I. Can't. Look. Away!
This is typical pop electronica fare, sparsely done, and typically boastful. Nothing really special here.
But. I. Can't. Look. Away!
It's almost like will.i.am did little more than sample "Britney, bitch." (OK, she does a little bit more here) The combination of these two is still, despite all this seeming mediocrity, is still compelling and will get you humming the tune all day. And saying "Britney, bitch."
08 February 2013
07 February 2013
7 February 2013 - The Cardigans - My Favourite Game
I have a tendency to post my favorite songs of all time. This includes songs that are clear guilty pleasures. This one isn't so clear, but is one of my 10 favorite songs of all time. Let me explain.
The Cardigans became a big hit in the US with a particular hit - "Lovefool" - that has been featured on this blog by Scott in the past. It, like the song that preceded it - "Carnival", which got some alternative radio play in this country - was light fare, with a lovely subject matter.
That's not really representative of The Cardigans. The followup single to "Lovefool" - "Been It", a future Wicked Guilty Pleasure - was closer to that in subject matter - a little darker. And this song - the lead single from their Gran Turismo album that followed - was exactly what they are all about - straight-ahead rock sound and dark subject matter. I, for one, love the guitar hook, a honking-type sound, in this song.
This video is an even greater pleasure, though. In each of the no less than five versions of the video, Nina Persson is driving a '74 Eldorado erratically down an California highway. This version, the edited version seen mostly in Europe, features pretty much nothing more than that.
The other versions end with a head-on collision with a blue van carrying the rest of the band, with several car crashes caused by Persson included within. These versions include varying amounts of blood and violence. In the US, we are much more numb to violence. This is the darkest version of the video, which ends with a dead Nina Persson.
In this version of the video, the ending is more comedic. While Nina is still using a rock to hold down the accelerator and still has a head-on collision in which she is ejected from the car, she survives that and sits up.... only to be hit in the head with the rock falling with a cartoony sound.
This version of the video is practically bloodless, but still violent, but ends with Nina getting up and walking away from her ejection.
Finally, in this version, (which is identical, so we'll show you just the end) Nina is not ejected - only beheaded. And it's the worst fake head I've ever seen.
The Cardigans became a big hit in the US with a particular hit - "Lovefool" - that has been featured on this blog by Scott in the past. It, like the song that preceded it - "Carnival", which got some alternative radio play in this country - was light fare, with a lovely subject matter.
That's not really representative of The Cardigans. The followup single to "Lovefool" - "Been It", a future Wicked Guilty Pleasure - was closer to that in subject matter - a little darker. And this song - the lead single from their Gran Turismo album that followed - was exactly what they are all about - straight-ahead rock sound and dark subject matter. I, for one, love the guitar hook, a honking-type sound, in this song.
This video is an even greater pleasure, though. In each of the no less than five versions of the video, Nina Persson is driving a '74 Eldorado erratically down an California highway. This version, the edited version seen mostly in Europe, features pretty much nothing more than that.
The other versions end with a head-on collision with a blue van carrying the rest of the band, with several car crashes caused by Persson included within. These versions include varying amounts of blood and violence. In the US, we are much more numb to violence. This is the darkest version of the video, which ends with a dead Nina Persson.
In this version of the video, the ending is more comedic. While Nina is still using a rock to hold down the accelerator and still has a head-on collision in which she is ejected from the car, she survives that and sits up.... only to be hit in the head with the rock falling with a cartoony sound.
This version of the video is practically bloodless, but still violent, but ends with Nina getting up and walking away from her ejection.
Finally, in this version, (which is identical, so we'll show you just the end) Nina is not ejected - only beheaded. And it's the worst fake head I've ever seen.
06 February 2013
6 February 2013 - Rick Springfield - Jessie's Girl
I remember when this song first came out in the 80's. I was too young to understand that it was such a deep and eloquent song about jealousy. All I knew is that that guy was on the soap opera that my mother watched and now he was singing.
General Hospital, people.
The song is quick-building, with most of the story-telling done in the first minute and fifteen seconds. Go ahead. Watch the timer. The song isn't just about jealousy, though - it's about how great Rick Springfield is. A straight-ahead rock anthem, it's a complexly structured song with a simple hook.
It also won Rick Springfield a Grammy.
In 1999, Rick rerecorded the song as an acoustic tune. It seems just a little dirtier in this version. I don't know why. But here - enjoy it.
General Hospital, people.
The song is quick-building, with most of the story-telling done in the first minute and fifteen seconds. Go ahead. Watch the timer. The song isn't just about jealousy, though - it's about how great Rick Springfield is. A straight-ahead rock anthem, it's a complexly structured song with a simple hook.
It also won Rick Springfield a Grammy.
In 1999, Rick rerecorded the song as an acoustic tune. It seems just a little dirtier in this version. I don't know why. But here - enjoy it.
