Only A Northern Song
Killing You Softly With Our Song
7/10/09
Throw Down #22: Baby, Bathwater, It's All Gone...
Holy crap, where did this week go?!! Despite the never-ending rain, and my job, and my seemingly perennial exhaustion these days, it is Friday, and it is time to throw down. Which makes me laugh, as I can't even get up off of my couch, let alone get riled up about music today. However, I'm popping someone's cherry regarding seeing Ani DiFranco live tomorrow night, so my spirits are lifting, albeit slowly. I feel old this week, kids.
The weekend is here, the summer weather seems to finally be taking hold here in the northeast, and all of my friends are... missing. Vacationing, insanely busy, plain old missing (yes, that's right, I'm talking to you...), and have not been around to conference. So, I'm going to thieve from the venerable facebook meme that Nick completed (which, will also make it easy for him, as he gets ready to leave for vacation. Cut, paste, drive off into sunset.): Name a song you wish you wrote.
I wish I wrote "Tangled Up In Blue". There have been moments in my life where I certainly feel I've lived that song, at least the themes, for what it's worth. My favorite, favorite, favorite Dylan song; I loved it before I even loved him.
The weekend is here, and the sun is, in fact, finally shining. Make the most of it. Smooches!
The weekend is here, the summer weather seems to finally be taking hold here in the northeast, and all of my friends are... missing. Vacationing, insanely busy, plain old missing (yes, that's right, I'm talking to you...), and have not been around to conference. So, I'm going to thieve from the venerable facebook meme that Nick completed (which, will also make it easy for him, as he gets ready to leave for vacation. Cut, paste, drive off into sunset.): Name a song you wish you wrote.
I wish I wrote "Tangled Up In Blue". There have been moments in my life where I certainly feel I've lived that song, at least the themes, for what it's worth. My favorite, favorite, favorite Dylan song; I loved it before I even loved him.
The weekend is here, and the sun is, in fact, finally shining. Make the most of it. Smooches!
Labels: Bob Dylan, throw down
7/9/09
Dear, I hear the beer flows from the faucets all night long
I am such a slacker! Courtney and MJ invite me to contribute to their bliggity-blog, and I go off and skip the last two throwdowns in favor of, well, life! The nerve!
Anyway, I'm hopping back in the saddle with a quickie. Jacko and Americana. Really, it's hard to separate the two. I can't imagine any other country spawning the incredibly talented shitshow that was Michael Jackson. And, frighteningly enough, there are millions of people in this world who think all Americans cheer for the Yankees, drink Budweiser, and love The Gloved One. So perverse, and so true.
So, without further ado, my favorite Michael Jackson tune. Of course, with all of the hoopla, Embed codes have been restricted. So I'm posting a "cover" version:
Now, for the Americana. I think Neil Diamond's "America" is such an easy choice, it's almost criminal. And Courtney pulling out the X was inspired. So I'm going to go the neo-traditional route, an immigrant song for the 21st Century:
Anyway, I'm hopping back in the saddle with a quickie. Jacko and Americana. Really, it's hard to separate the two. I can't imagine any other country spawning the incredibly talented shitshow that was Michael Jackson. And, frighteningly enough, there are millions of people in this world who think all Americans cheer for the Yankees, drink Budweiser, and love The Gloved One. So perverse, and so true.
So, without further ado, my favorite Michael Jackson tune. Of course, with all of the hoopla, Embed codes have been restricted. So I'm posting a "cover" version:
Now, for the Americana. I think Neil Diamond's "America" is such an easy choice, it's almost criminal. And Courtney pulling out the X was inspired. So I'm going to go the neo-traditional route, an immigrant song for the 21st Century:
7/3/09
TwentyOne means fireworks and parades
Neil Diamond - Coming to America 2001
Happy 4th of July. This week's topic was obvious, 4th of July/Americana. That type of thing. Springsteen has always had the "voice" of America to me, but a lot of his songs aren't exactly wildly pro-American. Then, there's Mr. Mellencamp, but he also seems to be a bit on the bitter side of life when it comes to certain songs and albums (although I think "Scarecrow" is one of the most under-rated great records of all time).
Then it hit. Neil Diamond's Coming to America talks about all the great things associated with this country. Yeah, it's a bit trite, and yeah, it's Neil Diamond, but seriously, who's more awesome than Neil Diamond? No one. No one alive is.
So Neil Diamond it is. Enjoy your holiday weekend, make sure you go out and enjoy yourselves, be careful with the fireworks and copious alcohol consumption, and make merry.
Cheers!
Happy 4th of July. This week's topic was obvious, 4th of July/Americana. That type of thing. Springsteen has always had the "voice" of America to me, but a lot of his songs aren't exactly wildly pro-American. Then, there's Mr. Mellencamp, but he also seems to be a bit on the bitter side of life when it comes to certain songs and albums (although I think "Scarecrow" is one of the most under-rated great records of all time).
