Blog Archives
A Free And Just America
… would have these as our candidates.
Not your usual “Pepsi vs. Coke” campaign
Rumors are that Forsythe P. Jones III is in the running for veep.
Chasing A Song Along the Yamanote Line
So over at What Do You Do For An Encore, wdydfae posted a video of a song called ““Kawaberi no Ie” (“house next to a river”) by Nao Matsuzaki. I tried to give it a listen, but the video’s not available in my country. I let him know, and he replied with another version of the video. Which also wasn’t available here. Wdydfae had included links to both Nao’s site (where I was totally lost) and a site where one can purchase the song (shipping alone would cost 2 or 3 times as much as the actual CD, never mind that I was only wanting to hear one song). Since he had mentioned the song was used in some documentary, I asked the name of it, thinking I might find that on youtube. He posted a video of said documentary, this video finally working.
72 Hours – Dreams Along The Yamanote Line, song at about 22:50 –
After this most roundabout path of finding a way to hear it, I listened to the song, which was all right, quite mellow even. But then I went and watched the entire documentary.
It’s just under 25 minutes long, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. They start at Shibuya Station on the Yamanote Rail Line in Tokyo and walk their way around it, interviewing people they meet along the way. Give it a watch.
Saturday Night Studio – Getting Ahead with Lionel
Those of you who remember the 80’s can’t help but remember Lionel Richie, whether you want to or not. For you kids, here’s a quick rundown…
Richie was a member of the Commodores for years, with a number of hit songs. We’re gonna skip that and jump to the 80’s, when he went solo. He scored a string of hits, including “Running With The Night” –
Catchy tune.
Soon after came “All Night Long,” with a video directed by former Monkee and music-video-pioneer Mike Nesmith…
There were others as Lionel racked up hit after hit, such as “Dancing On The Ceiling,” which had a novel idea for the time. In true 80’s fashion, it also had keytar.* Another was “Say You, Say Me” (which I hope to never hear again).
But probably the most-remembered (and definitely most-ridiculed) Lionel Richie song was “Hello.” The song was already syrupy enough to supply every Waffle House in America, but the video just added so much more… you just gotta watch it –
Makes you wanna murder a kitten, doesn’t it? Still, he made hardcore bank off that one, adding more “Rich” to the “Richie.”
Jimmy Fallon, music fan unparalleled and former member of Blue Oyster Cult, actually polished that turd –
Brilliant. I am moved. As should you be.
*To be explored in another post soon.
Today’s Annual Xtortion And Other Thefts
So I was looking for some good tax-related songs that weren’t “Taxman” or the other obvious choices for today’s happy funtime payments. There are some songs that reference taxes, but not too many that are flat out about taxes, per se. So we will do as Daddy G does and profit off of someone else by skimming off their efforts…
…much like that song did. Wonder if they paid Pharrell any royalties?
Yeah, I used that one before. What of it?
I did find an L7 song that disses the taxman, but it’s just the first in a list of grievances about life in general when you’re an 80-90s Riot Grrrl.
Sounds a little like this song by Screaming Trees which came out a few years later, doesn’t it?
Finding that L7 song reminded me of another tune of theirs, “Pretend We’re Dead” (which I suppose is a way to avoid paying taxes)…
I always thought the song “She Hates Me” by Puddle Of Mudd sounded familiar, but I never could quite nail down why (uncensored version ahead) –
I wonder what other bands have been, uh, inspired by L7? And, given how often musicians borrow government-style from each other, one also has to wonder who was L7 ripping off?
Saturday Night Stereolab – A Spectacle That Rhymes
Stereolab are an alternative music band formed in 1990 in London, England. The band originally comprised songwriting team Tim Gane (guitar/keyboards) and Lætitia Sadier (vocals/keyboards/guitar), both of whom remained at the helm across many lineup changes blah blah read the rest here.
They’re known for experimental krautrock pop lounge music in space, or something. Space definitely figures into their work, what with songs like “Super Falling Star,” “K-Stars,” “Space Moment,” “Sudden Stars,” and “Space Age Bachelor Pad Music” (which, I suppose, is probably as good a description of their music as will ever be).
It’s been said that Stereolab lyrics are often Marxist or socialist, which the band denies. Half the lyrics are in French anyway, so it’s not like I would even know it if they starting singing socialist economic theory in mid-song. the song most notorious for alleged politicalisms is “Ping Pong,” a rather catchy tune –
Original studio version and video here.
Regardless of lyrical messaging, the band has always pushed envelopes out where the Post Office won’t deliver them. Such as “Metronomic Underground,” which I suspect most of you won’t care for but I rather like –
Studio version here.
Singer Laetita Sadier lent her voice to a rather mediocre song by Common for his song “New Wave” in 2002. Her vocals sounded great, but were unfortunately only relegated to the choruses. and yes, she does have a predilection for swearing
My favorite Stereolab song is Miss Modular, heard here live in 2000 –
And the studio version, to close things out with a nicely rhyming spectacle –
Radionomactivity
One for all you internet radio junkies…
So I’ve been listening to Radionomy for a while now. My default station is a stream called “Generic Male DJs – Ultimate 80s“, which plays ” 80s New Wave, Alternative, Synthpop and Dark Wave music.” Recent tracks include R.E.M., Devo, Siouxsie And The Banshees, Peter Gabriel, and Depeche Mode. Playing right now is the legendary supergroup Haircut One Hundred. That should give a basic impression of the station.
But what caught my interest is that one can start their own station through Radionomy. It starts out for free, but over time the station needs to get a certain number of listener hours or a charge will be incurred. If a station picks up enough listeners, the station can make some cash.
I’m kicking around the idea of starting a station. Inflicting my music on the world is only proper.
It’s Hard To Understand Him From The Language He Used
They Might Be Giants goes to the movies… [kinda NSFW, a little]
I’ve never actually seen the movie, outside of a short bit here or there. I’m thinking that needs correction.
Leap Day
On this rare day, one of the rare Madonna songs I actually like a lot. With parkour.
Speaking of parkour –
Saturday Night Studio – Tik Spok
… I got nothin’. Life’s been keeping me busy. So until I get time to do a real studio, have some space party.
Happy New Year!
They say nothing changes on New Year’s Day. But this past year has me reeling. Remember when Bill Cosby was the family man and America’s Dad, and Steely Dan were the shady freaks singing about Bad Things instead of grocery store Muzak?
nightskyradio 