In the threat of Hurricane Sandy, is this a little bit of a cruel joke of a song choice? Yes. Yes it is.
But c'mon - face it. It's a nice song. Talented drummer Karen Carpenter pulls out her big vocals for this song, a classic from the early 1970's, a song that grows in intensity as it wears on. I was never a huge fan of The Carpenters, but this song is one of their best.
26 October 2012
26 October 2012 - The Firm - Radioactive
When I was a wee lad in the mid 80's, this was a minor MTV hit song. At the time, I was really into what would later be called "alternative" music.
A supergroup featuring members of Led Zeppelin, Uriah Heap, Manfred Mann and Bad Company did not fit into those musical tastes. And yet, this song had powerful vocals, a great jangling guitar hook, and a fantastic baseline. All in all, it was - and is - a really cool song, no matter which rock dinosaurs might be performing it.
So, now, enjoy your dinosaurs of rock supergroup.
A supergroup featuring members of Led Zeppelin, Uriah Heap, Manfred Mann and Bad Company did not fit into those musical tastes. And yet, this song had powerful vocals, a great jangling guitar hook, and a fantastic baseline. All in all, it was - and is - a really cool song, no matter which rock dinosaurs might be performing it.
So, now, enjoy your dinosaurs of rock supergroup.
25 October 2012
25 October 2012 - Adam & The Ants - Ant Rap
I can't even imagine the massive amounts of drugs that were consumed in the story conception and production of this video. I'd try to analyze it to make some jokes, but my head's still spinning after two views. See for yourself. And if you can make any sense of what's going on, please clue me in.
24 October 2012
24 October 2012 - Kanye West - Golddigger (ft. Jamie Foxx) / Stronger
Scott, imma let you finish, but this is one of the best videos of all time.
In all seriousness, Kanye West might be a gigantic jackass, but he makes some catchy, compelling music. This song is really sparse musically - a little horn, mostly heavy bass and drum - but combines the hip-hop rap style of Kanye with the soulfulness of Jamie Foxx's voice. It's a nearly perfect song.
Kanye has a tendency to make perfect songs. This one, a tribute to his bravado, is far less sparse, and still, despite the fact that he's a complete jackass lyrically, is brilliantly catchy. Lyrically, it's cocky, but any song that can make an Apollonia reference is OK with me.
In all seriousness, Kanye West might be a gigantic jackass, but he makes some catchy, compelling music. This song is really sparse musically - a little horn, mostly heavy bass and drum - but combines the hip-hop rap style of Kanye with the soulfulness of Jamie Foxx's voice. It's a nearly perfect song.
Kanye has a tendency to make perfect songs. This one, a tribute to his bravado, is far less sparse, and still, despite the fact that he's a complete jackass lyrically, is brilliantly catchy. Lyrically, it's cocky, but any song that can make an Apollonia reference is OK with me.
23 October 2012
23 October 2012 - Taylor Swift - We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
OK, I've written about Taylor Swift here at Wicked Guilty Pleasures before, so there's no need to rehash my fandom (you can click on that happy little link to see that post). No, today I have a different tale to tell.
Taylor's fourth cd Red was released yesterday. That big box store with the red bulls-eye logo had a deluxe version with extra songs and I was like, so there.
Of course, like a sit-com character buying condoms or porn, I had to be discreet, even if I was shopping at a box-store and not a record store where every musical purchase is scrutinized. Regardless, it still looks weird for a dude in his late-30s to be buying a cd most people presume is for teenage girls (they'd be mostly wrong if they just listened...but that's another post in and of itself). No one is ever going to buy the "yeah, it's for a friend" excuse, so I needed a "cover." So there I was, shopping for other items to make it look like I didn't just go to the store to get the new Taylor Swift cd (as I said, in sit-com character mode). I started in the men's clothing section. Nothing. Not good, as I really didn't need any groceries, household decorations or small appliances. I was going to have to hit the CD section with no "cover." Great...
So I sauntered over to the new release section. There was a clearly marked Taylor Swift Red Oct. 22 sign. The cd wasn't there. Walked to the country section. Nope. Walked to the pop/rock section. Nada. This damn store always screws up their new release orders so I wasn't surprised. I was mildly annoyed though and for more than having to wait to get the new record. Now I was going to have to ask some questions. So much for being discreet.
