Yes! I’m not American, so today is the day I learned that one of my favourite songs is based on a commercial ice cream product, rather than just on whatever was going through Jon Spencer’s head at the time.
2 Likes
I’m not from the states either, so it also wasn’t immediately obvious to me . I picked up some of the other references in song right away (“Love Shack”, the start of “Give Him a Great Big Kiss”), but it took me a good decade to realise the song’s reliance on the B-52’s “Dance This Mess Around”.
It’s pretty complex, as far as songs about ice-cream cakes go.
2 Likes
No. But I had correctly assumed it.
1 Like
You can get the Carvel cakes at some grocery stores. There are at ACME and Shoprite in the northeast US. It is my go to cake for my birthday, so I don’t care if a Trump likes them. I like the chocolate one with extra chocolate chunkies.
2 Likes
I grew up in the northeast. Now I live in deepest, darkest southern Appalachia. Trust me, no one here even knows who Fudgie the Whale is. Hence, the fact that I’ve lost touch with its continuing existence.
3 Likes
“I’ll chase him round Good Hope, and round the Horn, and round the Norway Maelstrom, and round perdition’s flames before I give him up. And this is what ye have shipped for, men! to chase that black cherry whale on both sides of land, and over all sides of earth, till he spouts black blood and rolls fin out. What say ye, men, will ye splice hands on it, now? I think ye do look brave.”
2 Likes
Carvel still exists. Chiefly seems to be a target for robberies these days. And as @hhype mentioned supermarkets in several parts of the US carry the cakes
But finding the whale can be difficult at best. Cookiepuss seems a little more available most of the time. Mostly its generic round and square ice cream cakes. And if your lucky a sheet cake so you don’t have to buy two.
We mostly get our ice cream cakes from a local independent ice cream shop that is way more badass than Carvel ever was. They used to make the whales as they’d acquired some molds from closing stores. But there was a cease and desist.
One of the remaining Carvels in our area told us that they couldn’t make them anymore because the molds had worn out and corporate wasn’t making them anymore. So a replacement wasn’t possible. Since then I’ve seen them crop up more often. And the shape is subtly different than seen in photos from when I was a kid. So I’m guessing they started doing it again. Still can’t find a store than can make them though. But they do occasionally crop up at the supermarkets.
1 Like
Now you’ve got me thinking - I haven’t listened to the B52s for years and it’s suddenly just what I need.
2 Likes
Was?
No, it was a Messy Joe’s.
This topic was automatically closed after 5 days. New replies are no longer allowed.
