We haven't done a Hall of Famer in awhile, have we? No, we haven't. We really should. In the meantime, enjoy the latest single by our last HoF honoree, P!nk, who duets with potential future HoF honoree and co-author Lily Allen (who we featured on Friday).
Except that Lily Allen had changed her professional name to her real (married) name, Lily Rose Cooper (why she added the middle name I don't know), so my confusion was in the billing of this song, which clearly uses the old professional name. So, when Mrs. Cooper's new album finally drops... who knows who it will be billed to.
But I digress. This song is brilliantly and darkly crafted, and speaks to what a real relationship might look like in Pink's world... Plus, it stars her kid. And Carey Hart. And a bunch of toys from Ikea. And Lily... whoever she is.... with a blender and a knife. Despite the darkness of the song, it's generally happy and enjoyable, and not as dark as a couple of her recent hits.
26 August 2013
23 August 2013
23 August 2013 - Lily Allen - LDN
It is unbelievable to me that I haven't posted this yet. It's a chipper-sounding song, but lyrically really dark. And it's one of my favorite songs of all time. And it's a song my eight year old daughter knows, word for word.
A "love song" to London, of sorts, it's a catchy pop achievement, with great beats and catchy horns.
This version of the video is version 2, which matches well with the lyrics.... where Ms. Allen sees a rosy London but a darker version of the city appears behind her - right down to the old lady being hit over the head by the kid seeking her jewelry and wallet.
It's important to note that Lily Allen is asking for her own album in the record store in the beginning of the video. All the terms she used were ones used to describe her debut, Alright, Still....
Sadly, Version 1, which is also pretty cool, only shows the nice side of London. Filmed on a shoestring budget, it follows our intrepid artist around London on a bicycle, in fast forward. And it's all rosy - no crack whores to be found. Still, it's a fun video.
A "love song" to London, of sorts, it's a catchy pop achievement, with great beats and catchy horns.
This version of the video is version 2, which matches well with the lyrics.... where Ms. Allen sees a rosy London but a darker version of the city appears behind her - right down to the old lady being hit over the head by the kid seeking her jewelry and wallet.
It's important to note that Lily Allen is asking for her own album in the record store in the beginning of the video. All the terms she used were ones used to describe her debut, Alright, Still....
Sadly, Version 1, which is also pretty cool, only shows the nice side of London. Filmed on a shoestring budget, it follows our intrepid artist around London on a bicycle, in fast forward. And it's all rosy - no crack whores to be found. Still, it's a fun video.
22 August 2013
22 August 2013 - KISS - Heaven's On Fire
. . . And for no particular reason, here's the video for Heaven's On Fire by KISS.
Party on!
Party on!
21 August 2013
21 August 2013 - Coldplay - Clocks (with a Röyksopp bonus)
I cannot f&*%ing stand Coldplay.
Except for this song. A classic. Simple. Sparse. Piano-based. Moderately nonsensical. And instantly recognizable. Even when covered by others.
So what drove me to post this today? This remix, by Röyksopp, which I recently discovered. It's almost like it's a different song from a different era. And perhaps it is the timeless quality of Coldplay's one decent song that makes this work.
Except for this song. A classic. Simple. Sparse. Piano-based. Moderately nonsensical. And instantly recognizable. Even when covered by others.
So what drove me to post this today? This remix, by Röyksopp, which I recently discovered. It's almost like it's a different song from a different era. And perhaps it is the timeless quality of Coldplay's one decent song that makes this work.
20 August 2013
20 August 2013 - Lady Gaga - Applause
I finally checked out the new Lady Gaga song Applause and it's out-there and might I add very cool video. I just have one question: Did I dream about all of the recent online angst about the song? Did that happen? Because Applause sure seems like a winner to me. I'd even call it one of her finest songs and she's already written a ton of them in her short career. I'm even detecting for the first time a small trace of Siouxsie Sioux in her voice which I never really picked up on before (not saying it's intentional or not, just kind of an odd observation). Anyway, her new full-length ARTPOP comes out in November . . . it's going to be a long wait for this guy.
