It just occurred to me that we haven't featured enough ABBA on this blog. And who doesn't love ABBA?
Sure, lots of people don't love ABBA, I know. I do love ABBA. I love typing ABBA. I love listening to ABBA.
And this song, which is a little darker fare than you might be accustomed to from ABBA, is my favorite ABBA song. Frida and Agnetha (who takes lead vocal on this with her huge voice) harmonize so perfectly, and Benny and Björn provide an energetic musical background. Even though the band was starting to implodie by this point, you can still see the significant chemistry that they all still had on stage.
Anni-Frid. Her name wasn't really Frida. That's the other A.
This song is so good, it even sounds good when actresses (who have significant singing talent - let's be honest) perform faithful covers. By the way, I strongly recommend the movie Mamma Mia for those of you who love ABBA's music as I do.
(Yes, loyal readers of Totally Covered, we did feature this song over there in October 2012. We just needed an excuse to post Amanda Seyfried again)
12 March 2013
12 March 2013 - Britney Spears - Oops!...I Did It Again
So last year I had the awesome idea (aren't they all?) of sending Tony a special birthday video treat here at Wicked Guilty Pleasures. I thought it was brilliant and very tasteful. Or not. Whatever. Well today, Tony's one year older, so he gets another Britney video which was incidentally a year older than the one I sent last year. Happy Birthday Tony, hopefully within the next year Brit will make a curling related video!
11 March 2013
11 March 2013 - Neneh Cherry - Buffalo Stance (& Looking Good Diving With The Wild Bunch) & Trout (feat. Michael Stipe)
I have to be honest - when I started this post, I started with a completely different artist (not coincidentally from the same country) who I will revisit at another time.
But today, it seemed appropriate to go with a slightly different artist. Neneh Cherry, stepdaughter of jazz musician Don Cherry (he married her mother and raised her - hence her surname) was born in Stockholm, Sweden. Her first international solo single, "Buffalo Stance", was really catchy and easy to dance to, but it had a lot of asking what a buffalo stance really was. Well, I'm here to answer that question for you.
A buffalo stance is kind of like a red carpet photography pose. "Buffalo" refers to a particular group of UK models, photographers, cosmetologists, etc., who included Cherry as a member. It also was an homage to Malcom MacLaren's "Buffalo Gals", which she sampled.
What most people don't know is that this was the 2nd time she did this song. She performed this as the B-Side of a Morgan-McVey single called "Looking Good Diving", titled "Looking Good Diving With The Wild Bunch." The samples are much different, but you can tell it's the same song. Lyrically, it nearly matches, right down to the future title.
By the way, the final version of "Buffalo Stance" samples "Looking Good Diving". And she married Cameron McVey.
Of course, I'd be remiss if I didn't post my favorite song by Neneh Cherry, a single from her 2nd album, Homebrew. The other voice you hear is R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe, the majors samples are from Steppenwolf's "The Pusher" and, of course, "When The Levee Breaks" provides the drum line. Sorry there isn't a pretty video. Trust me. The song is worth it.
So, how do you handle a song with heavy samples and a duet partner that isn't touring with you? You hire a brilliant band and write a song that translates to a solo performance.
But today, it seemed appropriate to go with a slightly different artist. Neneh Cherry, stepdaughter of jazz musician Don Cherry (he married her mother and raised her - hence her surname) was born in Stockholm, Sweden. Her first international solo single, "Buffalo Stance", was really catchy and easy to dance to, but it had a lot of asking what a buffalo stance really was. Well, I'm here to answer that question for you.
A buffalo stance is kind of like a red carpet photography pose. "Buffalo" refers to a particular group of UK models, photographers, cosmetologists, etc., who included Cherry as a member. It also was an homage to Malcom MacLaren's "Buffalo Gals", which she sampled.
What most people don't know is that this was the 2nd time she did this song. She performed this as the B-Side of a Morgan-McVey single called "Looking Good Diving", titled "Looking Good Diving With The Wild Bunch." The samples are much different, but you can tell it's the same song. Lyrically, it nearly matches, right down to the future title.
By the way, the final version of "Buffalo Stance" samples "Looking Good Diving". And she married Cameron McVey.
Of course, I'd be remiss if I didn't post my favorite song by Neneh Cherry, a single from her 2nd album, Homebrew. The other voice you hear is R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe, the majors samples are from Steppenwolf's "The Pusher" and, of course, "When The Levee Breaks" provides the drum line. Sorry there isn't a pretty video. Trust me. The song is worth it.
So, how do you handle a song with heavy samples and a duet partner that isn't touring with you? You hire a brilliant band and write a song that translates to a solo performance.
08 March 2013
8 March 2013 - Semisonic - Closing Time
I hope this blog has made it clear: I like songs that start off quiet and sweet and build to loud and passionate.