05 February 2013
5 February 2013 - Sunny Sweeney - Staying's Worse Than Leaving
Well, since Scott is away on vacation, I get to fill in for his posts over here. So, I figured I'd better find some contemporary country music.
Luckily, there's some of this music that is also pleasurable to me. Each of us has posted a Sunny Sweeney song before (him at Christmas, and me as part of a Kasey Chambers double bill), so it seemed appropriate that, as Scott has left for a sunny - pun completely intended - vacation destination, and I'm staying here in this bitter cold, that I post this tune.
I'll put this plainly - Sunny Sweeney is the most genuine country artist today, in dealing with her fans, and that genuinity - is that a word? - is clearly reflected in her music. And... she's nominated for at least one ACM award this year - New Female Vocalist (although we are a bit puzzled by this "new" things - so here's hoping bigger things are coming.
Luckily, there's some of this music that is also pleasurable to me. Each of us has posted a Sunny Sweeney song before (him at Christmas, and me as part of a Kasey Chambers double bill), so it seemed appropriate that, as Scott has left for a sunny - pun completely intended - vacation destination, and I'm staying here in this bitter cold, that I post this tune.
I'll put this plainly - Sunny Sweeney is the most genuine country artist today, in dealing with her fans, and that genuinity - is that a word? - is clearly reflected in her music. And... she's nominated for at least one ACM award this year - New Female Vocalist (although we are a bit puzzled by this "new" things - so here's hoping bigger things are coming.
04 February 2013
4 February 2013 - Right Said Fred - I'm Too Sexy
This might be the campiest song ever released. It was, however, intended to be that way, as a slight jab at the fashion industry.
But it's also a well-constructed song, with a cold ending, which is hard to pull off. Instantly quotable, instantly danceable, instantly posable. Musically, it's complex, which makes sense, because the Fairbrass brothers at the center of Right Said Fred are accomplished musicians outside of the band.
Recently, the brothers have redone the song, with slight musical changes. See if you notice. They kept the cold close, though.
But it's also a well-constructed song, with a cold ending, which is hard to pull off. Instantly quotable, instantly danceable, instantly posable. Musically, it's complex, which makes sense, because the Fairbrass brothers at the center of Right Said Fred are accomplished musicians outside of the band.
Recently, the brothers have redone the song, with slight musical changes. See if you notice. They kept the cold close, though.
03 February 2013
3 February 2013 - Super Bowl Special - The 1985 Chicago Bears - The Super Bowl Shuffle
What better way to celebrate this Super Bowl than to enjoy this classic tune recorded before Super Bowl XX? That day in 1986, when I was the only one in the room not rooting for the Patriots, is the first Super Bowl I actually remember. And it was gleeful - arguably the greatest victory in Super Bowl history.
Which is why they have the greatest Super Bowl music video in history. Sure, it looks like Walter Payton and Jim McMahon didn't show up for the original shoot, but it's still brilliant. And, as the late, great Sweetness said, "We're not doing this because we're greedy. The Bears are doing this to feed the needy."
So, watch the video and enjoy the game!
Which is why they have the greatest Super Bowl music video in history. Sure, it looks like Walter Payton and Jim McMahon didn't show up for the original shoot, but it's still brilliant. And, as the late, great Sweetness said, "We're not doing this because we're greedy. The Bears are doing this to feed the needy."
So, watch the video and enjoy the game!
01 February 2013
1 February 2013 - Miranda Cosgrove - Dancing Crazy
Sometimes, I'm even embarrassed to say I like a song. But, this is Wicked Guilty Pleasures, right?
Miranda Cosgrove is best known as the titular Carly from the Nickelodeon television show iCarly. I'm a little sad that I know that. Like that show, this song is harmless, lighthearted fun. But it's more than that. It's well-constructed, with a lot of different-sounding sections that all remain equally danceable. She might have a long career in entertainment ahead of her.
Oh, and she ain't the best singer in the world - I get it. That's not what this blog is about. She's not bad, though. Proof: here she is live, complete with a couple of pitchy spots. It happens, but she holds it together, by not bailing on the song. Even in the rough spots - mostly at high notes - she retains her stage presence and engages the audience.
And, since we're talking about iCarly, here's the famous Spaghetti Tacos scene. Enjoy.
Miranda Cosgrove is best known as the titular Carly from the Nickelodeon television show iCarly. I'm a little sad that I know that. Like that show, this song is harmless, lighthearted fun. But it's more than that. It's well-constructed, with a lot of different-sounding sections that all remain equally danceable. She might have a long career in entertainment ahead of her.
Oh, and she ain't the best singer in the world - I get it. That's not what this blog is about. She's not bad, though. Proof: here she is live, complete with a couple of pitchy spots. It happens, but she holds it together, by not bailing on the song. Even in the rough spots - mostly at high notes - she retains her stage presence and engages the audience.
And, since we're talking about iCarly, here's the famous Spaghetti Tacos scene. Enjoy.
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