By Kohl Glass
I dig novelty songs, especially ones that take unique perspectives of characters from pop-culture . . . so, I loved Sweep the Leg by No More Kings instantly. But it's not just the content, I really dig the song too.
From Youtube: For fans of great music and "The Karate Kid". The "Sweep the Leg" music video is for the first single by a new band No More Kings. The video features the cast of the original "Karate Kid" including Johnny (the bad guy), Daniel-son (the good guy), Sensei Kreese (the evil sensei), the original Cobra Kai (the cronies), and another special guest.
An interesting side note, the video for Sweep the Leg was written and directed by William Zabka, who played Johnny in The Karate Kid. Notice all the other references to "the 80's" in the video as well.
I often find myself wondering what the lives of 80's antagonists would be like now, decades after their defeat. Sweep the Leg kind of answers that question.
Sweep the Leg by No More Kings
Lyrics:
"Ichi, Ni, San, Shi
Ichi, Ni, San, Shi"
I didn't see it comin’
creepin’ up from behind
I was almost swallowed whole
by the thrill of the fight
it wasn't for the money
and it wasn't just for fun
I wanted to make a mark
I just wanted to be some one
I heard the devil whisper in my ear (uh huh)
he made his message clear when he said:
Sweep the leg (johnny)
Sweep the leg (johnny)
Sweep the leg (johnny)
oh good god now you gotta believe me
It never really mattered
I was always under control
Monkey hear, monkey think
there is no fear in this dojo
I was a super hero
king of 1985
I showed no mercy
I was always Cobra Kai
but I caught a crane kick to the face
(uh huh)
I guess he sealed my fate when he said:
Sweep the leg (johnny)
Sweep the leg (johnny)
Sweep the leg (johnny)
oh good god now you gotta believe me
good god you gotta believe me
good god, good god
oh, good god now you gotta believe me
oh good god now you gotta believe me
oh good god now you gotta believe me
I heard the devil whisper in my ear
He made his message clear when he said:
Sweep the leg (johnny)
Sweep the leg (johnny)
Sweep the leg (johnny)
oooohoooh
Sweep the leg (johnny)
Sweep the leg (johnny)
Sweep the leg (johnny)
good god now you gotta believe me
Sweep the leg (johnny)
Sweep the leg
Sweep the leg (johnny, johnny)
good god you gotta believe, you got to believe me
Monday, August 24, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
Song Share: McGreggor
By Angus McKay taken from www.angusmckay.net
There was a time when nobody knew the band Elbow, save the devout few who followed them slavishly. I was among those few, and count myself fortunate to be so. Then they made the album The Seldom Seen Kid which won them the Mercury Prize, the Brit award for best band, and a slew of other top awards, and suddenly they were famous and everyone knew them.
Being one of the early fans, their new-found fame is a bitter-sweet pill. Sweet in that they are finally getting the recognition they deserve. Bitter in the sense that I always rather enjoyed being the devoted fan of an amazing band that no one had ever heard of.
Nevertheless, I am still a devoted fan and now wish to share another piece of their brilliance from the days before the glory.
This song, McGreggor was recorded with the Leaders of the Free World album, but only released as a B-side, tragically. It came about somewhat as a fluke: while in the studio listening back to the mix for the song Picky Bugger, keyboardist Craig Potter accidentally hit the “half time” button, slowing the track down to half its original tempo (surprise). It turned out to fit perfectly with some lyrics that Guy Garvey had been playing around with, and they cut the track.
The result is this beautiful blend of gospel and rock with the classic Elbow twist.
Lyrics:
Oohhhh
There was lying at the table
Crying on the stairs
A raven on the gables singing
'Jesus doesn't care'
A woman at the window
With her hands on her hips
Staring out across the ocean
Like the prow of a ship
No blinking or emotion
Like the prow of a ship
Just endeavor and devotion
Like the prow of a ship, Ohhh rest in your bed
Oooohhh, McGreggor's dead
The kids were in the kitchen
Carving up the will
where/when the long line of limousines
Snake down the hill
They think they're winning
And shaking hands with the prodigal
And pompous who knew the man
Father figures and mo-fos
Who knew the man
God's torment at the party
As if God knew the man
Ooohhh, rest in your bed
Ooohhh, McGreggor's dead
Recall his lies
Pick up the pen
Record his reign
For the b**** that bore him
Is in heat again
Ooohhh
There was a time when nobody knew the band Elbow, save the devout few who followed them slavishly. I was among those few, and count myself fortunate to be so. Then they made the album The Seldom Seen Kid which won them the Mercury Prize, the Brit award for best band, and a slew of other top awards, and suddenly they were famous and everyone knew them.
Being one of the early fans, their new-found fame is a bitter-sweet pill. Sweet in that they are finally getting the recognition they deserve. Bitter in the sense that I always rather enjoyed being the devoted fan of an amazing band that no one had ever heard of.
Nevertheless, I am still a devoted fan and now wish to share another piece of their brilliance from the days before the glory.
This song, McGreggor was recorded with the Leaders of the Free World album, but only released as a B-side, tragically. It came about somewhat as a fluke: while in the studio listening back to the mix for the song Picky Bugger, keyboardist Craig Potter accidentally hit the “half time” button, slowing the track down to half its original tempo (surprise). It turned out to fit perfectly with some lyrics that Guy Garvey had been playing around with, and they cut the track.
The result is this beautiful blend of gospel and rock with the classic Elbow twist.
Lyrics:
Oohhhh
There was lying at the table
Crying on the stairs
A raven on the gables singing
'Jesus doesn't care'
A woman at the window
With her hands on her hips
Staring out across the ocean
Like the prow of a ship
No blinking or emotion
Like the prow of a ship
Just endeavor and devotion
Like the prow of a ship, Ohhh rest in your bed
Oooohhh, McGreggor's dead
The kids were in the kitchen
Carving up the will
where/when the long line of limousines
Snake down the hill
They think they're winning
And shaking hands with the prodigal
And pompous who knew the man
Father figures and mo-fos
Who knew the man
God's torment at the party
As if God knew the man
Ooohhh, rest in your bed
Ooohhh, McGreggor's dead
Recall his lies
Pick up the pen
Record his reign
For the b**** that bore him
Is in heat again
Ooohhh
Monday, July 27, 2009
Song Share: The Sprout and the Bean
By Jake Parker
Here's one: The Sprout and the Bean by Joanna Newsom from her first album: The Milk Eye'd Mender.
A bit about her from Wikipedia:
Newsom's vocal style (in the November 2006 issue of The Wire she described her voice as "untrainable") has shadings of folk and appalachian shaped-note timbres. Newsom has, however, expressed disappointment at comments that her singing is "child-like." Some reviewers have stated that her voice is distracting in juxtaposition to her harp playing.