Naturally, the first person in a red vest that I see is a 20-something metal looking dude. Fantastic. Here's a brief transcript of the conversation.
Me (pointing at the aforementioned Taylor Swift sign): "Excuse me, did you not get this in today?"
Metal Dude In Red Vest (smirking): "yeah, follow me."
Me (muttering): "it's uhhh, for a friend." (why did I not say for my daughter? That would have been totally plausible)
MDIRV walks me to the huge display not even remotely near the cd section. Makes total sense to me.
MDIRV (smugly): "Here you go, we also have Taylor Swift shirts, books, school supplies and make-up if you're interested."
Me: "uhh, thanks, the cd is all I was looking for." Jerk.
After that exchange, paying for it was no problem (after of course finding the little old lady cashier). The moral of the story -- next time, pre-order it online.
As for the cd itself, I'll hold off on my review as I've only listened to it once, but I pretty much like it. I will warn that it's not a country record or even a pop-country record (kind of a bummer). It's mostly pop and rock. There's really only one song that I hated on first listen. There's a couple more that I need to give a couple more spins before I make up my mind. Time will tell if it makes any top-10 lists (including my own), but it's certainly a very good record.
Wow, that may be my longest post ever, and I still haven't even talked about the video. Here's the truly awesomely fun video for the first single, the extremely catchy We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together. Cool fact about this video: It was shot in just one take.
Taylor's fourth cd Red was released yesterday. That big box store with the red bulls-eye logo had a deluxe version with extra songs and I was like, so there.
Of course, like a sit-com character buying condoms or porn, I had to be discreet, even if I was shopping at a box-store and not a record store where every musical purchase is scrutinized. Regardless, it still looks weird for a dude in his late-30s to be buying a cd most people presume is for teenage girls (they'd be mostly wrong if they just listened...but that's another post in and of itself). No one is ever going to buy the "yeah, it's for a friend" excuse, so I needed a "cover." So there I was, shopping for other items to make it look like I didn't just go to the store to get the new Taylor Swift cd (as I said, in sit-com character mode). I started in the men's clothing section. Nothing. Not good, as I really didn't need any groceries, household decorations or small appliances. I was going to have to hit the CD section with no "cover." Great...
So I sauntered over to the new release section. There was a clearly marked Taylor Swift Red Oct. 22 sign. The cd wasn't there. Walked to the country section. Nope. Walked to the pop/rock section. Nada. This damn store always screws up their new release orders so I wasn't surprised. I was mildly annoyed though and for more than having to wait to get the new record. Now I was going to have to ask some questions. So much for being discreet.
Naturally, the first person in a red vest that I see is a 20-something metal looking dude. Fantastic. Here's a brief transcript of the conversation.
Me (pointing at the aforementioned Taylor Swift sign): "Excuse me, did you not get this in today?"
Metal Dude In Red Vest (smirking): "yeah, follow me."
Me (muttering): "it's uhhh, for a friend." (why did I not say for my daughter? That would have been totally plausible)
MDIRV walks me to the huge display not even remotely near the cd section. Makes total sense to me.
MDIRV (smugly): "Here you go, we also have Taylor Swift shirts, books, school supplies and make-up if you're interested."
Me: "uhh, thanks, the cd is all I was looking for." Jerk.
After that exchange, paying for it was no problem (after of course finding the little old lady cashier). The moral of the story -- next time, pre-order it online.
As for the cd itself, I'll hold off on my review as I've only listened to it once, but I pretty much like it. I will warn that it's not a country record or even a pop-country record (kind of a bummer). It's mostly pop and rock. There's really only one song that I hated on first listen. There's a couple more that I need to give a couple more spins before I make up my mind. Time will tell if it makes any top-10 lists (including my own), but it's certainly a very good record.
Wow, that may be my longest post ever, and I still haven't even talked about the video. Here's the truly awesomely fun video for the first single, the extremely catchy We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together. Cool fact about this video: It was shot in just one take.
(edit: 26 December 2021)
Tony does not usually edit Scott's posts. However, I am adding Taylor's Version to all our Taylor Swift posts.
ALL. OF. THEM.
Tony does not usually edit Scott's posts. However, I am adding Taylor's Version to all our Taylor Swift posts.
ALL. OF. THEM.
