| Latest revision |
Your text |
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| − | {{comic | + | {{ComicHeader|159|}} |
| − | | number = 159 | |
| − | | date = September 20, 2006 | |
| − | | title = Boombox
| |
| − | | image = boombox.png
| |
| − | | titletext = And she's gonna feel like a jerk when she realizes it was actually Under Pressure.
| |
| − | }} | |
| | | | |
| − | ==Explanation==
| + | [[File:Boombox.png]] |
| − | We see [[Cueball]] declare his love for [[Megan]] in an oft-used setting, paying homage to similar events in classic literature, notably the "balcony scene" from {{w|William Shakespeare|William Shakespeare's}} play {{w|Romeo and Juliet}} ([https://www.sparknotes.com/nofear/shakespeare/romeojuliet/page_78/ act 2, scene 2]), and a similar situation in {{w|Edmond Rostand}}'s {{w|Cyrano_de_Bergerac_(play)|Cyrano de Bergerac}} ([https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/French/Cyranoact3.php#anchor_actIIIsceneVI act 3, scenes 6-7]). In the former, Romeo, attempting to woo Juliet, stands beneath her balcony to profess his love for her. In the latter, an inarticulate cadet, Christian, professes his love for Roxane by arranging to use the words of a fellow soldier, Cyrano, who secretly also loves Roxane.
| |
| | | | |
| − | The 1989 movie "{{w|Say Anything...}}" contains a modern interpretation of this declaration of love, where {{w|John Cusack}} plays {{w|Peter Gabriel|Peter Gabriel's}} "{{w|In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel song)#Say Anything...|In Your Eyes}}" on a boombox outside the house of the girl he likes.
| + | == Image Text == |
| | + | And she's gonna feel like a jerk when she realizes it was actually Under Pressure. |
| | | | |
| − | Parodying this iconic scene ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5Y8tFQ01OY video]), Cueball is holding up a {{w|boombox}} (a self-contained semiportable stereo system, typically with cassette tape or CD player, and complete with integrated speakers) that is playing music while Cueball declares his love for Megan. She first is startled, embarrassed, then eventually confused by the 1990 hit single {{w|Ice Ice Baby}} ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rog8ou-ZepE&ob=av2e video]) by {{w|Vanilla Ice}} playing on the boombox. Cueball then admits he is "not very good at this," attempting to recreate the classic romantic scene, but utterly failing to play music suitable for such an event. The film scene is also referenced and parodied in the {{w|South Park}} episode 'Raisins', when Stan unsuccessfully tries to win back his ex-girlfriend Wendy in this fashion. Stan is advised to play Peter Gabriel out of a boombox, but plays the decidedly unromantic Peter Gabriel track {{w|Shock The Monkey}}. It is possible that Randall was also referencing that South Park scene in this comic.
| + | == Description == |
| | + | First, off for the comic. As we can see, [[Cueball]] declares his love for [[Megan]] in a very classical way, namely, by imitating the "balcony scene" from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespeare William Shakespeare]'s book and play [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romeo_and_Juliet Romeo and Juliet]. In the play, Romeo and Juliet stem from rivalling families. Juliet gets an offer to marry a handsome prince, but resigns. When Romeo seeks into the rivalling families feast, and the two meet, they know their love cannot be out in the public. They both leave the feast depressed by this, but Romeo seeks an intimate way, which enters the "balcony scene". Romeo, with a mandoline, enters the house of the family, takes place under Juliet's window and hears her whisper her longing for him. He then calls her name, and when she opens the doors, starts to play while declaring his love for her. |
| | | | |
| − | The title text mentions that Cueball is actually playing "{{w|Under Pressure}}" ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a01QQZyl-_I video]), the 1981 hit song by {{w|Queen (band)|Queen}} and {{w|David Bowie}}, but Megan has confused it with "Ice Ice Baby," which samples the bassline and piano motif from "Under Pressure." It also may be that Cueball is having trouble holding the boombox, hence Cueball being 'under pressure.'
| + | In the comic, we see an modern day version of that scene. Cueball is holding up a boombox (which, for the youngsters, was a kind of iPod weighing in at 50 pounds your parents carried around neighbourhood to get some music going) while declaring his love for Megan. She first is startled, then is despised by the 1990 hit single [http://en.wikipedia.org/Ice_Ice_Baby Ice, Ice Baby] by Vanilla Ice playing on the boombox. Cueball then admits he "is not good at this" which probably means he took a shot at copying the Balcony scene, but failed. |
| | | | |
| − | These two songs are again referenced together in [[1561: Water Phase Diagram]], and "Ice Ice Baby" is also lampooned in [[210: 90's Flowchart]]. It is possible that this is the same couple as mentioned in [[112: Baring My Heart]], as the creator of that Venn diagram reveals to their romantic partner that their feelings towards their paramour are comparable to their feelings for Vanilla Ice.
| + | The image text refers to the fact that the music used in Ice Ice Baby is a loop of the intro of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Under_Pressure "Under Pressure"] by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_(Band) Queen] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Bowie David Bowie]. Which is some sort of a rock classic. Which then would interfere with Megan's decision to abandon the balcony scene. Which she will feel bad of. Of some sorts. |
| | | | |
| − | This was the first time that the name "[[Megan#Name|Megan]]" was used in xkcd. The next comic to use it was the much more depressing [[215: Letting Go]].
| + | [[Category:Comics|0159]] |
| − | | |
| − | ==Transcript==
| |
| − | :[Megan is looking out a second story window at Cueball holding a boombox over his head. Musical Notes are coming out of it.]
| |
| − | :Cueball: Megan!
| |
| − | :Megan: Oh my god, I can't believe this is happening.
| |
| − | :Cueball: I love you!
| |
| − | :Megan: Okay, that's great. Wait a second. Is... is that... Ice Ice Baby? What the hell?
| |
| − | :Cueball: I'm not very good at this.
| |
| − | | |
| − | | |
| − | {{comic discussion}}
| |
| − | | |
| − | [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | |
| − | [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
| |
| − | [[Category:Music]]
| |
| − | [[Category:Romance]]
| |
