#12 Me Vs. Maradona Vs. Elvis -Deja Entendu

First off, let's clarify the title of the song, since the first time I saw it, I had no idea who Maradona was. Diego Maradona was a very famous soccer player in the 80's and 90's. He threw away his successful career by being addicted to and getting caught with cocaine. Needless to say, his career was over. Elvis met a similar fate when he abused prescription pills. Lacey is making a comparison of himself and these two stars, inferring that he would meet a similar fate, perhaps due to alcohol abuse. During the song he decides he'd rather prey on a woman than on alcohol. With one or two, I get used to the room. We go slow when we first make our moves. By five or six, bring you out to the car. Number nine with my head on the bar. The intro lyrics bring you in to believe that Lacey is already drunk when he does his deeds. We've all been there... Just getting used to the room and the next thing you know, you have no idea where you are. I've got (you) desperate desires and unadmirable plans. My tongue will taste of gin and malicious intent. Bring you back to the bar; get you out of the cold. My sober straight face gets you out of your clothes. Say it ain't so, Jesse! A prostitute?! I sure hope not, but that's the feeling I get. The way Jesse chooses his words, I get the inkling that he doesn't know this girl at all. You laugh at every word trying hard to be cute. I almost feel sorry for what I'm gonna do. Jesse shows remorse. At least he's honest.

It's ladies' night. All the girls drink for free. Jesse is merely trying to get this mystery woman drunk. If both of them are intoxicated, it'll make it easier to do the forbidden. Cause it's all you can be. You're a drunk and you're scared. Jesse makes listeners feel sorry for this girl. It seems as though she has so much potential to be pretty or nice or successful. She must have just fallen into a trap of liquor and sex and here she is right now. In a bed with Jesse Lacey with no direction afterwards. Probably another bed with another man. You can sin or spend the night all alone.

So, tracylacey, why number 12? This song was one of the first Brand New songs I had heard. When I first heard it I thought "Eh, its okay. It's kind of slow." Cue to the best part. The harder, faster, louder ending. The part where Jesse starts yelling the best lines. The way he yells is hostile and insecure. It's like he is getting back at someone he loves by using this other drunken girl. He is so in your face and wants you to choke on his words. It's this last part of the song that gives this song its number 12 spot. Without it, it would still be genius typical Brand New, but the ending makes it epic Brand New. It is a surprise and a shock but done in a wonderful shout. If Lacey screams too high, it could be considered emo. If he screams too soft he could be considered lame. Jesse has found such a brilliant medium he must have even surprised himself.

Best quote(s): I will lie awake, and lie for fun and fake the way I hold you. Let you fall for every empty word I say. I love the way this line is repeated throughout the whole song. It’s the catchy part. If anything, this part is the part that gets stuck in your head after listening. Then it is shouted in your ears at the end. Bravo, Brand New.