I’m not sure if you had this forwarded to your inbox already, (I’ve got it from a couple different people today) but this is a must listen for all Bend residents new and old.
The song, sung to the tune of Stealer’s Wheel’s “Stuck in the Middle with You,” but the chorus is modified to “Stuck in the Middle of Bend” and the verses lament our high foreclosure rates, our expensive golf courses and all the other great reasons people supposedly moved here.
According to the website for KTWS “The Twins,” the song was penned by Holly Hamilton. I don’t know much about her, but if you do, please let me know.
{mp3remote}http://www.webwiseforradio.com/site_files/571/File/Stuck in the Middle of Bend.mp3{/mp3remote}
This article appears in Mar 10-16, 2011.
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You can find Holly on FB. Search “Holly gerdin Hamilton”. Thanks for posting this! Cheers!
Absolutely gut-bustingly hilarious … and spot on.
Mike, Holly has sung many commercials and appeared on the 2nd Street Theater stage in The Taffetas and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, among others. She is very talented!
i dont know about all of you but I LOVE LIVING IN BEND. this song (although well made and well written) mainly points out the some of the bad parts about living in Bend. would life be any better if she stayed in CA. i dont think so. in my book CA is a bad place for anyone to live. if i wrote a song about CA, the themes of the song would involve crashing and still high home prices, bankrupt gov’t, large foreclosure, huge taxas, traffic jams everyday, major over crowding, and pollution. i think my list is short im sure there is much more to add. so next time you hike an amazing trail, or watch a beautiful sunset over the mountains, or take a breath of the untainted air, think maybe there are alot of great resons to live in bend.
Come hear Holly sing this song live, downtown Bend this afternoon 2pm. We’re playing at the St. Patty’s Day Dash Registration event next to Deschutes Brewery on Bond Street.
Thanks for all the great comments and thanks, Mike for posting my song. I have lived in Bend for 20 years and it is the most beautiful place on earth. I am just poking gentle fun at a town I adore and it is said, “you only tease the ones you love”. Thank you for listening!
@Stephen Waite: I knew it wouldn’t be long before somebody whined about how the song fails to sing the praises of this supposed “paradise.” Bend continues to offer, always has offered, and probably always will offer “poverty with a view” — low wages, high prices, few economic opportunities — and that’s what the song is about. You can’t eat the scenery, folks.
This is a really funny song, I enjoyed it very much
I hat to say it but Bend is not the only place it the state of Oregon facing these economic hard times, this is the worse state in the country considering the resesion. Bend is a Beautiful place,with stunning views and plenty of activties for every type of interest yes I agreee, but on my side of the mountain, we have High foreclosure rates and the same bancrupt government public schools being cut so the kids are left behind,Expensive golf courses,and I just wanted to make sure that there are more then one area in crisis, But i really like the song I was just disturbed by another comment. Thank you Holly for bringing a little laughter into a otherwise depressing time in all our lives =))
@Holly: I must respectfully disagree; Bend is not “the most beautiful place on earth.” I wouldn’t even put it in the top tier of beautiful places on earth.
Love your song, though. Have you written any others?
Holly, this is is great fun. Truth is stranger than fiction this really tells our story. So funny..70 on the parkway yea and use the blinker!!
I still like The Presidents of the United States song “Fuck California” better. Please, please, for the love of God, go back to CA, and take your ridiculiously inflated home prices and “what about me” attitudes with you and leave Bend to us Oregonians that dreamt of living there one day but now can’t because so many faux-wealthy “home-owners” flooded the market from down south.
“Where some folks find their paradise, others just come to harm.” (Joni Mitchell, Hejira) I came here from Montana and am deep in plans to go Somewhere Else Less Pretentious. Meanwhile, there’s no use being mean to each other. We dont have to agree.
Great song Holly!! This really tells it like it is. I moved to Bend 3 years ago under false pretenses. I did nothing but struggle with the job issues, the silly Parkway and people not using their blinkers in roundabouts. Stuck in the middle in Bend was right! Most people feel that way. I had to sell everything I owned to move out. I am now on my way to Colorado. Song made me laugh like crazy! Thanks.
Great Re-mix for the times Holly…alot of ex-Ca folk live OUTSIDE of Bend by choice and @ Mr Waite…mabey YOU should take your hater attitude to visit Ca. (have you EVER even been there…it’s a BIG STATE) It’s folk like YOU, why I moved outside of Bend…On a positive note…@ Mr Waite mabey your next mantra should be Craigslist/Bend Rants & Raves…your negative OPINION’S are welcome there…good day to the LOCALS!!!
@Holly 20 years? NICE…me too! Local since 1/90
So Mr. Stephen Waite how many years for you? hahahaha……
Good job Holly,,, Love it, I moved to Terrebonne in 1966 and lived in Redmond and Bend until 2008. Who cares where your from or how long you have been there. Some of my BEST friends are Calif transplants and they may not be swimming in cash but they love Bend as much as I do. Anyone who has lived in C.O. very long knows the economy there is like a roller coaster. It is what it is and if you want more money then your just going to have to move..( put your wife and kids to work and shutup) There is more fun things to do in Central Oregon than anywhere else I know of. I miss Bend very much. If I want see a lake now,,, I have to wait until it rains really hard and look for the the lowest spot in the desert. And the fishing sucks 🙂
Holly ROCKS! Bend is lucky to have her!!!
“There is more fun things to do in Central Oregon than anywhere else I know of.”
Where else have you been?
The comments have been great and I can appreciate the negative ones as well. I have lived in Minnesota, Missouri, Connecticut, Texas and yes California, where I spent 5 years prior to moving here. Bend has so much to offer in the arena of outdoor activities and beautiful surroundings, but affording the lifestyle has become more and more difficult. With a home to maintain and children in school, it sometimes feels as if I am “stuck” here until either the economy improves or I lose everything. Which ever comes first! ha ha We are all doing the best we can, so hang it there everyone and thanks again for the wonderful comments and for listening to my silly song!
Holly – Your song exudes your fun personality and sense of humor and resonates with so many people. Love hearing your voice and could tell you were smiling the whole time. Just got back from San Diego and other than the threat of earthquakes, tsunamis, and wild fires I’d go back in a heartbeat and Bend would become a vacation destination for me. Nicely done.
I Love IT!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE living in Bend also.It’s my home town There is an A and B side to every town, and to most songs for that matter.
Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. Bend aka Poverty with a view!