Do we look like the kind of store that sells “I Just Called to Say I Love You?”

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Do we look like the kind of store that sells “I Just Called to Say I Love You?”

January 15th, 2013 · 80 comments

Kay spotted these signs while shopping for CDs at a store named JB Hi-Fi in Melbourne. “I personally agree with everything said on there,” Kay says, “but the two 17-year-olds who brought the note to my attention clearly didn’t. (One of them actually said ‘Who the fuck is Johnny Rotten?’) I thought it was priceless.”

FILED UNDER: "customer service" · Melbourne · most popular notes of 2013 · music

80 responses so far ↓

#1 Roto13

I have no experience to back this up, but there’s no way punk fans in a music store are not insufferable. So this is probably fully justified.

Jan 15, 2013 at 6:20 pm rating: 90

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- #1.1 Dantebenuto
  
  Triple negative makes monkey confused.
  
  Jan 15, 2013 at 6:37 pm rating: 90
- #1.2 spoko
  
  Remove two of them, and you get that there’s no way said punk fans are sufferable. True.
  
  Jan 16, 2013 at 6:46 am rating: 90
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#2 Lindsay

Damnit, now I lost the game.

Jan 15, 2013 at 6:23 pm rating: 90

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- #2.1 SeeYouInTea
  
  Oh I hate you now.
  
  Jan 15, 2013 at 6:25 pm rating: 90
- #2.2 mutzali
  
  me, too. And I kind of hate my sons for telling me about the game.
  
  Jan 15, 2013 at 8:02 pm rating: 90
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#3 SeeYouInTea

Aren’t people debating music typical and expected in a music store? But I can see how annoying these customers could be. The notewriter seems to have a good sense of humor about this too. The use of The Game is hilarious.
I was born in 1991, and I would never say The Clash doesn’t belong in the punk section. GET OFF MY LAWN.

Jan 15, 2013 at 6:29 pm rating: 90

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- #3.1 Kris
  
  there is debating and there is being an obnoxious whiny beyotch who actually doesn’t know anything about the genre they are complaining about.
  
  Jan 17, 2013 at 2:41 pm rating: 90
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#4 Julia

I would be behind the note writer 100% if he knew how not to use an apostrophe.

Jan 15, 2013 at 6:30 pm rating: 90

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- #4.1 Jenny
  
  Not to mention… whinging?? I’ve seen that written before & it makes my eyes hurt every time!
  
  Jan 15, 2013 at 9:38 pm rating: 90
- #4.2 Jami
  
  That’s how the spell it in Australia. Just like most English speaking countries spell the following words this way -
  Colour
  Grey
  Theatre
  Centre
  
  We Americans are just the rebellious teenagers of the English language. Spelling things any damn way we please!
  
  Jan 15, 2013 at 11:57 pm rating: 90
- #4.3 thursdaynext
  
  Whinging and whining are pronounced differently though. They’re different words with the same use.
  
  Jan 16, 2013 at 1:29 am rating: 90
- #4.4 spoko
  
  It’s pretty sad that you prioritize the use of an apostrophe higher than the actual content. You agree with what he’s saying, but he loses you by throwing one piece of punctuation where you don’t like to see it? Really?
  
  Jan 16, 2013 at 6:49 am rating: 90
- #4.5 thrall
  
  Spoko, come by more often and you’ll see we are the pickiest of the picky. RaNdoM cAps and misplaced apostrophe’s put color into our cheeks!
  
  Jan 16, 2013 at 10:02 am rating: 90
- #4.6 Kwyjor
  
  “Whinge” is a legitimate verb with its own meaning distinct from that of “whine”, and I would award bonus points for its correct usage if they hadn’t botched the “you’re”.
  
  Jan 16, 2013 at 1:11 pm rating: 90
- #4.7 j-train
  
  We made English make sense! Those u’s are excessive and theatER is how it’s pronounced, even in England! America FTW!
  
  Jan 16, 2013 at 8:03 pm rating: 90
- #4.8 Elizabeth
  
  So I presume you pronounce “table” as “tab-luh”.
  
  Also, I’d love to hear what you made of “through”, “tough”, “though”, “cough”, “bough”, and “thought”, since you did such a good job making English “make sense”.
  
