By Billy Florio
In 1968, with the release of The Transformed Man the world was laughing at William Shatner. He made an album he thought was utterly serious, but was received as a joke, and his covers of “Mr. Tambourine Man” and “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” were perfect examples of what happens when too much radiation from the phasers goes to your brain. Since then he’s re-emerged from his post Star Trek doom as the spokesman for Priceline.com. With the release of Has Been, his first album since 1968, the world is finally laughing with him.
Finally, Shatner has realized his place in pop-culture, and as much as he tries to shake the persona, he will always be known as Captain James T. Kirk, or TJ Hooker, and he might as well give in and laugh along with us, because there’s no way we’re gonna stop. Shatner had nothing to lose releasing Has Been, an obvious joke album. In fact, since its release, Shatner has become, dare we say it, hip. The album is actually on the CMJ chart, and aside from the few times where Shatner may have been trying to be serious, the album is so bad that it’s extremely funny.
The album opens with a cover of Pulp’s “Common People.” The shock that Shatner actually attempted to do this song is soon lost by the time his perfectly articulated reading of the verses turns into Joe Jackson’s bellowing of the chorus over Ben Folds’ keyboards; turning the song into something both funny and fun at the same time. The title track “Has Been” provides a “Spaghetti Western” theme, which makes the listener want to yell: “RAWHIDE!” over the too horrible to mention, but somehow hilarious lyrics and music. “I Can’t Get Behind That” is Shatner and Henry Rollins ranting about everything they find wrong with society; bringing back weird imagery of old Priceline commercials.
The best song on the album, though (and by best I mean most painfully funny), is the ironically named Frank Sinatra sound-alike “You’ll Have Time.” One can’t help but laugh when Shatner croons “But you’re gonna die” over and over again. The incredible hilarity of this song is only heightened when Shatner starts to list off dead people, including Johnny Cash, “That guy in the Stones,” Joey Ramone and Einstein, following their names with background singers yelling “DEAD!”
To be honest, while the album is a joke, it deals with issues that are incredibly personal to Shatner and his career (hence the title). But that shouldn’t stop you from laughing your head off, just waiting for him to yell “KHAAANNNN!!”
