Happy Rex Manning Day!

Happy Rex Manning Day! What? You mean you don't know what Rex Manning Day is? How can this be? It's only one of the most important music-related celebrations of the year! No? You really don't? We mustn't dwell... no, not today. We can't. Not on Rex Manning Day! (insert sound of The Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star", here). Joe has unlocked the door. Come inside and we will introduce you to the annual music holiday that is second only to Record Store Day in importance. We will even sing carols. (yes, really).

For the uninitiated, Rex Manning Day is the framing story line of the 1995 film Empire Records, where former teen heart throb Rex visits the titular record store for an autograph singing.

For the longest time, I'd chosen to celebrate Rex Manning Day on September 22, the day of its original theatrical release. At some point, while strolling through the intertubes, I came across a discussion about "when the real Rex Manning Day" is. It was a lively discourse, filled with theories of the date based on clothes worn in the film, when Corey received her Harvard acceptance, what time the sun sets, that sort of thing. But there really wasn't a firm answer to the question: When is Rex Manning Day?

The full-length music video of Rex Manning's "Say No More (Mon Amour)"

My better-half pointed out that in the film, there is a promotional poster on the front door of the Empire Records store that shows the day and time of Rexy's in-store appearance. But alas, freezing the scene on a DVD was too blurry to be read. Enter one of this blog's readers, @LoveAssassin13, who provided me with a high resolution image captured from the movie. Click it to embiggen and see the date clearly marked as April 8. And the best way to celebrate the day dedicated to our favorite perfectly coiffed, purple lamé clad lothario is to watch the movie!

If you have never seen Empire Records, flat out ignore the rating given to it by Rotten Tomatoes' reviewer pool (because the audience rating number listed IS right) and enjoy one of the great "rock & roll soundtrack films" made. Empire Records was not a huge hit when it came out, but it has achieved cult film status in the 17 years since its release.

In an attempt to help raise awareness of Rex Manning Day, I took a page from the people behind International Talk Like a Pirate Day, and launched RexManningDay.org. Admittedly, I am no coder, and the site does look like it was made in 1995, which I'm told is part of its charm.

Now, in what seemed like a good idea at the time (don't most things thought of late at night seem that way?) the lyrics to a Rex Manning Day carol came to me last night. Yes, this is a completely ridiculous parody but, hopefully it adds to your Rex Manning Day celebrations. With all apologies to the 16th century Welsh and to Mozart for my usage of their melody.

REX THE HALLS

(Sung to the tune of "Deck The Halls")

Deck the halls with pics of Rexy,
Rex Rex Rex Rex Rex Rex Manning Day
'Tis his day and he's so sexy,
Rex Rex Rex Rex Rex Rex Manning Day
Don we now our purple shirts,
Rex Rex Rex Rex Rex Rex Manning Day
Sign autographs until it hurts,
Rex Rex Rex Rex Rex Rex Manning Day

See gold records hang before us,
Rex Rex Rex Rex Rex Rex Manning Day
The perfect crime pulled by Lucas,
Rex Rex Rex Rex Rex Rex Manning Day
Where is Rex and where is Gina?
Rex Rex Rex Rex Rex Rex Manning Day
Don't shave your head just like Debra,
Rex Rex Rex Rex Rex Rex Manning Day

Sing "Sugarhigh" on the marquee,
Rex Rex Rex Rex Rex Rex Manning Day
Get the Soundtrack on a C-D
Rex Rex Rex Rex Rex Rex Manning Day
Damn the man and save the Empire!
Rex Rex Rex Rex Rex Rex Manning Day
We made Mitchell Beck retire!
Rex Rex Rex Rex Rex Rex Manning Day!

While today is the official Rex Manning Day, really, why should it be limited to just a single day? Why should we wait 364 more rotations of the planet before we celebrate what is, at its core, only the best day, ever? In the immortal words of Mark: "We mustn't." So, until April 8th rolls around again next year, whenever your day is awesome, or just needs to be better, celebrate Rex Manning Day, where ever you are. And say no more, mon amour.

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