  Face it. English is mental. It’s what makes it so fun.
  
  Oh, and “whinge”? Quintessentially Australian word, usually applied to Poms – but we’ll make a special dispensation for any American who complains that the rest of us don’t know how to spell.
  
  Jan 17, 2013 at 6:13 pm rating: 90
- #4.9 Jen
  
  Not sure if Jenny was comparing “whinging” to “whingeing” or to “whining”? Both “whingeing” and “whinging” are accepted spellings, though I prefer it with the “E” myself, it just seems more correct.
  
  “Whining” is a different word, as pointed out.
  
  Jan 19, 2013 at 2:09 pm rating: 90
- #4.10 spoko
  
  thrall, I come by plenty often; I’ve seen what you’re talking about. Just because it’s typical doesn’t mean it’s not asinine.
  
  Jan 21, 2013 at 7:09 am rating: 90
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#5 Ashley

So uh..am I the only one who doesn’t know who Johnny Rotten or G.G Allin is? Can I use my age as an excuse? (I’m 19)

Jan 15, 2013 at 6:33 pm rating: 90

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- #5.1 Me, Myself, and I
  
  Well, I’m 40 and I only know who Johnny Rotten is (he was in the Sex Pistols with Sid Viscious) but I cannot help you with G.G Allin…
  
  Jan 15, 2013 at 6:40 pm rating: 90
- #5.2 Glen Matlock
  
  I think so.
  
  I once had the chance to see G.G. Allin in Chicago but wimped out. The historical significance was trumped by fear of what might happen.
  
  I can understand not knowing who he was, but not knowing Johnny Rotten?
  
  Jan 15, 2013 at 7:12 pm rating: 90
- #5.3 Ashley
  
  Well I grew up listening to old rock and country music, have never been a fan of metal or punk…
  
  Jan 15, 2013 at 7:14 pm rating: 90
- #5.4 secondsout
  
  Ashley, this website is helpful for finding out about Johnny Rotten.
  
  Jan 15, 2013 at 7:41 pm rating: 90
- #5.5 Sonia
  
  you’re 19. google them…
  Don’t look too deeply into G.G. Allin, though…for your own sake…
  
  Jan 15, 2013 at 9:01 pm rating: 90
- #5.6 Jami
  
  Eh, I’m 36 and I’m only vaguely familiar with Johnny’s name. But I don’t like punk. I prefer big band and disco. Now Cab Calloway or Andy Gibb on the other hand….
  
  Jan 16, 2013 at 12:18 am rating: 90
- #5.7 Mindy
  
  You can only use your age this once. Now, go Google them both. Johnny Rotten is far more time worthy – never been a G.G. Allin fan.
  
  Jan 16, 2013 at 1:11 pm rating: 90
- #5.8 STFUyou
  
  No, Ashley, you cannot! I knew who Johnny Rotten was when I was 12, and I was born (just) after Sid Vicious died. There’s no excuse, not even age!
  
  Just kidding… I went to CBGB as a teenager for their all ages matinees, so I obviously know exactly who they are, but I know not everyone enjoys the same things. I mean, I don’t know who this Bieber woman is that is so popular lately or why she’s on TV all the time.
  
  Jan 16, 2013 at 6:30 pm rating: 90
- #5.9 j-train
  
  I made it through high school during N’Sync’s height and had no idea who they were until college. But I suppose that would count in my favor.
  
  Jan 16, 2013 at 8:06 pm rating: 90
- #5.10 The Elf
  
  Really, G. G. Allin should be a cautionary tale against naming your kid “Jesus Christ”. You think the kid is going to grow up to be an upstanding pillar of society with solid Christian morals, but really he ends up as a poop-flinging, bj receiving, naked punk singer with a rap sheet and a heroin addiction.
  
  Jan 17, 2013 at 7:18 am rating: 90
- #5.11 So
  
  Johnny Rotten’s real name in John Lyndon now advertises butter in the UK.
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mSE-Iy_tFY
  
  Jan 18, 2013 at 5:09 am rating: 90
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#6 Dantebenuto

Team Store; Ashley, just Google either of them… but for more fun: Google Images first, then go read about them.

