Whatever I was doing, I’m certain my reaction upon hearing this charming pop tune was immediate entrancement. The song’s sumptuous melodies and tasteful arrangement were right in my wheelhouse. Still are today. (Note to research origins of the phrase “right in my wheelhouse.”)
Piano, guitar, vocal. Just like the image above says. Well, and drums. Or drum machine. And some other instruments like keyboards and bass and cello. But that’s nitpicking.
Sure, the wistful tone of Penn’s voice, the strumming of his acoustic 12-string, and Tony Berg’s lush, timeless production grabbed me, but it was the lyrics that wouldn’t let me go.
The song’s theme, of the scorned man in despair because the object of his affections only “hoped we could be friends,” was more than relatable to the 22-year-old male this author was back then.
The chorus, the earworm portion of “No Myth” for me this week, goes:
What if I were Romeo in black jeans What if I was Heathcliff, it's no myth Maybe she's just looking for Someone to dance with
The references to Romeo and Heathcliff point to tragic romantics, of which the character in Penn’s song surely feels in lockstep. Though thinking that “maybe she’s just looking for someone to dance with”— aka: she’s not wanting a serious relationship — seems more an attempt at rationalizing, of avoiding feeling rejected and dejected.
It’s a view of romantic love that I shared growing up on a steady diet of romantic comedies and romantic tragedies. “Pretty in Pink,” “When Harry Met Sally,” “Say Anything.”
It’s a self-absorbed, not especially empathetic attitude toward relationships. The whole “I’m going to convince you how charming and perfect I am for you and win you over despite how many times you say no” approach might’ve worked for John Cusack when he held a boombox over his head, but for everyone else, it’s borderline stalking.
Michael Penn, if you don’t already know, is the older brother to actors Sean and Chris Penn. It’s likely that a bit of nepotism was involved in Michael’s debut album, March, taking off as fast as it did. One of his earliest performances was on Saturday Night Live, the same night that Sean Penn was the guest host. Kismet? Serendipity? Genetic favoritism? Who’s to say?
But when an album is as good as March, it’s hard to begrudge Michael Penn his success, or his bloodline.
“No Myth” would go on reach #13 on the U.S. Billboard charts. March would reach #31 on the album charts.
Penn has released four other albums: Free-for-All (1992), Resigned (1997), MP4: Days Since a Lost Time Accident (2000) and Mr. Hollywood Jr., 1947 (2005). I’ve only heard Free-for-All and it’s excellent. Possibly better than March.
Penn has also scored several films, including Hard Eight, Boogie Nights, The Anniversary Party, Sunshine Cleaning, and many others.
In 1997 he and singer-songwriter Aimee Mann married. They are still together.
Here’s an audio-only version of “No Myth” with Aimee Mann on lead vocals. Not great quality.
Is it new to you? Did you love it back when it came out?
Are you wishing that Michael Penn and Aimee Mann would make a proper record together?
And did you realize just now like me that if Michael Penn took Aimee Mann’s last name that it would be Michael Mann, the great filmmaker who directed Heat, Miami Vice and Ali?
I've always loved this song but hadn't heard it in probably a decade or more. Then this May I was visiting my sister and she was playing an old playlist I'd made for her and, boom, there it was. Funny how things come in waves! Hearing it also prompted an Aimee Mann phase of sorts :) Great song, great post
Yeah, Aimee Mann is the best. I've written about her already but I'm likely to do it again. I was excited to find the audio clip of her singing "No Myth" for the post. Thanks for reading!
Same six - Aimee Mann, John Prine, Tracy Chapman, Townes Van Zandt, Iris Dement, Tom Waits - though as time went on I added Declan and Bob though they’re refreshing beverages and waiting for one of the six to get up so they can take the seat....
Well, Steve....foist things foist (Popeye's doing my typing today): As for "right in my wheelhouse," my guess (I haven't looked it up......yet) is it's a phrase originating in baseball. When a pitch is about belt level, and known to be right in the strike zone at a point the hitter has routinely sent screaming somewhere on the diamond (or over the fence, ideally), that pitch is said to have been "right in his wheelhouse."
Now, WHY wheelhouse, itself, well, that may actually be a turn-of-the-century (the previous one, like 1900) construct having to do either with a railyard turntable (have you seen THAT tonearm?), or the part of an engine that might contain gears and/or wheels in a housing.....well, I may be drifting here. So, look it up and see how close I was!😉
As for Penn, I do recall that song, and in that year, I was really only aware of radio hits and MTV output (being about 7 years away from being in "the biz"). I enjoyed the couple of songs (including this one) that I heard by him, and thought he was a gifted songwriter and singer, with a deft hand at melody. In short? "No Myth" is definitely a hit, far from being a mith.😜
I had the song playing in my head before I finished reading the article's subtitle, if that tells you anything. lol. And "yes please!" to Penn and Mann making a record together. Doubly so if it's soundtrack work for a remake of Miami Vice.
I've always loved this song but hadn't heard it in probably a decade or more. Then this May I was visiting my sister and she was playing an old playlist I'd made for her and, boom, there it was. Funny how things come in waves! Hearing it also prompted an Aimee Mann phase of sorts :) Great song, great post
Yeah, Aimee Mann is the best. I've written about her already but I'm likely to do it again. I was excited to find the audio clip of her singing "No Myth" for the post. Thanks for reading!
Aimee Mann is on my list of 6 interesting people (alive or passed on) that I’d love to have a beverage and chat with around a table.
Ha- funny that your list is 6! Was it 5 and then you had to add a sixth? I predict it will be 10 by year’s end...;)
Same six - Aimee Mann, John Prine, Tracy Chapman, Townes Van Zandt, Iris Dement, Tom Waits - though as time went on I added Declan and Bob though they’re refreshing beverages and waiting for one of the six to get up so they can take the seat....
Well, Steve....foist things foist (Popeye's doing my typing today): As for "right in my wheelhouse," my guess (I haven't looked it up......yet) is it's a phrase originating in baseball. When a pitch is about belt level, and known to be right in the strike zone at a point the hitter has routinely sent screaming somewhere on the diamond (or over the fence, ideally), that pitch is said to have been "right in his wheelhouse."
Now, WHY wheelhouse, itself, well, that may actually be a turn-of-the-century (the previous one, like 1900) construct having to do either with a railyard turntable (have you seen THAT tonearm?), or the part of an engine that might contain gears and/or wheels in a housing.....well, I may be drifting here. So, look it up and see how close I was!😉
As for Penn, I do recall that song, and in that year, I was really only aware of radio hits and MTV output (being about 7 years away from being in "the biz"). I enjoyed the couple of songs (including this one) that I heard by him, and thought he was a gifted songwriter and singer, with a deft hand at melody. In short? "No Myth" is definitely a hit, far from being a mith.😜
I had the song playing in my head before I finished reading the article's subtitle, if that tells you anything. lol. And "yes please!" to Penn and Mann making a record together. Doubly so if it's soundtrack work for a remake of Miami Vice.
Or the remake of the remake of Miami Vice.
I need one focusing on Gina, Switek, and Zito.