Happy Birthday, Deven
Posted on February 28, 2008 Posted by John Scalzi 24 Comments
Today is my pal Deven Desai’s birthday. He’s, uh, 36, I think. 37? Maybe 37. Somewhere in that area. Yes, it’s bad I can’t remember specifically, but it’s early and I’m groggy. This is my excuse for the day. For all day.
What I do remember is that he’s a fan of Siouxsie and the Banshees, and of the Beatles, so here’s a somewhat pixellated version of the former’s cover of the latter’s “Dear Prudence.”
Those of you with sharp eyes and long memories may spot the Cure’s Robert Smith in the video; for a time he was a member of the Banshees, including for Hyena, the album this song was on. If your response to this is, “well, duh,” you are officially a Goth Nerd. Revel in your time, my friend.
Incidentally, Deven is one of the featured bloggers at the Concurring Opinions legal blog. Why not go for a visit?
Hi John! I’ve been coming to your blog for a while now, I really like the tips you give to writers! I started my own blog recently, in fact, the name of the blog (the one in the URL of the website) is a made up word. But I’m afraid it’s in portuguese, just as the blog (I’m brazilian). Oh, is it ok if I add you? Cheers
You don’t have to ask — fee free.
Ah, the ’80s. When the plot of a video could be reduced to “let’s fly to Venice!” followed by “get a line producer to throw in some video effects” and they could call it a day.
Of course, the video also didn’t cost in excess of two million dollars, either.
I of course can only hear that name and begin to endlessly repeat in my head “Devin Desai / Devin Desai / Every Single One of Us is / Devin Desai.” Happy Birthday, Sir!
Not only was Robert Smith doing double duty in both The Banshees and The Cure, he made a kickass album with Steve Severin under the name The Glove called “Blue Sunshine” (which is reputedly the type of acid he was fond of at the time). The Cure also made The Top around this time wish is triple mopey goffik.
Yeah, I was a goth. So what?!
Sheesh, woulda been nice if I’d read the wikipedia entry before naming the wrong album’s. Now I’ve ruined Devin’s birthday. Damn me!
Not only that, Chang, but you’ve consistently misspelled Deven’s name.
Happy Birthday, Every Single One Of Us, man.
I remembered my very own Goth birthday way back. No, you’re right, I don’t. I’m really, really glad digital cameras weren’t around during my time.
Happy Birthday, Deven! 36 is a good year. 37, a very good year.
Happy Birthday to Deven. May he have many many more. With advance in medical science, it’s not unrealistic for him to see 200, maybe even 225. Oh, wait…we may not be that advanced yet. :D
All kidding aside, I hope it is a great day for him.
Happy Birthday to Deven!
(And I must be a Goff Nerd.)
Happy birthday to Deven.
And I, too, was goth from the top of my black hair to the tips of my brothel-creepers. I used baby powder as a face powder, and I still have an unnatural love of velvet.
Ah well.
Happy Birthday to Deven.
I still don’t qualify as a goth nerd, even though I knew that. It’s more a case of having a good memory for trivia and hanging out with goth nerds!
Been lurking around here for a while, figured I’d say Hi! I tend to mostly lurk with sporadic fits of posting.
I officially quit as of now. Hopeless, hopeless, hopeless. At least I spelled that right.
My wife would appreciate this as a birthday tribute…
We missed Siouxsie playing at Irving Plaza because of a budget crunch. To all the rest of you who have gotten to see her perform live, you have my envy.
This makes me feel like breaking out the old black eyeliner. So, do we get a Goth decoder ring or something equally cool for being in the club?
And happy birthday, Deven.
What if you’re 37, a commercial litigator, and STILL a goth nerd?
To celebrate that, I’m going dancing tonight in a club that will ALMOST CERTAINLY play that “Dear Prudence” cover. And “Cities In Dust.” And probably some Tones on Tail. And some Sisters of Mercy. (I’m getting all gothy-excited now. Meaning, I rolled my eyes all disaffectedly and took a breath.)
I saw Siouxsie but not until the first Lollapalooza–in which she played outside, during the day, in the summertime. It was still good, but it was soooooo weird. And sunny.
Happy Birthday, Deven!!!!
Happy Birthday, Deven!
Concurring Opinions is my favorite legal blog. And yes, I do have two others. *g* Not the least reason of which is that, in addition to nice articles about law that I can understand, they also do things like interview the creators of Battlestar Galactica in a three part series.
There are more gems in the archives.
. . . I’ve always loved this song. I was a big Siouxsie fan and an even bigger Cure fan so this song played well to my sensibilities.
Robert Smith isn’t the greatest guitar player – but he definitely has a style you can hear in this song – as well as in the Glove. Now I’m going to have to break out may cassette of the Glove – do they still make cassette players these days?
Happy Birthday Deven!
-adam
Happy Birthday Deven!
Hmm, I think I’ll be playing my Goth playlist today. The Alien Sex Fiend cover of I Walk The Line is in there somewhere.
Pretty fawesome– though I think this is my favourite thing I’ve seen re Robert Smith and covers.
Hell, I saw Siouxsie sans the Banshees a couple of weeks ago. Wherein Dear Prudence was, in fact, performed. As was “Hello, I love you.”
Wow. Thanks to all and especially John. It was a good day indeed. A friend of mine gave a talk at my law school and we rambled fact-to-face about the nature of the law. I taught my Information Privacy class and showed John’s post because believe it or not we had just been talking about Dear Prudence and the Siouxsie version of it. Weird. Then I brought my night class pizza and they brought cake. As John might note, mmmmm cake. Last had a glass of Lagavullin with some friends at the Lodge in La Jolla. I recommend the Scotch and the place.
One note though I listened to perhaps too much goth music I doubt my attire or makeup (read none) ever lived up to the dedication of many others. I did see The Cure, Siouxsie, Bauhaus (reunion), Love and Rockets, in concerts and still love the music.
In any event, thanks to all.
Best
Deven
On the authorship track… I bought my first Siouxsie album purely because Robert Smith was in the band. Unfortunately it often works the opposite way with authors these days – if I see “Bobbity Bob with Arthur C Clarke” I probably will not buy that book, or anything else by “Bobbity Bob”. Sheesh, think of your own ideas and build your own franchise. I know that publishers only care about blockbusters, but if you can’t write your own material why would I want to read it?
Well, in the case of Arthur C. Clarke, I think he gets a pass because he’s edging toward 100 years old.