The 404 1,485: Where Andrew W.K. is the ninth wonder of the world
The 404 1,485: Where Andrew W.K. is the ninth wonder of the world
40:56

The 404 1,485: Where Andrew W.K. is the ninth wonder of the world

Culture
It's the May 14, 2014, I'm Ariel Nunez. And from our CBS studios in New York City, welcome to The 404. [MUSIC]. [MUSIC] What's going on everyone. Welcome to the 404 Show. I'm Jeff Bakalar. My guest today is one of the most unique people I have ever met. He is a singer, he is a songwriter, columnist, producer Sir, you are the dark lord of partying. Did you know that? But, but no, I always thought of myself as the the, the brighter lord but I'll take what I can get. When it comes to lords, you can't get too choosy. Lord is good, you are a true modern-day renaissance man. Ladies and Gentleman please help me welcome Andrew W K, a round of applause for Andrew W K. Okay. There's a smile. That's, that's very nice. How are you man? I'm doing very nicely thank you for having me back. We were just talking about this, five years ago. It seems like a lot less than that. It seems like maybe four and a half years. Okay. Since I was in your old studio. Right. And had the time of my life. You did. I, I, I remember it quite clearly, not exactly in terms of what happened but in terms of a lot of laughs. Sure. A lot of good cheer. What a joy and I'm happy to be back again and not only in a beautiful news studio that is soon to be replaced once again. Sure. We, it's like this ritual we're doing, we're trying it out every six months, tear it down and build it back up again. You know, I think it's probably the the set designers, the contractors, the people that have that job, they wanted, they're lobbying to get a new set. Sure. That we're onto their little racket that they're into. But you know what, it's, it's a good racket look we got beautiful woods, we got something that looks like stone. It is emulating stone. And this beautiful flat screen I think we were still on those old styled tube monitors. We had a tube monitor, the live monitor was coming in through an antenna, and a closed circuit feed. Yeah so. Next time it might be one of those holographic monitors that have been seeing on the futuristic movies and tv shows. Right all of that it always, it's gonna be like the, the deck of the, the, the Starship Enterprise. Was actually trying to reference silicon valley Gavin what's his last name? Gavin Belson. Right. He tried to use that holographic communicator, sort of a video screen like we might What was it called? It was called something funny. [LAUGH] ridiculous name, but it didn't work too well. It didn't and he was yelling at his IT guy. And he said "well, I see you didn't set it up here correctly" and he said "I paid you to set it up". Mike Judge, obviously. I have another friend that consulted on the show Clay Tarver. Oh, right on. An excellent writer and, and, creative person in his own right. And then also T J Miller. Yeah. As a, sort of a, a, a, defining character in this, this great series. As uh-. This is his break out right here. He's had many break outs. He's already broken out. I mean, he's, he's breaking out of his breakouts. Right. And now he suffered from acne, I think as many of us did, severe breakouts as a younger person. But this is more. Different kind of breakout. Yeah, acne of the soul Right. So. Absolutely. And it's a good kind of breakout. He's breaking out of the acne of his career, perhaps. Well, Yogi Bear 3D. Well, look, that was tough. No, no, no, he's quite proud of it and I, I, have you seen that film? It's fantastic. I have not seen it yet. I recommend it. It's, yeah, Anna Faris Okay. Is in it as well, so if you like you know, beautiful blondies, she's wonderful, and then there's two very charming bears. Right. One Boo Boo done by Justin Timberlake. Okay. And then I believe Dan Aykroyd is doing the voice of Yogi Bear himself, so it's actually a fantastic film. And the first time I met TJ Miller was on a show, not dissimilar to this, sort of a talk show, TV show, on the computer, available in many different formats. And he knocked on my dressing room, we're always guzzling something that looked like water. Okay. Hi nice to meet you my name is TJ Miller you might remember me from Yogi Bear 3D. And this was only a few months after the movie had come out. So he immediately referenced that. And I thought I gotta get into this dude, cuz this, this is a good vibe. Yeah, he seems overwhelmingly pump, pumped about that. It, it was, it was a very cool vibe. And I recommend Silicon Valley to anyone who hasn't it. It, it's, it's going strong, I think we're on almost the 8th episode now. Yeah, it's going strong. we're fans of the show that show. We talk about it a, a great deal. Cuz it refers. To your, your, your? Yeah, absolutely. It's right in our wheelhouse. Wheelhouse, yeah. Absolutely, so it's been five years Mr. Andrew W.K. You say four and a half, I say five, so Something like that. What, what's six months between friends, all