The biggest hit to come out of New Zealand, ever, How Bizarre was a huge, unexpected hit in 1996. HUGE. The song was everywhere. It was a cool, laid-back summer song, perfect for cruising down the road. Which they do in this video. A lot. Some people love it; some people hate it. No one can deny that it was huge, and huge everywhere.
Sadly, Pauly Fuemana, the lead vocalist of this band, passed away in 2010 at the age of 40, a vicitim of a rare respiratory disorder. His death caused a resurgence of interest in this song.
16 June 2012
15 June 2012
15 June 2012- Lady Sovereign - So Human
I've been a fan of Lady Sovereign from her very first single, even as she was trying really really hard to be offensive and in-your-face. Needless to say, as she was trying to be like that, the press (in the UK) was not kind.
This song, which talks about the depression of being slammed publicly, is from her 2nd album, and heavily samples The Cure. She's clearly playing in a genre not typically attempted by short, white British girls. Having said that, she clearly understands hip-hop and performs it well, yet still remains true to herself and her own style. I enjoy her, and I hope you do too!
Also, Lady Sov, if you are reading this, please come to the States and tour. I'd come see you!
This song, which talks about the depression of being slammed publicly, is from her 2nd album, and heavily samples The Cure. She's clearly playing in a genre not typically attempted by short, white British girls. Having said that, she clearly understands hip-hop and performs it well, yet still remains true to herself and her own style. I enjoy her, and I hope you do too!
Also, Lady Sov, if you are reading this, please come to the States and tour. I'd come see you!
14 June 2012
14 June 2012 - Split Enz - I Got You
Thankfully, I decided to kill off the name New Wave Thursdays (it was just a horrible name). New Wave Wednesdays would have worked, but I don't post here on Wednesdays so that obviously would have been an even dumber name. What to do? Plus, there was some question as to what was New Wave and what wasn't. Too much of a mess for me to handle. In the end, I decided that 80s Thursdays is a bit better (emphasis on "bit").
So, let's kick off the "new and improved" 80s Thursdays with New Zealand's Split Enz and their 1980 pop classic I Got You.
So, let's kick off the "new and improved" 80s Thursdays with New Zealand's Split Enz and their 1980 pop classic I Got You.
13 June 2012
13 June 2012 - INXS - Not Enough Time / Suicide Blonde
I was, at one time, married to the biggest INXS fan this side of the Mississippi River. A truly underrated 6-piece band from Australia, they were really big hit makers for awhile. I got a great chance to appreciate all of their music, including the stuff that no one else heard because it came outside their hitmaking window.
One of these songs was the 2nd single off their 1992 album - which I think is their absolute high water maker - Welcome To Wherever You Are. It peaked at #28 on the US charts, and was also featured on the official 1992 Summer Olympics CD. It's also a densely layered, clever pop-rock power ballad. Instant, underappreciated classic.
That's not to say that some of their hits weren't really fun songs. Take this one, one of their last big hits, from their album X - it was meant to designate a ten year anniversary. This song, which peaked at #9 in the US - it would be their penultimate top 10 hit here - is a great, jangly, fun song. The title was reported coined by fellow Wicked Guilty Pleasure Kylie Minogue (who Michael Hutchence dated for awhile) who had to bleach her hair for a movie role.
I don't care that Suicide Blonde was a big hit. I still love the song.
One of these songs was the 2nd single off their 1992 album - which I think is their absolute high water maker - Welcome To Wherever You Are. It peaked at #28 on the US charts, and was also featured on the official 1992 Summer Olympics CD. It's also a densely layered, clever pop-rock power ballad. Instant, underappreciated classic.
That's not to say that some of their hits weren't really fun songs. Take this one, one of their last big hits, from their album X - it was meant to designate a ten year anniversary. This song, which peaked at #9 in the US - it would be their penultimate top 10 hit here - is a great, jangly, fun song. The title was reported coined by fellow Wicked Guilty Pleasure Kylie Minogue (who Michael Hutchence dated for awhile) who had to bleach her hair for a movie role.
I don't care that Suicide Blonde was a big hit. I still love the song.
