Today, we feature a song that was way overplayed in the early 90's.And still, I always kind of liked this song, even though I disliked this band and their brand of hippiesque music.
Yes, I just invented the word "hippiesque". Pronounce it "Hippie-Esk", and make sure you credit me when you use it.
But back to the song. This song is fun, fast-paced, and clever in its happy snarkiness. What makes it even better - it was based on someone specific. This song wasn't their biggest hit - the incessantly annoying "Two Princes" holds that honor - but it is the song that, after a year of release, finally kickstarted the sales of their eventually platinum album "Pocket Full of Kryptonite." MTV started playing this song, and, as was their habit when they used to play music videos on MTV, they kept playing it on a continuous loop.
And I heard it on the radio the other day, which is why you're hearing it now.
11 October 2012
11 October 2012 - Psychedelic Furs - Heaven
Happy 80s Thursday WGPers!!! We'll get back to some truly embarrassing 80s videos next Thursday. You see, I pretty much have to post this video because I cannot get this Psychedlic Furs tune out of my head. Seriously, I heard it a week ago for the first time in a while and it is just not leaving. Granted, it's not a bad song to have stuck in one's head (I've had much worse), but I'm hoping that this post will exorcise the earworm.
Earworm be gone!!!
Earworm be gone!!!
10 October 2012
10 October 2012 - Aqua - Barbie Girl
This song, on the surface, does not seem to be high art. It seems to be synth-heavy derivative Euro dance pop music. However, this Swedish quartet brought us a song that was so much more than that.
Lyrically, this is one of the cleverest songs of the last thirty years. Balancing the little-girlish innocence with the adolescent sexuality is something that Mattel has done for more that 50 years with the Barbie doll. Aqua brings both of those feelings to this song in a lyrical sense. They did a good enough job at it to speak a lawsuit by Mattel (which Mattel lost) to protect the Barbie image...
The irony is that Mattel now licenses the song for use in promoting Barbie.
A lot of you are scoffing at my love of this song and my belief that it is clever. Perhaps it's the presentation. To prove to you that it is far more than just synth-heavy derivative Euro dance pop music, here is a clip of Aqua performing a far more rock-and-roll version of the song.
And, so you know they actually ARE musicians, here's their folksy version..... Actually, maybe it's more bossa nova.
You know what? I can't decide which version I like best. I like them all. Let me know in the comments what you think!
Lyrically, this is one of the cleverest songs of the last thirty years. Balancing the little-girlish innocence with the adolescent sexuality is something that Mattel has done for more that 50 years with the Barbie doll. Aqua brings both of those feelings to this song in a lyrical sense. They did a good enough job at it to speak a lawsuit by Mattel (which Mattel lost) to protect the Barbie image...
The irony is that Mattel now licenses the song for use in promoting Barbie.
A lot of you are scoffing at my love of this song and my belief that it is clever. Perhaps it's the presentation. To prove to you that it is far more than just synth-heavy derivative Euro dance pop music, here is a clip of Aqua performing a far more rock-and-roll version of the song.
And, so you know they actually ARE musicians, here's their folksy version..... Actually, maybe it's more bossa nova.
You know what? I can't decide which version I like best. I like them all. Let me know in the comments what you think!
09 October 2012
9 October 2012 - The Cardigans - Lovefool
I've never really felt guilty about loving The Cardigans. I've been a fan since the first time I heard today's song and picked up their First Band On The Moon record in 1996. I do have to say though that compared to the rest of their catalog, that Lovefool could certainly be considered a guilty pleasure with all of its bubble gum goodness.
08 October 2012
8 October 2012 - Bananarama - Cruel Summer
Am I a little late with this post? Yes. Does it make the song less catchy? No.
I remember defending my love of Bananarama in 1986, even before the release of "Venus". My love of these three ladies was not solely based on this interesting song with beautifully dark harmonies, but it was a prime example. It was a sad, dark song, but it still managed to be fun and catchy.
The wardrobe choice for this video, on the other hand.... what was the obsession with overalls in the early to mid 80's?!