right? Yeah. What else, what else has transpired in this, in this half decade for you, sir. That's the thing. I mean, it really does just seem like yesterday. I don't know if that's good or bad. I I think that's good. Well is it good if, if, if being born seems just like yesterday? Have you accumulated any life experience or memories or, or, or thoughts to reflect that? Right, I would, I would argue that it's not right to blank on 30 some odd years. But,but,but. Four and a half is I'm okay with four and a half. Okay, alright. For sure. I remember that, so that's my touchstone. The last time I was on the 404, that's sort of my four and a half, five year touchstone. I remember a few peripheral things around that event coming on the show, like using the restroom. Sure. I ate as steak dinner. That night. No, no. This is like a week or two on either side. Oh! Okay, okay. I'm just trying to piece it back together. Sure, sure, sure. It's all a blur. Yeah and then I have sort of nothing until five years previous to that when I started taking piano lessons again. Which was I guess yeah, almost ten years ago. So, I have certain memories. I remember graduating from high school. Okay. Which also seems just like yesterday [CROSSTALK] Yeah. Did that, do you have that, that same experience that [CROSSTALK] I do. Back in college Play close to you. They come, they, they seem like they're somehow meshed together. Those four year chunks? Yeah. You didn't go to graduate school or anything? No I didn't. Okay. I did not achieve such a degree. Which is another four year chunk. That's it. But I do tend to sort of analyze my life in four year chunks because you remember the high school chunk and you remember the college chunk. And it's an easier way to sort of piece together time frames like that. You. School based reality. Yeah. Our timeline is based on four year chunks. And that's fine by me. But when you can't remember anything but except the beginning of one and the ending of the other then you must be really having a lot of fun. I, I would think so. Or something like that. It's a long, it's a long period of time to not remember anything. And you know what, it's not that long. It's not, it's not. I mean, 40 years. That's, that's a big [CROSSTALK] Then you're pushing it for sure. so, you know, we're here in New York. You're a big New York City enthusiast as we all. We love the city. You're gonna be at the strand book store. Huh. May 22nd. Does that mean that this is available before that happens? Certainly is. Okay. And if it's after, then they had a great time. It it would've been great. So it, it's a win-win. There we go. [LAUGH] I, I, I yeah, there's a great event coming up at, at a great book store. I mean, Absolutely. talk about a New York landlord. Absolutely Strand Books. A beautiful very large bookstore. Especially in the day of book as they are now. I'm mean, there's still a lot of big retailers, and books being sold over the computer and what not. But this store has held on in, all kinds of environments, and all different eras of New York and. A great writer name Phillip Crandall has created a book about my first, my first rock and roll album an album called I Get Wet, and he, and he's doing an event there, and I'm going to come by and say hello. And it'll be a celebration of that record, book. Well, hopefully, yes, and his book, though, it's really about his book-. Right. Cuz he put I'd say maybe not as much time but, but much more effort and thought and care into creating the book about the album than the album itself. And that's a testament to his his enthusiasm and, and to his erudite Approach. Sure. Mm, So I like the way you describe that. Arudite? Acrudite, Crudite, Crudite? That's what I was thinking, orders they are very perplexing thing. They get mixed up in the vernacular. All that ranch dip and small portions and-. It some how creeps its way back in. Moosh, boosh, Moosh, boosh, are you a foie gras. That's goose live? duck. Oh duck liver. yeah I got it and it was good. Yeah. Very smooth. Yeah. Very, that's an amazing flavor cause it's, it's, and it's subtle as it is strong. I kinda struggle with it. Well it's appetizing in as much as it is not. You know what I mean? Absolutely it's like an oyster. And I was like here's a, a cup of snot. Well, yeah, that's more of a text, well I guess they both have like a smooth textures. Yeah. Foie gras kind of has a, has almost like a seafood element to it. I could see that. I really like oysters. I never had a problem with them the way that, I guess even some of my close family has. Yeah. To me, I chew them up. I don't try to just get rid of them. I'll take em plain without any. Accoutrement, accoutrement? Accoutrement. Mon. Accoutrement. Mon. Mon. Mon. You gotta, you really gotta hang. [CROSSTALK] You remember that? Yeah, a little bit. Well, he's, he's talking about the new Mini Winnie, Winnebago, and he says there's a lot accoutrements, but then he second-guesses himself and says accoutrement. And then he second guesses.