Customer Reviews

Hit Somebody + For My Next Trick

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Warren Zevon and Mitch Albom collaborated to write the greatest hockey song of all time. Warren is ably backed up by David Letterman's band, including Paul Shaffer on Hammond B-3 organ. It's the story of Buddy, a Canadian farm boy who dreamed of being an NHL superstar. He wasn't very good at skating or scoring goals but, being a big bruiser, he was good at beating people up. What else could he do but, as David Letterman himself says in the song, "Hit Somebody!" He makes an NHL team as a goon, winning fights and racking up penalty minutes. In his last game, he's hit from behind as he shoots the puck. Just before he passes out he sees the red light above the net light up, realizing he's finally scored a goal. In a perfect world, this song would have been a big hit. The CD single also includes a second song, "For My Next Trick, I'll Need A Volunteer" from the album "Life'll Kill Ya." It's the story of a third-rate magician and his lonely life on the road. "I can make love disappear. For my next trick, I'll need a volunteer." Only Warren Zevon can perfectly capture the essence of these quirky characters in the space of one song.

The hockey goon -- like it or not, every team has one, from the NHL on down. Unfortunately, the NHL refuses to sanction this song -- and it's one that should be played at every hockey game. The story of a hockey star, in his own right, who wanted nothing more than to score a goal for his NHL team, but who was regulated to the role of enforcer throughout his career. This is very much a tongue-in-cheek tale, but presented with the sincerity that is a hallmark of Warren Zevon's music. I've loved it from the first time I heard it and even if I weren't a hockey fan, it would still give me goosebumps.

Paired with "For My Next Trick I'll Need A Volunteer," a terrific song from Warren's brilliant "Life'll Kill Ya" CD, this is a nifty CD 'single' and not to be missed!

Simply the finest song ever written about hockey. The B side is good too, but not the best song off Life'll Kill Ya (which in my opinion is the first track, I Was in the House When the House Burned Down). A must for hockey fans or anyone who has ever gotten smacked in the head while pursuing a dream.

I've loved music and hockey all my life. Now I get both at the same time with this CD. Thanks to Warren Zevon. The song makes me want to grab a hockey stick and "HIT SOMEBODY". A must have for fans of ole time hockey. Better than the song by Dave "The Hammer" Schultz who sang "Baby, How long will you keep me in the PENALTY BOX".

One of my great regrets will be failing to see a live Warren Zevon performance. But I've got to tell you, listening to this recording of "Hit Somebody" almost makes up for it. There's not much to add to what others have written except that you should be prepared for the heavenly image at the end of the song. Zevon's sheer genius demonstrated once again. He's going out at the top of his game.

Zevon is a great storyteller: ... Zevon has an inimitable sense of humor: ... With "Hit Somebody" he combines these two elements better than in any other song I can think of. Some people find the Letterman vocals annoying, but it would take a lot more than that to wreck this song. ...

Is my five-star review tainted? Of course! I'm a huge Warren Zevon fan. Nevertheless, to lend what credibility I can in order to help those who browse this product just out of curiosity (about Zevon, about the song, whatever), let me state that I first heard this song back in December when I caught Warren live in Cleveland. He was performing solo (as he has for the last seven years or so), and he introduced "Hit Somebody" as a new song. Long story short, I wasn't too impressed. Like "Piano Fighter," it just felt kind of cheezy.

I've done a complete 180 however (not on Piano Fighter, though; I still think it's mediocre). The studio release of "Hit Somebody" is quite charming, and it strikes a nice balance between being a catchy Zevon track and being, well, just plain old quirky fun. The production is clean, Zevon's singing cavernous and mellow (he can give Leonard Cohen a run for his money), yet the overall performance is light and fun. I'm not a hockey fan at all, and unlike the other reviewers I don't think I'd WANT this song to be endorsed by the NHL. The song is too tongue and cheek for an industry like the NHL to stand behind it. And I think the song works better BECAUSE it's so tongue and cheek. Like "Boom Boom Mancini," Zevon's hockey song is both serious and send-up.

This is a classic hockey song , it rates right up there with
Stompin Tom's hockey song!

The fact that this song is not endorsed by the NHL is a crying shame. Far from glorifying the violence that is often common in hockey, the song uses it as a metaphor for a man's dreams realized. My son loves the song and we've been able to use it to discuss violence in general and the importance of never giving up on your dreams.

When I ordered the song, The description said it had 2 songs. It came with only one ("Hit Me"). Since that's the song I wanted, I didn't miss out on the phantom song listed.