Jan 15, 2013 at 6:36 pm rating: 90

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- #6.1 Me, Myself, and I
  
  Running to Google to find out who G.G Allin is…
  
  Jan 15, 2013 at 6:41 pm rating: 90
- #6.2 Ashley
  
  LOL Thanks for the suggestion
  
  Jan 15, 2013 at 6:47 pm rating: 90
- #6.3 H for Toy
  
  I always google before asking, that way, everyone is kept in the dark regarding my ignorance. I totally (now) know who GG Allin is.
  
  Jan 15, 2013 at 8:38 pm rating: 90
- #6.4 Ashley
  
  Yeah yeah “google before asking”, I ask and Google, because sometimes I like hearing what the “street” has to say about things
  
  Jan 15, 2013 at 11:46 pm rating: 90
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#7 Me, Myself, and I

…finished Googling GG Allin, and all I can say is HOLY CRAP!!!!

Jan 15, 2013 at 6:43 pm rating: 90

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- #7.1 Dan
  
  Okay, yup, GG Allin is more punk than everyone.
  
  Jan 15, 2013 at 8:23 pm rating: 90
- #7.2 Dee
  
  Skrillex has nothing on underground compared to that.
  What, exactly, was wrong with that guy?
  
  Jan 21, 2013 at 2:27 pm rating: 90
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#8 Risha

Who the hell questions why The Clash are under punk? It’s like trying to toss Pearl Jam out of alternative or Jay-Z out of rap.

Jan 15, 2013 at 7:10 pm rating: 90

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- #8.1 spoko
  
  They did play a lot of reggae-tinged stuff. Also people liked them. To some people, either of those would disqualify you for the Punk section.
  
  Jan 16, 2013 at 6:55 am rating: 90
- #8.2 Brian
  
  Indeed, my hardcore punk friends seem to think actual musical talent disqualifies a band from being Punk.
  
  Jan 16, 2013 at 9:22 am rating: 90
- #8.3 Roto13
  
  As far as a lot of people are concerned, punk is a measure of poverty. The second you have a $20 in your wallet, you’re not punk any more.
  
  Jan 17, 2013 at 12:05 am rating: 90
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#9 HPardifal

GG Allin was a notorious poo thrower. Literally, the guy poohed on stage and flung it at the audience amongst other unspeakable acts. Now that is beyond punk.

Jan 15, 2013 at 7:12 pm rating: 90

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- #9.1 depro
  
  He also a predecessor to 2 Girls, 1 cup.
  
  Jan 15, 2013 at 11:34 pm rating: 90
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#10 kermit

The best part of this is that I’m seeing an ad for a psychic and an ad to buy Sugar Ray on iTunes.

Jan 15, 2013 at 7:30 pm rating: 90

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#11 sumdumgai

If you don’t know why the Clash are in punk you either 1.) Don’t know the Clash or 2.) Don’t know punk. It is probably more realistic to ask why those boybands call themselves punk as soon as they pick up guitars than to ask why the Clash is considered punk. Oh right. It’s because they don’t sound like another Sex Pistols rip off. That whole thing about being contemporaries rather than followers and that.

Jan 15, 2013 at 7:40 pm rating: 90

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- #11.1 bibbsy
  
  I was wondering why the Clash would not be considered punk. I was born in 77, so most of my punk listening happened either passively, or post punk, but I’d never heard the Clash being taken out of punk. I thought perhaps they’d been relegated to a different sub-genre or something.
  
  Also, I need this tee-shirt, but with the grammar errors edited out, and something about, don’t knock selling out until you move out of your parents house.
  
  Jan 15, 2013 at 10:09 pm rating: 90
- #11.2 The Elf
  
  The sign needs to make their position clear: If they don’t like the Punk section, customers can stay or they can go. If they go, there will be trouble. But if they stay and still bitch about the Clash, it will be double. Let the store know, already!
  
  Jan 16, 2013 at 11:44 am rating: 90
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#12 bob loblaw

I get most of this, but not the part about ‘No Sitting on the Floor.’ Are they a new band and if so are they punk or not?

Its (sic) so confusing.

