Here is today's "Going Public" column. Reader feedback has been added to the bottom of the column. Please feel free to post your comments below.
Which song best describes the CTA? Perhaps it's "Waiting for the Bus" by the Violent Femmes or "Mo Money Mo Problems" by The Notorious B.I.G.--a few suggestions from "Going Public" readers.
Sponsored by:
Which CTA song is tops?
Or maybe it's any of the "war hell ride" songs written by deceased
schizophrenic Chicagoan Wesley Willis about the "demons" he
encountered, among other places, on CTA buses.
Whatever the case may be, local punk group Modern Day Rippers and holiday band The Snow Angels believe they have songs that capture the spirit of the CTA.
The Snow Angels' new single, "CTA Xmas Train," celebrates the annual arrival of the CTA holiday train. The train travels each line at least once from the end of November to the week of Christmas. This week, it will be on the Green Line.
"For me, it's the highlight of my year and the highlight of the holidays," said Logan Square resident Daniel Lang, 31, who is known as "Kris Maas" in The Snow Angels. "The song, it might romanticize the CTA a bit, but I don't know if there's anything wrong with that."
Tell that to Jeremy "Germ" Lowe, 31, of West Ridge. Lowe's band, the Modern Day Rippers, offers a less-enchanting view of the CTA in its song "C.T.A."
Lowe, a regular Red Line and bus rider, complained to "GP" that over the years, CTA fares "seem to keep going up but the quality doesn't seem to be any better." He said his song is about the "misadventures of taking the CTA on a daily basis."
"Everybody has their story. Anyone who has taken the CTA ... has a CTA story about something bizarre they've seen or run into," Lowe said.
And now CTA riders will have a chance to sound off on which CTA song best fits the transit agency. "GP" is pitting "CTA Xmas Train" against "C.T.A." in a contest at redeyechicago.com/goingpublic. Let us know which song you prefer or suggest a tune that better suits the CTA. "Highway to Hell," anyone?
The Snow Angels with "CTA XMas Train"
Modern Day Rippers with "CTA"
Red alert
The CTA this week is holding open houses for riders to share their ideas for future improvements on the Red Line North and Purple Line--from the Addison Red Line station to the Linden station on the Purple Line.
The open houses will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at: Emanuel Congregation, 5959 N. Sheridan Road, on Tuesday; Truman College, 1145 W. Wilson Ave., on Wednesday; and Fleetwood-Jourdain Center, 1655 Foster St. in Evanston, on Thursday.
RIDER'S BLOCK
My pledge to ride every CTA bus line continues. I rode the No. 1-Indiana/Hyde-Park last week and boiled my review down to 140 characters, the size of a Twitter tweet. Check out photos at redeyechicago.com/busride.
ยป @tracyswartz 54 mins from Greyhound bus terminal area to Washington Park. Bus stop near Greyhound terminal could use better lighting. Rush hour schedule.
Next up: No. 67-67th/69th/71st.
TALK TO US
Which song best describes the CTA? Tell Tracy by sending an e-mail to tswartz@tribune.com. Please include your full name, age and neighborhood in case we publish your thoughts.
Here is the reader feedback.
Nick Christophe, 21, of the Northwest burbs wrote: "You'll find me in the same spot/believe me I could never stop, my life's turned upside down/Meet me out past the train tracks/I'm leavin' and not coming back/You're right and I was wrong this (train) town will be the downfall of us all.
I rely a lot on CTA and I feel I'm let down all the time. The CTA is the downfall of us all!!!
That's why I think 'Downfall of us all' by: A Day To Remember is a good song.
Steve Hall, 29, of Belmont/Portage wrote: "Less emphasis on the first half of the title but 'Take It Easy!!' The CTA is the best transportation going, whether it be the Medical District, viewing Daley Plaza with all the holiday decorations, to and from within a short distance... Rush Hour... Well that's another story... IF it can be avoided."
