Best Club Music Of 2004
"1963 was the beginning of the end of the safe, light-hearted part of the '60s that was really an extension of the '50s. Martin Luther King wrote his 'Letter From a Birmingham Jail' for the Atlantic Monthly and then delivered the epochal 'I Have a Dream' speech before 200,000 on the mall in Washington. The audio cassette was invented. The Beatles and the Rolling Stones played together for the first time, and the first discoteque, the Whiskey A Go Go, opened in Los Angeles. Pope Paul VI was elected. Warner Brothers shut down its cartoon operation after creating more than 1,000 Looney Tunes. Bob Dylan got his first taste of chart success when Peter, Paul and Mary took his 'Blowin' in the Wind' to No. 2. Jim Brown broke his own rushing record, but the Chicago Bears took home the NFL title. And on Nov. 22, 1963, the optimism of a generation died along with President John F. Kennedy in Dallas. That was the year Spider-Man was born." (Jonathan Couper-Smartt & Kit Kiefer, The Amazing Spider-Man: 500 Covers 1962-2003, 2004)
I'll be honest, I never liked the Beatles growing up. It was my parents' thing, therefore it had to be uncool. But it was more than just my parents' thing - EVERYONE seemed to love the Beatles, therefore it was suspicious. I claimed that I didn't like their voices, and that may have been true. Recently I decided to give up the fight and see what all the fuss is about. I borrowed every album in order of release from a friend plus I bought the remastered Past Masters collection of non-album singles and B-sides. In all fairness I can now say... I was half right before. Sometimes I like their voices very much, especially when they're screaming. Other times they sound tired, their lyrics are repetitive or worse yet, they're babbling and not even singing. I've learned that my favorite album is Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, my least favorite is Let It Be, the last song on Revolver might be the origin of prog rock, and the last song on Abbey Road is not a silly throwaway. Here are my top 20 songs in chronological order:
1. "I Saw Her Standing There" (1963) originally the B-side on the single, I Want to Hold Your Hand
2. "Twist and Shout" (1963) from the album, Please Please Me
3. "Please Mister Postman" (1963) from the album, With The Beatles
4. "If I Fell" (1964) from the movie soundtrack, A Hard Day's Night
5. "I Feel Fine" (1964) from the single of the same name
6. "I'll Follow the Sun" (1964) from the album, Beatles for Sale
7. "Yes It Is" (1965) B-side on the single, Ticket to Ride
8. "Help!" (1965) from the movie soundtrack of the same name
9. "Drive My Car" (1965) from the album, Rubber Soul
10. "In My Life" (1965) from the album, Rubber Soul
11. "We Can Work It Out" (1965) from the double A-sided single with "Day Tripper"
12. "She Said She Said" (1966) from the album, Revolver
13. "Got to Get You into My Life" (1966) from the album, Revolver; re-released in 1976 as a single with the B-side, "Helter Skelter"
14. "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (1967) from the album of the same name
15. "Lovely Rita" (1967) from the album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
16. "Magical Mystery Tour" (1967) from the movie soundtrack of the same name
17. "Blackbird" (1968) from the album, The Beatles (also known as The White Album)
18. "Here Comes the Sun" (1969) from the album, Abbey Road
19. "Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End" (1969) medley without separate grooves on the album, Abbey Road
20. "Across the Universe" (1969) from the charity compilation, No One's Gonna Change Our World
Dominican From Music Republic
1 cdete
March 8th, 2010 at 1:33 am
Interesting list. I think it’s an unusual subject, but that’s what make listverse great.
2 tripsyman
March 8th, 2010 at 1:51 am
I have read about a few nightclub fires in the past and in some cases a lot of life could have been saved with a little planing ahead. All to often saftey measures and procedures were not in place, exits blocked etc. An unusual list but one that was interesting.
Thanks for the list Van
3 82o8
March 8th, 2010 at 1:52 am
I still remember the Ozone disco fire – I was just 6 when the news showed the horribly burned bodies, sometimes without the censoring blur or squares and often with detailed descriptions of their injuries and how they could have died; it gave me nightmares which haunted me for the next several years up to adolescence.
4 danishot
March 8th, 2010 at 2:00 am
Interesting list. Number 4..wow, that’s alot of lost lives..
5 whitelighter33
March 8th, 2010 at 3:01 am
Very sad list. You’d think that the nightclubs would have learned a lesson from previous club fires! It must have been horrific for the poor people trapped. Now I’m sad…
6 bscooter
March 8th, 2010 at 3:08 am
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stardust_fire
should be on it
7 elwood36
March 8th, 2010 at 4:16 am
This is the original footage of the Great White fire at the Station. Word of warning, it is EXTREMELY unsettling:
8 rawcookiedough
March 8th, 2010 at 4:39 am
I’m amazed the main cause of these kinds of fires is the incorrect use of pyrotechnics, just because I work in a company that sells stage pyrotechnics (a very, very small part of our services package) and because of the security measures we demand the costumers take note of, most of the times we don’t sell them AT ALL, because their use is unsuitable in for the space. Venues like nightclubs, hotels and concert halls usually don’t meet minimum security standards, so we always mention that in our quotes and send in a technician to check out the space before we say “yes, you can have them”.
We’re not primarily directed to pyrotechnics but we take, at least, a little care when selling them – shouldn’t everyone who gets their hands on pyrotechnics do so?