I say it's a sublime juxtaposition. I love all of her songs as they make for great drawing music. I must have listened to The Sprout and the Bean half a hundred times while making my comic The Robot and the Sparrow. I think it's the bedtime story quality to her songs that I love so much.
Lyrics:
I slept all day
awoke with distaste
and I railed,
and I raved
That the difference between
the sprout and the bean
is a golden ring,
it is a twisted string.
And you can ask the counsellor;
you can ask the king;
and they'll say the same thing;
and it's a funny thing:
Should we go outside?
Should we go outside?
Should we break some bread?
Are y'interested?
And as I said,
I slept as though dead
dreaming seamless dreams of lead.
When you go away,
I am big-boned and fey
in the dust of the day,
in the dirt of the day.
and Danger! Danger! Drawing near them was a white coat,
and Danger! Danger! drawing near them was a broad boat,
And the water! water! running clear beneath a white throat,
and the hollow chatter of the talking of the Tadpoles,
who know th'outside!
Should we go outside?
Should we break some bread?
Are y'interested?
Here's one: The Sprout and the Bean by Joanna Newsom from her first album: The Milk Eye'd Mender.
A bit about her from Wikipedia:
Newsom's vocal style (in the November 2006 issue of The Wire she described her voice as "untrainable") has shadings of folk and appalachian shaped-note timbres. Newsom has, however, expressed disappointment at comments that her singing is "child-like." Some reviewers have stated that her voice is distracting in juxtaposition to her harp playing.
I say it's a sublime juxtaposition. I love all of her songs as they make for great drawing music. I must have listened to The Sprout and the Bean half a hundred times while making my comic The Robot and the Sparrow. I think it's the bedtime story quality to her songs that I love so much.
Lyrics:
I slept all day
awoke with distaste
and I railed,
and I raved
That the difference between
the sprout and the bean
is a golden ring,
it is a twisted string.
And you can ask the counsellor;
you can ask the king;
and they'll say the same thing;
and it's a funny thing:
Should we go outside?
Should we go outside?
Should we break some bread?
Are y'interested?
And as I said,
I slept as though dead
dreaming seamless dreams of lead.
When you go away,
I am big-boned and fey
in the dust of the day,
in the dirt of the day.
and Danger! Danger! Drawing near them was a white coat,
and Danger! Danger! drawing near them was a broad boat,
And the water! water! running clear beneath a white throat,
and the hollow chatter of the talking of the Tadpoles,
who know th'outside!
Should we go outside?
Should we break some bread?
Are y'interested?
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
Song Share: Beds Are Burning
By Martin Gonzalez
Well some of you may recall these guys from back in the day and some may not. For me Midnight Oil has always been one of those bands that I wake one day with a chorus or a line playing over and over in my head. I have fond memories of putting their tape in and just jamming out. For all you youngin's that this thingy. Anyways, these guys are an Aussie band with like 10 axes to grind. They are very political and usually have a message to spread. Oh and fun fact their singer is about one steve tall (that's about 6'5"), he is very good and spreading messages.
Beds Are Burning by Midnight Oil
Lyrics:
Out where the river broke
The bloodwood and the desert oak
Holden wrecks and boiling diesels
Steam in forty five degrees
The time has come
To say fair's fair
To pay the rent
To pay our share
The time has come
A fact's a fact
It belongs to them
Let's give it back
How can we dance when our earth is turning
How do we sleep while our beds are burning
How can we dance when our earth is turning
How do we sleep while our beds are burning
The time has come
To say fair's fair
To pay the rent, now
To pay our share
The fire will scare the cockatoos
From Kintore East to Yuendemu
The western desert lives and breathes
In forty five degrees
The time has come
To say fair's fair
To pay the rent
To pay our share
The time has come
A fact's a fact
It belongs to them
Let's give it back
How can we dance when our earth is turning
How do we sleep while our beds are burning
How can we dance when our earth is turning
How do we sleep while our beds are burning
The time has come
To say fair's fair
To pay the rent, now
To pay our share
The time has come
A fact's a fact
It belongs to them
we'r gonna give it back
How can we dance when our earth is turning
How do we sleep while our beds are burning
Well some of you may recall these guys from back in the day and some may not. For me Midnight Oil has always been one of those bands that I wake one day with a chorus or a line playing over and over in my head. I have fond memories of putting their tape in and just jamming out. For all you youngin's that this thingy. Anyways, these guys are an Aussie band with like 10 axes to grind. They are very political and usually have a message to spread. Oh and fun fact their singer is about one steve tall (that's about 6'5"), he is very good and spreading messages.
Beds Are Burning by Midnight Oil
Lyrics:
Out where the river broke
The bloodwood and the desert oak
Holden wrecks and boiling diesels
Steam in forty five degrees
The time has come
To say fair's fair
To pay the rent
To pay our share
The time has come
A fact's a fact
It belongs to them
Let's give it back
How can we dance when our earth is turning
How do we sleep while our beds are burning
How can we dance when our earth is turning
How do we sleep while our beds are burning
The time has come
To say fair's fair
To pay the rent, now
To pay our share
The fire will scare the cockatoos
From Kintore East to Yuendemu
The western desert lives and breathes
In forty five degrees
The time has come
To say fair's fair
To pay the rent
To pay our share
The time has come
A fact's a fact
It belongs to them
Let's give it back
How can we dance when our earth is turning
How do we sleep while our beds are burning
How can we dance when our earth is turning
How do we sleep while our beds are burning
The time has come
To say fair's fair
To pay the rent, now
To pay our share
The time has come
A fact's a fact
It belongs to them
we'r gonna give it back
How can we dance when our earth is turning
How do we sleep while our beds are burning
Monday, June 29, 2009
Song Share: Rock Island Line
By Alex Madrigal
So when i first see the Johnny Cash Remixes CD, i think "this can either turn out awesome! or turn out horribly." I decided to buy it and i was not let down by most of the CD, to be honest, the only song that is still growing on me (very slowly) is the big headlining song on the CD "I Walk The Line" with Snoop Dogg. But for the most part this is a great album, and i chose this song because it wasn't too unchanged but also it's not one of the more radical tracks on the album. I was really close to choosing the song "doin' my time" just because of the haunting use of johnny's vocals during that song. However, i chose this song because I particularly like the approach that the DJ took on this song. It starts out with the original and slowly adds and adds more and more to it. The best part is that the DJ adds on just enough at just the right parts of the song so that it doesn't sound forced.
