Before she was an American Idol judge, and after she was the Laker Girl main choreographer, Paula Abdul had a singing career. This was the 4th single from her 2nd album, and was a top 20 hit in 1992. Strangely, it was an even bigger hit in Canada, where it remained on the charts for 26 weeks, reaching #3, It's different than the songs she released before and after, insofar that it is even more up-tempo.
Also, any song that features "horny horns" is OK by me.
14 November 2012
13 November 2012
13 November 2012 - Heather Nova - Walk This World
I don't know if today's song is a guilty pleasure or not, but Heather Nova was a mild obsession of mine in the mid 90s through the mid 00s. Somehow she dropped off my new music buying radar, which is unfortunate. I think I'll have to remedy that and check out her last couple records as soon as possible.
Anyway, here's the very cool video for her highest charting song (No. 13 on Billboard Modern Rock Track) which appeared on 1994's fantastic Oyster record.
Anyway, here's the very cool video for her highest charting song (No. 13 on Billboard Modern Rock Track) which appeared on 1994's fantastic Oyster record.
12 November 2012
12 November 2012 - The Archies - Sugar Sugar
Perhaps the greatest single to ever come from a cartoon.
Oh, you didn't realize that, when we say The Archies performed this song, we were referring to THE Archies, from the Archie comic books and popular television series? Don't be embarrassed. Most people don't.
But it's true. Reggie plays bass, Jughead is on the drums, Veronica Lodge is on the keyboards, and Betty Cooper is on the tambourine. Of course, Archie plays lead guitar and sings. I mean, the band does carry his name, right? It's a simple song, with simple chord progressions, but it builds - it is quiet at points, but it moves to frantic as the song wears on.
Of course, we all know that cartoons require voices. In this case, the singing voice of Archie Andrews was provided by a man named Ron Dante. Here he is, singing his signature hit in real life. The real musicians were session musician, recruited by none other than the great Don Kirshner. As you can see and hear, it is the same song, but Ron Dante just doesn't look as appealing as an animated Archie Andrews.
Oh, you didn't realize that, when we say The Archies performed this song, we were referring to THE Archies, from the Archie comic books and popular television series? Don't be embarrassed. Most people don't.
But it's true. Reggie plays bass, Jughead is on the drums, Veronica Lodge is on the keyboards, and Betty Cooper is on the tambourine. Of course, Archie plays lead guitar and sings. I mean, the band does carry his name, right? It's a simple song, with simple chord progressions, but it builds - it is quiet at points, but it moves to frantic as the song wears on.
Of course, we all know that cartoons require voices. In this case, the singing voice of Archie Andrews was provided by a man named Ron Dante. Here he is, singing his signature hit in real life. The real musicians were session musician, recruited by none other than the great Don Kirshner. As you can see and hear, it is the same song, but Ron Dante just doesn't look as appealing as an animated Archie Andrews.
09 November 2012
9 November 2012 - Ke$ha - Die Young
Finally!
I know we've written about Ke-Dollar Sign-Ha before - and that was a completely worthy tune. When I found out her new single was out, I sought it out, listened to it.... and found it to be the most catchy and complex song she's ever released. An acoustic opening..... an acapella middle. And the song itself - danceable, catchy... and just plain fun!
Plus, part of the video is in 3-D, so get your glasses ready.
I know we've written about Ke-Dollar Sign-Ha before - and that was a completely worthy tune. When I found out her new single was out, I sought it out, listened to it.... and found it to be the most catchy and complex song she's ever released. An acoustic opening..... an acapella middle. And the song itself - danceable, catchy... and just plain fun!
Plus, part of the video is in 3-D, so get your glasses ready.
08 November 2012
8 November 2012 - Blondie - Rapture
Faithful readers, I'm sorry I'm late with today's post (I like to have them ready for your lunch breaks). Oddly enough, I was ACTUALLY working in an office in DC all day, as opposed to my usual couch office where the commute is much better and the co-workers (the cats) are WAY more fun. Anyway, when I got on the DC Metro this morning Rapture popped into my head (Yeah, I know, you'd think it should have been The Metro by Berlin ... as I always say it's best not to analyze what actually goes on in my head). So get up and groove to the Blondie beat. I'm not watching you, don't worry.
07 November 2012
7 November 2012 - Belly - Feed The Tree / Slow Dog & Throwing Muses - Not Too Soon
This band is a particularly strong guilty pleasure for me, more so than most others.