>> Second guessing himself. Second guesses himself and that sort of explains the whole. Joke. Ordeal, he was going through, yeah. Speaking of periods of time, it's been what, 13 years, since I Get Wet, almost? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, it came out in 2001, my first album. Right. In the UK, in parts of Europe and Asia. And then 2002 here in the United States, well, or North America and whatnot. Sure. So 12 years in some ways, and 13 in others. It's a, I think it's an album that presents a very positive message. It It sounds cheerful. It sounds cheerful. I think it hit at a time where, where people could use a smile in the United States, perhaps. Especially in the city. Yeah, yeah yeah yeah. I want to know more about that and it being possibly a love letter to New York. Would you, would you describe it as that? Well, well absolutely cuz every single song on there I wrote in New York having moved to New York as an 18 year old. Not quite sure what I wanted to do, but wanted to do something. Sure. And do something with all my heart basically and I had never really considered going into music or entertainment field or whatever but had some kind of an epiphany. Upon moving here having also considered going to college. Sure. And not just in New York but in Chicago. Went to open houses. Went to an NYU open house or part of one before I, I left. Sort of, not from boredom, but from a, a very clear sense that I'm not supposed to go back to school. And then, then I just decided wow everything that I like or that I enjoy doing I can do in this particular field of, what they call the living arts or whatever. You know, entertainment, show business. Whether it's painting or drawing or clothes stuff or dancing, performing, movie making, videos. Sure. Of course singing, music. There's a place for all of it. And it was odd because sometimes what you're meant to do if there is such a thing, is that one, that the, in one way the most obvious thing and also the least expected. Right. Cuz if someone had told me ten years earlier when I was you know, eight or nine or ten years old. That I would end up doing this. I would have not been surprised and also, been shocked because it, it was too close to home. It was like someone saying, you should be a professional walker cuz it just seemed very inherent. Like, well, you walk, you like music, you sing you know, you draw doodles and stuff but I never thought you could do it as your your, your, your destiny. So so I, I give big credit to New York City and the Big Apple Manhattan for pulling that out of me. Yeah. Or, or, or, or, or, or, or dragging me to it so, so I could do this. And it was a really intense time. And I definitely wanted a boost. I'm someone who's struggled with not feeling so good. Right. Like a lot of folks can relate to and I decided if I'm gonna devote my life to something. I would like it to be something that cheers me up, that's a cheerful feeling and maybe hopefully cheers other people. Absolutely, so it was burst tier for sure? Yeah it was the birthing process. It was l, lot of labor intensive, but, you know? It was, it was a lot of work. And it was painful in ways, but as as with any type of labor and, and giving birth the pain gives away to a prize. Absolutely. And the prize is very cherishable. Speaking of the prize, when you're, in your labor towards the, the record. We were told, tell it, can you confirm or deny, we were told that you wrote party hard with the person who also wrote I Don't Want to Miss a Thing. Is that a true statement? The person, Diane Warren? Diane Warren. no, that is, that is, that is-. That is not true. That is not true, but I have also heard, I've been asked this before and let me just say for the record that I think Diane is a well, first of all an incredible talent. Sure. An incredible songwriter. I've enjoyed her work for many years and she's also, a very wonderful person, very unique and extremely disciplined. Probably in any field that I've ever come across, one of the most disciplined, and hardworking people that is out there, you know, she's like an Olympic athlete when it comes to music. Excellent. So but, yeah, but no, she did not work on the song directly. Okay. We talked about your, your overwhelming positivity. You have a new gig as a Village Voice columnist. Yeah. Which is going really well. We love what you, you're doing over there. It's fantastic. I appreciate that thank you. We definitely recommend everyone checking it out. But that actually led us to find a few photographs. Mm-hm. That the Village Boys had published. And we wondered if we could just sort of take a trip down memory lane. Sure. With the person there-. Well there's a photo on on every advice column, is that what you mean? Well, these are more from your modeling years. Have you seen this from Village Voice? Yeah. Have I opened up something? No, no. No, no, no. It's not. Andrew WK. Cuz can I just tell you something? How devastatingly handsome you