Kinga Strzelec wrote: "I would guess 'Poker Face,' by Lady Gaga. Why? Well, I live a block away from the Howard stop so there are always trains sitting on the bridge that goes over Fargo Avenue between the Jarvis and Howard stops.
Last night, while sitting in the house watching George Lopez, a mysterious noise filled my apartment from front to back. As I walked around to try to figure out if someone downloaded a ring tone to my phone and hid it somewhere, I decided to step out on the balcony.
To my surprise, a Purple Line train was 'parked' on the bridge and the song was playing through the intercom. Now I don't know if the operator was getting his game face on before he headed to Linden or if that was his/her ring tone and they simply forgot to turn the intercom off.
Either way it was super funny. Well maybe just one of those you had-to-be-there moments."
Aaron Samuels, 26, of Bridgeport wrote: "The song that best describes the CTA?
Weird Al -- 'Another One Rides the Bus'
'Couldn't find a seat so I had to stand
With the perverts in the back
It was smelling like a locker room
There was junk all over the floor
We're already packed in like sardines
But we're stopping to pick up more.'"
Justin Rechter, 29, of Lincoln Park wrote: "As soon as I read this article I thought the best song to describe the CTA has to be 'SLOW RIDE' by Foghat...
However, that song is about taking a fun and enjoyable 'Slow Ride' when the painfully slow commute in the morning is pretty much the opposite of fun and enjoyable... And continuously makes you want to 'BANG YOUR HEAD' (as performed by Quiet Riot) on the side of the train out of frustration when the train stops every three minutes for no evident reason."
Eric Berger wrote: "Not sure if this is where I vote, but if it is....then I vote for the SNOW ANGELS 'CTA X-MAS TRAIN'!!"
Whatever the case may be, local punk group Modern Day Rippers and holiday band The Snow Angels believe they have songs that capture the spirit of the CTA.
The Snow Angels' new single, "CTA Xmas Train," celebrates the annual arrival of the CTA holiday train. The train travels each line at least once from the end of November to the week of Christmas. This week, it will be on the Green Line.
"For me, it's the highlight of my year and the highlight of the holidays," said Logan Square resident Daniel Lang, 31, who is known as "Kris Maas" in The Snow Angels. "The song, it might romanticize the CTA a bit, but I don't know if there's anything wrong with that."
Tell that to Jeremy "Germ" Lowe, 31, of West Ridge. Lowe's band, the Modern Day Rippers, offers a less-enchanting view of the CTA in its song "C.T.A."
Lowe, a regular Red Line and bus rider, complained to "GP" that over the years, CTA fares "seem to keep going up but the quality doesn't seem to be any better." He said his song is about the "misadventures of taking the CTA on a daily basis."
"Everybody has their story. Anyone who has taken the CTA ... has a CTA story about something bizarre they've seen or run into," Lowe said.
And now CTA riders will have a chance to sound off on which CTA song best fits the transit agency. "GP" is pitting "CTA Xmas Train" against "C.T.A." in a contest at redeyechicago.com/goingpublic. Let us know which song you prefer or suggest a tune that better suits the CTA. "Highway to Hell," anyone?
The Snow Angels with "CTA XMas Train"
Modern Day Rippers with "CTA"
-- this quote was brought to you by quoteurl
redeyechicago Songs of the CTA? Yep. Really. Send us your suggestions. http://bit.ly/7pSELG - my vote: C'mon N' Ride It (The Train)
MiseryLovesCo RT @redeyechicago: Songs of the CTA? Yep. Really. Send us your suggestions. http://bit.ly/7pSELG - my vote: C'mon N' Ride It (The Train)
Thatgeekychick2 @redeyechicago "On the Line" from that movie that two Nsync Members were in about Chicago. Lol
AaronBSam @redeyechicago Songs of the CTA? How about Weird Al's "Another One Rides the Bus"?
Red alert
The CTA this week is holding open houses for riders to share their ideas for future improvements on the Red Line North and Purple Line--from the Addison Red Line station to the Linden station on the Purple Line.
