Wednesday, November 02, 2005

keep on truckin'

I've been trying to think of a good caption for The New Yorker magazine's cartoon contest this week, shown at right. (Click on the picture to see it larger.) Here are my ideas so far:


  • "Thus concludes the crowning achievement of Haydn's youthful Trucks und Babes Period."
  • "I've just been informed there is a Steinway grand in the parking lot with its lights on."
  • "Our concert will continue with the Opus 17 for String Quartet in Mud Pit."
  • "We'd next like to demonstrate some Weapons of Piano Trio Destruction."
  • "We hope you've enjoyed this premiere performance of The Quartet for the End of The Quartet for the End of Time."
  • "Please hold your applause until the conclusion of the Rip-Roarin' Freestyle Action."
  • "If classical music must die, it will be with a bang rather than a whimper!"

And my suggestion for some guy's anti-contest:

  • "Was that a hummer of a piece or what?"
Please help me improve and add to these ideas - the contest closes at midnight on Sunday, November 6th. Thanks!

2 comments:

LSL said...

I've come up with a few captions for those cartoons, but somehow i always miss the deadline... I think you have some real winners on your list! I personally like #1 the most, and also #5 (perhaps above the heads of too many people, though?). Maybe you could insert Mozart or Beethoven instead of Haydn... just a thought.

Matt Heller said...

I was going for a subtle reference to Haydn's Sturm und Drang period, which now that I think about it is way too obscure. I like the idea of Beethoven, sort of a pre-adolescent version of the Choral Symphony. Also, a new explanation for his hearing loss...