are in some of these photographs here. [LAUGH] I mean, this is remarkable, sir. Well. Look at that. I would, whatever you're selling, I'm buying. I believe it's wool turtle necks. These are 100% wool meant to be worn in the summer. Sure. It's part of a sort of a bick room yoga, hot yoga approach. [INAUDIBLE] All day long. [CROSSTALK]. When this went up this was a, it's one of those things where, it's, it's humiliating. No. But it's also uplifting. Sure. It, it's that, it, you can tell it's a healing process. This is something I try to block out. Yeah. So forgive me for-. No, no, no. It's good cuz I'm, I'm over it. Taking a step. So it What happened? Meaning [INAUDIBLE] already repulsive. Gotcha. And I already went through this and uh,-. [LAUGH] And I've embraced it. I, I, I, I'm a big believer in purging one's soul. Sure. Of, of, painful, withheld information. Painful? You're describing this as painful? Well some of these poses, you wouldn't believe it. Oh, I don't think it's painful. My lower back, would, would, would, would hurt. Obviously that wool turtleneck. There's no, so not emotional pain, physical pain. Well, this, with the physical pain gets intense enough, it becomes emotional pain. Right, absolutely. Now, there, there are some [INAUDIBLE]. There is-. Yeah. There is one here where you, you-. There's another page too. Yeah, there's, we're gonna, we're gonna click that. [LAUGH]. We're just gonna click that page. Well, there's one where you, I mean, that's Pra-, that's like Prada right there. I believe that's, those are Tom Ford glasses, so that's actually, more recent cuz he-. What was the direction? Hadn't broken off into his own thing until more recently? What was the direction for that photograph? Just looking towards the the east. The East. No, that's the West. Well, depending, which, if you're looking at it or if you're in my point of view. I'm not gonna lie, Andrew. There's a really good looking person right there. Well, that's very kind of you and, and right back at you. Well, it's nice of you to lie. And then we finish it off with, like, the American Psycho sort of. I had never thought of that un, until people had pointed that out. Yeah. But I guess that's a great film of course I've enjoyed it many times. Sure. And I appreciated the, the grooming, is that? Yeah we can go grooming. The word they use for for men's presentable [UNKNOWN]. [UNKNOWN], that's the theme today. Oh, yeah. You, you, there's some anger behind those eyes in this photo. Is there? [CROSSTALK] No, I wasn't angry at all. I was trying to look as closely as I could into the, the lens of the camera, so not just at the lens, but into the lens. And I think, if you, if you, if you focus hard enough, on the lens of the camera, you can shatter it, much like an opera singer can shatter a-. By hitting a certain pitch. Yeah, a champagne glass. That's brilliant, totally brilliant. Thank you very much. In vain of your column, I want to perhaps present you with a few questions that I think could use your expert advice. Al light. If you if you would be so kind. Yeah, sure. This one comes from in-house. Okay. It's anonymous though. It is anonymous. Okay good, let's keep it that way. But in-house, in-studio, it doesn't matter. Right no, I understand. It's a close presence. CBS is a big company. It, it is. I don't get New York City's fascination with bagels. [LAUGH] It's just bread, right? What's up with everyone obsessing over the best bagel, and why don't New Yorkers put them in the toaster. Is that so bad? Well, okay. First of all, there's a lot of different kinds of bread. Some people just don't like bread period. This could be not, a non-bread man. This could be like a carb freak. Yeah. So maybe you just don't like bread. Sure. I won't, that, that, that ends the discussion right there. If you do like bread, then I would be, of course, curious, what breads do you like. Do you like English muffin breads? Do you like crescent roll breads? Do you like muffin breads, corn breads, biscuit breads? Some people are obsessed just with biscuits. Yeah. That's a regional thing as well. bu, so if you do like breads, what is it about the bagel? Now, with the New York bagel, it is chubbier. Sure. It's a fatter bagel. It's got hips. It does, I mean it's so swelled up that the, the hole in the center of the bagel sort of disintegrated into,-. Destruct, [LAUGH] Looks more like a belly button or something, Yeah. Or another orifice that's not as appetizing. No, [LAUGH]. So to squeeze that, even cut it in half into most toaster is quite a challenge. I would recommend getting an extra wide mouth toaster which they do make. It's a New York focus sort of yeah? Or you go to the deli or where ever you get your bagel and put it through their toaster which is that open faced conveyor belt. Yeah. And toast there's no problem there. Another option is to scoop out the bagel if it's just too much bread it's too chubby for you scoop it out. You go in a place, you say I want it scooped out with scallion