Title: Rock Island Line (wolf remix)
Artist: Johnny Cash
Album: Johnny Cash Remixed (2008)
Now this here's the story about the Rock Island Line
The Rock Island Line she runs down into New Orleasn
And just outside of New Orleans is a big toll gate
And all the trains that go through the toll gate
They gotta pay the man some money
But of course, if you got certain things on board
You're okay and you don't have to pay the man nothin
And just now we see a change comin down the line
When you come up to the toll gate
The driver, he shout down to the man
I got pigs, I got horses, I got cows
I got sheep, I got all livestock, I got all livestock
I got all livestock
The man say, you alright boy just
Get on through, you don't have to pay me nothin
And then the train go through
And when he go through the tollgate
The train gotta have a little bit of steam
And a little bit of speed
And when the driver think he safely on the other side
He shouts back down the line to the man
I fooled you, I fooled you
I got pig iron, I got pig iron
I got all pig iron,
Down the rock island line is a might good road
Oh the rock island line is the road to ride
The rock island line is a mighty good road
Well if you want to ride you gotta ride it like you find it
Get your ticket at the station of the rock island line
It was cloudy in the west, looked like rain,
but round the corner come-a passenger train.
North-bound train on the south bound track,
you were all right a-leavin but you won't be back
Now I may be right and I may be wrong
but you're gonna miss me when I'm gone
Now the engineer said before he died,
there were two more drinks he'd like to have tried,
the doctor asked him "what could they be"
he said "a hot cup of coffee and a cold glass of tea"
So when i first see the Johnny Cash Remixes CD, i think "this can either turn out awesome! or turn out horribly." I decided to buy it and i was not let down by most of the CD, to be honest, the only song that is still growing on me (very slowly) is the big headlining song on the CD "I Walk The Line" with Snoop Dogg. But for the most part this is a great album, and i chose this song because it wasn't too unchanged but also it's not one of the more radical tracks on the album. I was really close to choosing the song "doin' my time" just because of the haunting use of johnny's vocals during that song. However, i chose this song because I particularly like the approach that the DJ took on this song. It starts out with the original and slowly adds and adds more and more to it. The best part is that the DJ adds on just enough at just the right parts of the song so that it doesn't sound forced.
Title: Rock Island Line (wolf remix)
Artist: Johnny Cash
Album: Johnny Cash Remixed (2008)
Now this here's the story about the Rock Island Line
The Rock Island Line she runs down into New Orleasn
And just outside of New Orleans is a big toll gate
And all the trains that go through the toll gate
They gotta pay the man some money
But of course, if you got certain things on board
You're okay and you don't have to pay the man nothin
And just now we see a change comin down the line
When you come up to the toll gate
The driver, he shout down to the man
I got pigs, I got horses, I got cows
I got sheep, I got all livestock, I got all livestock
I got all livestock
The man say, you alright boy just
Get on through, you don't have to pay me nothin
And then the train go through
And when he go through the tollgate
The train gotta have a little bit of steam
And a little bit of speed
And when the driver think he safely on the other side
He shouts back down the line to the man
I fooled you, I fooled you
I got pig iron, I got pig iron
I got all pig iron,
Down the rock island line is a might good road
Oh the rock island line is the road to ride
The rock island line is a mighty good road
Well if you want to ride you gotta ride it like you find it
Get your ticket at the station of the rock island line
It was cloudy in the west, looked like rain,
but round the corner come-a passenger train.
North-bound train on the south bound track,
you were all right a-leavin but you won't be back
Now I may be right and I may be wrong
but you're gonna miss me when I'm gone
Now the engineer said before he died,
there were two more drinks he'd like to have tried,
the doctor asked him "what could they be"
he said "a hot cup of coffee and a cold glass of tea"
Monday, June 15, 2009
Song Share: Friday I'm in Love
By Sarah Scoville
I picked Friday I'm in Love by The Cure. It's a classic song that I play frequently. Growing up I always wanted to listen to the music my older siblings were fascinated by. The Cure a funky European band from the 80's. Watching this video reminded me of jamming out with my friends band, LoTUS, when I was in high school. You just want to kick it and enjoy the music. Now when I listen to this song it picks me up if I'm feeling blue, or just pumps me up to go out on the town.
Seriously, who doesn't want to be in love on Friday?? You can check out more on the band at http://thecure.com/.
Lyrics:
I don't care if Monday's blue
Tuesday's grey and Wednesday too
Thursday I don't care about you
It's Friday, I'm in love
Monday you can fall apart
Tuesday, Wednesday break my heart
Oh, Thursday doesn't even start
It's Friday I'm in love
Saturday, wait
And Sunday always comes too late
But Friday, never hesitate...
I don't care if Mondays black
Tuesday, Wednesday - heart attack
Thursday, never looking back
It's Friday, I'm in love
Monday, you can hold your head
Tuesday, Wednesday stay in bed
Or Thursday - watch the walls instead
It's Friday, I'm in love
Saturday, wait
And Sunday always comes too late
But Friday, never hesitate...
Dressed up to the eyes
It's a wonderful surprise
To see your shoes and your spirits rise
Throwing out your frown
And just smiling at the sound
And as sleek as a sheik
Spinning round and round
Always take a big bite
It's such a gorgeous sight
To see you eat in the middle of the night
You can never get enough
Enough of this stuff
It's Friday, I'm in love
I don't care if Monday's blue
Tuesday's grey and Wednesday too
Thursday I don't care about you
It's Friday, I'm in love
Monday you can fall apart
Tuesday, Wednesday break my heart
Thursday doesn't even start
It's Friday I'm in love
Friday I'm in Love Acoustic Music Video
I picked Friday I'm in Love by The Cure. It's a classic song that I play frequently. Growing up I always wanted to listen to the music my older siblings were fascinated by. The Cure a funky European band from the 80's. Watching this video reminded me of jamming out with my friends band, LoTUS, when I was in high school. You just want to kick it and enjoy the music. Now when I listen to this song it picks me up if I'm feeling blue, or just pumps me up to go out on the town.
Seriously, who doesn't want to be in love on Friday?? You can check out more on the band at http://thecure.com/.
Lyrics:
I don't care if Monday's blue
Tuesday's grey and Wednesday too
Thursday I don't care about you
It's Friday, I'm in love
Monday you can fall apart
Tuesday, Wednesday break my heart
Oh, Thursday doesn't even start
It's Friday I'm in love
Saturday, wait
And Sunday always comes too late
But Friday, never hesitate...
I don't care if Mondays black
Tuesday, Wednesday - heart attack
Thursday, never looking back
It's Friday, I'm in love
Monday, you can hold your head
Tuesday, Wednesday stay in bed
Or Thursday - watch the walls instead
It's Friday, I'm in love
Saturday, wait
And Sunday always comes too late
But Friday, never hesitate...
Dressed up to the eyes
It's a wonderful surprise
To see your shoes and your spirits rise
Throwing out your frown
And just smiling at the sound
And as sleek as a sheik
Spinning round and round
Always take a big bite
It's such a gorgeous sight
To see you eat in the middle of the night
You can never get enough
Enough of this stuff
It's Friday, I'm in love
I don't care if Monday's blue
Tuesday's grey and Wednesday too
Thursday I don't care about you
It's Friday, I'm in love
Monday you can fall apart
Tuesday, Wednesday break my heart
Thursday doesn't even start
It's Friday I'm in love
Friday I'm in Love Acoustic Music Video
Monday, June 1, 2009
Band Share: Small Faces
By Ammon Shepherd
shock, shock, surprise...
