Yet after the punk revolution, Richman went in a completely different direction, trading existential lyrics for playful ones, and lightening the mood considerably. Some critics balked at Jo-Jo's new found, bordering-on-kiddie-fare style. Post punk, Richman now wrote fanciful, irony-free songs about Abominable Snowmen, Ice Cream and Dinosaurs. What gave?
The secret to Richman's transition from hardcore to day care can be found in the song "Monologue about Bermuda," from the inimitable New Englander's terrific 1995 LP, Having a Party with Jonathan Richman. The 'song,' which is actually a live discussion with an audience about the breakup of the original Modern Lovers, is priceless. Explaining how a trip to Bermuda circa 1975 revealed creative differences between the various Lovers, Richman allows his lighthearted storytelling abilities to take center stage.
When opening for a band called The Bermuda Strollers, Richman explains, he found out how "stiff he was;" by bringing the loose calypso vibe of the Strollers to bear, Jo-Jo would abandon the strident punk rock of the Lovers for good - much to the chagrin of his bandmates. Jonathan Richman had a new direction. No longer would he sing deadpan, drugged out odes to girls who "ate shit."
Now he would have fun instead.
And fun, he had. Richman formed a new Modern Lovers band, and made albums called Rock and Roll and Back In Your Life, and songs like the instrumental "Egyptian Reggae," "Here Come the Martian Martians," and the used car ditty, "Dodge VegOMatic," bringing the automotive theme started with "Roadrunner" full circle.
If there were ever a more drastic transition in rock and roll, you'd be hard pressed to find it. Yet Jonathan's wit and heart, his humorous and warm storytelling abilities, and his childlike, endearing songwriting would be lost if not for that trip to Bermuda. The world of Rock and Roll would be short one visionary, idiosyncratic guy, and Jonathan Richman himself by now would likely be dull and creatively void.
Kind of like Lou Reed.
As for you, you should seek out Jonathan's "Having A Party." Worth the price of admission just for "Monologue About Bermuda," there are also fantastic songs like the rave-ups "Our Swinging Pad," "The Girl Stands Up to Me Now," and the wonderfully over-caffeine-ated "Cappucino Bar." Every song on this album is bursting with wit, warmth, and rockin' humor of the highest magnitude.
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