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Hey Joe

2008 June 17
by Randy

One of the nice things about having a blog is, you can put whatever you want on it. I mean it doesn’t have to be particularly relevant to anything, unless maybe you you are writing for an organization. Most blogs have a theme, as my is supposed to, but that can be pretty loose. So we write about what’s on our minds, or is happening at the moment. Maybe someone reads it, maybe not. Maybe it means something, maybe not.

Much of what is on my mind lately comes from the blogs I read about the Philippines, as I’ve pointed out before. Recently Bob (yes that Mindanao Bob fellow) wrote about the term ex-pat, and the discussion also covered the use of the term “Hey Joe”, which is often used to acknowledge any American (or those thought to be) in the Philippines. Bob’s not fond of the term, I don’t mind it.

I was thinking about why I don’t mind it, and of course as I mentioned, it may be because I don’t hear it on a daily basis. But I think it is more than that. I can not hear the term “Hey Joe” without it conjuring up the tune from Jimi Hendrix. This was one of his songs that I really liked, and remember well from my high school days. Though I was not as big a fan of Hendrix, as were some of my friends, being a guitar player it was impossible not to acknowledge his talent and influence. I hear Jimi singing “Hey Joe” in my head every time I hear the two words together.

The song and lyrics have nothing to do with the term being used by filipinos, but that doesn’t matter to me. It’s not something that happens consciously – it just goes off……..Hey Joe………where you going….with that gun in your hand…..
I wonder what Jimi would have thought about being called “Hey Joe” while visiting Pearl Farm (see I made it relevant after all). icon wink Hey Joe
 
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  2. It IS Cheaper to Live in the Philippines
  3. Dirty Kitchen

4 Responses leave one →
  1. macky permalink
    June 18, 2008

    hi randy-
    have been enjoying your blog for some time. keep it up.

    i’m pinoy but i’m the same with the “hey joe” reference. i read bob’s article & was this close to mentioning jimi. i decided against it because it just sounded too trivial.

    funny that someone else had the same thought.

  2. Randy C permalink
    June 19, 2008

    Hi Macky – thanks for your comment, and kind words about the blog.

    I wasn’t sure that anyone else had the same “Jimi” thought. Good to know that I’m not completely wacky.

    I didn’t want to take Bob’s thread too far off topic, but I don’t mind doing it here.

  3. Mindanao_Bob permalink
    June 30, 2008

    Hi Randy and Macky – I know who Jimi Hendrix is, although I was never a fan – he is a little before my time (which would make him way before Macky’s time!). I never heard of that song before, so was unaware of any linkage there.

    By the way, it would not have bothered me if either of you had brought up such a comment on my site… don’t ever worry about something like that.

  4. Randy C permalink
    June 30, 2008

    Hi Bob – good to see you making the rounds.

    I guess I really dated myself with this one :-)

    Not sure about Macky’s age, but it’s interesting to note that my teenage son & friends enjoy some of the so called “classics”, including Led Zepplin, Bob Marley & Hendrix. I guess it all comes around again, though they listen to lots of newer stuff, too.

    Yeah, I know you welcome all conversation on your blog, but there seemed to be plenty of commentary already, and I didn’t feel it was a very significant revelation to bring to the discussion. I guess I won’t hesitate in the future.

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