In 1993 I was the only freshman on the varsity basketball team, and I wore my Blind Melon bee girl t-shirt to the first practice. Oh man, did I get alienated by the older boys that day. I never regained my confidence with those guys, and that's how I found out I'm not a jock. If I had worn my other Sam Goody shirt, the Public Enemy one, maybe things would have gone differently and I would have gone on to be a deeply unhappy basketball star. I'm fortunate to have my inner bee girl seen at an early age, so I could hang up the hi-tops and engage in bee girl pursuits like music and poetry. Thanks for the reminder!
Always loved this song and album. 'Change' was another great one and I remember a radio station I listened to playing it right after the announcement that Shannon Hoon had died.
"The Bee Girl, tap-dancing through a world that doesn’t get her, is the most accurate depiction of my adolescence that’s ever been broadcast on basic cable."
This couldn't be more accurate or resonate more with me than almost anything you've written this year. I felt this then, and I feel it now. I just watched the video again this morning before I posted this to see how it hit, and it was no less powerful than it ever was. Your writing always speaks to me, and it's a gift I wish I had. Please don't stop sharing.
Older brothers do not want you in their room. Unfortunately, younger brothers will do anything they can to invade this sacred space.
A space covered in caution tape, fist sized holes in the wall, and posters that were better than any horror movie VHS box art found at the local video store.
What’s up with that naked baby in the pool?
Why are they smashing pumpkins? That’s perfectly good pumpkin.
The 90’s… did it get any better?
I adore blind melon. Shannon has a voice you either love or hate. The guitar work on this and later albums sticks to me like pine sap.
The bee girl was me. I was her. I loved your piece on Night Moves, because that song truly is one of my all time favorites. This however, this resonates with me on an entirely different level.
OMG this was one of my favourite songs as a preteen/teen!!! I'd sit in front of VH1 all day, hoping that No Rain would pop up next (this was in the 2000s before YouTube was widespread). Thank you for this unexpected trip down memory lane ☺️🐝
“In the ’90s, we thought the future would be a place where everyone finally understood each other. Instead, it’s a place where everyone is yelling at each other in the comments section.” Spot on.
This is so great! Excellent description and interpretation of the song. I graduated in 1988, but I was living in Chicago in 1992 and saw Live, Blind Melon (for both of these bands it was just before they hit it big), PIL and Big Audio Dynamite II. One of the best concerts!
“But No Rain isn’t really about the Bee Girl. It’s about the feeling you get when you realize that being sad is sometimes the most interesting thing about you.”
This sentiment is also echoed in Nirvana’s Frances Farmer will have her revenge: “I miss the comfort in being sad.” These two songs always seemed of a pair to me. And both released in 1993.
Have I just not been paying attention and missed the thread (VERY likely) but sad songs in rock and pop music seem dominated by the feminine pov while the masculine sad theme dominates in country? With folk splitting more evenly? And of course many such songs have been flipped by different artist’s performing them.
In 1993 I was the only freshman on the varsity basketball team, and I wore my Blind Melon bee girl t-shirt to the first practice. Oh man, did I get alienated by the older boys that day. I never regained my confidence with those guys, and that's how I found out I'm not a jock. If I had worn my other Sam Goody shirt, the Public Enemy one, maybe things would have gone differently and I would have gone on to be a deeply unhappy basketball star. I'm fortunate to have my inner bee girl seen at an early age, so I could hang up the hi-tops and engage in bee girl pursuits like music and poetry. Thanks for the reminder!
My pleasure entirely.
I have always loved Blind Melon! Great write up that makes me understand why.
From a class of 1995 graduate 😊
Always loved this song and album. 'Change' was another great one and I remember a radio station I listened to playing it right after the announcement that Shannon Hoon had died.
That’s a superb choice as well.
Never make me have to hold back tears on front of the family ever again.
"The Bee Girl, tap-dancing through a world that doesn’t get her, is the most accurate depiction of my adolescence that’s ever been broadcast on basic cable."
This couldn't be more accurate or resonate more with me than almost anything you've written this year. I felt this then, and I feel it now. I just watched the video again this morning before I posted this to see how it hit, and it was no less powerful than it ever was. Your writing always speaks to me, and it's a gift I wish I had. Please don't stop sharing.
Older brothers do not want you in their room. Unfortunately, younger brothers will do anything they can to invade this sacred space.
A space covered in caution tape, fist sized holes in the wall, and posters that were better than any horror movie VHS box art found at the local video store.
What’s up with that naked baby in the pool?
Why are they smashing pumpkins? That’s perfectly good pumpkin.
The 90’s… did it get any better?
I adore blind melon. Shannon has a voice you either love or hate. The guitar work on this and later albums sticks to me like pine sap.
St. Andrew’s Fall is one my favorites.
The bee girl was me. I was her. I loved your piece on Night Moves, because that song truly is one of my all time favorites. This however, this resonates with me on an entirely different level.
Change hits pretty hard these days:
But I know we can't all stay here forever
So I'm gonna write my words on the face of today
And then they'll paint it
OMG this was one of my favourite songs as a preteen/teen!!! I'd sit in front of VH1 all day, hoping that No Rain would pop up next (this was in the 2000s before YouTube was widespread). Thank you for this unexpected trip down memory lane ☺️🐝
It was my pleasure
“In the ’90s, we thought the future would be a place where everyone finally understood each other. Instead, it’s a place where everyone is yelling at each other in the comments section.” Spot on.
This is so great! Excellent description and interpretation of the song. I graduated in 1988, but I was living in Chicago in 1992 and saw Live, Blind Melon (for both of these bands it was just before they hit it big), PIL and Big Audio Dynamite II. One of the best concerts!
“But No Rain isn’t really about the Bee Girl. It’s about the feeling you get when you realize that being sad is sometimes the most interesting thing about you.”
This sentiment is also echoed in Nirvana’s Frances Farmer will have her revenge: “I miss the comfort in being sad.” These two songs always seemed of a pair to me. And both released in 1993.
I enjoyed this article. Thank you.
Have I just not been paying attention and missed the thread (VERY likely) but sad songs in rock and pop music seem dominated by the feminine pov while the masculine sad theme dominates in country? With folk splitting more evenly? And of course many such songs have been flipped by different artist’s performing them.
this is perfect
Thank you so much.
“It’s a song about the desire to escape — not from the world, but from the relentless pressure to have an opinion about everything.”
Well done, good sir.
One for you, brother.