The open houses will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at: Emanuel Congregation, 5959 N. Sheridan Road, on Tuesday; Truman College, 1145 W. Wilson Ave., on Wednesday; and Fleetwood-Jourdain Center, 1655 Foster St. in Evanston, on Thursday.
RIDER'S BLOCK
My pledge to ride every CTA bus line continues. I rode the No. 1-Indiana/Hyde-Park last week and boiled my review down to 140 characters, the size of a Twitter tweet. Check out photos at redeyechicago.com/busride.
ยป @tracyswartz 54 mins from Greyhound bus terminal area to Washington Park. Bus stop near Greyhound terminal could use better lighting. Rush hour schedule.
Next up: No. 67-67th/69th/71st.
TALK TO US
Which song best describes the CTA? Tell Tracy by sending an e-mail to tswartz@tribune.com. Please include your full name, age and neighborhood in case we publish your thoughts.
Here is the reader feedback.
Nick Christophe, 21, of the Northwest burbs wrote: "You'll find me in the same spot/believe me I could never stop, my life's turned upside down/Meet me out past the train tracks/I'm leavin' and not coming back/You're right and I was wrong this (train) town will be the downfall of us all.
I rely a lot on CTA and I feel I'm let down all the time. The CTA is the downfall of us all!!!
That's why I think 'Downfall of us all' by: A Day To Remember is a good song.
Steve Hall, 29, of Belmont/Portage wrote: "Less emphasis on the first half of the title but 'Take It Easy!!' The CTA is the best transportation going, whether it be the Medical District, viewing Daley Plaza with all the holiday decorations, to and from within a short distance... Rush Hour... Well that's another story... IF it can be avoided."
Kinga Strzelec wrote: "I would guess 'Poker Face,' by Lady Gaga. Why? Well, I live a block away from the Howard stop so there are always trains sitting on the bridge that goes over Fargo Avenue between the Jarvis and Howard stops.
Last night, while sitting in the house watching George Lopez, a mysterious noise filled my apartment from front to back. As I walked around to try to figure out if someone downloaded a ring tone to my phone and hid it somewhere, I decided to step out on the balcony.
To my surprise, a Purple Line train was 'parked' on the bridge and the song was playing through the intercom. Now I don't know if the operator was getting his game face on before he headed to Linden or if that was his/her ring tone and they simply forgot to turn the intercom off.
Either way it was super funny. Well maybe just one of those you had-to-be-there moments."
Aaron Samuels, 26, of Bridgeport wrote: "The song that best describes the CTA?
Weird Al -- 'Another One Rides the Bus'
'Couldn't find a seat so I had to stand
With the perverts in the back
It was smelling like a locker room
There was junk all over the floor
We're already packed in like sardines
But we're stopping to pick up more.'"
Justin Rechter, 29, of Lincoln Park wrote: "As soon as I read this article I thought the best song to describe the CTA has to be 'SLOW RIDE' by Foghat...
However, that song is about taking a fun and enjoyable 'Slow Ride' when the painfully slow commute in the morning is pretty much the opposite of fun and enjoyable... And continuously makes you want to 'BANG YOUR HEAD' (as performed by Quiet Riot) on the side of the train out of frustration when the train stops every three minutes for no evident reason."
Eric Berger wrote: "Not sure if this is where I vote, but if it is....then I vote for the SNOW ANGELS 'CTA X-MAS TRAIN'!!"
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3 Comments
Scott Peckenpaugh said:
i'd be an idiot if i didn't suggest my own song "Miss Your Sin":
Waiting for the train at Bryn Mawr
Thinking how fast the time goes these days
Riding down to Belmont
Counting out our lost yesterdays
myspace.com/scottpeckenpaugh
How long does voting go on for? I wanna know who wins!
Sammi Gilmore said:
Modern Day Rippers are amazing! Hands down one of my favorite songs by them!
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