Then it hit. Neil Diamond's Coming to America talks about all the great things associated with this country. Yeah, it's a bit trite, and yeah, it's Neil Diamond, but seriously, who's more awesome than Neil Diamond? No one. No one alive is.
So Neil Diamond it is. Enjoy your holiday weekend, make sure you go out and enjoy yourselves, be careful with the fireworks and copious alcohol consumption, and make merry.
Cheers!
Throw Down #21: Looking For You In The Silence That We Share
Here it is, the defining weekend of the American summer, Fourth of July weekend. Barbeques (to which we have the soundtrack), parades (one of which I will be marching in as an elected public official), fireworks (which I cannot watch enough), and an Old Navy flag shirt. At least, that's what my weekend will look like. So, I wanted to send you all off to your parties and celebrations with some holiday inspired music.
Now, my all-time favorite "Fourth of July" song actually has nothing to do with patriotism, or American pride. It's really just the context for listening to X and John Doe's relationship unravel in song. But, much like the holiday is really the setting for Springsteen's classic "Fourth of July, Asbury Park", and two Ani DiFranco songs which are just brilliant, this song isn't meant to invoke a traditional Americana. Atlhough, I imagine a Fourth of July in some California towns looks much like the scene in this song. And I love this song for irrational reasons, which are the best reasons to love music.
Honorable mention to a song that I never would have even known existed, save for the fact that my friends covered it in their set last Saturday night. A little bit of country, which is always ok on the Fourth. Besides, if your name is Shooter, and your dad is Waylon, I think you're morally obligated to write an American holiday anthem.
So, Happy Fourth, kids! Don't burn your fingers off shooting roman candles at your friends and relations. Wishing I could party with my friends here on the blog, but that would require either private helicopters or the ability to apparate. I'll be thinking of you both, though. Party safe, and we'll see you on the flip side.
Now, my all-time favorite "Fourth of July" song actually has nothing to do with patriotism, or American pride. It's really just the context for listening to X and John Doe's relationship unravel in song. But, much like the holiday is really the setting for Springsteen's classic "Fourth of July, Asbury Park", and two Ani DiFranco songs which are just brilliant, this song isn't meant to invoke a traditional Americana. Atlhough, I imagine a Fourth of July in some California towns looks much like the scene in this song. And I love this song for irrational reasons, which are the best reasons to love music.
Honorable mention to a song that I never would have even known existed, save for the fact that my friends covered it in their set last Saturday night. A little bit of country, which is always ok on the Fourth. Besides, if your name is Shooter, and your dad is Waylon, I think you're morally obligated to write an American holiday anthem.
So, Happy Fourth, kids! Don't burn your fingers off shooting roman candles at your friends and relations. Wishing I could party with my friends here on the blog, but that would require either private helicopters or the ability to apparate. I'll be thinking of you both, though. Party safe, and we'll see you on the flip side.
Labels: fourth of july, shooter jennings, throw down, x
Pretty As Can Be, Sitting In The Front Seat
Thanks to The Full-Time Dreamers for introducing me to this one. K8, you rocked it!
Fourth of July - Shooter Jennings
Fourth of July - Shooter Jennings
Labels: fourth of july, shooter jennings
6/28/09
Twenty - There will only be one
He was, quite simply, the most gifted performer I think I've ever seen.
There are only certain people that you will remember where you were when you heard the news of their passing. Michael Jackson was one of them. He simply transcended music and leapt into another level of entertainer. You knew who people were talking about when they identified him by his first name, and that was in an era when another MJ was tearing up the basketball courts.
When you talk about "Thriller" and begin to realize that it's STILL the best-selling record ever, you just start to scratch the surface of this man's immense impact. Motown was able to continue as a going concern simply because of his presence.
I'm upset by this and I think I'll continue to be. I recognized what the death of Elvis Presley meant when I was 10 years old, and I recognize what this one means 31 1/2 years later. When you lose icons, it resonates. Rest in peace, Michael.
Michael Jackson Grammys '88-Way You Make Me Feel & MITM
There are only certain people that you will remember where you were when you heard the news of their passing. Michael Jackson was one of them. He simply transcended music and leapt into another level of entertainer. You knew who people were talking about when they identified him by his first name, and that was in an era when another MJ was tearing up the basketball courts.
When you talk about "Thriller" and begin to realize that it's STILL the best-selling record ever, you just start to scratch the surface of this man's immense impact. Motown was able to continue as a going concern simply because of his presence.
I'm upset by this and I think I'll continue to be. I recognized what the death of Elvis Presley meant when I was 10 years old, and I recognize what this one means 31 1/2 years later. When you lose icons, it resonates. Rest in peace, Michael.
Michael Jackson Grammys '88-Way You Make Me Feel & MITM
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