This remix was a hit for one hit wonders Nu Shooz in 1986, and a boon for Casio keyboards everywhere.
And now the song is stuck in your head, too. You're welcome.
Seriously, this is a song that has always made me smile, and I hope it does the same for you.
Did you know that Nu Shooz were actually a husband and wife team? And that they're still together? Here they are, performing the song live, and still sounding great and happy and upbeat.
04 September 2013
03 September 2013
3 September 2013 - One Direction - Best Song Ever
The 2013 VMA Award Winner for Song of the Summer. And this angered a lot of people. I don't understand why. And so, I am going to embark upon my defense of One Direction.
When I was a kid, we had boy bands. Specifically, we had a singing group named New Kids on The Block. Those five kids from Boston made boy bands a little cool. The next generation of kids had N*Sync and the Backstreet Boys and 98 Degrees and Take That and a whole bunch of boy bands that will probably all be featured on this blog sometime.
These boy bands all had two things in common. First of all, they were made up of a bunch of mates who harmonized well together, VOCALLY, but were primarily vocal groups. Second, they sang nice, quiet, sanitized pop songs, with little variation.
These five guys who just barely beat Cher Lloyd on X Factor (she came in 4th, they came in 3rd) have become a huge worldwide sensation, for real. But they did it a little differently than boy bands that came before. There's a pop sensibility -sure - but these guys clearly have a stronger rock influence than the boy bands that came before them. I'm not saying they're AC/DC here, but there is more of an edge than we've seen before.
More to the point, though - these guys are five very powerful vocalists who advanced on X Factor as soloists in their own right. And some of them even played and play instruments. They aren't just a vocal group. They've got musical talent.
I mean, there's no doubt they were a little manufactured by Simon Cowell. But they've grown much better than that.
And if you doubt my claim on them playing instruments.... well, here they are, some of them with instruments. That they are actually playing.
Now that you've seen this, go over to Totally Covered and check out a cover by these guys.
When I was a kid, we had boy bands. Specifically, we had a singing group named New Kids on The Block. Those five kids from Boston made boy bands a little cool. The next generation of kids had N*Sync and the Backstreet Boys and 98 Degrees and Take That and a whole bunch of boy bands that will probably all be featured on this blog sometime.
These boy bands all had two things in common. First of all, they were made up of a bunch of mates who harmonized well together, VOCALLY, but were primarily vocal groups. Second, they sang nice, quiet, sanitized pop songs, with little variation.
These five guys who just barely beat Cher Lloyd on X Factor (she came in 4th, they came in 3rd) have become a huge worldwide sensation, for real. But they did it a little differently than boy bands that came before. There's a pop sensibility -sure - but these guys clearly have a stronger rock influence than the boy bands that came before them. I'm not saying they're AC/DC here, but there is more of an edge than we've seen before.
More to the point, though - these guys are five very powerful vocalists who advanced on X Factor as soloists in their own right. And some of them even played and play instruments. They aren't just a vocal group. They've got musical talent.
I mean, there's no doubt they were a little manufactured by Simon Cowell. But they've grown much better than that.
And if you doubt my claim on them playing instruments.... well, here they are, some of them with instruments. That they are actually playing.
Now that you've seen this, go over to Totally Covered and check out a cover by these guys.
02 September 2013
2 September 2013 - Grimes - Oblivion
My path to discovering this artist, who has been around for a few years, is a bit of a convoluted one. You see, this post started off life as a post by another artist. That artist's name is Brooke Candy. She's quite the character, with long pink dreadlocks, a wild wardrobe, and a foul mouth. And, in my research about her, I found out that she is best known for appearing in a video by Grimes.
Well, that got me thinking - who is Grimes? And I checked out that video - the song is called "Genesis", and it's a decent song in its own right, but it's not the song we're posting today - and it was good. Then I found out she was signed to 4AD Records. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a 4AD junkie. (There's a special post coming someday dedicated just to that record label. But that's for another day)
And now that you've enjoyed Grimes, check out Totally Covered today for an acoustic version of this song by Franz Ferdiannd
(Update: 10 Jan 2014): I had the song stuck in my head. So here's a live version.
Well, that got me thinking - who is Grimes? And I checked out that video - the song is called "Genesis", and it's a decent song in its own right, but it's not the song we're posting today - and it was good. Then I found out she was signed to 4AD Records. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a 4AD junkie. (There's a special post coming someday dedicated just to that record label. But that's for another day)
That got me investigating more music by Grimes, and it led me to our song today. Born Claire Boucher, and raised in Vancouver, meet your 2013 Juno Award winner for Electronic Album of the Year. This video was filmed at McGill University, in Montreal, where the artist attended. And yes, this is a real football game and a real motocross exhibition, where she's walking around with headphones and a keyboard and singing.
And now that you've enjoyed Grimes, check out Totally Covered today for an acoustic version of this song by Franz Ferdiannd
(Update: 10 Jan 2014): I had the song stuck in my head. So here's a live version.