How can people be so irresponsible to the point of playing with other people’s – and many times, their own – lives?
9 bluesman87
March 8th, 2010 at 5:02 am
I heard the fire at the station (no.1) is what forced Great White to disband dnt know for sure though ….
10 choosilicious
March 8th, 2010 at 5:28 am
I honestly thought that the Cocoanut Grove would reach the top. They made a low to never name another club in Boston (or something) since that incident.
11 2junque
March 8th, 2010 at 5:35 am
Went to the Beverly Hills-#5-several times–
Back in the day, they even had gambling there.
12 oouchan
March 8th, 2010 at 5:48 am
Such tragedy just to make money. I remember reading about the Santika then the one in Perm. So very sad.
Well written list, VanOwensBody.
13 timmar68
March 8th, 2010 at 6:52 am
I’m glad my clubbing days are done!
14 arthur2shedsjackson
March 8th, 2010 at 7:27 am
JFrater,
In your effort to quell the silliness that had clogged the comments you switched to this new system.
It took me a half-hour to sign on, after numerous attempts to find a name “not already in use.” Then my pointed comments obviously did not pass muster and were not printed. I went back to WordPress to delete my account only to find this message: WordPress accounts are undeletable; they suggest one simply stops using it.
Great. So now you choose to stop posting any possibly unfavorable comments and you’ve rooked people who support your site into handing over personal contact information to a website from which it is impossible to leave.
I find this change to be disingenuous, at best. Frankly, the product is not worth this level of disrespect and hassle.
I deserve to be acknowledged, if not apologized to.
15 julesmaine1
March 8th, 2010 at 7:30 am
Most of you know me as Blue but I have had to register now so I am using a new nickname.
I really looked at this objectively to try and comment, however I was actually in the Santika fire on New Years Day 09.
It really was a terrible tragedy for all concerned, however as I have stated before and to all people that care to have a sympathetic viewpoint to the whole episode and as a bit of cathartic process for myself. You have to remember that these are accidents, whether waiting to happen or not is a moot point. They happened and saying you could have done this or that is like saying if my aunt had a penis she would be my uncle. Shoulda, woulda or coulda is really irrelevant in these types of situations and is just glory hounding by the media who wish to put their story on everyones lips and come across as the moral minority.
The biggest tragedy of the whole event and what sticks in my mind after helping to rescue some 20 people on that night is the reaction of the rest of the crowd. There are so many video clips and phone clips from the evening from “social media” classed as “citizen journalism” that these people should be ashamed of themselves.
There were possibly 20 people, including some staff, myself and my best friends, trying to get to the injured around the main entrance. I have scenes in my mind that no human being should witness, yet our natural reaction was to go and help, not dig out our cell phones to take video. These people should take a long hard look at themselves every morning they wake up and say to themselves “could I have done more”, “Could I have saved someone else instead of reaching for my video recording device”. Not only should these people be ashamed of themselves, they should be partly responsible for getting in the way of the emergency services, which contrary to the reporting here were on the scene within 10 minutes of the fire starting, the road, Ekkamai, that Santika was on is extremely busy at the best of times and was hampered by rubber neckers and other such incidents that blocked the path for the fire engines and emergency services.
People often use the phrases well if this was this way or that was this way then this would not have happened. These sentiments do not do justice to the families affected or the survivors such as myself or even the emergency services who actually saved one of my best friends within 20 minutes of the fire starting when she was huddled in the female rest rooms with 20 other such people. What they do is provide a social commentary that is both useless and meaningless to the survivors, especially those like myself who were in the thick of it trying to rescue those trapped.
There is always talk regarding the exits in Santika, however as a long term customer I can tell you that there were 5 exits available, the problem was that people panicked in the horrible situation they were in and lost their bearings or were not familiar with the surroundings. I urge everyone to do what i now do as a matter of course when entering a new environment, look for the exits, look for the safe egress routes. Those are the lessons to really learn, nothing can be 100% safe
There are a lot of videos of the Santika fire to look at and that is the main problem also, it seems that another persons suffering should be caught on camera rather than trying to help that person.
I am sure some of you will comment on this viewpoint and feel free to do that. I am just giving you the facts, not conjecture, not journalism, just the facts from someone that was directly involved and affected by this tragedy.
I wont go in to other areas of causation and so forth here as it is not worth the effort in that arena. But suffice to say there is more to this story than meets just a cursory glance.
My best wishes as always are with the people who survived and the families of those that were lost. I for one will never forget
16 damien_karras
March 8th, 2010 at 8:01 am
Testing updated nick… thanks for the advice Jamie, Oouchan and others!
17 GTT
March 8th, 2010 at 8:13 am
UTOPIA
Lima, Peru
A local club sends out 3200 double invitations to a ZOO themed party (club capacity 500) which includes 4 live felines (tigers), a horse and a chimp. At 3 AM, the DJ decides to start a pyrotechnics show which quickly races out of control. The lights go out as people begin to run to the exits (obviously not clearly marked). Unfortunately, the cry of “The lions got out!” makes some people hide in the bathroom where the toxic smoke kills them…
In all, 30 people die in the fire. One of them, the club bartender, entered and exited the building multiple times, each time leading more people to safety. In the end, he went in and never came back out.