Jan 15, 2013 at 7:55 pm rating: 90

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- #12.1 Tosswinkle
  
  Sitting On The Floor was a seminal ’80s punk band from Melbourne, now banned here because of their political ideals.
  
  Nah, not really. I want to track down this ‘Danny’ character. His signs should be in all JB stores.
  
  Jan 15, 2013 at 9:22 pm rating: 90
- #12.2 Kwyjor
  
  If I am obliged to flip through racks of distinct merchandise that a store has placed two feet off the floor, then yes, rather than squat awkwardly in the aisle and impersonate a duck for a few minutes, I am going to have a seat.
  
  I say, provide a proper catalog, put your racks at a proper height, or deal with people sitting down.
  
  Jan 16, 2013 at 1:15 pm rating: 90
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#13 Bec

Curious, JB Hi Fi is actually a big chain store so it’s interesting to see they actually have standards & a sense of humour.

Jan 15, 2013 at 8:32 pm rating: 90

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- #13.1 Dina
  
  From what I’ve seen, it seems like JB Hi-Fi gives a lot of latitude to their staff on what kinds of signs etc. they can put up in the shops. Smart move on their part, I think.
  
  Jan 16, 2013 at 5:50 am rating: 90
- #13.2 Jen
  
  Yeah, I read the note before the intro and was thinking it was a small music store, wasn’t expecting JB Hi-Fi.
  
  Jan 19, 2013 at 1:45 pm rating: 90
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#14 sunshynegrll

‘Who the fuck is Johnny Rotten?’
(weeping for humanity)

Jan 16, 2013 at 2:04 am rating: 90

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- #14.1 The Elf
  
  The subject of a song from Neil Young.
  
  What?
  
  Jan 16, 2013 at 12:20 pm rating: 90
- #14.2 sunshynegrll
  
  ‘Shine On, Ginger Moon’ (pulls down pants)
  
  Jan 16, 2013 at 12:52 pm rating: 90
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#15 havingfitz

I’d have an excuse to ask questions. You see, my daddy was a bank robber but he never hurt nobody. He just loved to live that way and he loved to steal your money. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m lost in the supermarket and can no longer shop happily…

Jan 16, 2013 at 2:18 am rating: 90

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- #15.1 spoko
  
  Where can one find the Guaranteed Personality?
  
  Jan 16, 2013 at 6:57 am rating: 90
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#16 Dane Zeller

I have been accused of being old-fashioned and out of date, but I must ask: who needs to go to a music store anymore?

Jan 16, 2013 at 8:21 am rating: 90

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- #16.1 Brian
  
  I loathe “browsing” online, especially for music. If I know a song or album I want, online it is. Sometimes I want to peruse, maybe find something new I was unaware of. Music stores are great for that.
  
  Jan 16, 2013 at 9:24 am rating: 90
- #16.2 Nomnom
  
  I guess that’s a bit like how I love to browse the bookstore – I find all kinds of things there. For some reason I am not nearly as inspired by the library (probably carefully crafted presentation of the books that make you want them more in the bookstore). But if I’m looking online I’m often constrained to what I can think of to search – and then the data mining decides it will ONLY show me similar things to what I’ve already looked at. The reality is that maybe what I looked at isn’t the only thing I’m interested in, but I just can’t think of what else I’m interested in. I really kind of want online stores to lay off some of the “show me more of what I like stuff” and throw me some fresh stuff – because I might like that too and not even know it.
  
  Jan 16, 2013 at 10:14 am rating: 90
- #16.3 Purch
  
  Mostly, people who want to find something new without knowing what they’re looking for. Same as bookstores. I only go to used bookstores and used music stores myself though, since it cuts down on the “shit, I paid how much for this?!” reaction if it ends up not being stellar.
  
  That and you can meet and talk to people there if that is your sort of thing.
  
  Jan 16, 2013 at 12:45 pm rating: 90
- #16.4 merkin4
  
  Music stores are still cool, and you’re more likely these days to find some import/bootleg that will make your day. Sometimes you just need a laugh, like finding the Joey Lawrence album hidden in a cutout bin somewhere.
  
