There’s a song by the Eagles called ‘Sad Cafe.’ At a certain point in my life, this song was my go-to. I’m not quite sure why. It seemed that whenever I had nothing to do—something that happened quite often when I was younger—I would instinctively listen to it. The intro starts with a keyboard, followed by a bass after four bars, and then an acoustic guitar and kick drum join in, stepping together in a simple yet captivating rhythm. Those plain twelve bars, without any flashy phrases, somehow always pulled me into the music, like a pendulum swinging in front of my eyes. 🎶
The Sad Cafe in this song refers to a music cafe called Troubadour in Santa Monica, L.A., where Don Henley and Glenn Frey met in their early days before forming the Eagles. Back when I frequently listened to the song, I often thought, ‘When I visit L.A., I must check out Troubadour.’ But as time passed, the thought slipped my mind when I actually went to L.A. Though I never visited, I imagined it to be a worn-out cafe. They probably argued over trivial musical ideas there, flaunting their budding talents, mocking a world that didn’t recognize them yet. Of course, they eventually became legends, but everyone has those moments. Sometimes, we long for those days when we had nothing to lose. 🌟
I don’t recall ever mocking the world because I’m kind-hearted, but there was a place for me too. It was Blues House, located a couple of blocks from the Hongdae radio station, where there’s now a playground and parking lot. The bar, hidden behind a plain black sign, led down to a basement where you could see a large Beatles frame through a haze of cigarette smoke.
I always sat on the sofa beneath that frame, soaking in the music. There was a part-time worker there whose gender was impossible to discern at a glance. Although I frequented the place and she worked there for a long time, we never spoke. Conversations were impossible with the music always turned up loud. I would just point to something on the menu, and she’d flash a smile I couldn’t quite interpret—a mix of amusement and bemusement. Sometimes, when I pointed ambiguously between two drinks, she’d widen her eyes and tilt her chin slightly. It was such a fun expression that I confess to doing it on purpose occasionally. Thinking about it now, I wonder how she’s doing. 🤔
Years later, I got a chance to revisit the area, and I found that the cafe had relocated to the basement of a building across the street, still bearing the same name. Excited, I went inside, but the cozy, rabbit-hole vibe was gone, replaced by something that felt like a Western bar, ready to play country music at any moment. Dire Straits was playing, but it felt off, so I left. It might not even exist anymore. 🕰️
Anyway, thanks to the aftermath of Super Band 2, this old rock number playlist has been on repeat lately, and this song suddenly popped into my mind—like a memory resurfacing for someone with amnesia after taking medication. If you alternate between this song and LANY’s ILYSB, it’s an unforgettable experience. It’s truly a timeless super combination—or maybe that’s just me… 🎧
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