RIP
18 Cyn
March 8th, 2010 at 8:22 am
@arthur2shedsjackson (14):
there were no pending comments or comments in trash w/ your IP so i’m not sure what you’re talking about re: your comments not passing muster. it may’ve been another issue not having to do w/ this site. or another admin has since cleaned up. as for registration to comment. it is SOP for most sites. so asking folks to do so here does not constitute some undue or unusual hardship. something you do once & then you’re done w/ it. also something that has to be in place for contests. wanna win a prize? register. it does not eliminate problems but certainly cuts down on them. since being in place there have been obnoxious comments so this is not censoring opposition just making it a bit more work for ‘drive by’ spammers & people who like to ruin this community’s fun. i hope Jamie keeps registration in place. most people will figure out how to register. how to comment. how to maintain contact w/ this community. & it will keep most of all but diehard asshole spammers at bay.
19 mchrismmx
March 8th, 2010 at 8:23 am
@julesmaine1 -
Couldn’t agree more about the cellphones. Sure it helps investigators and others to figure out what happened after the fact but it’s no help to the victims. What is with people that makes that their first reaction? Is that what so many have come to; forget stepping in to help, grab the phone and record the suffering. It’s crazy.
I do understand your comments too about hindsight, “so-and-so shouldn’t have locked the doors, they shouldn’t have used those building materials, etc.”. It does become a finger pointing issue. The one thing though that I cannot seem to wrap my mind around is the overcrowding in #7, 390 people in a club built for 35? Over ten times the occupancy! These are all tragedies but that one just strikes me as insane. I’m sure the kids didn’t care because they were out to have fun but how could the owner/manager ever allow so many into his building? I just hope in this case he/she was made to answer for allowing this outrageous overcrowding to cost so many lives.
Well, that’s my 2 cents for the day, just had to get it out… It was a sad list to read but well put together. Thnx VanOwens.
20 Scratch
March 8th, 2010 at 8:27 am
That was a great read. These are very tragic, and I can imagine it must be difficult for the families of those who died.
I’ve been in bad crowd situations before, but nothing comparable to the panic and chaos that these club fires must have.
@julesmaine1 (15): ‘
Thanks for sharing – great comment.
21 Lifeschool
March 8th, 2010 at 9:01 am
#8 – RE: Happy Land
‘Sin of The City’ – By Duran Duran
—————-
Coat check girl up in Happyland
Has a violent row with a Cuban man
Julio leaves in a drunken rage;
Comes back with the gasoline.
The club has no fire exit,
The club only had one door
Only five people came out alive
The sin is that 89 died
89 dead! 89 dead! 89 dead! 89 dead!
The sin is that a year and a half before
The fire chief’s out and he’s raising cain
Brands Happyland hazzard – close down – but no!
No-one ever paid him no mind.. (x4)
(chorus)
City living; heavy trouble – city living rough,
We are given angry hearts – but angers not enough.
Daily News reviews of the landlords life
Found six thousand code violations light.
The city has more than a hundred thousand wars
All for one of Forbes’ four hundred whores.
Just one fire cracker on a big bonfire
Of self serving penny pinching wiseguy style.
Never allowing for the human condition. (hayyyeah) (x3)
The sin is that these guys survive.
(chorus) (chorus)
-
22 nicoleredz3
March 8th, 2010 at 9:21 am
@Lifeschool (21):
I love Duran Duran! Never heard of that song before…
Great list, though.
Beverly Hills Supper Club, number 5, busboy Walter Bailey wondered if he did enough? I think he did more than enough! He’s a hero!
23 El the erf
March 8th, 2010 at 9:34 am
I dunno much about clubfires, they come n go in the international section of the daily but what I know is that fire hurts for sure. It is by far the most torturous means of physical torture I know. Just watch the final scene of Silent Hill and you’ll know. Looks like we’re all really in for something when we all meet in hell. Better to watch out for your sins yokefellows!(oh damn here goes the moral erfstick again)
@Lifeschool (21): No Hi today?
24 Lifeschool
March 8th, 2010 at 9:35 am
@julesmaine1 (15): A deeply heart-felt comment, Thank You for sharing that with us – sheer sheer tragedy.
@nicoleredz3 (22): It’s one of my favourite ‘life philosophy’ albums (behind Dark Side OTM), check it out.
25 bucslim
March 8th, 2010 at 9:45 am
I know that no one deserves to die in a fire, that’s a horrible way to go and certainly no laughing matter.
On the other hand, who in their right mind would actually pay to see John Davidson? I think the busboy came out and announced, ‘You people are watching John Davidson. Why? Please leave. ‘
‘Oh yeah, just FYI, there’s a fire.’
26 nicoleredz3
March 8th, 2010 at 9:47 am
@Lifeschool (24):
Thanks! Will check it out.
27 nicoleredz3
March 8th, 2010 at 9:50 am
@bucslim (25):
“I know that no one deserves to die in a fire, that’s a horrible way to go and certainly no laughing matter.”
I read this list and that fear never once came to mind! *shudders* It’s certainly a horrible way to die…
28 General Tits Von Chodehoffen
March 8th, 2010 at 9:53 am
Very unique list
29 bucslim
March 8th, 2010 at 9:53 am
@nicoleredz3 (27):
Yes, dying in a fire after watching John Davidson is just a sad way to end life.