Since the mid 1980's, my favorite band, ever, has been a band from Newport, RI called Throwing Muses. Its leader and usual lead vocalist - and since 1992, only lead vocalist - Kristin Hersh is a truly unique musical voice. I cannot say enough nice things about her. I've written about her other ventures as a solo artist and in another band previously.
Her stepsister was Tanya Donelly, and they started Throwing Muses together. Kristin was the primary songwriter and lead vocalist, and Tanya took lead guitar and occasional songwriter and vocalist. Eventually, Tanya became a better songwriter, finding her own voice instead of trying to emulate her stepsister's. Once that happened, she started branch out on her own, first as a founding member of The Breeders (although she never got anywhere near a Cannonball), and then as leader of her own band, Belly.
Belly was a really good pop/rock band. However, anyone expecting the dark feel of Throwing Muses were sorely disappointed. Tanya wrote jangly pop songs that fit her voice and style. This was her first American single (she released an EP overseas before returning to the States), and it was a bigger hit than anything Throwing Muses had ever done... which really pissed me off for awhile. I've made my peace with it. Tanya wrote some good songs during this era, and I still enjoy them. I hope you do, too!
That aforementioned EP, by the way, was called "Slow Dust", based on two of the songs on there - "Dusted" and "Slow Dog". Belly later released a remixed version of the later song in this country, and they even made a fun video for it. Check out Tanya's jangly guitar work. And lyrically, the song loaded with enough metaphor to make Kristin Hersh proud.
As a little bonus, here is the last song that Tanya did with Throwing Muses - a full year before any work with Belly - and the only one written by her that the band ever made a video for. It's not my favorite Muses song, but you can see that Tanya is clearly on the path to Belly. The bassist with Throwing Muses at this time - Fred Abong, who was not an original member - left with Tanya to form Belly three months after the album this was on was released.
By the way, this was one of the first songs Tanya wrote, and was on some early Muses demos. Trust me. This version is better than the earlier ones.
Since the mid 1980's, my favorite band, ever, has been a band from Newport, RI called Throwing Muses. Its leader and usual lead vocalist - and since 1992, only lead vocalist - Kristin Hersh is a truly unique musical voice. I cannot say enough nice things about her. I've written about her other ventures as a solo artist and in another band previously.
Her stepsister was Tanya Donelly, and they started Throwing Muses together. Kristin was the primary songwriter and lead vocalist, and Tanya took lead guitar and occasional songwriter and vocalist. Eventually, Tanya became a better songwriter, finding her own voice instead of trying to emulate her stepsister's. Once that happened, she started branch out on her own, first as a founding member of The Breeders (although she never got anywhere near a Cannonball), and then as leader of her own band, Belly.
Belly was a really good pop/rock band. However, anyone expecting the dark feel of Throwing Muses were sorely disappointed. Tanya wrote jangly pop songs that fit her voice and style. This was her first American single (she released an EP overseas before returning to the States), and it was a bigger hit than anything Throwing Muses had ever done... which really pissed me off for awhile. I've made my peace with it. Tanya wrote some good songs during this era, and I still enjoy them. I hope you do, too!
That aforementioned EP, by the way, was called "Slow Dust", based on two of the songs on there - "Dusted" and "Slow Dog". Belly later released a remixed version of the later song in this country, and they even made a fun video for it. Check out Tanya's jangly guitar work. And lyrically, the song loaded with enough metaphor to make Kristin Hersh proud.
As a little bonus, here is the last song that Tanya did with Throwing Muses - a full year before any work with Belly - and the only one written by her that the band ever made a video for. It's not my favorite Muses song, but you can see that Tanya is clearly on the path to Belly. The bassist with Throwing Muses at this time - Fred Abong, who was not an original member - left with Tanya to form Belly three months after the album this was on was released.
By the way, this was one of the first songs Tanya wrote, and was on some early Muses demos. Trust me. This version is better than the earlier ones.
06 November 2012
6 November 2012 - Miranda Lambert - Only Prettier
I've had the chorus to this song in my head pretty much all morning. Gosh, I wonder why? Anyway, here's one of my favorite videos by one of my favorite singers. You gotta love the good girl/bad girl thing she and her friends Kellie, Hillary and Laura have going on in this one.
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