I've got a bunch of songs to put into one song share. From a band called Small Faces. They were quite popular in England in the 1960's, but never quite made it big in the US.
These songs are one of those few that tell a story. It's an original fairy tale about a man who goes in search of the other half of the moon. The speaking parts are done by a famous English comedian, Stan Unwin, who spoke in Unwinese (English with gobbledegook). An odd, but funny story, some pretty good 60's music (organs and all).
About Small Faces: they were a huge hit in England, not so much in the US. Some of their members went on to play with Rod Stewart in a band called The Faces.
Anyhow, enjoy all the songs, one after another...
shock, shock, surprise...
I've got a bunch of songs to put into one song share. From a band called Small Faces. They were quite popular in England in the 1960's, but never quite made it big in the US.
These songs are one of those few that tell a story. It's an original fairy tale about a man who goes in search of the other half of the moon. The speaking parts are done by a famous English comedian, Stan Unwin, who spoke in Unwinese (English with gobbledegook). An odd, but funny story, some pretty good 60's music (organs and all).
About Small Faces: they were a huge hit in England, not so much in the US. Some of their members went on to play with Rod Stewart in a band called The Faces.
Anyhow, enjoy all the songs, one after another...
Monday, May 18, 2009
Song Share: Tapha Niang
By Kohl Glass
In October 2008 Sony released this statement:
"During the review process prior to the release of LittleBigPlanet, it has been brought to our attention that one of the background music tracks licensed from a record label for use in the game contains two expressions that can be found in the Qur'an. We have taken immediate action to rectify this and we sincerely apologise for any offence that this may have caused. We will confirm the new launch date shortly."
This is the aforementioned background music track: Tapha Niang by Toumani Diabaté's Symmetric Orchestra
The offending phrases are:
1- In the 18th second: "كل نفس ذائقة الموت" ("kollo nafsin tha'iqatol mawt", literally: 'Every soul shall have the taste of death').
2- Almost immediately after, in the 27th second: "كل من عليها فان" ("kollo man alaiha fan", literally: 'All that is on earth will perish').
In October 2008 Sony released this statement:
"During the review process prior to the release of LittleBigPlanet, it has been brought to our attention that one of the background music tracks licensed from a record label for use in the game contains two expressions that can be found in the Qur'an. We have taken immediate action to rectify this and we sincerely apologise for any offence that this may have caused. We will confirm the new launch date shortly."
This is the aforementioned background music track: Tapha Niang by Toumani Diabaté's Symmetric Orchestra
The offending phrases are:
1- In the 18th second: "كل نفس ذائقة الموت" ("kollo nafsin tha'iqatol mawt", literally: 'Every soul shall have the taste of death').
2- Almost immediately after, in the 27th second: "كل من عليها فان" ("kollo man alaiha fan", literally: 'All that is on earth will perish').
Monday, April 27, 2009
Song Share: Furr
By Martin Gonzalez
These guys are weird the album this is from (same name as the song) came out last year but I only just caught it in like the last month or so. I even played this song for my wife on valentines day(results were so-so, note to self give children drugs beforehand).
Heh so yeah it's pretty much all I've been listening to since then. It's one of those albums were I quickly fell in love with two of the songs (hint another song share coming =>), but the rest just didn't do it for me right away but has slowly grown on me. Anyway whatever these guys have their own youtube channel so feel free to watch all their video's they won't call you pirates.
Blitzen Trapper - Furr
Lyrics:
Yeah, when I was only 17,
I could hear the angels whispering
So I droned into the words and wandered aimlessly about
Until I heard my mother shouting through the fog
It turned out to be the howling of a dog
Or a wolf to be exact, the sound sent shivers down my back
But I was drawn into the pack and before long
They allowed me to join in and sing their song
So from the cliffs and highest hill, yeah
We would gladly get our fill
Howling endlessly and shrilly at the dawn
And I lost the taste for judging right from wrong
For my flesh had turned to fur, yeah
And my thoughts, they surely were
Turned to instinct and obedience to God.
You can wear your fur
like a river on fire
But you better be sure
if you're makin' God a liar
I'm a rattlesnake, Babe,
I'm like fuel on fire
So if you're gonna' get made,
Don't be afraid of what you've learned
On the day that I turned 23,
I was curled up underneath a dogwood tree
When suddenly a girl with skin the color of a pearl
She wandered aimlessly, but she didn't seem to see
She was listenin' for the angels just like me
So I stood and looked about
I brushed the leaves off of my snout
And then I heard my mother shouting through the trees
You should have seen that girl go shaky at the knees
So I took her by the arm
We settled down upon a farm
And raised our children up as gently as you please.
And now my fur has turned to skin
And I've been quickly ushered in
To a world that I confess I do not know
But I still dream of running careless through the snow
An' through the howlin' winds that blow,
Across the ancient distant flow,
It fill our bodies up like water till we know.
You can wear your fur
Like a river on fire
But you better be sure
If you're makin' God a liar
I'm a rattlesnake, Babe,
I'm like fuel on fire
So if you're gonna' get made,
Don't be afraid of what you've learned
These guys are weird the album this is from (same name as the song) came out last year but I only just caught it in like the last month or so. I even played this song for my wife on valentines day(results were so-so, note to self give children drugs beforehand).
Heh so yeah it's pretty much all I've been listening to since then. It's one of those albums were I quickly fell in love with two of the songs (hint another song share coming =>), but the rest just didn't do it for me right away but has slowly grown on me. Anyway whatever these guys have their own youtube channel so feel free to watch all their video's they won't call you pirates.
Blitzen Trapper - Furr
Lyrics:
Yeah, when I was only 17,
I could hear the angels whispering
So I droned into the words and wandered aimlessly about
Until I heard my mother shouting through the fog
It turned out to be the howling of a dog
Or a wolf to be exact, the sound sent shivers down my back
But I was drawn into the pack and before long
They allowed me to join in and sing their song
So from the cliffs and highest hill, yeah
We would gladly get our fill
Howling endlessly and shrilly at the dawn
And I lost the taste for judging right from wrong
For my flesh had turned to fur, yeah
And my thoughts, they surely were
Turned to instinct and obedience to God.
You can wear your fur
like a river on fire
But you better be sure
if you're makin' God a liar
I'm a rattlesnake, Babe,
I'm like fuel on fire
So if you're gonna' get made,
Don't be afraid of what you've learned
On the day that I turned 23,
I was curled up underneath a dogwood tree
When suddenly a girl with skin the color of a pearl
She wandered aimlessly, but she didn't seem to see
She was listenin' for the angels just like me
So I stood and looked about
I brushed the leaves off of my snout
And then I heard my mother shouting through the trees
You should have seen that girl go shaky at the knees
So I took her by the arm
We settled down upon a farm
And raised our children up as gently as you please.