30 ldux
March 8th, 2010 at 9:56 am
NEW YORK—Tragedy struck at a popular Manhattan nightclub Saturday, when the roof, the roof, the roof of The Tunnel caught fire, collapsing and killing 43 party people.
According to fire-department officials, the death toll was exacerbated by the clubgoers’ unwillingness to evacuate the burning building.
“I tried shouting to the people on the dance floor that the roof was on fire and that they should exit the premises immediately, but they seemed unfazed by the danger,” firefighter Michael Pitti said. “I just kept shouting, ‘The roof! The roof! The roof is on fire!’ and so forth, but they just went right on dancing, insisting that they didn’t need any of our water and that we should let the motherfucker burn.”
The party people’s refusal to exit the flame-engulfed nightclub is widely believed to have been the result of DJ Phreek Malik’s unstoppable mix of the hottest house, funk, hip-hop, disco, jungle and techno beats.
“DJ Phreek Malik was spinning in a manner so hot, these party people were willing to give up their lives for a few extra minutes on the dance floor,” New York City fire commissioner Thomas Von Essen said. “Even as a 50-foot-high wall of flames surged toward them, they continued to dance, throwing their hands in the air and waving them as if they just didn’t care.”
As flames continued to fill the nightclub, firefighters frantically urged the revelers to keep low to the ground to avoid smoke inhalation, but the warnings were universally ignored.
“I was screaming at the top of my lungs, ‘Get down! Get down, party people!’” said Garry Hodges of Ladder Company 42, “but the more I shouted out, the harder they danced.”
Though an FDNY investigation is still pending, the deadly blaze is believed to have begun at 11:40 p.m., when a roof-mounted ventilation system short-circuited, igniting the motherfucker. The fire is New York’s deadliest since 1978, when 117 party people burned, baby, burned to death in a South Bronx disco inferno.
31 1gav
March 8th, 2010 at 9:58 am
Fireworks indoors? That’s just idiocy. I can see it in arenas where the ceiling is 100 feet high and there’s 12 exits clearly marked. But in a nightclub?!!!
Note: Fireworks don’t make your band cool. The music does.
32 julesmaine1
March 8th, 2010 at 10:25 am
@ldux (30):
I understand your irreverence and trying to make a joke about this sort of thing to lighten the mood, however i have to take issue with your comments.
They really arent funny to people like myself who witnessed these things first hand.
to see what I saw and to understand the real tragedy, I suggest that you look here:
Warning this is very graphic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4lHdbp91VI
At 2:16 in this next video, you can see me in a white shirt going back in and my friend (who I had never met before that night) Aron with his shirt off going back in:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkKx4Ofro-I&feature=related
I am sorry to do this guys but if you had read the comments you would have realised that someone actually involved was and is a regular contributor to Listverse.
Not trying to be an arse guys, just have a little respect.
33 bucslim
March 8th, 2010 at 10:25 am
@ldux (30):
I haven’t laughed at a post like that on this site in a very, very long time.
34 bucslim
March 8th, 2010 at 10:25 am
. . . . except for my own posts I mean.
35 marvindc
March 8th, 2010 at 10:26 am
Good list! Very sad.
36 El the erf
March 8th, 2010 at 10:37 am
@bucslim (33): http://www.wikihow.com/Avoid-Laughing-at-Your-Own-Jokes
That should help.
37 blogball
March 8th, 2010 at 10:48 am
Interesting list VanOwensBody
Here is a video (Caution very disturbing) of the Lame Horse Club fire so eerily similar to the Station Nightclub fire
38 ames801
March 8th, 2010 at 10:58 am
@bucslim (33): Hi buc!! I came back just to tell you how awesome you are.
39 bythewaywhichonespink
March 8th, 2010 at 11:03 am
This would be a horrible thing to witness in any capacity.
The Iroquois Theatre was proclaimed to be “absoloutely Fireproof.” 602 people died, 200 by fire, the rest crushed to death. I live in Chicago. “This fire set the stage for the nation’s first fire code for public buildings.” (Source: Great Disasters of the 20th Century by Margot Keam Cleary. A most fascinating book, btw.)
40 vanowensbody
March 8th, 2010 at 11:03 am
Hello Everyone.
First thanks to Listverse for posting my submitted list. I love the lists here and I learn a lot from reading the information people submit.
Thanks to the readers who posted comments, I hope you found my list to be interesting and informative. I would not say “enjoyed” because of the topic.
I did not create the list to pass judgement or place blame for these fires, all of these fires except the one were horrible accidents, no one wanted or intended to hurt others. That’s what makes nightclub fires so tragic – people are getting together, enjoying life, celebrating, dancing, singing, and in a few short minutes, everything changes and it is a life or death struggle.
If there is anything redeeming that comes out of these historic and tragic fires, it is they force, by the shear magnitude of the horror, changes to building codes and fire regulations. These changes have saved untold countless thousands of lives. Your house, your school, your place of work – every building you visit – is more fire-safe – because of these and other fires
Thanks to Lifeschool for posting the lyrics to the Duran Duran song. I had heard they did a song about this terrible fire, but I never read the lyrics. Very powerful.
VanOwensBody
41 nicoleredz3
March 8th, 2010 at 11:12 am
@blogball (37):
I’m… like…Wow…
@vanowensbody (40):
Congrats! On having a list published and a great one at that…
42 undaunted warrior 1
March 8th, 2010 at 11:35 am
I have read about a few of them, we have had a few in my country but as somebody has already mentioned most of them were unsafe, and illegal.
