Around the world, Kylie Minogue has been a superstar for at least two decades. In the United States, she was a one hit wonder. It was an awful cover of "Locomotion" in the Stock Aitken Waterman style. Rubbish. Most of what those guys did was rubbish. Not everything. Most everything.
Then she started working with the Pet Shop Boys.
Then she released this. A good seven years before Lady Gaga released anything. It's smart and sexy and has a terrific hook. And now, it's going to be stuck in your head.
It's important to note that Kylie was diagnosed with breast cancer a couple of years after this video. She beat it and continued on with her career, releasing several more Wicked Guilty Pleasures. We salute her for that!
UPDATE: Kylie rerecorded this song in 2012......as more of dignified, strings-heavy song. It still worked.
03 May 2012
3 May 2012 - Skid Row - Youth Gone Wild
Hair Metal Thursday...It's just like Hair Metal Friday, only sooner!
Yeah, after seeing this video for the first time in forever, one thing is clear: I MUST repurchase the first Skid Row cd.
Yeah, after seeing this video for the first time in forever, one thing is clear: I MUST repurchase the first Skid Row cd.
02 May 2012
2 May 2012 - Kansas - Everybody's My Friend
I've been a fan of Kansas for many years. This song, from the era between 1981 and 1984 when Steve Walsh was NOT the lead vocalist - is one of my favorites. The song deals with the foibles of fame that the new lead vocalist anticipated. (Of course, outside of Wichita, I don't think he had to worry about walking around incognito, but that's besides the point.)
The concept of the video is, of course, luchadors, or Mexican wrestlers, wearing masks. That's never a bad idea. The song itself is simple and somewhat naive, but these elements combine to make a sweet tune. Enjoy!
The concept of the video is, of course, luchadors, or Mexican wrestlers, wearing masks. That's never a bad idea. The song itself is simple and somewhat naive, but these elements combine to make a sweet tune. Enjoy!
01 May 2012
1 May 2012 - Carrie Underwood - Last Name
So as I stood in line at Target this morning with the new Carrie Underwood and Norah Jones cds in my hands, I couldn't help but wonder, when did I become the type of person to stand in line in a Target with the new Carrie Underwood and Norah Jones cds?
While I've never seen more than about 5 minutes at a time of an American Idol episode, I was seduced by the Season Four winner when her Play On record came out in 2009. As always, I dug deeper into her catalog (ok, not the hardest thing to do seeing that she only had two other records) and fell for her booming country/pop vocals.
So let's celebrate the release of Blown Away by of course looking to the past. This is a fun song and video off of her second record Carnival Ride. By the way, I love how this video serves as a prequel to Before He Cheats.
30 April 2012
30 April 2012 - Brad Paisley - Ticks
Brad Paisley is such a clean-cut looking boy with a squeaky-clean image. Who was probably best known as Kimberly Williams(-Paisley)'s husband - she was the bride in the "Father of the Bride" movies, and I think she was on some TV series some time ago.
Until this song came out. A clever country song with rock-n-roll sensibilities, it is quietly naughty without being overtly so. Critics were a little skeeved out by all the smarmy pickup lines included in the lyrics, but the song was a big enough hit to be performed at the 2008 Grammys. It even cracked the Pop Top 40 chart!
I just wonder what his wife thinks of him wanting to pick up random women in bars with butterfly tattoos and check them for ticks.
Until this song came out. A clever country song with rock-n-roll sensibilities, it is quietly naughty without being overtly so. Critics were a little skeeved out by all the smarmy pickup lines included in the lyrics, but the song was a big enough hit to be performed at the 2008 Grammys. It even cracked the Pop Top 40 chart!
I just wonder what his wife thinks of him wanting to pick up random women in bars with butterfly tattoos and check them for ticks.
29 April 2012 - Pacha Massive - Don't Let Go
Two Latinos living in New York City were the core of Pacha Massive. I first discovered them one day while watching MTV Tr3s, MTV's Spanglish network that features music that crosses the language barriers nicely.
This song is a particular favorite of mine, not just because it was the network's first Descubre y Download feature, but because it was creative and different than any music I had heard elsewhere, Latin or otherwise. It seemed to me to combine aspects of Latin (the guitar), hip hop (the beats and rhythmic vocals), and early 90's college music (a female bassist who sometime sang). So, without further ado...
This song is a particular favorite of mine, not just because it was the network's first Descubre y Download feature, but because it was creative and different than any music I had heard elsewhere, Latin or otherwise. It seemed to me to combine aspects of Latin (the guitar), hip hop (the beats and rhythmic vocals), and early 90's college music (a female bassist who sometime sang). So, without further ado...
28 April 2012
28 April 2012 - Dionne Warwick - Heartbreaker
Dionne Warwick was known for her R&B ballads for a very long time. In 1982, her career had been stalled for about a decade. The Bee Gees still believed in her, though, and wrote her this gem, the title song for her 1982 album. It was a hit all over the world, and different than the gospel-influenced sound from earlier in her career.
It wouldn't be her last hit. "That's What Friends Are For" was to come a few years later, partially due to the strength of this comeback. This song has a ballad feel, still, but is far more impassioned than her earlier work. It was an excellent song choice.
It wouldn't be her last hit. "That's What Friends Are For" was to come a few years later, partially due to the strength of this comeback. This song has a ballad feel, still, but is far more impassioned than her earlier work. It was an excellent song choice.
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