And now my fur has turned to skin
And I've been quickly ushered in
To a world that I confess I do not know
But I still dream of running careless through the snow
An' through the howlin' winds that blow,
Across the ancient distant flow,
It fill our bodies up like water till we know.
You can wear your fur
Like a river on fire
But you better be sure
If you're makin' God a liar
I'm a rattlesnake, Babe,
I'm like fuel on fire
So if you're gonna' get made,
Don't be afraid of what you've learned
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Song Share: Jeremy
By Angus McKay
Here's another familiar flashback for most of you: I recently became reacquainted with this one because I am currently in an ensemble project for school in which we are doing all Pearl Jam covers. I get to play the part of Eddie Vedder. It's a high school dream come true. But being in this position has given me new and greater respect for the man.
I consider myself a pretty good singer (4 years regional choir, 2 years All-State, etc.), but when handed the task of singing Jeremy I was blown away by just how physically taxing it is, and I still can't do it like Eddie. The man has a God-given gift of a voice and he uses it well.
Not only is this song an amazing vocal feat, but it is fascinating in so many ways. First off, it's the true story of a boy named Jeremy who shot himself in front of his classmates (Eddie Vedder being one of the classmates). "Try to forget this, Try to erase this, From the blackboard". That is such a cool line that gives the perfect sense of how strongly this event was impressed upon those who witnessed it. There's a lot of other metaphors, analogies and even straight-forward story telling that goes on in this song and it's beautifully woven together with that raw-90's-grunge energy that I grew to love back in the day.
Lyrics:
At home
Drawing pictures
Of mountain tops
With him on top
Lemon yellow sun
Arms raised in a V
The dead lay in pools of maroon below
Daddy didn't give attention
To the fact that mommy didn't care
King Jeremy the wicked
Ruled his world
Jeremy spoke in class today
Jeremy spoke in class today
Clearly I remember
Pickin' on the boy
Seemed a harmless little f***
Oh, but we unleashed a lion
Gnashed his teeth
And bit the recess lady's breast
How could I forget
He hit me with a surprise left
My jaw left hurtin
Oh, dropped wide open
Just like the day
Like the day I heard
Daddy didn't give affection
And the boy was something mommy wouldn't wear
King Jeremy the wicked
Ruled his world
Jeremy spoke in class today
Jeremy spoke in class today
Jeremy spoke in class today
Try to forget this... (try to forget this)
Try to erase this... (try to erase this)
From the blackboard
Jeremy spoke in class today
Jeremy spoke in class today
Here's another familiar flashback for most of you: I recently became reacquainted with this one because I am currently in an ensemble project for school in which we are doing all Pearl Jam covers. I get to play the part of Eddie Vedder. It's a high school dream come true. But being in this position has given me new and greater respect for the man.
I consider myself a pretty good singer (4 years regional choir, 2 years All-State, etc.), but when handed the task of singing Jeremy I was blown away by just how physically taxing it is, and I still can't do it like Eddie. The man has a God-given gift of a voice and he uses it well.
Not only is this song an amazing vocal feat, but it is fascinating in so many ways. First off, it's the true story of a boy named Jeremy who shot himself in front of his classmates (Eddie Vedder being one of the classmates). "Try to forget this, Try to erase this, From the blackboard". That is such a cool line that gives the perfect sense of how strongly this event was impressed upon those who witnessed it. There's a lot of other metaphors, analogies and even straight-forward story telling that goes on in this song and it's beautifully woven together with that raw-90's-grunge energy that I grew to love back in the day.
Lyrics:
At home
Drawing pictures
Of mountain tops
With him on top
Lemon yellow sun
Arms raised in a V
The dead lay in pools of maroon below
Daddy didn't give attention
To the fact that mommy didn't care
King Jeremy the wicked
Ruled his world
Jeremy spoke in class today
Jeremy spoke in class today
Clearly I remember
Pickin' on the boy
Seemed a harmless little f***
Oh, but we unleashed a lion
Gnashed his teeth
And bit the recess lady's breast
How could I forget
He hit me with a surprise left
My jaw left hurtin
Oh, dropped wide open
Just like the day
Like the day I heard
Daddy didn't give affection
And the boy was something mommy wouldn't wear
King Jeremy the wicked
Ruled his world
Jeremy spoke in class today
Jeremy spoke in class today
Jeremy spoke in class today
Try to forget this... (try to forget this)
Try to erase this... (try to erase this)
From the blackboard
Jeremy spoke in class today
Jeremy spoke in class today
Monday, March 30, 2009
Song Share: My Girls
By Jake Parker
I heard this song on a local indy radio station broadcasting out of Brooklyn and I haven't been able to get it out of my head since.
My Girls by Animal Collective on the album Merriweather Post Pavilion.
Lyrics:
Is it much that I feel I need
A solid soul and the blood I bleed
With a little girl, and by my spouse
I only want a proper house
I don't care for fancy things
Or to take part in a precious race
And children cry for the one who has
A real big heart and a father's grace
I don't mean to seem like I care about material things like a social status
I just want four walls and adobe slabs for my girls
I heard this song on a local indy radio station broadcasting out of Brooklyn and I haven't been able to get it out of my head since.
My Girls by Animal Collective on the album Merriweather Post Pavilion.
Lyrics:
Is it much that I feel I need
A solid soul and the blood I bleed
With a little girl, and by my spouse
I only want a proper house
I don't care for fancy things
Or to take part in a precious race
And children cry for the one who has
A real big heart and a father's grace
I don't mean to seem like I care about material things like a social status
I just want four walls and adobe slabs for my girls
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Song Share: Maria
By Alex Madrigal
okay, so i'm sorry that this song is in spanish. But i think it's worth it. It's by a band called Cafe Tacuba. The band is very very very eclectic and plays many different styles even though they are usually just described as spanish rock. The band plays everything from ska (rarotonga), alternative rock(eres), and; as seen in this song, more traditional mexican styles. (they even dress the part in this video)
Best of all... one of the member of the band regularly plays the melodica... what's not to like?
I love the simplicity of this song... it could be played using only the guitar (and melodion of course) and it will be just as beautiful.
This song is a ballad about a woman who was beautiful but stuck up... now... i believe that in the song... she's dead, i've had discussions with others who believe that she's not really dead, but it's just "as if" she were dead. I translated the lyrics the best i could.
If you like this song you might like Avientame (the video is crazy... and translated on youtube) it was the theme song for a pretty big indie film (amores perros) from mexico that (i believe) was all about people being the cruelest to the people that love them the most... and that is defenitly conveyed in the video. [i don't mean to double dip.. but there you go] (warning... it has pretty graphic kissing scenes.)