19 August 2013
19 August 2013 - Robin Thicke (featuring T.I. and Pharrell - Blurred Lines
FINALLY!
THE POST YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR!!!!!
OK, OK, OK..... that may have been a little bit of an exaggeration. However, this is one of the most requested songs we've ever had. And, to be fair, it took awhile to grow on me, even though I was already a fan of Alan's son - this is his third appearance on this blog (here as a tandem with Walter Murphy, and here as 1/2 of a surprisingly compelling duet with a Gossip Girl star).
But this song - there's something about it. It's paced differently than a typical pop song. It's much sparser than a song you'd expect to hear on pop radio. Lyrically, it's racy - some have called it slightly rape-y - and pushes the limits of what one might expect to hear on the radio.
Of course, the song famously has two videos, one of which is marginally safe for work (and the other which is completely NSFW, but look after the jump for that one).
Interesting side note: despite my earlier statements about the originality of the work..... Robin Thicke and his people are suing Marvin Gaye's estate and the rightsholders of Funkadelic songs.... because those parties are both claiming that this song ripped them off. The case was filed to preempt a potential copyright claim. In my opinion, this song - the Marvin Gaye song "Got To Give It Up (Part 1)" has a similar, but not nearly identical, sound. "Blurred Lines" is evocative without completely lifting the tune.
THE POST YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR!!!!!
OK, OK, OK..... that may have been a little bit of an exaggeration. However, this is one of the most requested songs we've ever had. And, to be fair, it took awhile to grow on me, even though I was already a fan of Alan's son - this is his third appearance on this blog (here as a tandem with Walter Murphy, and here as 1/2 of a surprisingly compelling duet with a Gossip Girl star).
But this song - there's something about it. It's paced differently than a typical pop song. It's much sparser than a song you'd expect to hear on pop radio. Lyrically, it's racy - some have called it slightly rape-y - and pushes the limits of what one might expect to hear on the radio.
Of course, the song famously has two videos, one of which is marginally safe for work (and the other which is completely NSFW, but look after the jump for that one).
Interesting side note: despite my earlier statements about the originality of the work..... Robin Thicke and his people are suing Marvin Gaye's estate and the rightsholders of Funkadelic songs.... because those parties are both claiming that this song ripped them off. The case was filed to preempt a potential copyright claim. In my opinion, this song - the Marvin Gaye song "Got To Give It Up (Part 1)" has a similar, but not nearly identical, sound. "Blurred Lines" is evocative without completely lifting the tune.
16 August 2013
16 August 2013 - Charli XCX - What I Like
This post is 100% pandering.
You see, THIS POST is the 2nd biggest one we've ever had.... by far. And if you want my opinion, it's for good reason - Charli XCX is a fantastic talent. If the year were to end today, her True Romance album would be my hands-down pick for Album of the Year. I honestly think she's going to get some Grammy love for her hand in writing "I Love It (I Don't Care)."
But let's talk about this video. It feels a little gratuitously jailbait-y to me. The song is actually quite a sweet love song, and more mature than a woman who JUST turned 21 two weeks ago (and therefore, this one was written when she was in her teens) should be writing. But this video.... I feel like I shouldn't be watching this....
You see, THIS POST is the 2nd biggest one we've ever had.... by far. And if you want my opinion, it's for good reason - Charli XCX is a fantastic talent. If the year were to end today, her True Romance album would be my hands-down pick for Album of the Year. I honestly think she's going to get some Grammy love for her hand in writing "I Love It (I Don't Care)."
But let's talk about this video. It feels a little gratuitously jailbait-y to me. The song is actually quite a sweet love song, and more mature than a woman who JUST turned 21 two weeks ago (and therefore, this one was written when she was in her teens) should be writing. But this video.... I feel like I shouldn't be watching this....
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