Ten Favorite Steely Dan Songs: Show Biz Kids (#6)
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (62147)
United States
September 25, 2017 8:44pm CST
Halfway home! I'm counting down my ten favorite songs by the legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Steely Dan. Half of their songwriting brains, Walter Becker, died earlier this month, so it just seemed fitting to remember his contributions through this countdown. Here's the next song on the list.
#6: Show Biz Kids
This is such a slap in the face to the self-serving Hollywood elite that you'd think some conservative talk show host had written it. Well, save for the "F word" near the end.....
Of course, there's humor in this song about these egomaniacs "making movies of themselves": note that they're wearing "the Steely Dan t-shirts." 
Throughout the song the background singers keep mentioning "Go to Lost Wages," the nickname for Las Vegas. The guitar in this song was provided by Rick Derringer.
This was actually released as a single in 1973, and it was pretty much a flop, peaking at #61 on the singles charts. It became an FM rock staple though (yeah, even with the dirty word in it).
Show Biz Kids
Written by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen
From Countdown to Ecstasy, 1973
Honey let me tell you (profanity warning):
Throughout the song the background singers keep mentioning "Go to Lost Wages," the nickname for Las Vegas. The guitar in this song was provided by Rick Derringer.
This was actually released as a single in 1973, and it was pretty much a flop, peaking at #61 on the singles charts. It became an FM rock staple though (yeah, even with the dirty word in it).
Show Biz Kids
Written by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen
From Countdown to Ecstasy, 1973
Honey let me tell you (profanity warning):
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5 people like this
2 responses
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
27 Sep 17
"Go to Lost Wages." Ya know, I never could figure out those particular lyrics. Thank you!
2 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
27 Sep 17
Still a poignant and spot on tune all these decades later.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (62147)
• United States
27 Sep 17
Rickie Lee Jones did a cover of this, and oh, the anger in her voice during the "show business kids making movies of themselves" lines (which she repeats three times, with increasing anger). Nothing new, that's for sure.
1 person likes this