Born from the ashes of Trip Shakespeare, a band you've probably never heard of, Semisonic played - and still play - smart rock-and-roll with a modern feel that retains such important components of old-time rock, such as chord structure and guitar solos.
This song starts with that beautiful piano - and ends with it, too - but becomes a driving rock song in the middle. The song is actually a bit of an allegory, comparing the act of childbirth - in this case, vocalist Dan Wilson's new child - to a bouncer, clearing out a bar.
Really, the subject - "Closing Time" - is something we can all relate to. For example, that last line - "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end" - is 1. probably the deepest line to ever be written in a hit song, and 2. resonates with just about everyone who hears it. It's actually sung twice during the song, and each time it has a different feel. The 2nd time - which is the end of the song - is a bit melancholy. I remember when my first child - Juliana - was born. I was scared - sure, I was embarking on a great adventure, but this meant the end of life as I knew it.
And yeah. I might have been humming this song all day.
The video, which was two continuous shots that needed to be timed perfectly to fit the storyline, doesn't address the intended analogy, but instead focuses on two people trying to meet up and missing by seconds. It's really neat - check it out.
Born from the ashes of Trip Shakespeare, a band you've probably never heard of, Semisonic played - and still play - smart rock-and-roll with a modern feel that retains such important components of old-time rock, such as chord structure and guitar solos.
This song starts with that beautiful piano - and ends with it, too - but becomes a driving rock song in the middle. The song is actually a bit of an allegory, comparing the act of childbirth - in this case, vocalist Dan Wilson's new child - to a bouncer, clearing out a bar.
Really, the subject - "Closing Time" - is something we can all relate to. For example, that last line - "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end" - is 1. probably the deepest line to ever be written in a hit song, and 2. resonates with just about everyone who hears it. It's actually sung twice during the song, and each time it has a different feel. The 2nd time - which is the end of the song - is a bit melancholy. I remember when my first child - Juliana - was born. I was scared - sure, I was embarking on a great adventure, but this meant the end of life as I knew it.
And yeah. I might have been humming this song all day.
The video, which was two continuous shots that needed to be timed perfectly to fit the storyline, doesn't address the intended analogy, but instead focuses on two people trying to meet up and missing by seconds. It's really neat - check it out.
07 March 2013
7 March 2013 - New Order - Blue Monday
New Order's Blue Monday is 30 years old today. Now carry on feeling really old.
06 March 2013
6 March 2013 - Don Henley - All She Wants To Do Is Dance
I can't f&*king stand The Eagles
You've heard me say statements like this quite frequently.
Well, this song, from 1985, the 2nd single from his Building the Perfect Beast album - the first being the dull "The Boys of Summer" - is about as far from the Eagles that Don Henley could have come. Unlike the washed-out folk-rock of the Eagles, this song has some serious soul. SERIOUS soul. The horns and killer keytar hook - yes, KEYTAR hook - drive this hard-pumping song forward. Henley's voice, with slight falsetto and terrific range, is well-suited for this energetic tune.
But this song is more than a soulful romp. Remove the phrase "and all she wants to do is dance" from the verses. You've got a song clearly inspired by the tales of the Reagan-era Sandinistas in Central America. Put those words back in. You've got a much different song.
The video itself is really busy and absolutely brilliant. It's almost reminiscent of the Cantina band from Star Wars, with a South American bunker feel.
You've heard me say statements like this quite frequently.
Well, this song, from 1985, the 2nd single from his Building the Perfect Beast album - the first being the dull "The Boys of Summer" - is about as far from the Eagles that Don Henley could have come. Unlike the washed-out folk-rock of the Eagles, this song has some serious soul. SERIOUS soul. The horns and killer keytar hook - yes, KEYTAR hook - drive this hard-pumping song forward. Henley's voice, with slight falsetto and terrific range, is well-suited for this energetic tune.
But this song is more than a soulful romp. Remove the phrase "and all she wants to do is dance" from the verses. You've got a song clearly inspired by the tales of the Reagan-era Sandinistas in Central America. Put those words back in. You've got a much different song.
The video itself is really busy and absolutely brilliant. It's almost reminiscent of the Cantina band from Star Wars, with a South American bunker feel.
05 March 2013
5 March 2013 - Passion Pit - Take A Walk
I recently picked up Passion Pit's Gossamer record on a $2.99 whim at Amazon. I had their previous album and remembered that I didn't hate it (a ringing endorsement . . . I know), so I decided to give the new one a shot. I finally had some time last night to check out some music from my "need to listen to stack" (which sadly, isn't too high at the moment) and popped in Gossamer. I knew the first song right away. But from where? A Taco Bell commercial of course. I won't hold it against them (or any other band trying to make a living these days), even if those Doritos tacos sound disgusting.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)