Suddenly I See | Whiskey Tavern | Grey Bar | The Ivory Peacock | YouTube Rabbithole
Alright @YouTheReader,
After Blinding Lights, today’s tune is Suddenly I See by KT Tunstall because it was on in the background at one of these drinking establishments. Sometimes the music I hear at bars fits together well and I can’t complain, I’d rather be lucky than good.
The expression of having a face that’s a map of the world means somebody has gone through difficult experiences, usually described in a tone of wrinkled or weathered. In this Verse, Tunstall flips the tone to that of this lady who’s been around the world and is a beaut!
Silver tends to represent wealth, modernity, glamour, grace, and elegance. So this woman has an aurora that reflects well around others.
This tune came out in the summer of ‘05, but it didn’t technically peak on the US Billboard Charts at #21 until February of ‘07. These were around the years when from the passenger seat I didn’t always have a lot of sway on the music in the car and this feels like a 95.5 WPLJ hit my mom enjoyed.
(Sidenote: RIP 95.5 WPLJ, a great run that doesn’t get talked about enough from 1971 to May ‘19.)
Wow! This chick sounds amazing, where can I find her? Before I go any further, I should Note that this tune was twice used in situations where Tunstall was not exactly smitten so we’re hoping to avoid a 3rd scenario. In ‘06, it plays as the opening credits in the movie The Devil Wears Prada. Tunstall wasn’t a big fan of how it was used, “The song is actually about the photograph of Patti Smith on the cover of Horses. I didn’t realize the lyrics could perfectly fit a chick flick, and it could sound like I was singing about wanting to be a f—ing model!” (Source: EW) The other time Tunstall was less than amused with how her song was used was when Hilary Clinton’s presidential campaign music back in ‘08, “She had a competition among her supporters to see what music they wanted, and they chose that. But it's dodgy being involved with these things, particularly at the beginning of someone's potential presidential career, because they can go and royally f--k it up, and you become the soundtrack. I'd prefer to be the song that's played when they leave office and they've been brilliant." (Source: SongFacts) With Tunstall being Scottish, she probably wanted nothing to do with American politics, and who could blame her?
Black and white TVs had rounded edges so this lassie has a well-rounded personality. She also be playing games.
KT Tunstall told The Guardian, "The chorus was me thinking, 'F---ing hell, that's what I want to be. Not a famous pop star with lots of money, but like this woman who's living her life as an artist. I'd been trying for more than 10 years to be a professional musician. I was just exhausted from trying to persuade other people I was good enough."
It’s a female empowerment song so while it might not necessarily be intended for me, it’s got a nice message behind it. Week to Week Notes approves. This tune had a nice long shelf-life on the US Billboard Hot 100 as it was a slow riser that took 6 months of charting before it entered the Top 40.
I haven’t heard this tune since I was a kid, so it was nice to hear it at a bar while drinking Guinness. Again, I gotta Note the balance of Blinding Lights and Suddenly I See to round out the first 52 weeks of Week to Week Notes scribbling notes about pints.
On to the Guinness…
#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.
Song On In The Background: Suddenly I See by KT Tunstall
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: Little League World Series on TV. California is playing Rhode Island. I have a $650 parlay on Rhode Island winning with Pete Wheeler and Pablo Sanchez scoring at least 1 run. Yanks’ rookie Everson Pereira is making his debut. Jets, Steelers, Bucs, Ravens, Phins, oh wait it’s every NFL team, they have a flag hanging from the ceiling. On the wall are pictures of customers from their Photo Booth. Allen is bartending. The frozen margarita is recommended. They also have a good burger and wings. Big sports bar. Behind the bar are printed-out signs of customers’ parties.
This weekend they have Sunday & Monday NFL specials such as $7 pickle or spicy back shots, $10 wings, $20 Miller Lite Pitchers, 5 for $20 Miller High Life Bottles, and 5 for $20 Coors Light Bottles. They have all 32 NFL team flags draped on their ceiling so nobody who you root for, you’ll be welcomed. For Peanut Butter lovers, they have a Peanut Butter Bomb shot where they drop a Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey shot into a Guinness. I did not try this because I need to keep a pure Guinness taste pallet, but you should check it out. I look forward to grabbing another pint of Guinness at Whiskey Tavern again soon!
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: The NFL Network is showing Taylor Swift-inspired fantasy football names. Pink Flirtini is recommended, it is the only one in the city - their original drink. Burger and wings sports bar. They have a busy football scene. They’ve been here 9 years in the same spot. Classy sports bar so the reason behind the name is Grey because it’s a mix of fancy restaurant and typical sports bar. They got chandeliers. Good prices. College Football starts in 2 days and I got my fantasy football draft down in Jacksonville, Florida, next weekend. Football is about to be in full bloom.
Since this pint was drunk in August, was the NFL teasing the Taylor Swift crossover right in front of our eyes?!?!? I knew it. This is the kind of investigative journalism you will find here at Week to Week Notes. I haven’t heard Strangers by Mt. Joy since last January, great tune! Grey Bar is a polished sports tavern with plenty of TV screens and a menu of elevated American food. They are now open for lunch at noon on Tuesday to Friday. They show the NFL, NBA, NHL, English Premier, MLB, and Rugby, so if you’re looking for some high-quality American bar food and sports to watch go check them out. I look forward to grabbing another pint of Guinness at Grey Bar again soon!
Song On In The Background: The Hum by Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike
Notes if you can’t read my sloppy scribble: The head was poured a quarter coin size, I checked. I can’t wait to try this pint! There is a peacock behind the bar with cups of tea. A ton of dates and networking going on around me. Irish flag outside the storefront. The lobster roll is recommended. When they were doing construction on the bar, they found an ivory peacock drawing. Pork Belly Bites are also recommended. The bartender enjoys classic cocktails “with a less is more, minimalistic approach to the craft.”
The Ivory Peacock has a nice setting of elegance to it. The Today Show has actually used the bar as a host in the past, so it may look familiar. The story behind the name of the bar was when the owners were doing renovations they found an unexpected “lucky charm” beneath years of drywall - a majestic peacock rendered ivory. White peacocks are rare and gentle birds that are inherently protective. In some cultures, they are a symbol of good fortune so very cool backstory and a no-brainer once you find something like that. The location itself has over 140 years of history in the neighborhood. Their kitchen has a very cool mix of French and Japanese-style menus to them. The Ivory Peacock also has the most extensive collection of quality gins in The City. It was a very happening scene with a ton of dates and post-work happy hours going on so check it out for yourself. I look forward to grabbing another pint of Guinness at Ivory Peacock again soon!