22 October 2012
22 October 2012 - Amy Winehouse - Rehab / You Know I'm No Good / F*** Me Pumps
We've never done a proper tribute to the late and troubled Amy Winehouse. That poor, troubled woman had a huge voice, and she is missed.
There is some (intentional) irony to her biggest hit song. Amy's gigantic, husky, achy voice makes the song, of course, but the horns from her backing band - the Dap-Kings - make the tune even bigger.
The Dap-Kings also add something to this song, which was my first exposure to Ms. Winehouse. However, whereas "Rehab" is straight-ahead soul singing, this song brings a darker, hip-hop feel, and show a little versatility in her voice.
The Dap-Kings were on loan from a singer named Sharon Jones, who is a woman with an equally huge voice - and who we will feature some other time. But Amy Winehouse had a singing career before she hooked up with them. This is my favorite tune from her first album - it really gives Amy's torch song qualities shine over a hip-hop beat, with a much jazzier song, as opposed to the deep, heavy soul of her later work.
I also want you to look at how Amy looks. There were four years between her first and second album, and you can see how she transformed and aged. Drugs are bad, kids, and they took this talent far too soon.
There is some (intentional) irony to her biggest hit song. Amy's gigantic, husky, achy voice makes the song, of course, but the horns from her backing band - the Dap-Kings - make the tune even bigger.
The Dap-Kings also add something to this song, which was my first exposure to Ms. Winehouse. However, whereas "Rehab" is straight-ahead soul singing, this song brings a darker, hip-hop feel, and show a little versatility in her voice.
The Dap-Kings were on loan from a singer named Sharon Jones, who is a woman with an equally huge voice - and who we will feature some other time. But Amy Winehouse had a singing career before she hooked up with them. This is my favorite tune from her first album - it really gives Amy's torch song qualities shine over a hip-hop beat, with a much jazzier song, as opposed to the deep, heavy soul of her later work.
I also want you to look at how Amy looks. There were four years between her first and second album, and you can see how she transformed and aged. Drugs are bad, kids, and they took this talent far too soon.
19 October 2012
19 Octubre 2012 - Julieta Venegas - Me Voy
Julieta Venegas started off life as a Latin alternative star - a female singer/songwriter who happened to be mejicana.
Somewhere along the way, she became a big hitmaker. Mostly, this involved a big balloon and Julieta's accordion skills.... and this song, a huge hit in Mexico and on Latin radio in the United States.
So, her name should ring a bell by now. Recall that she wrote and provided background vocals to Monday's song, and also performed on one of Wednesday's songs.
She also did an MTV Unplugged performance that was really strong. This is the song with which she closed.... Even more than the studio version, this captures the true ranchero feeling that the song is supposed to convey.
Now, after all this, I'm going to tell you a little secret about Spanish-language artists in general, and Julieta Venegas specifically. This is a performance she did for the NPR station KCRW, on their popular show Morning Becomes Eclectic. She performs Me Voy at about the 19:45 mark, but I encourage you to take some time and listen to the whole thing. Notice that she proves that she is multiinstrumental - she's playing keyboard, and not accordion, in this version.
And she speaks perfect, unaccented English.
(Update: 20 May 2013) I decided to get gimmicky and add a 3D video. Not kidding. Get your glasses.
Somewhere along the way, she became a big hitmaker. Mostly, this involved a big balloon and Julieta's accordion skills.... and this song, a huge hit in Mexico and on Latin radio in the United States.
So, her name should ring a bell by now. Recall that she wrote and provided background vocals to Monday's song, and also performed on one of Wednesday's songs.
She also did an MTV Unplugged performance that was really strong. This is the song with which she closed.... Even more than the studio version, this captures the true ranchero feeling that the song is supposed to convey.
Now, after all this, I'm going to tell you a little secret about Spanish-language artists in general, and Julieta Venegas specifically. This is a performance she did for the NPR station KCRW, on their popular show Morning Becomes Eclectic. She performs Me Voy at about the 19:45 mark, but I encourage you to take some time and listen to the whole thing. Notice that she proves that she is multiinstrumental - she's playing keyboard, and not accordion, in this version.
And she speaks perfect, unaccented English.
(Update: 20 May 2013) I decided to get gimmicky and add a 3D video. Not kidding. Get your glasses.
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