Comments on: The Big Three Killed My Baby

By: america adrift : driftwood: re-reading automobile politics as cultural text

america adrift : driftwood: re-reading automobile politics as cultural text — Fri, 01 May 2009 09:30:55 +0000

[...] framed Detroit and Wall Street, I asked Steen if he’d write a follow up to his excellent post, “The Big Three Killed My Baby.” In light of yesterday’s news I wanted to re post that piece, along with his recent [...]

By: america adrift : Motor City is Burning

america adrift : Motor City is Burning — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:27:08 +0000

[...] some time ago, I wrote a post about The White Stripes’ “The Big Three Killed My Baby”, where I read the song as a critique of the car industry in Detroit and how Jack White saw Detroit [...]

By: Sean Paul Kelley

Sean Paul Kelley — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:30:00 +0000

I love the White Stripes. Pinball Rock at its best. Icky Thump is my favorite song of theirs, and I listen to them on my iPod every morning whilst driving to work!

By: Steen

Steen — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 06:31:00 +0000

Yes, I think the line could refer to Detroit as well. Most people I have spoken to about Detroit really feel that it is a dysfunctional city – but somehow they can’t help liking it. Much of the city is of course planned around the car industry, and as that industry disappears, that city planning becomes obsolete.

The project sounds interesting, do you think you could find it again? I’d love to see it.

And yes, the Detroit Cobras are really great. Happy to spread the good word

By: Stuart Noble

Stuart Noble — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:10:00 +0000

Great analysis of a song I wasn't familiar with by a band I had nearly completely forgotten like the rest of Detroit.

"so don't feed me planned obsolescence"

Could this not not also refer to the City of Detroit? Not long ago I came across a site which was part of a project to document the vanishing Detroit. I've even seen how "urban farming" is beginning to be practiced on vacant city center lots, which unfortunately is not a result of "high-minded" greens, but inner-city desperation.

Your account also brings to mind Jeffrey Eugenides "The Virgin Suicides" which sets the stage for the beginnings of Detroit's urban decay in the 1970's.

btw, I found the Detroit Cobras while perusing one of your sites. Good stuff.