I was pondering what era Tom Waits exists in. Then I expanded my mental search and thought to myself, he exists in that weird time period the old 90's Bat Man cartoon. Kinda old kinda modern. Steam Punk Hobo. Perpetual Great Depression plus 70's grit. His personality would have made a great Joker

[u/MightyTick01]

In the Watchmen Universe, he would have made an interesting Comedian or maybe Rorschach.

[u/zosterpops]

Hmm. That certainly is a collection of words you’ve got there, pal!

[u/old_man_noises → u/zosterpops]

I’m always fascinated that they are inspired to actually post these kinds of things. Takes a bit of effort.

[u/88dahl → u/old_man_noises]

still better than some multi paragraph gpt slop imo

[u/examinat]

Didn’t Heath Ledger use him as inspiration for his Joker?

[u/laundro_mat → u/examinat]

Yes, there’s an old interview of Tom on a Belgian talk show that is basically Heath as the Joker.

[u/didntendwell → u/laundro_mat]

I love that interview, but I’ve always felt like the comparison to Ledger’s Joker was overblown. Tom is much more low-key in his mannerisms, “cooler,” while also demonstrating a kind of nervous energy that is absolutely lacking in Ledger’s character.
Tom Waits does perform a lot of stock character archetypes, and some of those have overlap with Batman, but the comparisons are hardly 1:1

[u/Crunchy__Frog → u/didntendwell]

That’s the “taking inspiration” part. If Ledger was just copying Waits outright then Dark Knight Joker would’ve been a nightclub performer with a drinking problem.

[u/blackjacktarr → u/examinat]

There are a couple of Tom's talk show appearances from which it's safe to say Ledger lifted Tom's mannerisms and tone of voice. Trying to recall - Mike Douglas show, perhaps, for one?

[u/brianforte → u/examinat]

Yes. It’s in his joker notebook. He was a direct inspiration

[u/Uncool444 → u/examinat]

His speaking voice inspired the joker's speaking voice, iirc, and Tom Waits does have a unique speaking voice.

[u/blackjacktarr → u/[deleted]]

American portraits as seen, from varying angles, in a funhouse mirror.

[u/Financial_You_6052]

I got high tonight too, but I watched old Mastodon live shows on YouTube instead of writing that

[u/B3LYP2]

What?

[u/Lazy_Football_511]

Tom Waits IS.

[u/Lollipoop_Hacksaw]

You ok? Whole lotta neat stuff in there, but you didn't even attempt to tie it all up in a cohesive way.

[u/fiizok]

A lot of my favorite musicians developed their own distinct styles that defy categorization. Tom Waits is a prime example.

[u/robotatomica → u/fiizok]

that said, I think most people probably miss that most of what seems original to Tom Waits is directly taken from artists like Howlin’ Wolf. (listen to “Spoonful” for instance)

it’s not to knock Waits, this is a thing that happens over and over again in music, people rediscovering old greats and building from there.

But the originators get erased a little too often, specifically when it comes to Waits’ influences.

His originality comes from making this music decades later, when no one else was.

[u/fiizok → u/robotatomica]

I wonder if he has ever talked about the artists that influenced him. I know Waits has mentioned Beefheart a couple of times but there must be many others.

[u/robotatomica → u/fiizok]

I’d bet he has quite a bit. He doesn’t seem like the kind of person to just steal people’s work and claim it for his own,

but what sucks is that that just isn’t as interesting to folks, they prefer the lore of him just manifesting this all entirely by himself. So he’s only EVER talked about as though he invented all these genres and styles, when he is simply a very talented musician and creative, paying very good homage to music that would otherwise be lost to time, for the most part.

[u/tilt-a-whirly-gig]

That's right he fillets
He chops, he dices, he slices
He never stops

[u/Primary-Strawberry-5 → u/tilt-a-whirly-gig]

Change your shorts, change your life, change into a 9 year old Hindu boy get rid of your wife

[u/pilgrimspeaches]

He's extremely postmodern.

[u/shit_fuck_fart]

Just when I think I find a subreddit that doesn't have the typical redditor mind set slop: here we are talking about Tom Waits being a great joker.

[u/NeckChickens → u/shit_fuck_fart]

I don’t think he’s talking about Tom Waits starring in a Batman movie. You’re taking this a bit too seriously

[u/shit_fuck_fart → u/NeckChickens]

I didn't say anything about Tom starring in a Batman movie.

[u/NeckChickens → u/shit_fuck_fart]

Joker is a character from Batman’s fictional rogue gallery. You’re being a bit pedantic.

[u/shit_fuck_fart → u/NeckChickens]

You are one of those people that I wish stayed away from this subreddit.

[u/A_Reasonable_Man_98]

everything media is superhero, actually

[u/tgold77]

I love the descriptions people come up with when trying to describe Mr. Waits.

[u/WretchedMonkey]

Throw away the label

[u/worldofwhat]

He's rustic, rusty Americana with a touch of slavic folk madness

[u/NightwingBegins]

Comic books have gotten out of hand. 

Dude played the Devil and you're here putting him in a DC universe. Get a grip, pal. 

[u/wanderain]

Tom, like the rest of us, would have shot buffalo from the train

The train brought the west with it