In my line of work we install smoke detectors ducting and extraction fans.
Should a fire break out the smoke detector will sound a alarm the extraction fans will kick in and suck out the smoke, reducing smoke inhalation of the party goers.
But their is always someone to greedy – money before the safety of their patrons.
Thanks V.O.B. I enjoyed the list.
43 Maggot
March 8th, 2010 at 11:43 am
Interesting, yet sad list, VanOwensBody. Good work, though.
One notable omission: The Montreux Casino was set ablaze during a Zappa concert in 1971, by “some stupid with a flare gun”, thus inspiring the lyrics to Deep Purple’s classic Smoke on the Water.
44 hiamn
March 8th, 2010 at 11:53 am
So so sad. Fantastic list though, I never really gave much thought to my emergency exits, but those vids have really scared me. Definitely noting them from now on. All those people piled up at the door….. god. Bscooter’s right, the Stardust deserves a mention.
@ juliesmaine1, I am so sorry you had to go through that. You poor thing.
45 julesmaine1
March 8th, 2010 at 12:09 pm
@vanowensbody (40):
I should say this was a great list and I appreciate your efforts here.
I never thought something I would ever have been involved with would ever be on this website.
I just wish it was for something in my real life and not a tragedy I was caught up in.
Great list and it actually has brought back some bad memories for me, however this is tempered by the people I have met afterwards and a feeling of doing the right thing.
My friends and I are still thanked for the help we gave that night and I guess that has to be something positive to take away from this terrible experience.
46 blogball
March 8th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
@bucslim (25):
47 nicoleredz3
March 8th, 2010 at 12:55 pm
@julesmaine1 (45):
I’m so very sorry… Sorry anyone has to live with horrific memories, such as that, but the outcome is that you have your life.
It’s the fear of being trampled on or being burnt to death are the reasons why I’ve stopped clubbing a few years now; in my teenaged years, myself…
48 Lifeschool
March 8th, 2010 at 1:34 pm
@Maggot (43): Yes, I agree – those are very poignant lyrics:
‘Smoke On The Water’ (Extract) – By Deep Purple.
———————
“But some stupid with a flare gun
Burned the place to the ground
Smoke on the water, a fire in the sky,
Smoke on the water…
They burned down the gamblin’ house,
It died with an awful sound
[and] Funky Claude was running in and out
Pulling kids out the ground.”
49 Moonbeam
March 8th, 2010 at 1:36 pm
@julesmaine1 (15): What a contrast between your comment and the one immediately preceding yours by @arthur2shedsjackson (14):
arthur2shedsjackson: It’s not as though you’re required to post a comment on Listverse in order to pass a class at school or receive a paycheck. Simple solution: don’t register, and don’t comment. You feel you’re owed an apology because you wasted a half hour of your day? *Shudder* Try reading the post by julesmaine1 for what a truly ‘bad day’ looks like.
I for one am enjoying the change here, no more relentless and tedious posts like, “the US sucks!” followed by “the US rules, everyone one else sucks!” Back and forth ad nauseam.
50 tryclyde
March 8th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
@arthur2shedsjackson (14): Seriously, registering through wordpress may have been the easiest thing I have ever done. I can’t think of anything within the past 10 years that was more simple for me to do. Ooooh, wordpress knows my email address, I feel so violated….Interesting, albeit very random, list. Good work.
51 Moonbeam
March 8th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
@julesmaine1 (15): Your post was very moving. As you invited comment (“I am sure some of you will comment on this viewpoint and feel free to do that.) I hope you don’t mind a small quibble with what you expressed. … When you say,”Shoulda, woulda or coulda is really irrelevant in these types of situations and is just glory hounding by the media…” I get where you’re coming from, but part of the motivation may very well be a positive one. Sure, many times the press seem way too eager to dive into the latest tragedy much like a pit bull after a toddler, but “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – (George Santayana).
I don’t want to believe that all members of the media are motivated by the desire to profit from others losses. Of course there the lowlifes as in any business (i.e. those who chase the latest starlet to catch her without her underwear.) But I’m sure there are those, who as fellow human beings, were horrified and may well be motivated by a desire to prevent this from occurring again; or at the very least minimize the loss of life. As you say, “nothing can be 100% safe.”
One last thing, I see the attempts at humor here have offended you (@julesmaine1 (32):). As I’ve mentioned here before I provide services to people with disabilities, often when we suffer a loss or go through emotionally difficult times, we as staff find ourselves joking about it. Gallows humor, I suppose. It’s a common defense mechanism. I can’t speak for others here, but I’m fairly certain no offense was meant. I must admit I found the comments by Idux and bucslim funny – sorry.
52 vanowensbody
March 8th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
JulesMaine1
Thank you for the nice compliment on the list. I am sorry you were there and had to go through the horror that you did, but I am glad you managed to get out of that club alive. And you should be proud of yourself for selflessly helping save others while some decided it was better to video the tragedy.
I know it is difficult to do, but try not to have hatred for those who videoed instead of helping others. In real emergencies like this one, people react in many different ways, some good, some bad, some indifferent. Some selfless, some selfish. They say in an emergency, the “real” you will come out. I’d say that speaks volumes for your character.