30 August 2013
30 August 2013 - Lana Del Rey - Summertime Sadness
August is ending. School is starting again. So why not a super depressing song to end the summer?!
That would be the end of this post, except this song has become kind of a big hit.... because it's kind of good and deep and beautifully done. Sure, we are still talking about Lana Del Rey's Saturday Night Live debacle (which I think was overblown, but that's opinion), but this song.... so stirring.
As of this writing, this song, at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, is Ms. Del Rey's biggest hit to date.
To be fair, it is this remixed version by Cedric Gervais that has been getting all the airplay.... it's kind of a depressing song to get a lot of club airplay, and yet that's exactly what has happened.
That would be the end of this post, except this song has become kind of a big hit.... because it's kind of good and deep and beautifully done. Sure, we are still talking about Lana Del Rey's Saturday Night Live debacle (which I think was overblown, but that's opinion), but this song.... so stirring.
As of this writing, this song, at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, is Ms. Del Rey's biggest hit to date.
To be fair, it is this remixed version by Cedric Gervais that has been getting all the airplay.... it's kind of a depressing song to get a lot of club airplay, and yet that's exactly what has happened.
29 August 2013
29 August 2013 - The B-52's - Rock Lobster
Yeah, I could have easily posted the campy original Rock Lobster video by The B-52's, but this even campier "live" in-studio performance from Countdown is WAY better. I've watched this video three times today and I still can't stop laughing . . . Man, I'd kill for Fred Schneider's mad dance skills.
Five years ago I saw The B-52's in Virginia Beach on the beach. This weekend I get to see Daughtry at the same venue. Not quite the same now is it?
Five years ago I saw The B-52's in Virginia Beach on the beach. This weekend I get to see Daughtry at the same venue. Not quite the same now is it?
28 August 2013
28 August 2013 - Cher Lloyd - Swagger Jagger
I don't quite know what it is about this song that makes me freaking love it so much. Perhaps it is the bravado that this young woman practically bleeds with every note. Perhaps it's because Cher Lloyd is so very clearly under the influence of the X Factor producers for this clearly overproduced song..... which, amazingly, doesn't make it a bad song. Maybe it's the nod and wink to "Oh My Darling Clemetine" that the chorus of this song clearly takes.
Oh, and there is the fact that it was used in a milk commercial..... I think that must be it.
(By the way, you'll want to check out our prior Cher Lloyd post, which we updated today, too)
Oh, and there is the fact that it was used in a milk commercial..... I think that must be it.
(By the way, you'll want to check out our prior Cher Lloyd post, which we updated today, too)
27 August 2013
27 August 2013 - Eve 6 - Inside Out
Every Labor Day weekend the Mrs. and I head down to Virginia Beach for an extra long weekend. We hit the same bars and restaurants we like, my wife runs the half marathon and there's the American Music Festival, which is why I started going.
The festival has concerts every night on seven stages (the main-stage is on the beach and there are six free side stages near the boardwalk). Over the years I've seen some great bands there: The B-52s, Cheap Trick, Soul Asylum, Billy Idol, ZZ Top, Bret Michaels, Southern Culture On The Skids, Joan Jett, Train, Jamey Johnson, Warrant (one of Jani Lane's last shows before getting kicked out of the band), and dozens of others. Beer is cheap and the money goes to local charities. It's always a fun time.
Well this year it's going to take A LOT of beer because the line-up is to put it kindly -- a crapfest. The main-stage looks like this: Fuel/Daughtry on Friday, Smash Mouth/Barenaked Ladies on Saturday and Third Eye Blind on Sunday. Sounds like a killer festival . . . 15 years ago. The free stages are no better. On Saturday I have the option of seeing Eve 6/Sugar Ray. OR Eve 6 and then walk 5 blocks to see Modern English. Or say "screw it," find a bar and watch Georgia vs. Clemson. It's almost a no-brainer. Anyway here's the "Tender Heart in a Blender" song by Eve 6. I'm sorry.
The festival has concerts every night on seven stages (the main-stage is on the beach and there are six free side stages near the boardwalk). Over the years I've seen some great bands there: The B-52s, Cheap Trick, Soul Asylum, Billy Idol, ZZ Top, Bret Michaels, Southern Culture On The Skids, Joan Jett, Train, Jamey Johnson, Warrant (one of Jani Lane's last shows before getting kicked out of the band), and dozens of others. Beer is cheap and the money goes to local charities. It's always a fun time.
Well this year it's going to take A LOT of beer because the line-up is to put it kindly -- a crapfest. The main-stage looks like this: Fuel/Daughtry on Friday, Smash Mouth/Barenaked Ladies on Saturday and Third Eye Blind on Sunday. Sounds like a killer festival . . . 15 years ago. The free stages are no better. On Saturday I have the option of seeing Eve 6/Sugar Ray. OR Eve 6 and then walk 5 blocks to see Modern English. Or say "screw it," find a bar and watch Georgia vs. Clemson. It's almost a no-brainer. Anyway here's the "Tender Heart in a Blender" song by Eve 6. I'm sorry.
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