To be honest, She Said can't really remember the last time she stepped foot inside Mai's. It was definitely several years ago, before she left Houston and then came back again, and it was probably
with this guy, probably after a show. She Said probably had some Thai curry and hot tea, but she can't even remember her regular dish there. She is why she was sad, but not devastated when the building went down on Monday morning.
Fire. Yes, it's damaging and destructive, but it's also regenerative. Forest fires often lead to new and healthier growth, and there's a reason why the myth of the Phoenix has the creature rising from ashes instead of, say, a flood. Mai's will rebuild - they've already committed to that - and in all likelihood their new restaurant will be nicer and cleaner that the 30-year-old dining room whose chintzy remodel barely covered the years of spilled food stains.
But fire represents something else too -- anger, passion, sexuality. It's a primal element, and what could be more primal than rock 'n' roll. Just ask Prometheus.
Electric Six, "Danger! Danger!"
This must be Electric Six's only radio hit, which is in some ways a shame because the band's full catelog is achingly sardinic (as the video can attest) and yet, their ode to hot and steamy passion is so catchy She Said can't help but sing it every time she goes through the drive-thru.
Rolling Stones, "Play with Fire"
This song could have easily been on last week's HSSS list, which dealt with
revenge. The Stones' song about a wealthy socialite who falls from grace calls to mind another fiery myth, that of Icarus, whose attempts to fly towards the sun melted his waxen wings.
The Cult, "Fire Woman"
Here we have our first instance of fire as a symbol for wonton dangerous women. Though in The Cult's case, Ian Astbury is the hunka-hunka burnin' love. Seriously? Have you
seen him lately? Though he did grow out his hair when he went on tour wit The Doors and now looks creepily like
Jim Morrison. If the New Doors were to perform "Light My Fire" with Ian Astbury on vocals, that just be way too meta for this column, wouldn't it?
Peggy Lee, "Fever"
Steamy Peggy Lee counters the fire woman theme with lyrics about historical figures like "Julie, baby, you're my flame." This is one of the sexiest songs She Said can think of right now. Even Madonna, self-styled sex goddess, can't hold a flame to Peggy Lee.
Blue Oyster Cult, "Burnin' for You"
Talk about a concept album. "Burnin' for You" was on an album called
Fire of Unknown Origin which also featured "Don't Fear The Reaper." "Burnin'" quite literally DOES
need more cowbell - there's none at all in it. Wikipedia fun-fact: "Burnin' for You" was on Clear Channel's banned songs list after 9/11. Weird.
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