29 February 2012

29 February 2012 - Miley Cyrus with Johnzo West - You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go

Leave it to Leap Day for me to admit to something I NEVER thought I would -- I really like a Miley Cyrus song. Sure, Party in the USA was a fun cheesy pop song, but to admit to full on liking it? Yeah. Not so much.

Then last month, Chimes Of Freedom: The Songs Of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years Of Amnesty International was released. While I haven't heard the whole 4-cd set yet, I can assure you there are some amazingly talented performers...and Miley (I kid) paying tribute to Dylan. Admittedly, it's pretty hard to screw up a Dylan song (although I have heard a few stinkers over the years), but I think Miley nailed this one (it's all in her sweet and vulnerable vocals). So, yeah, I like a Miley Cyrus song...Give it a shot with an open mind, you may dig it too.

28 February 2012

28 February 2012 - Jessie J Featuring B.o.B. - Price Tag

Sometimes, you don't know when a guilty pleasure is going to hit you.  For me, it was on a drive with my daughters.  It was a simple song, that was clearly not written to be a pop song.  And yet, that's the beat that was on this song.  And even though I had no idea who B.o.B. was (and still don't), Jessie J's vocal is so simple and the lyrics so noble, I could not help but like this song.

By the way, she's a songwriter.  And she wrote this song.



As is customary for me when such a thing exists, I wanted to share a rendition of the song that isn't poppy.  Even sweeter, but still good as a pop song.

26 February 2012

27 February 2012 - Rancid - Fall Back Down

I've been a HUGE Rancid fan since the mid 90s.

I have to say though that 2003's Indestructible was a head scratcher. While it had some great tracks (see: below the video box) there was one song that almost killed them to hardcore Rancid fans like a former coworker of mine. At least twice a week I'd walk by her desk either humming or singing the incredibly hokey chorus of Fall Back Down: "If I fall back down, you're gonna help me back up again, if I fall back down, you're gonna be my friend." She would then throw an item off her desk at me for getting that FN' song stuck in her head. Of course it would be stuck in my head, but it's a small price to pay when you're trying to annoy your coworkers.



Much like last Monday, I decided to present the good with the bad. So after you check out the bad here, go to Your Forgotten Favorite 2000 today to check out a much better song from Rancid's Indestructible.

26 February 2012 - The Weakerthans - Tournament of Hearts

On the day that this is posted, the Scotties Tournament of Hearts - the Canadian women's national curling championship, and the greatest women's curling competition in the world - comes to a dramatic conclusion.  Team Scott from British Columbia will be taking on Team Nedohin from Alberta in the final, from Red Deer, Alberta.

So what better time to post the greatest song about curling ever written?  The Weakerthans are a nice little band from Manitoba.  This video was taped at a curling club - you can see a lot of old-time curling footage in this video, and even a Scotts Tournament of Hearts banner or two - it has recently been rebranded the Scotties.

And even though there is a lot of curling jargon and imagery used  in the song, the song is about a lot more than curling.  It's about a guy who is hiding from a conversation with his significant other.  He just happens to be hiding at a curling club.



Why this song wasn't a huge hit, I'll never know.

Now, for those who read my other blog, American Curler - I do need to update it, but I promise you that I will very soon - here is a bonus video from this year's Scotties provincial qualifiers.  Jennifer Jones, 2010 Scotties champion (and 2012 bronze medalist) is one of the best in the game.  Enjoy her shooting.

25 February 2012

25 February 2012 - Taio Cruz - Dynamite

I'm not really a clubber.  I've only been to clubs a few times in my life.  But every time I go, this guy is there.  You know - the guy who wants you to see how he is dressed and has the moves.

Even though I hate that guy, I love this song.  It's confident, and has a good dance beat.  And, it was everywhere a couple of years ago.  Taio Cruz hasn't done much since this song, at least on a hitmaker level, but he'll always have "Dynamite".

24 February 2012

24 February 2012 - Loverboy - Hot Girls In Love

I hadn't heard this tune in probably 20 years when it came over the speakers at the bar a few night's ago. As soon as I heard it I said to myself, "Hair Metal Friday." And yeah, Loverboy is hardly hair metal, but I think we can all agree that this song fits the spirit of the day.

23 February 2012

23 February 2012 - Jenny Morris - Body and Soul

Jenny Morris is probably best known in the United States for.... well, she isn't really well known here, is she?  But in Australia, people know that the native New Zealander was a backup singer for INXS.  She also had a successful Australian solo career.  As luck would have it, in the studio, her backing band was INXS on this song.  They also produced this album, although I don't think they appear in the video.

It sounds like an INXS song, and it looks like Alannah Myles is singing it.  I know this.  Don't hate. Just enjoy.