I was a teenager in the years 1969 to 1977 so I wanted to put the record straight about being a punk rocker (with flowers in my hair). In the great tradition of answering songs (‘It’s My Party’/’Judy’s Turn to Cry’, ‘Chestnut Mare’/’Idiot Wind’, ‘Southern Man’/’Sweet Home Alabama’, ‘Back in the USA’/’Back in the USSR’, ‘Norwegian Wood’/‘4th Time Around’, Weird Al Yankovic’s body of work, etc) comes the novelty reply to the ubiquitous hit, ‘I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (with Flowers in My Hair)’. Flouting the subjunctive and taking liberties with nostalgia as she does, the twenty-something Sandi Thom’s acappella, angsty anthem to the Hippy and Punk heydays of 1969 and 1977 has downloaded her to the top of the pops. Countering her roseate view, in fitting style, is someone who was really there, who lived through it all, the unreconstructed Punk Hippy Fart. Does he deserve equal time to put his side of the story? Should Sandi Thom get on her bike and just do it? You will know in 3 minutes and 15 seconds.