And thanks Maggot for the Montreux Fire reference. Another fire to inspire a rock song (and a gret one at that). I found a link tht has a video you can watch, filmed by someone with a Super 8 camera the day of the fire.
http://montreuxmusic.com/mmm/content/view/172/225/lang,english/
53 Arsnl
March 8th, 2010 at 2:21 pm
@Maggot (43): thank you for the advice concerning the nickname. It has been helpful.
@Moonbeam (51): i understand the jokes some docs or the like make. It must be difficult to do that day im day out even if you are used to it and an expert at it. What counts is to do the best when they have to.
54 deeeziner
March 8th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
@julesmaine1 (15):
Thank you for your insight regarding the horrible experience you endured. Whether or not you want to embrace it, you are a hero.
@vanowensbody (40):
I read your list and even though all the incidences were a real tragedy, I really didn’t know how to react to the list.
Now that I have read julesmaines1’s comment I know what my reaction is.
I’m well past my clubbing days, but my teens are just entering their glory days. Today when the get in the house from school they should expect to receive one more piece of education.
I’ll be letting them know to always have a firm grasp of WHERE they are, and how to get out if the need arises.
Thank-you for the list.
55 theoriginalcasualreader
March 8th, 2010 at 3:42 pm
Worthwhile and well thought-out list.
However, I’m hogging the thread with my user name experience only here. Sorry.
Unlike others, my re-entry to commenting has been a rocky path to say the least. More a log-jam than a log-in. I’m the original, genuine +Casual Reader+. When I tried to register as such twice, the first was rejected as invalid, the second as the name having been already registered. If that’s actually a fact, thanks a bundle +Usurper Casual Reader+. I don’t WTF you expect to gain from confusing other posters – but presumably you do.
I wondered whether to bother to continue. Surely continuity of identity is one of the most valuable aspects of LV interaction? Choice of discarding a nick-name familiar to all should surely be the poster’s option, not the system’s? Then I hit on the idea of prefacing the old aka with +The Original …+ The system decided to concertina all these four words together in lower case. Not my preference, but better than a poke in the eye with a blunt stick I suppose.
So my advice to anyone who can’t recover their original user name is to try adding +theoriginal+ in front of it.
56 GTT
March 8th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
@ldux (30): Dark, dark humor… I understand that some people are more sensitive than others but I personally feel that laughter is the best release of raw emotion. Otherwise, the guilt, pain, whatever will eat at you.
In short, your post made me choke on my chocolate milk.
57 tmxicon
March 8th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
One of my teachers in high school was supposed to go to The Station on that fateful night. I can’t remember the reason, but something happened kind of last minute that made him decide to not go. To this day I wonder how much it actually affected him – I’m sure there were people he probably knew who didn’t make out.
I later had a friend in college who I know did lose a friend – and this was only discovered by my friends and I after somebody made a joke about it with her around. So you know, it does go to show you that you have to be sensitive to these kinds of things because there are far more victims to these types of things than those who were direct casualities of the event.
Hopefully some people take away the lesson everyone can learn from this list – always know where the exits any time you are in a situation where a large amount of people are gathered. It may sound like making a mountain out of a mole hill, but once you have your spot you really should map out a couple of exit routes. I used to do it just to beat the crowd out at the end of things… I realized not too long ago that it was situations like these that make doing that far more important than just beating the rush.
58 Cyn
March 8th, 2010 at 5:30 pm
@theoriginalcasualreader (55):
i’m sorry for any regulars who’ve had problems w/ registration. still i do think it is well worth the trouble. the comment section is a much nicer place to frequent now. still have assholes but most of them are our assholes. LV regulars who we all know & love in spite of them being assholes. you know who you are. & you know we love you regardless. *smoochies* LOL
so there has been no censorship as a result of this change just eliminating spammers & other drive by types who’ve no interest in our comment community but only in making trouble. so for any regulars still having issues registering…good advice to set up a similar username if not your first choice by adding something like ‘the original’ or whatever. be sure to clear up the confusion in your comment ..as has been done. those of us who care will make the effort to sort that out. i hope all the regulars will continue to comment. & i think this more welcoming climate in comments will encourage more new commentors to our community as well. it is worth it! so keep registering. keep commenting.
59 mom424
March 8th, 2010 at 5:58 pm
Excellent list V.O.B. Made even more excellent by the first hand account of julesmaine1. I don’t think I’d be very quick at forgiving the cell phone/tragedy hounds either. Shameful that publicity and sensation mongering take precedence over lending a hand. Not really any good excuse for it – sure we all react differently to emergencies and tragedies – but who the hell reacts by first pulling out the cell phone camera? Selfish/self-centred folks imo.
60 ianz09
March 8th, 2010 at 6:05 pm
Hey just letting you guys know I submitted a new list, if anyone cares!
61 ianz09
March 8th, 2010 at 6:09 pm
@ldux (30): Thank you so much for that. Much needed laugh
62 Maggot
March 8th, 2010 at 7:27 pm
@ianz09 (60): Hey just letting you guys know I submitted a new list, if anyone cares!
A careful analysis of my care-o-meter readings finds a slight upward tick against my care index scale. It looks worse than it is, but that’s only because the meter is calibrated using metric conversions. In layman’s terms, this reading is a positive response, and is in your favor. However please be advised that if the list is going to be about SoaD, there’s a very real danger of the resultant indicators going flatline. If that happens, god help us.