cream cheese and lox, little tomato, little onion, scallions, black pepper, wrap it up, let's go. Sounds like a plan. I respect that order. But also at the same time yeah, why are people so obsessed with bagels? I don't know, why are people so obsessed with breathing? Why are people so obsessed with chewing gum? There's a lot of different things-. To engage with in this world some seem more nesary, necessary [CROSSTALK]. Than others, breathing is probably at the top of that list, but bagels somewhere in the top 5,000 things that exist. Do you, but do you identify as a New Yorker yourself, with the superiority of the New York bagel? I think the bagels here are fantastic, and even with the New York, you can get different kids. Sure. I do think at times they are a bit fluffy, growing up in Michigan, we, we had a more slender bagel. Yeah. And, I would, I gotta give it, to Montreal, I would say with all due respect to New York at. Wow. It is, it's apples and oranges, they're both fruits. [LAUGH]. They're both flavors of ice cream, but you got chocolate and vanilla. Is one better than the other? You know, it's hard to say. Montreal makes a fantastic bagel. Huh, so, if you ever want a slimline bagel, I would go to Montreal. Alright, I will be there, in July and, I will try it out and, I'll let you know. But, you know, take the, if you don't like bagels, you don't have to eat them. But, don't give other people a hard time, just cuz they like them. Fair enough. They're not going to be your friend, then. I don't think so. What advice do you have for people, who have issues with social media insecurities? People who feel isolated, etiquette on social media how, how do you relate to those people? What do you have to tell them? Help me out a bit more here. Sure. What do you mean by an insecurity? People who are you know, may be a little overly self conscious with their social depiction of their digital representation of themselves. As in they don't use it very often or they use it in, in a very anonymous way? that, that they're just uncomfortable with themselves online how about, we'll generalise it like that. Well, I, I feel like I can relate to that 100% [CROSSTALK]. Yeah. I mean it's, it's, how far do you go? Right. If you have, full access to the world, in many ways at this point through the computer, how much of your self, the world of yourself do you then share. Right. With this entire world I respect and admire people that, that put all they have to offer up there in one way or another. I guess, except for their actual physical tactile feelings. Right. All their thoughts, All their preferences and, and, and, personality traits. The way they look, what they're doing at all times. For those that don't feel compelled to do that, that's totally fine. But if they're insecure that it makes me feel like someone's pressuring them. Sure. You should share more, why are you posting this, why? There's a lot of pressures. I guess so just tell 'em to **** off. I don't want to put that up there, I went to the restroom the other day, it was a mess, it was a disaster, looked like a crime scene. Okay. And then I went and I added to it. [LAUGH] Do I need to post that? Yes I have in the past. Sure. Did people respond well? That's debatable, the point is I didn't post it that time. Right. Yet, I'm talking about it now. Well, I guess, it's something that may perhaps needed to see the light of the day in some capacity or another. Where the sun doesn't shine. It certainly does not shine. Geesh. Alright thank you for that quick advance. Well you're very welcome. Everyone can check out the column in the Village Voice. Yeah. I want to go back to the music for just a little bit, you've done some interesting work in Japan. yes. Back in 2004 you, contributed to the mosh pit on Disney compilation records. Yeah. Right? Yeah. [CROSSTALK]. I'm happy you're smiling about that, you did a cover of the Mickey Mouse Club March. I'm very happy with that recording, I recorded that right when I moved into my previous, living chambers. Quarters. Quarters yeah, stateroom on 53rd street and that was probably the first official release recording that I made I was very happy with how it turned out, the Mickey Mouse club march, the M I C K E Y M O U S E. And that's quite rare, but, again, thanks to the computer, it can be heard, on the computer. Yeah absolutely, and there's other things that you were able to release in Japan, as Japanese only exclusive material. In 2009 you release, a Japanese only, record which covered the anime series Gundam. Yes. Called Gundam Rock. Yes. How did that come to, to pass? Well, first of all, Gunham, for anyone who isn't familiar, is, if I'm not mistaken, well predate Transformers. Yeah. Or Go Bot and things like that and with. In many ways one of the first major animation phenomenon, certainly in Japan at least, but that informed a lot of the more, I don't know, high minded or expansive animation universes that then came to, to pass. Yeah. It's a mobile suit. Sure. First