  I was browsing the racks of used CDs recently when I noticed that Marilyn Manson and Barry Manilow were adjacent to each other. That could cause some sort of interdimensional rift to form, wiping out life on this planet if not kept in check.
  
  Jan 16, 2013 at 1:04 pm rating: 90
- #16.5 STFUyou
  
  A good indie music shop will have people working there that know a lot about music. If you tell them what you’re into, they’ll usually be able to point you towards something else you’d like.
  
  High Fidelity, anyone? Beta Band!
  
  Jan 16, 2013 at 6:35 pm rating: 90
- #16.6 Kris
  
  1. For the same reason I still go to the book store even though I have a kindle – Its fun and the actual item is nice.
  
  2. Album art is still just that – art and you don’t get the full depth of things with just having MP3s.
  
  3. Its fun.
  
  4. I can buy concert tickets at the same time.
  
  5. Easier to find hard to track cds there than on the net sometimes.
  
  6. Many club DJs still use cds for their gigs.
  
  Jan 17, 2013 at 2:49 pm rating: 90
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#17 Les

Post title for the win.

“Oh–is she in a coma?”

Jan 16, 2013 at 9:44 am rating: 90

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- #17.1 Pasty
  
  No, she’s in a comma.
  
  Jan 22, 2013 at 3:40 am rating: 90
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#18 Juniper

Johnny Rotten now makes a living partly by doing tv ads for Country Life butter. His teeth are pearly white and when he sits on topical political show panels he doesn’t even swear. So… if you’re searching for some kind of punk high bar example, I’m not sure he still qualifies.

Jan 16, 2013 at 10:15 am rating: 90

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- #18.1 The Elf
  
  Eh, if we want to judge once-time anti-establishment types for their now conventional lives, we’ll have to toss out the whole of the 60s. And that would just be getting started.
  
  Jan 16, 2013 at 11:40 am rating: 90
- #18.2 Rattus
  
  Indeed. Ginger Baker kept the faith, and now everyone just thinks that he’s an asshole.
  
  Jan 17, 2013 at 8:10 pm rating: 90
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#19 The Elf

Music that crosses genres is as old as having music genres. A lot of ground-breaking, great bands don’t fit neatly into any one category. So, complaining about one store’s bit of classification is a little douche no matter what. Just look for what you want, ask if you can’t find it, buy it and go on with your life.

Example of genre-crossing: Queen. Are they rock? (Progressive rock? Hard rock? Glam rock? Psychedelic rock? Blues rock?) Metal? Pop? Hell, you can even make a case for opera, disco, and rockabilly!

Jan 16, 2013 at 11:38 am rating: 90

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#20 SydneyTSays

+10 points for keeping The Clash in punk, and +50 for the High Fidelity reference.

Jan 16, 2013 at 12:06 pm rating: 90

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#21 nunavut guy

Ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated?

Jan 16, 2013 at 5:01 pm rating: 90

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#22 VoiceMail

**you’re

Jan 18, 2013 at 5:19 am rating: 90

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#23 Daktari

Music snobs are the worst.

Jan 18, 2013 at 8:24 am rating: 90

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#24 juststacey

Whoa, after growing up in the “punk scene” in Boston it still blows my mind that GG Allin is more than just a local phenomenon – but Australia too? Damn! LOL

And just to show off a bit and make you kidlets jealous, I’m so “old” that I actually saw the Clash (and Black Flag et al) play live. Old farts FTW!

Jan 19, 2013 at 11:27 am rating: 90

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#25 redheadwglasses

I love this whole thread!

And hellz yeah the Clash stays in punk.

Jan 21, 2013 at 12:18 pm rating: 90

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#26 Ammy

I once walked into a store and asked for CDs by They Might Be Giants, Talking Heads, Gary Numan, Sniff ‘N’ The Tears and Small Faces.
The man behind the counter insisted on hugging me and told me multiple times how incredibly happy I made him just by asking for that.
Unfortunately they didn’t have a single CD but we did chat about the music for quite some time and he was really happy that teenagers “still listens to the good stuff.”
I guess the other teenagers in that store don’t really share the same taste as that lovely man.

Jan 31, 2013 at 4:22 pm rating: 90

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