Back to Maria, hope it's not boring... hope you dig it.
Lyrics:
Maria
Maria goes out at night (sale sola de noche maria)
suffering(haunting) through the city (pena por la ciudad)
walking the streets where she once (recorriendo las calles que un dia)
denied kisses in the dark (nego besos en la oscuridad.)
Her eyesight gets blurry; (Y se nubla la vista Maria)
because it hurts to remember (porque duele recordar)
that the kisses once denied, maria, (que los besos negados Maria)
will never more return (nunca mas regresaran)
at night through that route/street/road (En las noches por ese camino)
something strange is apt to happen (algo extrano suele pasar)
in feeling on the lips a chill, (al sentir en los labios el frio)
from other lips that cannot be seen (de otros labios que no regresaran)
it's maria who's haunting the streets (es Maria quien pena las calles)
and under a street light (y debajo de un farol)
she steals kisses and life from the people (roba besos y vida a la gente)
while she lies in a coffin (mientras yace en un cajon)
pretty maria (Maria bonita)
maria withers (Maria marchita)
okay, so i'm sorry that this song is in spanish. But i think it's worth it. It's by a band called Cafe Tacuba. The band is very very very eclectic and plays many different styles even though they are usually just described as spanish rock. The band plays everything from ska (rarotonga), alternative rock(eres), and; as seen in this song, more traditional mexican styles. (they even dress the part in this video)
Best of all... one of the member of the band regularly plays the melodica... what's not to like?
I love the simplicity of this song... it could be played using only the guitar (and melodion of course) and it will be just as beautiful.
This song is a ballad about a woman who was beautiful but stuck up... now... i believe that in the song... she's dead, i've had discussions with others who believe that she's not really dead, but it's just "as if" she were dead. I translated the lyrics the best i could.
If you like this song you might like Avientame (the video is crazy... and translated on youtube) it was the theme song for a pretty big indie film (amores perros) from mexico that (i believe) was all about people being the cruelest to the people that love them the most... and that is defenitly conveyed in the video. [i don't mean to double dip.. but there you go] (warning... it has pretty graphic kissing scenes.)
Back to Maria, hope it's not boring... hope you dig it.
Lyrics:
Maria
Maria goes out at night (sale sola de noche maria)
suffering(haunting) through the city (pena por la ciudad)
walking the streets where she once (recorriendo las calles que un dia)
denied kisses in the dark (nego besos en la oscuridad.)
Her eyesight gets blurry; (Y se nubla la vista Maria)
because it hurts to remember (porque duele recordar)
that the kisses once denied, maria, (que los besos negados Maria)
will never more return (nunca mas regresaran)
at night through that route/street/road (En las noches por ese camino)
something strange is apt to happen (algo extrano suele pasar)
in feeling on the lips a chill, (al sentir en los labios el frio)
from other lips that cannot be seen (de otros labios que no regresaran)
it's maria who's haunting the streets (es Maria quien pena las calles)
and under a street light (y debajo de un farol)
she steals kisses and life from the people (roba besos y vida a la gente)
while she lies in a coffin (mientras yace en un cajon)
pretty maria (Maria bonita)
maria withers (Maria marchita)
Monday, March 2, 2009
Song Share: Hero/Heroine
By Sarah Scoville
Kohl: "Did you want to say anything about why you liked the song or something like that?"
Sarah: "No, I just think it's cool!"
Hero/Heroine by Boys Like Girls
Lyrics:
It's too late baby, there's no turning around
I've got my hands in my pocket and my head in a cloud
This is how I do
When I think about you
I never thought that you could break me apart
I keep a sinister smile and a hold of my heart
You want to get inside
Then you can get in line
But not this time
Cause you caught me off guard
Now I'm running and screaming
I feel like a hero and you are my heroine
I won't try to philosophize
I'll just take a deep breath and I'll look in your eyes
This is how I feel
And it's so surreal
I got a closet filled up to the brim
With the ghosts of my past and the skeletons
And I don't know why
You'd even try
But I won't lie
You caught me off guard
Now I'm running and screaming
I feel like a hero and you are my heroine
Do you know that your love is the sweetest sin?
And I feel a weakness coming on
Never felt so good to be so wrong
Had my heart on lockdown
And then you turned me around
I'm feeling like a new born child
Every time I get a chance to see you smile
It's not complicated
I was so jaded
And you caught me off guard
Now I'm running and screaming
I feel like a hero and you are my heroine
Do you know that your love is the sweetest sin?
(I feel like a hero and you are my heroine)
And I feel a weakness coming on
Never felt so good to be so wrong
Had my heart on lockdown
And then you turned me around
(Do you know that your love is the sweetest sin?)
I'm feeling like a new born child
Every time I get a chance to see you smile
It's not complicated
I was so jaded
(I feel like a hero and you are my heroine)
And I feel a weakness coming on
Never felt so good to be so wrong
Had my heart on lockdown
And then you turned me around
(Do you know that your love is the sweetest sin?)
I'm feeling like a new born child
Every time I get a chance to see you smile
It's not complicated
I was so jaded
http://www.boyslikegirls.com/
Kohl: "Did you want to say anything about why you liked the song or something like that?"
Sarah: "No, I just think it's cool!"
Hero/Heroine by Boys Like Girls
Lyrics:
It's too late baby, there's no turning around
I've got my hands in my pocket and my head in a cloud
This is how I do
When I think about you
I never thought that you could break me apart
I keep a sinister smile and a hold of my heart
You want to get inside
Then you can get in line
But not this time
Cause you caught me off guard
Now I'm running and screaming
I feel like a hero and you are my heroine
I won't try to philosophize
I'll just take a deep breath and I'll look in your eyes
This is how I feel
And it's so surreal
I got a closet filled up to the brim
With the ghosts of my past and the skeletons
And I don't know why
You'd even try
But I won't lie
You caught me off guard
Now I'm running and screaming
I feel like a hero and you are my heroine
Do you know that your love is the sweetest sin?
And I feel a weakness coming on
Never felt so good to be so wrong
Had my heart on lockdown
And then you turned me around
I'm feeling like a new born child
Every time I get a chance to see you smile
It's not complicated
I was so jaded
And you caught me off guard
Now I'm running and screaming
I feel like a hero and you are my heroine
Do you know that your love is the sweetest sin?
(I feel like a hero and you are my heroine)
And I feel a weakness coming on
Never felt so good to be so wrong
Had my heart on lockdown
And then you turned me around
(Do you know that your love is the sweetest sin?)
I'm feeling like a new born child
Every time I get a chance to see you smile
It's not complicated
I was so jaded
(I feel like a hero and you are my heroine)
And I feel a weakness coming on
Never felt so good to be so wrong
Had my heart on lockdown
And then you turned me around
(Do you know that your love is the sweetest sin?)
