Dog Days are Over by Florence + the Machine ain’t a holiday tune, but it’s well-spirited and it was on in the background in one of these fine drinking establishments. This came out in ‘08 and was a single for the band’s lead album. The story behind this tune is that the band found the unique sound “by accident” and that it was originally recorded in a studio the size of “a loo.” Humble beginnings, but this record made it to #21 on US Billboard’s Hot 100, #6 in Ireland, and #23 in the UK. The Irish clearly know their tunes as a decade after it was released, NPR ranked this song the #17 greatest song written by a female in the 21st century. It has recently made a bit of a comeback on the charts thanks to it being on in the background towards the end of an important scene in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. (Source: Song Facts)
With an intense beat in the background, the protagonist singer in the song is struck by overwhelming happiness. Not used to being happy, she had a bit too much to drink.
Woah, woah, woah, I never liked the phrase “dog days are over.” Week to Week Notes is pro-doggo through and through. I think we should change the expression to “feline days are finished” regarding the end of the summer. It sounds much better to me, sorry, not sorry, cat people. Although kittens are cute, I guess.
Editor’s note: After doing a bit of research, the end of summer is referred to as the dog days because of astronomy. Allegedly it’s when a certain star, Sirius aka the Dog Star, is peculiar.
Here it looks like the happiness the protagonist found is love. Cupid, known for his arrows, hits her with a bullet to the back when she least expects it. Cupid, man, that bastard.
This chorus is open to many different interpretations but my guess is it’s about running toward happiness. I suppose it could be interpreted as running away from family but it does specifically say “for” each of their family members. Maybe it means you gotta get out of your comfort zone rather than just abandon your family. What the hell do I know? Anyway, the inkling I get from the chorus is to chase after happiness, love, etc. you gotta leave the past, or your dog days behind.
Great tune! As you’ll read, I heard it during the dog days of this past summer.
On to the pints…
#GuinnessChallengeSeason
@Kids don’t try this at home. Not just because you’re underage and will have plenty of pints to drink if that ends up being your thing when you’re older but also because Guinness is actually best served in a pint glass from a tap. A pint of Guinness varies depending on the drinking establishment. If the keg it sits in is rarely poured, it can lead to some underwhelming taste. Rather than stealing gimmicks, I’d like to start taking Notes while drinking Guinness. My grandfather from Connemara, whom I never got the chance to meet, Thomas Davis, used to drink pints and by all accounts was a self-taught thinker. The one rule I’ve imposed on myself is that I will only have 1 pint per sitting from each establishment I review, so @AnyoneWorrying, don’t worry about my drinking habits. The Guinness Challenge is to “cut the G” on your first sip (more like a gulp and a half). If this is your first time hearing about it, I didn’t come up with the fun challenge @YouTheReader can try the next time you have a Guinness. The 0.0 to 10.0 scale will be extraordinarily nuanced but as a reference point, the only perfect 10.0 I plan ever to give out is at the Guinness Factory in Dublin one day.
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: 16 oz or 20 oz pint glass option, which do you think I picked? “Attack of the Soft Women” poster on the wall. Zebra wallpaper and exposed brick. A lot of dating and networking going on around me. Splendid food on the menu. The Gorgeous George burger is recommended. They also have very fine sandwiches, crispy or Nashville style. Happy Hour 5 to 8 pm where they have $8 beers and shots. “Drink harder not smarter” on the wall. Cold brew old-fashioned is recommended.
The High Note is an Ohio State Football Bar so everybody please be nice to them after a solid but disappointing season. On New Year’s Eve, they will be hosting a 4-hour open bar - you can get the tickets here. Every Monday from 8 to 10 pm they host trivia. When I was there it was very busy for Happy Hour, but looked like a whole lot of fun. A happening place. I look forward to grabbing another pint of Guinness at The High Note again soon!
Song On In The Background: Dog Days Are Over by Florence + The Machine
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Martini Monday, Trivia Tuesday, Old Fashion Wednesday, Tiki Thursday, and Happy Hour weekends. Exposed brick. Servin is the bartender. It’s named after the Belfry Towers, that’s why they have the lamps. Pickles and olives are the food. The Green Thumb is a recommended cocktail. Servin likes NY, “I like how the pace is pretty crazy.” He’s an actor and also working on his own project of a Spider-Man-esque movie. He’s originally from Massachusetts. Portnoy has just repurchased Barstool and I’ve been asked to comment on the acquisition.
The Belfry is an East Village cocktail bar where they have live music on Monday and Wednesday nights. In between the music, on Tuesdays, they have a Trivia night. They also will be hosting a New Year’s Eve open bar, here you can buy the tickets. A belfry is a bell tower, usually on top of a building. All the big architecture guys like myself would know it if we saw it, but now you know thanks to their cool name. There is a very nice ambiance to this bar, so it’d be a cozy spot for a date. I look forward to grabbing another drink at The Belfry again soon!
Song On In The Background: Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: A bar where you can have a pint or cocktail while getting a manicure. I passed on it this go around. They have a DJ booth set up. The place has a nail polish smell to it. Jukebox Judy is the bartender, working here for 26 years. She recommends martinis and manicures. She also recommends the Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives, it’s a martini special of her’s that she’s been perfecting for 30 years. They host Burlesque and dance parties as well as comedy. It sounds like a fun spot for anybody who needs to get their nails all did-ed 💅. The manicure comes with a martini.
The Beauty Bar has been in East Village for 25 years and has a retro feel to it. This holiday season they are serving their holiday special, The Scarlet O’Hara, which is Southern Comfort, Cranberry, and Lime Juice. It looks pretty tempting, please don’t tell Guinness I said that. I look forward to grabbing another drink at The Beauty Bar again soon!
YouTube Rabbithole
Florence + The Machine - Dog Days Are Over (Live At Oxegen Festival, 2010)