12 June 2012
12 June 2012 - Janelle Monáe (featuring Big Boi) - Tightrope
I don't listen to a lot of soul/R&B artists, but there are a few acts these days that are pretty freaking rad. I'd put Janelle Monáe in that category. This song is so freaking infectious...and the video's way cool too.
11 June 2012
11 June 2012 - Avril Lavigne - Girlfriend
I am not a fan of Avril Lavigne. At least, I wasn't until five years ago. Her early stuff was a little too emo for me.
With Girlfriend, Avril did 3 things. First, she found her inner rock goddess. The song simply rocks. Second - this one is going to be very hard to understand for any of you that aren't either Canadian or old fans of You Can't Do That On Television - she sounds more Canadian than she had previously. It's her tone and her vernacular.
Finally, she recorded the song in at least eight different languages. Here is the English version.
The results? The biggest hit of her career to date. No coincidence. Not at all.
For those who are so inclined, here is a video that gives you a sampling of several of the languages in which this was recorded.
With Girlfriend, Avril did 3 things. First, she found her inner rock goddess. The song simply rocks. Second - this one is going to be very hard to understand for any of you that aren't either Canadian or old fans of You Can't Do That On Television - she sounds more Canadian than she had previously. It's her tone and her vernacular.
Finally, she recorded the song in at least eight different languages. Here is the English version.
The results? The biggest hit of her career to date. No coincidence. Not at all.
For those who are so inclined, here is a video that gives you a sampling of several of the languages in which this was recorded.
10 June 2012 - Game Theory - The Waist And The Knees / Look Away / Wyoming / The Real Sheila / Erica's Word
Game Theory were a band led by Scott Miller of Davis, CA. The rest of the band was rotating, but this lineup, featuring Donnette Thayer (more on her in a bit), was the classic one. Despite catchy pop/rock tunes and aural experimentation, and the greatest double album ever released - Lolita Nation, from which album this first song is plucked - they never achieved big time success.
This song, one of my favorites, is from a live performance in 1988, soon before their final breakup. It was a harder rocking song, with a little bit of experimentation built in.
Scott Miller, who went on to found the long-lasting Loud Family (who are equally good), gave up the microphone and the songwriting very little. In a few cases, he did cede that to Donnette, who was really talented in her own right - she would leave Game Theory to found Hex with Steve Kilbey from The Church - and when he did, it was magical between the two of them. Here is a live performance of one of her tunes, performed live. And, when you see her hair, remember that it was 1986.
OK, let's do one more. This is another Donnette song, with a better harmony with Scott, and is my absolute favorite Game Theory song. From their last, and second-best album, Two Steps From The Middle Ages, it is worth hearing, even without a video.
I urge you to seek out more Game Theory music. It isn't easy to find, but it's worth the time and effort to find it.
Update (19 April 2013): Scott Miller has passed away this week. In tribute, here is the band's biggest hit, from Lolita Nation.
And here is the first Game Theory song I ever heard. I heard them first on the Enigma Records compilation The Enigma Variations 2. (They also appeared on the classic Enigma Variations). Arguably the best power pop song ever written.
This song, one of my favorites, is from a live performance in 1988, soon before their final breakup. It was a harder rocking song, with a little bit of experimentation built in.
Scott Miller, who went on to found the long-lasting Loud Family (who are equally good), gave up the microphone and the songwriting very little. In a few cases, he did cede that to Donnette, who was really talented in her own right - she would leave Game Theory to found Hex with Steve Kilbey from The Church - and when he did, it was magical between the two of them. Here is a live performance of one of her tunes, performed live. And, when you see her hair, remember that it was 1986.
OK, let's do one more. This is another Donnette song, with a better harmony with Scott, and is my absolute favorite Game Theory song. From their last, and second-best album, Two Steps From The Middle Ages, it is worth hearing, even without a video.
I urge you to seek out more Game Theory music. It isn't easy to find, but it's worth the time and effort to find it.
Update (19 April 2013): Scott Miller has passed away this week. In tribute, here is the band's biggest hit, from Lolita Nation.
And here is the first Game Theory song I ever heard. I heard them first on the Enigma Records compilation The Enigma Variations 2. (They also appeared on the classic Enigma Variations). Arguably the best power pop song ever written.
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