of all, this is a much like, like pacific rim I think right. Right Yeah. absolutely. Where there is a human involved. These humans are not autonomous, they are controlled and teamed up with the humans as, as a mobile flying suit in, in many cases. And this animation series is, is, it, it's, it's almost like Charlie Brown or something is here. It's hard to even compare, it's very unique and there's fantastic music all the way through the series. They celebrated their 30th anniversary and they invited me of all people, to record English language, slightly rock up version of this classic songs. And without a doubt, it was the most challenging recording project I've ever participating in it primarily, that one was translating the words here, and trying to make the phrasing match, and the rhymes match, and the meanings match to the original Japanese lyrics in English now. Right. But more so, the, the music is so fantastic, and quite challenging as far as music goes, these arrangements. Trying to stay true to those arrangements, and for me to transcribe them, learn them, and then re-perform them, while not overly changing them was, pushed me to the limits and then past. It pushed me past my limit as a musician, so I, I actually expanded and created new limits. For yourself? Yeah and I think I broken through several of them during this, this, this broadcast. That's a lot of limits. Oh, have you? Yeah. Alright, I'm glad we can be here for that for everyone to see the fruits of your labor. See what happens. So I, I, I, I want, I bring this up cuz I want people to, to know that about you, everyone to check out. What you've been able to do overseas, it's pretty badass. And of course the beauty of the computer again, is they're all available up there in some way or another, even just on YouTube. And what would really mean a lot to me, is if you are a fan of Gundam, especially if you are already familiar with the music, is please do compare, the arrangements, and the originals with mine. Cuz I tried to stay very true, to those arrangements painstakingly so. And that's, that was the most satisfying and, and challenging part of the project. Excellent and it's definitely for people who possibly have not heard it, it is a departure for you in many ways. It's, it's as you said it was a challenge, [CROSSTALK] you, it, it took you to the end of your, of your wit. I mean the challenge was the, it was a whole bunch of song that I didn't make. Right. So, to, to, to lay yourself down at the the feet of another creative vision. Mm-hm. In this case these mobile flying suits, these mobile suite gundams. was, was, it was it, it, sometimes you gotta go against what you've done and go against what you think you should [CROSSTALK] do to grow your own, sense of self. Excellent. And it was a painful but rewarding, very rewarding, I became a better musician because of that project. Very good. I finally wanna talk a little bit about the world of music journalism. Okay. I think you know, we've seen that nardwuar video, of you being interviewed not everyone is like him, he's a unique specimen. There seems to be a feeling now that music criticism has degenerated to the point where people are more. Fixed on the gossip angle, than their critic in the actual work. I wonder, how do you, yourself manage, with your pos, message of positivity, manage to kind of stay out of that negative spotlight? How wu, how do you live your life? You know, juxtaposed against that seemingly overwhelming desire to, to exploit artists, and, and, and critique in a way, that is, unconventional from where we used to be. Well the first part is to try not to be an artist, I gave up on that along time ago. And now I'm just a person. Okay. I never wanted to be an artist, because I thought it was best left up to painters. [LAUGH] Just painters? Well, sculptures Right You know. Architects. Yeah, No? Those are building makers. Yeah but, they're still like you know. Well, everyone's an artist in that regard. Sure. Everyone's making, what's art a car, a choice. Sure. And making choices about what to do or not to do. Like, I'm gonna make this brush stroke, and now I'm gonna go use the restroom. Now I'm gonna come back and make another brush stroke. It's tougher to find in artist, is it not? Right. It's create, it's, it's making choices. Yeah. So everyone's an artist in that way, you're making choices all the time. I think the person that define, that calls themself an artist is maybe one step further away. Mm-hm. From being an artist and I think that the person that calls themselves an artist without thinking they are, and knowing that everyone else is not is probably the biggest artist of all. So anyway, with all that being said, I think it's, you don't get bogged down with it. I think these games have always been played, I think if you look back 30, 40, years from now, look forward, 30 years before, people were still saying the same kind of stuff. When a new album came out they were talking about what was