63 kennypo65
March 8th, 2010 at 7:34 pm
I, for one, am very happy that one must register and log in in order to post a comment. The comments can be as interesting as the list, and now we get a lot less of the “too american” or the “firsters”. We can all get a little entertainment and education from well written comments, instead of having to scroll past a bunch of jibberish written by drunken monkeys.
64 ianz09
March 8th, 2010 at 8:39 pm
@Maggot (62): That was terribly complicated. My list I have submitted should be a fairly casual read, although with any luck and positive reception should induce activity in it’s readers, generally resulting a good time (take that any way you want it). The resulting good time is, in the motif of the list, very inexpensive in it’s monetary value.
And definitely no SoaD. Frater trashed my last one, so I have to assume a second is most likely not going to be accepted for publication.
65 bucslim
March 8th, 2010 at 9:32 pm
@ames801 (38):
Thanks dear, that was a very nice thing to do. Now if I could just get you to do that more often, like every ten minutes or so . . .
66 bucslim
March 8th, 2010 at 9:45 pm
@blogball (46):
Yeah, so I got about a minute into that and now I truly believe someone set the building on fire on the number 5 entry up there on the list. They recognized what had happened, they purchased a ticket to see JD in concert and just gave up and snapped. Their life boiled down to wanting to be entertained by John Friggen Davidson and realized the glimmering horizon of sunshine that was their life was all a sham and suddenly a gas can and a few matches held the answer to the eternal question.
Thanks blogball, I’m curled up in the fetal position chewing on my hand with a ruptured gall bladder.
67 bucslim
March 8th, 2010 at 10:06 pm
On a side note – I realize I can come off to some of you as an insensitive jerk. My usual method of commenting is to read the list and something will jump out to me as odd and then I skim the comments to see if anyone has picked up on some obscure factoid that was stated in the list. If you haven’t, and most of the time you don’t, I remind you that something is funny and we should all laugh about it.
Looking back on julesmaine1’s original comment and my subsequent stupid comments, it looks like I again have proven myself to be an insensitive jerk. Honestly, sincerely, I wasn’t trying to be. I just didn’t read julesmaine’s comment thoroughly and went on my merry way.
Listen, most of what I conceive here is in poor taste, coarse, and obtuse. I’ve built my reputation on getting a few yucks. After what I’ve been through in my personal life, well let’s just say that’s how I deal with things. Laughing at it all kept me sane and helped me not be bitter about the shit I had to deal with recently. It’s my go-to card on just about everything that has bent me over in the past few years.
If any of you were taken back by my callous remarks, I’m really sorry. I was dorking it up after someone poured out their heart and that’s just wrong.
68 bythewaywhichonespink
March 8th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
buc buc buc That was as heartfelt an apology I have ever heard from you. Most of us know where you’re coming from and why. Please know that I and Im sure others understand and know this about you. Its as important to make people laugh as it is to make people reflect. Its a different ability. Im not being as articulate as I wish I could be, but I hope the message surpasses the lack of articulation on my part.
69 likelyguy
March 8th, 2010 at 11:04 pm
Honourable mention: The Blue Bird Café fire, Montreal Quebec (Sept. 1st, 1972) also an arson, which is odd for this list. Thirty-seven killed.
70 likelyguy
March 8th, 2010 at 11:18 pm
Buc, what you said up there was well said and from the heart.
It’s (i think) all good. We must remember though, that word’s (no matter how pointed, or blunt) are a most powerful thing.
thumbs up.
71 bluesman87
March 8th, 2010 at 11:20 pm
@ldux (30): HAHAHAHA
72 leisafer
March 8th, 2010 at 11:39 pm
All I have to say is wow!!! Wow at the list, such extremely tragic situations. Wow at JulesMaine1, your comments totally moved me, and I do take from them to always plan escape routes, which I normally do, but now fully realize the importance, and will teach my kids. And wow at the comments, I am so pleased we have Listverse back. Good job to all!
73 leisafer
March 8th, 2010 at 11:40 pm
ok…lol leisafer is really littleboots if anyone cares…I did put that as my nickname since it was taken, however doesn’t seem to have used it, guess I’ll go check on that…cheers!
74 littleboots
March 8th, 2010 at 11:46 pm
cool, all is right in my world again…
75 k1w1taxi
March 9th, 2010 at 1:12 am
Great list Vanowensbody (in Jo’burg by any chance? ). Not sure if you or Jamie picked the title but a Top 10 seems not quite right given the subject matter maybe 10 Worst?
julesmaine1 I was glad (seems the wrong word but conveys best what I mean) to read your comment about your involvement in the Santika fire. Glad because you did a heroic (a word that is too often misused by media today) thing, glad because you are still here to share it with us. Like you, and many other LVers I cannot conceive of pulling out my cell to video such a tragedy.
One point I disagree with you to some extent is your Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda comments. Yes, pointing it out after the fact does not bring back those who died or help those who were injured, but a little more CWS from the media and a lot less showing of the citizen journalists ‘contributions’ (purely as Voyeur Video imo) and a focus on Done, Have, Do amongst the other nightclubs will hopefully prevent YET another tragedy like this happening – after all as this list shows Santika is not exactly an isolated incident, Unfortunately.