I'm feeling like a new born child
Every time I get a chance to see you smile
It's not complicated
I was so jaded
http://www.boyslikegirls.com/
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Song Share: Heroes and Villains
By Ryan Arvay
The Beach Boys are, to most, an oldies band - long consigned to oldies radio and greatest hits cd's full of songs about surfing, cars, the beach, and girls.
Heroes and Villains had nothing to do with any of these things. It marks for The Beach Boys, and especially group leader and genius Brian Wilson, the creative peak for the band. The song was conceived as part of the ambitious SMiLE album, one of the rock era's first and only true "concept albums," and often referred to as "the greatest album never made". The full story is too lengthy and involved to recount here, but some history is essential.
By the mid sixties Brian Wilson had long since grown tired of "the formula", cranking out hits, which he was capable of without much effort. By 1965 he had also stopped touring with the band after suffering a nervous breakdown on board an airplane bound for a live show.
While the band continued to tour without him, Brian was in the studio creating music. Pet Sounds was the first full album of music in this new direction. This album is consistently in the top five on most "100 greatest albums of all time" lists. A beautiful and heartbreaking meditation on a relationship - the album goes from the first rush of excitement to the final painful soul searching question:
Where did your long hair go? Where is the girl I used to know? You said you'd never change but that's not true. Oh Caroline, you - break my heart, I just want to go and cry It's so sad to watch a sweet thing die. Oh Caroline, why?
Though not a commercial success Pet Sounds was hailed by critics and Brian continued to push the musical limits with the band's next single, Good Vibrations.
Today, Good Vibrations is just another overplayed radio staple, but in 1966 it was groundbreaking stuff. Originally begun during Pet Sounds, Good Vibrations was recorded in segments over six months. Brian compiled the final mix from hours of studio sessions, leaving several musical and vocal sections unused. Upon its release it was called a "pocket symphony."
It was now Brian's ambition to record an entire album with this new "modular approach". With the Beach Boys touring over seas in Great Britain, Brian formed a collaboration with a young lyricist and session musician, Van Dyke Parks.
In the late 1960's, "hip" was anything anti-establishment. The counter culture decried the traditions of their parents, resisted the mainstream, and resented the government. However, for Brian and Van Dyke, if being patriotic was particularly unpopular, then it was - by definition - the hippest thing of all. It was at this time the two decided they would make a decidedly American album. In an era fraut with protest and teenage angst, the tentative SMiLE was a stiff breeze of hope and optimism.
SMiLE was to be a travelogue of sorts, taking the listener from the eastern most United States to the most western, from the pilgrims landing at Plymouth Rock to the Sandwich Isles (or Hawaii) all from the point of view of a European settler (or "bicycle rider.")
Heroes and Villains is a song about the good guys and bad guys of the wild west. There were also songs about life on a farm, and the building of the transcontinental railroad. It was not a white-wash of history either, revealing warts and all by acknowledging the plight of Native Americans and the Chinese laborers' contributions to the railroad.
Many of the musical statements in Heroes and Villains can be found through out the whole of SMiLE.
There were two other movements on the album, one about childhood and loss of innocence, and the other - a suite inspired by the four ancient elements: earth, wind, fire, and water. Both movements, like the first, were close to completion when, in May of 1967, Brian shelved the project and walked away.
The reasons why he did this are as varied as why The Beatles broke up.
Upon returning from their tour the other Beach Boys were shocked to hear Brian's new sounds. No one was as vocally critical as band mate Mike Love, who took serious issue with Van Dyke Parks elliptical, oblique, poetic lyrics. Love's blunt challenging of the lyrics served to sour Van Dyke's experience and resulted in his leaving the project. Without his biggest supporter and creative collaborator, Brian - emotionally beaten up - lost his confidence. He became overwhelmed with the task of sequencing his musical segments, which changed everyday. Mounting pressure form Capitol Records to finish the album was stressful. Brian also suffered from mental problems which were amplified and agitated by his drug use.
During the recording for the fire portion of the "Elements suite" Brian had all the musicians wear toy fire hats. He brought a big drum of burning wood into the studio. The violins screeched like fire engine sirens and the drums crashed like a falling wall. That day a building near the studio burned down, and Brian feared his music had caused it. He grew increasingly paranoid that people were bugging his home.
SMiLE was heavily anticipated during its eight months of production. Album cover art was produced and 400,000 album sleeves were printed awaiting vinyl, print ads appeared in magazines, countless magazine articles were written, and Brian appeared on a CBS special: Inside Pop - The Rock Revolution; hosted by Leonard Bernstien. Despite all this, he scrapped it, and the project remained untouched and unavailable for decades, except for bootlegs.
With the shelving of SMiLE the Beatles were crowned winners of the production race by default with the release of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in June of 67.
Eventually the band released Smiley Smile, a re-recorded, trimmed down, sparse, truncated version of the album which featured some interesting vocal exercises, but minus SMiLE's most outstanding tracks, like the fire tapes. It was a flop and a disappointment. Band member Carl Wilson called it a "bunt instead of a home run." As a result The Beach Boys pulled out as head liners at the famous Monterey Pop Festival, their glow was dulled almost over night, and their reign at the top of the charts ended.
In 1993 a five disc box set of the Beach Boys music was released called Thirty Years of Good Vibrations. It contained some 30 minutes of unreleased material from the SMiLE sessions. In 2004 Brian Wilson - minus the Beach Boys, but plus a really good backing group - faithfully re-recorded and re-created the music of SMiLE for a live tour and subsequent studio album. After being joined by Van Dyke Parks, who wrote some new lyrics for the unfinished portion of the album, Wilson sequenced the songs (something he had always struggled with) and SMiLE was finished. An album nearly forty years in the making. The new release does not have the same quality of sound or aura the original does, but like a book and the movie inspired by it, they should each be taken on their own merit. In that regard, the 2004 release is a fine, brilliant album.
If you've made it through this "brief history"...thanks for reading.
Song: Heroes And Villains (from original 1966 sessions)
Music and Lyrics: Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks
Year: 1966
Album: SMiLE
Artist: The Beach Boys
Lyrics:
I've been in this town so long
that back in the city,
I've been taken for a lost and gone
and unknown for a long, long time.
Fell in love, years ago
with an innocent girl
from the Spanish and Indian home-
home of the heroes and villains.
Once at night,
catillion squared the fight
and she was right in the rain of the bullets
that eventually brought her down
But she's still danicng
in the night, unafraid
of what a dude'll do
in a town full of heroes and villains
Heroes and villains
just see what you've done.
(Repeat 2x)
Stand or fall
I know there shall be peace in the valley
and it's all an affair of my life
with the heroes and villains.
Doo doo do doo...
In the cantina
Margarittas keep the spirits high
there I watched her
she spun around and walked in the warmth
her body fanned the flame of the dance
Margaritta, don't you know that I love you-
Woooo, wooooo, wooooo, woooooooooo
You're under arrest!