going on in the studio, they weren't talking about the chord changes. They were talking about, what happened on tour. They weren't talking about you know, the melody, or the, the drum beat and things like that, and that's because music is to hard to explain, so. Mm-hm. It, it is exciting to, talk about everything else around it, because how do you, how, how do you describe a melody? It's very subjective, it's, it's, it's, it's a bit otherworldly and magical. And beyond that, that's why I don't wanna be a musician at all, I never did. I wanted to be into WK and be able to play music and just party. Right. So that just seemed like it took all of the pressure off. Anyone can say whatever they want at any time because I'm not trying to do anything other than not die. Sure, I guess that's what we're all trying to do. And mission accomplished. There, so far today. Yeah, you gotta knock on that wood. Knock wood. It's, it's real, true, real enough wood. American pine. Don't you, but don't you think there's a little bit of like a degeneration with music critics overall? with how we seen to be. I don't know, not from what I've seen, but I haven't done that research, I haven't read a lot of criticism. Fair enough. I, I like reading reviews from people who like the album, cuz I usually gonna agree to review about an album that I like. Right. So then it's more like hanging out with a friend, saying how awesome is that song, how great is that, that part. What did they do here? So, It, it, I, there is all different ways to approaches these things. Some people are just on the scene, and they are keeping tabs on everything that's going on. I like to be around something that makes me feel good, and if something doesn't make me feel good, is feel to make me work harder, to make stuff that does make me feel good. So, I'll find a way to ride any of those energies and otherwise it's just more fuel for the party fire. And we're gonna, burn it up. I like burning the fire. That's what I'm talking about. Like a big, big, beautiful bonfire. [LAUGH] Yeah. [LAUGH] All right, well this has been fantastic man, thank you so much for coming back. Thank you very much. We've been talking for a few weeks leading up to your highly anticipated appearance. We reached out to our audience. We said, Mr. Andrew W.K. is coming to our studio, we would love for you guys to come up with a set of themes that he can perhaps, improvise into a song. Okay. So, we're gonna, we're gonna move right to that right now. Right now? Very shortly. Okay. You just sit right there, and we'll get you going. The table can stay here. Yes. Yes, the fine wood table. Good, good. So, we have a bunch of themes, they range from the slogan to the show to, you know, things that Justin and I deal with on a, on a somewhat daily basis. Okay. So we'll set, we'll give you these themes, and we'll get over there and we'll have you sing and, and see what you can put together. Just make up songs on the spot? Yeah Okay Well that's what we agreed on right? Yeah Okay Are you anxious? You seem a little nervous about it. You shouldn't be. I wouldn't say I'm anxious, I would say I am anticipating with, with a great amount of stress. Oh, no that's the exactly the definition of anxiety. Never the less thanks so much for being here. Follow Andrew WK on Twitter @Andrewwk. Shoot us an email to 404@cnet.com. Please stay with us for performance from Andrew WK follows this. Thank you so much for being here man. Thank you. Alright, it's been a damn pleasure sir. Likewise. Alright, Andrew WK up next [CROSSTALK]. [MUSIC] hi, it's Andrew W.K. here and I was given this list of catch phrases song ideas, words really to try to come up with songs for each one of them in advance, and I would like to apologize in advance. First one is HighTech, LowBrow the 404 Song. [MUSIC]. Okay, the next one is up. Time is brain. [MUSIC] Sort of a companion piece to the other song. [COUGH] This next song is very close to home, literally, for me. Growing up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Southeast Michigan, Domino's Pizza was founded there. And I'm a big fan of Domino's especially the new pan pizza, so this one goes out to one of the greatest pizzas you can get anywhere. [MUSIC]. For the pan pizza, the box is black. [MUSIC]. This one's about type faces, different kinds of fonts and what not. [MUSIC] [MUSIC]. Bastard! We gotta two more here. This one's this one's also makes I guess like the food ones I relate to the most, so we had our, our pizza one, from Domino's, now we have a little tuna Tuesday taste. [MUSIC] [COUGH] All right, and just one last one here, also food, Ending on a strong, food base, base, it's a noodle salad song. Turn down a little bit for this one. I'm gonna sashay switch sounds for this. [MUSIC]. Good times. Noodle salad. All right, thank you to everyone. Appreciate these suggestions and for the opportunity to, try to come up with, whatever that was. And keep on partying.

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