The Thread Where We Answer The Onion AV Club Q&A Questions

[Hannahrain]

Last week's question. Will probably revisit a bunch we missed.

I was rereading the Sandman book The Kindly Ones, and Neil Gaiman discusses at the end how the book raises answerable questions that will remain unanswered, because, to paraphrase, it is the mystery that lingers, not the explanation. What pop-culture mystery have you spent the most time wondering about, or been the most curious about? What is your pet theory, if you have one? And if you could have the creator give you the definitive answer, would you want it? My personal example is one Gaiman himself raises, namely, who were Loki and Puck working for in The Kindly Ones when they kidnapped Daniel? Try as I might, I have no pet theory about that, and yes, I would love a detailed answer, mystery be damned. —Mike

I want to know what happened to the Mary Celeste. I need closure.

[Miroir Noir]

The pop culture mystery I've spent the most time on is Mulholland Dr., and by that, I basically mean the whole thing.

[bmack86]

I want three definitive answers, all from Infinite Jest:

1) What exactly happened to Hal? Is it the drug? Is it delayed psychosis? Is he having a mental breakdown? Did he see the Jest?

2) What exactly is Joelle's physical deformity? Is it what she says, or is it P.G.O.A.T.-ism?

3) What the hell is the Infinite Jest (film)?

And I know if I were to have been able to ask DFW about it, he wouldn't have told me. But it might have turned into a fun conversation.

[Alchemy]

All I want to know is this: Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?

[zircona1]

In Pulp Fiction, what's in the briefcase?

[SoulDischarge]

http://www.avclub.com/articles/happi...d-songs,75311/

Our own Claire Zulkey asks: I was listening to ABBA’s “Super Trouper” the other day and thinking about how in spite of the happy, xylophone-laden tune, the lyrics reveal a song about loneliness (“I was sick and tired of everything when I called you last night from Glasgow / All I do is eat and sleep and sing / Wishin’ every show was the last show”). John Lennon was also great at writing pleasant-sounding songs that revealed depressive, even violent lyrics: “Help,” “I’m A Loser,” “I’ll Cry Instead,” “Run For Your Life.” In some ways, I prefer the complexity of a cheerful-sounding unhappy song to the mopiness of a sad ballad. What are some of your favorite uptempo songs with dark lyrics?

The first thing that comes to mind is "Blessed State" by Wire, which is somewhere at the top of my favorites by them. It's bouncy, poppy and light as air, but the lyrics are barely contained sarcastic seething rage given just enough ambiguity to make it sound like it could be some dippy optimistic love letter to humanity until you get to lines like "Loved in the flesh, but butchered in the mind." It's somewhat similar to the slightly less deceptively bitter Devo hit "Beautiful World," a song I always found hilarious for ending up in a fucking Target ad, taken at face value of course.

[ods..]

Prince - "Sister" came to mind immediately. Such a weird song, but so catchy and good. (not available on youtube, but I found a link for grooveshark) http://grooveshark.com/s/Sister/32qJBv?src=5

I was only 16 but I guess that's no excuse
My sister was 32, lovely, and loose
She don't wear no underwear
She says it only gets in her hair
And it's got a funny way of stoppin' the juice
My sister never made love to anyone else but me
She's the reason for my, uh, sexuality
She showed me where it's supposed to go
A blow job doesn't mean blow
Incest is everything it's said to be
Oh, sister
Don't put me on the street again
Oh, sister
I just want to be your friend
I was only 16 and only half a man
My sister didn't give a goddamn
She only wanted to turn me out
She [took a whip to] me until I shout
"Oh, [motherfuckersjustamotherfucker]
Can't you understand?"
Oh, sister
Don't put me on the street again
Oh, sister
I just want to be your friend
I know what you want me to do
Put me on the street
And make me blue
Oh, sister, oohoohoooow