Just another dimension?

Friday, August 04, 2006
Look out ol' Mackie is back! -vww

For those of you who are my age, you might remember this TV commercial from the 80s. It was an attempt to sell the Big Mac and didn't turn out very successful. Ironically, there were Mac Tonight toys even though the ad seemed to be targetted at adults.

Nevertheless, Mac Tonight was one of my most memorable McDonald's commercial, due to the catchy tune and the freaky pale crescent head. Or maybe his sunglasses reminded me of Ray Charles.

Imagine my surprise when I saw Mac Tonight back up on the glass panels of the McDonald's at Kovan today, after an absence of more than a decade. It's funny I was just thinking about Mac Tonight earlier this year because I finally found out where the tune came from.

The song that originally carried that melody was called Mack the Knife. While McDonald's modified the lyrics to this,

When the clock strikes/ Half past six babe
It's time to head for/ Golden light
It's a good time/ For the great taste
(Dinner) at Mcdonald's/ It's Mac Tonight!

the ballad of Mack the Knife is actually about a criminal called MacHeath who commits a variety of crimes, including murder. There's actually a long and interesting history behind this song and if you are the patient type, you can read it here.

The popular version by Bobby Darin is a lot less dark and with the upbeat music, you won't really think about the content. It's one of my favourite songs at the moment and the lyrics are as follows. If you like the bloodier version, go here.

Mack The Knife - Bobby Darin version

Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear
And it shows them pearly white
Just a jackknife has old MacHeath, babe
And he keeps it ... ah ... out of sight.

Ya know when that shark bites, with his teeth, babe
Scarlet billows start to spread
Fancy gloves, though, wears old MacHeath, babe
So there's nevah, nevah a trace of red.

Now on the sidewalk ... uuh, huh ... whoo ... sunny mornin' ... uuh, huh
Lies a body just oozin' life ... eeek!
And someone's sneakin' 'round the corner
Could that someone be Mack the Knife?

A-there's a tugboat ... huh, huh, huh ... down by the river don'tcha know
Where a cement bag's just a'droopin' on down
Oh, that cement is just, it's there for the weight, dear
Five'll get ya ten old Macky's back in town.

Now, d'ja hear 'bout Louie Miller? He disappeared, babe
After drawin' out all his hard-earned cash
And now MacHeath spends just like a sailor
Could it be our boy's done somethin' rash?

Now ... Jenny Diver ... ho, ho ... yeah ... Sukey Tawdry
Ooh ... Miss Lotte Lenya and old Lucy Brown
Oh, the line forms on the right, babe
Now that Macky's back in town.

Aah ... I said Jenny Diver ... whoa ... Sukey Tawdry
Look out to Miss Lotte Lenya and old Lucy Brown
Yes, that line forms on the right, babe
Now that Macky's back in town ...

Look out ... old Macky is back!!

-- permalink --
Yiheng made 6:54 PM

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Categories MyLife Opinions OnTheNet Shows Miscellaneous RandomKnowledge Links My Sister S & M Jiangzheng Yiheng's Photos Shuquan's Photos Pei Yee's Photos Yun Qin's Photos #!/usr/bin/girl Archive February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 November 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009	Friday, August 04, 2006 Look out ol' Mackie is back! -vww For those of you who are my age, you might remember this TV commercial from the 80s. It was an attempt to sell the Big Mac and didn't turn out very successful. Ironically, there were Mac Tonight toys even though the ad seemed to be targetted at adults. Nevertheless, Mac Tonight was one of my most memorable McDonald's commercial, due to the catchy tune and the freaky pale crescent head. Or maybe his sunglasses reminded me of Ray Charles. Imagine my surprise when I saw Mac Tonight back up on the glass panels of the McDonald's at Kovan today, after an absence of more than a decade. It's funny I was just thinking about Mac Tonight earlier this year because I finally found out where the tune came from. The song that originally carried that melody was called Mack the Knife. While McDonald's modified the lyrics to this, When the clock strikes/ Half past six babe It's time to head for/ Golden light It's a good time/ For the great taste (Dinner) at Mcdonald's/ It's Mac Tonight! the ballad of Mack the Knife is actually about a criminal called MacHeath who commits a variety of crimes, including murder. There's actually a long and interesting history behind this song and if you are the patient type, you can read it here. The popular version by Bobby Darin is a lot less dark and with the upbeat music, you won't really think about the content. It's one of my favourite songs at the moment and the lyrics are as follows. If you like the bloodier version, go here. Mack The Knife - Bobby Darin version Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows them pearly white Just a jackknife has old MacHeath, babe And he keeps it ... ah ... out of sight. Ya know when that shark bites, with his teeth, babe Scarlet billows start to spread Fancy gloves, though, wears old MacHeath, babe So there's nevah, nevah a trace of red. Now on the sidewalk ... uuh, huh ... whoo ... sunny mornin' ... uuh, huh Lies a body just oozin' life ... eeek! And someone's sneakin' 'round the corner Could that someone be Mack the Knife? A-there's a tugboat ... huh, huh, huh ... down by the river don'tcha know Where a cement bag's just a'droopin' on down Oh, that cement is just, it's there for the weight, dear Five'll get ya ten old Macky's back in town. Now, d'ja hear 'bout Louie Miller? He disappeared, babe After drawin' out all his hard-earned cash And now MacHeath spends just like a sailor Could it be our boy's done somethin' rash? Now ... Jenny Diver ... ho, ho ... yeah ... Sukey Tawdry Ooh ... Miss Lotte Lenya and old Lucy Brown Oh, the line forms on the right, babe Now that Macky's back in town. Aah ... I said Jenny Diver ... whoa ... Sukey Tawdry Look out to Miss Lotte Lenya and old Lucy Brown Yes, that line forms on the right, babe Now that Macky's back in town ... Look out ... old Macky is back!! -- permalink -- Yiheng made 6:54 PM 0 Comments: Post a Comment	Previous Posts National Day Part 1 -vwv Saturday in the Park -vvv Shuquan's China Pictures -vwv Old Math Homework -vwv RI Band concert and Cabaret -vvv vvz Free Books -vwv Fun with stats -vwv Silver ring holders are a bad idea -vwv Random Knowledge 1: El Camino Real -vww Running in the park is healthy? -vwv Current Read 七侠五义 Last Three Books 道德經 The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Mythology Arthur Cotterell, Rachel Storm Momo Michael Ende Those Before 孫子兵法 Paycheck: And Other Classic Stories By Philip K. Dick Mirror Mirror: A Novel Gregory Maguire American Gods Neil Gaiman Maya 5 Fundamentals Garry Lewis, Jim Lammers Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix J. K. Rowling