I remember defending my love of Bananarama in 1986, even before the release of "Venus". My love of these three ladies was not solely based on this interesting song with beautifully dark harmonies, but it was a prime example. It was a sad, dark song, but it still managed to be fun and catchy.
The wardrobe choice for this video, on the other hand.... what was the obsession with overalls in the early to mid 80's?!
05 October 2012
5 October 2012 - MSTRKRFT (feat. N.O.R.E.) - Bounce / Death From Above 1979 - Going Steady & Romantic Rights / CSS - Let's Make Love and Listen To Death From Above
This is going to be kind of a backwards constructed post, but go with me here.
MSTRKRFT are a fantastic electronic group from Toronto, featuring a guy named Jesse Keeler and a producer named Al-P. They are best known for their remixes of other people's songs, but have released a few of their own. I love this high-energy tune. I can't help but... well, bounce every time I hear it. I hope you enjoy this great party tune as much as I do.
Keeler and Al-P met when the latter was producing an album for Keeler's former group, Death From Above 1979. The two groups could not seem more different - DFA 1979 had their roots firmly in the punk scene, whereas MSTRKRFT are more electronic - but you can see, in this live clip from 2005, there was a fair amount of electronic sonic experimentation - Jesse Keeler is on keyboards and guitar - even back then.
It was in DFA 1979 that Keeler learned about infringing on other people's names for things - a lawsuit was threatened by a band called Death From Above until these guys added 1979 (the birth year of Sebastian Grainger, the other half of the group) to their name. MSTRKRFT is spelled without vowels to avoid a similar lawsuit by a Canadian toolmaking company.
I would know about neither of these bands if not for CSS. I have professed my love for CSS in the past. Here is another great hit, a tribute to DFA 1979. You see in the video two people wearing elephant masks. This is a reference to the cover of the DFA 1979 album "You're A Woman, I'm A Machine".... the album Al-P produced. And now, we have come full circle.
This song is a great dance tune in its own right, and you should enjoy it as well. In fact, when I started writing this post, this was the song I was featuring. Clearly, I changed my mind, but I wanted to make sure CSS still got their credit.
MSTRKRFT are a fantastic electronic group from Toronto, featuring a guy named Jesse Keeler and a producer named Al-P. They are best known for their remixes of other people's songs, but have released a few of their own. I love this high-energy tune. I can't help but... well, bounce every time I hear it. I hope you enjoy this great party tune as much as I do.
Keeler and Al-P met when the latter was producing an album for Keeler's former group, Death From Above 1979. The two groups could not seem more different - DFA 1979 had their roots firmly in the punk scene, whereas MSTRKRFT are more electronic - but you can see, in this live clip from 2005, there was a fair amount of electronic sonic experimentation - Jesse Keeler is on keyboards and guitar - even back then.
It was in DFA 1979 that Keeler learned about infringing on other people's names for things - a lawsuit was threatened by a band called Death From Above until these guys added 1979 (the birth year of Sebastian Grainger, the other half of the group) to their name. MSTRKRFT is spelled without vowels to avoid a similar lawsuit by a Canadian toolmaking company.
I would know about neither of these bands if not for CSS. I have professed my love for CSS in the past. Here is another great hit, a tribute to DFA 1979. You see in the video two people wearing elephant masks. This is a reference to the cover of the DFA 1979 album "You're A Woman, I'm A Machine".... the album Al-P produced. And now, we have come full circle.
This song is a great dance tune in its own right, and you should enjoy it as well. In fact, when I started writing this post, this was the song I was featuring. Clearly, I changed my mind, but I wanted to make sure CSS still got their credit.
04 October 2012
4 October 2012 - Modern English - I Melt With You
The problem with doing 80s Thursday is that I realize how old I am. I Melt With You is 30 years old?!? Really? Yikes. The song has certainly aged well. Has the video? You be the judge.
I should mention that while doing "research" for this post (and yes, I do some minor research if only to not screw up what little facts I use), I discovered that Modern English is still playing together. I had no idea.
I should mention that while doing "research" for this post (and yes, I do some minor research if only to not screw up what little facts I use), I discovered that Modern English is still playing together. I had no idea.
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