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THE OFFICIAL SONG OF “EXPATAPALOOZA 2007.”

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Sal DeTraglia

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Support for our proposed “2007 Expat Reunion”—which I hereby rename “Expatapalooza 2007,” per Pam’s suggestion—has been overwhelming.

So overwhelming, in fact, that I felt that the event needed its own song. So, I wrote one.

I mean, I wrote the lyrics. The music is lifted from the classic pinko folk song, “Little Boxes.”

Click the YouTube video above to familiarize yourself with the music. And then, start memorizing the new lyrics below.

Why? Because *everybody* attending Expatapalooza 2007 will be expected to sing along as Pam and I play our ukuleles.

LITTLE EXPATS

Little expats.
In Sal’s basement.
Drinking shot glasses.
Full of ticky tacky.

Little expats.
Popping Prozac.
And they all whine just the same.

See them standing.
In the supermarket.
Searching vainly.
For JIF peanut butter.

Little expats.
Craving root beer.
And they all whine just the same.

They are lawyers.
And writers.
English teachers.
And photographers.

And they’re all.
Deprived of vegemite.
And Pep Chews.
And Almond Joys.

Later on.
When they’re gray and crusty.
They will move back.
To their native lands.

Where they’ll all pine.
For old Europe.
And they’ll all whine.
Just…the…same.

Learn it!

Live it!

COCONUT!

Comments

18 responses to “THE OFFICIAL SONG OF “EXPATAPALOOZA 2007.””

  1. christina Avatar
    christina

    Can’t. stop. laughing. Please send oxygen mask.

    Do we get t-shirts too?

    Reply
  2. tinakala Avatar
    tinakala

    This is so sweet. Like a glimpse of the future. Now I know how the rest of my life will look like – whining in chorus.

    Reply
  3. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    Always loved that song!
    You’re a silly one Mr Sal!

    Reply
  4. Pam Avatar
    Pam

    “Dude, we totally rocked the main stage at Expatapalooza. We tore it up so much that Moby didn’t want to go on after us. We had to have security help us get outta there, the crowd didn’t want to let us go!”

    Reply
  5. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    Ciao! Found you over at Reboot (Cynthia’s blog), and I want to officially propose myself as an Expatapalooza (woo, that’s fun to type!) groupie. I have been meeting some Italy bloggers here in Rome and I am all for expanding this into a Europe thing. I’m there! Keep me posted … do you have an Expatapalooza logo yet? 😉 You know, you’ll need it for all the “official merchandise”…

    Reply
  6. CanadianSwiss Avatar
    CanadianSwiss

    Wait a minute, Sal! Are you calling us grey and CRUSTY?!!!??

    I see we have a LOT of practicing to do. Oh well, what the heck. And yeah, wat about the T-Shirts?!

    Reply
  7. Angie Avatar
    Angie

    Hey! I’m still alive, just popping in to say Happy Thanksgiving! Spain photos, anecdotes, etc. to come if I ever get a minute free. Thanks for your kind words (a few posts down)! Lovely to meet you too. 🙂 The combination of jet lag and matching sinus infections knocked The Fiance and I over for a few days upon our return, but it was nothing some antibiotics and dozens of Shane’s Grandma Betty’s apricot kolaches couldn’t fix.

    If you’ve never had one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolache Oh. My. God. They are so good.

    “Whining in chorus”… that would be a good title for a book, or something. The Expatapalooza blog, maybe? (Surely there will be liveblogging of this event, for those of us stuck in the U.S. of A.?)

    Reply
  8. woman wandering Avatar
    woman wandering

    Giggling here … you clever wee thing you. I’ll have to open a bottle to recover from this.

    I don’t whine … I creatively criticise occasionally … whine, ‘well I never’

    Love the song … nice soundtrack, well done.

    Reply
  9. Sal DeTraglia Avatar
    Sal DeTraglia

    Christina: Sorry, but no oxygen in Spain. Just cigarette smoke.

    Tinakala: The good news is that most expats don’t start whining until year 3. That leaves you plenty of time to work on your suntan.

    Ketel One: Pete Seeger is the coolest, ain’t he? Have fun in Bari.

    Pam: Send in the groupies! BTW…I think our power duo needs a name. How about “The UkuLazies?”

    Shelly: You’re in? Great! You’re in charge of bringing the involtini. As for a logo, we haven’t yet decided on one. You can bet, however, that there will be a COCONUT in it somewhere.

    C-Swiss: Well…you have to admit that Orangie is a bit grey. But not you, of course!

    Ang: Hey, Miss Friday is back! Did you assume that the photo of you dressed as a Flamenco dancer is acceptable as a post-trip post, too? BTW…I am well-versed in the pleasures of a good kolache. Perogis and galumkes, also. If it tastes good and more or less fits within the human mouth, chances are that I have a Ph.D on the topic. BTW…the Expatapalooza live blogging idea is one that hadn’t crossed my mind. That’s good, especially if toss in a webcam. Hmmm…need to delegate that one to somebody else, too.

    Lady Di: Admit it. You like the song because it contains several references to you.

    Reply
  10. christina Avatar
    christina

    How about the UkuCrazies? 🙂

    Nahhh, forget that. You two are saner than most people I know.

    Reply
  11. woman wandering Avatar
    woman wandering

    Well … writes the laughing one, and not only that but I found the very best excuse for opening a little bottle of Spanish red.

    A toast to Expatapalooza 2007!!

    Reply
  12. Expat Traveler Avatar
    Expat Traveler

    LOL – just too funny…

    And what’s the punishment for not knowing the words?

    Reply
  13. Sal DeTraglia Avatar
    Sal DeTraglia

    ETraveler: The punishment is that you’ll have to listen to me singing solo. That qualifies as “cruel and unusual punishment.”

    Christina: Or “UkuRanians?”

    Lady Di: There mere fact that it’s Friday is a reason to open a bottle of Spanish red. Or Saturday. Or Tuesday. Or…

    Reply
  14. Pam Avatar
    Pam

    Oh, duh. Expatapaluka. It’s so obvious.

    Reply
  15. Glenna Avatar
    Glenna

    Love it! Love it! Love it!

    Reply
  16. woman wandering Avatar
    woman wandering

    So everyday’s a wine day then … oh Sal, we shall have a marvellous time at Expatapalooza, red wine all round then.

    Reply
  17. Lisa Avatar
    Lisa

    Hi Sal! 🙂 I’m new. You come highly recommended per Ms. Di and I can see why. Those lyrics and the music pairing is a work of genius. Excellent stuff. Nice to meet you.

    Reply
  18. woman wandering Avatar
    woman wandering

    I had to tell Lisa to come on over for a look-see, she’s as mad as everyone else here … 🙂

    Mad … I mean that in a good way, coconut boy.

    If I played the uke I might make up a coconut boy song actually, and if I coud sing, I would sing it however … hmmm, perhaps it’s a poem. Let me work on it.

    Reply

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