whenever you like. Dress is casua For More Information Call: 663-9213 * Student ID or users pass needed to enter CCRB UN i roN ?fne Y6?6 S. SALE.SALEeSALE Diamond Back TOPANGA Suggested Retail 449.00359 Diamond Back OUTLOOK Suggested Retail 229.00 . 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