29 August 2012 - Tommy Tutone - 867-5309/Jenny

Quick! Name two songs that have a phone number in their title!  If this isn't your first choice, I'm sorely disappointed. (I'd accept any number of songs, including "Pennsylvania 6-5000" or Squeeze's "853-5937" for the second).

A song that is referred to in pop culture possibly more than any other in history, Tommy Tutone - it was the name of the band, led by Tommy Heath - performed a power-pop gem in the early 80's.  A desperate tale of misguided, unrequited love, it was loosely based on a real person known by the band!



Here's a little trick you can do with this number.  A lot of stores - grocery and otherwise - have loyalty cards or discount programs that come with a card.  If you don't have the card, usually this can be searched by telephone number.  867-5309 works in almost every area code.

Here's a little trick Tommy Heath did with the tune in 2008 with an acoustic guitar.


Here's the mathematical representation of Jenny's Constant according to xkcd. Incidentally, 8,675,309 is a prime number.  Not only was it a one-hit wonder, it's a mathematical anomaly!

28 August 2012 - Alanis Morissette - You Oughta Know

Seventeen summers ago You Oughta Know was blowing up the airwaves and Alanis Morissette was becoming one of the best-selling artists of the decade (Jagged Little Pill sold 33 million copies as of 2009...that's a ridiculous number of cds). And while she has a new record out today called Havoc and Bright Lights, let's go back and remember why we all fell head over feet for her in 1995.

27 August 2012 - Lisa Loeb - I Do (with a Stay bonus)

I've always been a bit of a sucker for Lisa Loeb.  I even watched her reality show!! She writes such angry, passionate songs, but doesn't sound angry at all.

Take this song, where she is coming right out and telling the listener that she is angry.  She still doesn't seem angry.  But she is.  Personally, I love the homage to old music videos and album covers, including her lyrics in with them.  Her acoustic pop sound fits perfectly with this video style. So, rather than speak joyously of the song and of Ms. Loeb, I'll let you have a listen.



Lest you think I was kidding, here is a scene from Lisa's reality show, #1 Single, which chronicled her pursuits on the dating scene.  It was unexpectedly fun. She was a really good sport.

24 August 2012 - Owl City - Fireflies

Several of you have contacted me about this post, where I seemed to imply that Owl City was a little opportunistic in his partnership with Carly Rae Jepsen.  The complainers have reminded me that this isn't Owl City's first hit.

No, that honor belongs to this song, which was a big hit two years ago.  And, until about a week ago, I had never heard of it.  Now, the song gives me chills.  It's both exuberant and melancholy, a line that is very tough to straddle.  It both makes me smile and makes me misty.

And, somehow, it was already on my iPod.  Go figure.



I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't note that Owl City performed this song in Rockefeller Plaza yesterday, on The Today Show. And yes, you can hear the crowd singing along at the end.  Because it was a big hit song that everyone knew.  Except for me.

23 August 2012 - Flock of Seagulls - Wishing (If I Had A Photograph Of You)

It's another 80s Thursday and I'm bringin' the new wave goodness. Sure, I could have gone with the obvious Flock of Seagulls song, but what fun is that? Besides, Wishing is way cooler. See for yourself!

22 August 2012 - Jermaine Stewart - We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off

Jermaine Stewart had several minor hits, and one major one that defined him.  This hit was an ode to abstinence in the 80's.  Sadly, he is no longer with us - he died in 1997 of AIDS-related liver cancer, a death some could find ironic given the theme of his biggest hit (I don't find it ironic - just sad).  His music still is, though - this song, in its sexual resistance, is fun and happy and full of energy.

Plus, I think it probably did wonders for the sales of cherry wine.

21 August 2012 - Nina Gordon - Tonight and the Rest of My Life

I wasn't that into Veruca Salt back in the day which is a shame because they really were a pretty cool band. For some strange reason though I really dug Nina Gordon's solo debut. To this day I really don't know how that happened because I wasn't really listening to too much radio friendly adult alternative music at the time. Go figure. Anyway, here's the video for the first single and title track off her debut.