Cheers
Lee
76 ldux
March 9th, 2010 at 3:18 am
Don’t thank me, thank Onion
@julesmaine1 (32):
Actually I haven’t read comments or even list, I avoid looking at or reading about horrific things if possible. Sorry anyway.
youtube.com/watch?v=iRIzOYHdlLM
77 julesmaine1
March 9th, 2010 at 3:32 am
@bucslim (66):
buc dont beat yourself up about it. I really do understand the need to try and lighten the situation.
I was feeling a little precious last night due to having it come back to me. I have got over this in my own way and with my friends who were there and understand.
Hard to stay objective if you know what I mean by way of not trying to bitch about it to you.
@k1w1taxi (74):
I actually couldnt agree more with that sentiment. The accidental situation of it should be an incredibly important part of the ways and means to stop it happening again, unfortunately once the media frenzy dies down and the people’s outrage have dragged the last of the story(s) behind these events, then it goes back to status quo.
Very, very sad situation but its the absolute antithesis of what I was trying to say. You can say that this is a terrible tragedy and this should have been done etc, however once the media circus is done with it, very quickly it is back under the table and it happens again.
My point was that to sensationalize the story does absolutely no good in the long term as it is only the owners, authorities and municipal agencies responsible for health and safety that can really be held accountable for changing the status quo.
Once the story is out of the public eye then the moral outrage seems to disappear as well. I really believe that the media make us all sheeple and we follow their tune wherever it may lead.
Santika is back in the news once again here in Thailand as the court case is upon us. Hence this is quite at the forefront of my thoughts again. One year of silence and then the moral minority spring back in to action. When the court case goes away let us see what the legal ramifications will be for all other venues, my money is on same as it ever was.
78 deeeziner
March 9th, 2010 at 6:09 am
@bucslim (67):
Who’s standing in the spanking queue now?
79 bucslim
March 9th, 2010 at 6:46 am
@deeeziner (78):
. . . *gulp.
80 chaos1111
March 9th, 2010 at 8:24 am
wow, haven’t read a list like this in a while.
81 vanowensbody
March 9th, 2010 at 9:07 am
Once again, thanks to everyone for the compliments on my list. I am pleased to hear so many have learned from reading about these tragedies – that was my purpose for writing this list – to spread the word that these fires can happen and when they do, hundreds can be killed and hundreds more terribly injured.
I encourage everyone to do the following when going to any public venue like a club, a concert, a theater – pass it along to your kids, your family, your co-workers, your friends:
1. If possible, arrive early. This allows you the time and freedom to roam around and get familiar with the layout of the building.
2. Locate as many exits as possible. Know where you came in but remember, most people will head for that main entrance in an emergency. It may e your best way out in a fire, but often, it is not (as we have seen here).
3. Find at least one, preferably two or three other exits.
4. Figure out how you will get to these other exits (often times you will be trying to move against the push of the crowd). Don’t assume your exit pathway will be open so have a plan to get from where you are to each exit.
5. If possible, check that these exits will open (as we have seen, many times they are locked from the outside). If the exit does not take you outside the building (say it takes you into a stairwell with another door at the bottom), check that door too.
6. Look for windows large enough to get through. In a fire where all the exits are blocked, this may be your only way out. Windows should be used as a last resort to exit any building in a fire.
7. If you are with others – communicate to them how you will get out and have a designated meeting place (back at the car) once you are all outside.
8. Do not reenter the building to look for a lost loved one.
9. Don’t wait! If you see smoke or fire, get out right away! Don’t assume it is something minor, or someone else will put out the fire, or it is part of the show. Get moving. The same is true if you hear the fire alarm. The fire may be in another portion of the building where you cannot see it (at the Cocoanut Grove fire it started in the basement lounge, those upstairs had no idea the building was on fire as the building did not have a fire alarm system – most modern buildings do have fire alarms).
10. If you go to an event at a building which is overcrowded with few exits, and if you find any exits are locked, or see anything else that makes you uneasy or fearful, get a refund and leave.
Taking these “top 10″ basic precautions will increase your chance of survival in a crowded building that catches fire.
82 ianz09
March 9th, 2010 at 10:12 am
@vanowensbody (81): Good comment and list
83 flockoseagulls
March 9th, 2010 at 5:50 pm
That was nice of you to temper your comments, bucslim. I nearly lost some people dear to me in the Beverly Hills Supper Club fire. And there wasn’t (and isn’t) a damned thing funny about it.
84 cincyfan04
March 9th, 2010 at 8:31 pm
@elwood36 (7): I should have listened to your warning. I actually lost a lot of sleep over this video last night. Very disturbing and eye openingSeeing that video reminded me of countless bars I’ve been in watching bands just like that – thankfully those bands have more sense than Great White and don’t use pyrotechnics indoors. I recommended that my brother and his band watch this video because they play in places just like this to crowds this same size. Extremely scary stuff. He took the warning very seriously. I hope that he never has to use my advice but he will be prepared if he does get himself into a situation like this.Very sad, I can only imagine the grief that the victims families and survivors have to go through.
85 cdoan010
March 9th, 2010 at 11:37 pm
@vanowensbody
My family lives in Thailand, and I thought that it would be interesting for you to know (if you don’t already) that the night of the Santika Nightclub Fire, the inside of the club was decorated with coffins and a cross hanging from the ceiling.
I don’t know about anyone else, but thinking about that kind of coincidence gives me chills :\