My children were raised.
You know they suddenly rise.
They started slow, long ago,
head to toe - healthy, wealthy and wise.
I've been in this town so long,
so long to the city.
I'm fit with the stuff,
to ride in the rough,
and sunny down snuff -
I'm alright by the...
Heroes and villains
just see what you've done.
(Repeat 2x)
Here are some other cuts from the '66 sessions, compiled and "polished up" by the YouTube source:
Mr's O' Leary's Cow (Fire)
Roll Plymouth Rock (originally titled Do You Like Worms)
Cabin Essence
Good Vibrations
The Beach Boys are, to most, an oldies band - long consigned to oldies radio and greatest hits cd's full of songs about surfing, cars, the beach, and girls.
Heroes and Villains had nothing to do with any of these things. It marks for The Beach Boys, and especially group leader and genius Brian Wilson, the creative peak for the band. The song was conceived as part of the ambitious SMiLE album, one of the rock era's first and only true "concept albums," and often referred to as "the greatest album never made". The full story is too lengthy and involved to recount here, but some history is essential.
By the mid sixties Brian Wilson had long since grown tired of "the formula", cranking out hits, which he was capable of without much effort. By 1965 he had also stopped touring with the band after suffering a nervous breakdown on board an airplane bound for a live show.
While the band continued to tour without him, Brian was in the studio creating music. Pet Sounds was the first full album of music in this new direction. This album is consistently in the top five on most "100 greatest albums of all time" lists. A beautiful and heartbreaking meditation on a relationship - the album goes from the first rush of excitement to the final painful soul searching question:
Where did your long hair go? Where is the girl I used to know? You said you'd never change but that's not true. Oh Caroline, you - break my heart, I just want to go and cry It's so sad to watch a sweet thing die. Oh Caroline, why?
Though not a commercial success Pet Sounds was hailed by critics and Brian continued to push the musical limits with the band's next single, Good Vibrations.
Today, Good Vibrations is just another overplayed radio staple, but in 1966 it was groundbreaking stuff. Originally begun during Pet Sounds, Good Vibrations was recorded in segments over six months. Brian compiled the final mix from hours of studio sessions, leaving several musical and vocal sections unused. Upon its release it was called a "pocket symphony."
It was now Brian's ambition to record an entire album with this new "modular approach". With the Beach Boys touring over seas in Great Britain, Brian formed a collaboration with a young lyricist and session musician, Van Dyke Parks.
In the late 1960's, "hip" was anything anti-establishment. The counter culture decried the traditions of their parents, resisted the mainstream, and resented the government. However, for Brian and Van Dyke, if being patriotic was particularly unpopular, then it was - by definition - the hippest thing of all. It was at this time the two decided they would make a decidedly American album. In an era fraut with protest and teenage angst, the tentative SMiLE was a stiff breeze of hope and optimism.
SMiLE was to be a travelogue of sorts, taking the listener from the eastern most United States to the most western, from the pilgrims landing at Plymouth Rock to the Sandwich Isles (or Hawaii) all from the point of view of a European settler (or "bicycle rider.")
Heroes and Villains is a song about the good guys and bad guys of the wild west. There were also songs about life on a farm, and the building of the transcontinental railroad. It was not a white-wash of history either, revealing warts and all by acknowledging the plight of Native Americans and the Chinese laborers' contributions to the railroad.
Many of the musical statements in Heroes and Villains can be found through out the whole of SMiLE.
There were two other movements on the album, one about childhood and loss of innocence, and the other - a suite inspired by the four ancient elements: earth, wind, fire, and water. Both movements, like the first, were close to completion when, in May of 1967, Brian shelved the project and walked away.
The reasons why he did this are as varied as why The Beatles broke up.
Upon returning from their tour the other Beach Boys were shocked to hear Brian's new sounds. No one was as vocally critical as band mate Mike Love, who took serious issue with Van Dyke Parks elliptical, oblique, poetic lyrics. Love's blunt challenging of the lyrics served to sour Van Dyke's experience and resulted in his leaving the project. Without his biggest supporter and creative collaborator, Brian - emotionally beaten up - lost his confidence. He became overwhelmed with the task of sequencing his musical segments, which changed everyday. Mounting pressure form Capitol Records to finish the album was stressful. Brian also suffered from mental problems which were amplified and agitated by his drug use.
During the recording for the fire portion of the "Elements suite" Brian had all the musicians wear toy fire hats. He brought a big drum of burning wood into the studio. The violins screeched like fire engine sirens and the drums crashed like a falling wall. That day a building near the studio burned down, and Brian feared his music had caused it. He grew increasingly paranoid that people were bugging his home.SMiLE was heavily anticipated during its eight months of production. Album cover art was produced and 400,000 album sleeves were printed awaiting vinyl, print ads appeared in magazines, countless magazine articles were written, and Brian appeared on a CBS special: Inside Pop - The Rock Revolution; hosted by Leonard Bernstien. Despite all this, he scrapped it, and the project remained untouched and unavailable for decades, except for bootlegs.
With the shelving of SMiLE the Beatles were crowned winners of the production race by default with the release of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in June of 67.
Eventually the band released Smiley Smile, a re-recorded, trimmed down, sparse, truncated version of the album which featured some interesting vocal exercises, but minus SMiLE's most outstanding tracks, like the fire tapes. It was a flop and a disappointment. Band member Carl Wilson called it a "bunt instead of a home run." As a result The Beach Boys pulled out as head liners at the famous Monterey Pop Festival, their glow was dulled almost over night, and their reign at the top of the charts ended.
In 1993 a five disc box set of the Beach Boys music was released called Thirty Years of Good Vibrations. It contained some 30 minutes of unreleased material from the SMiLE sessions. In 2004 Brian Wilson - minus the Beach Boys, but plus a really good backing group - faithfully re-recorded and re-created the music of SMiLE for a live tour and subsequent studio album. After being joined by Van Dyke Parks, who wrote some new lyrics for the unfinished portion of the album, Wilson sequenced the songs (something he had always struggled with) and SMiLE was finished. An album nearly forty years in the making. The new release does not have the same quality of sound or aura the original does, but like a book and the movie inspired by it, they should each be taken on their own merit. In that regard, the 2004 release is a fine, brilliant album.
If you've made it through this "brief history"...thanks for reading.
Song: Heroes And Villains (from original 1966 sessions)
Music and Lyrics: Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks
Year: 1966
Album: SMiLE
Artist: The Beach Boys
Lyrics:
I've been in this town so long
that back in the city,
I've been taken for a lost and gone
and unknown for a long, long time.
Fell in love, years ago
with an innocent girl
from the Spanish and Indian home-
home of the heroes and villains.
Once at night,
catillion squared the fight
and she was right in the rain of the bullets
that eventually brought her down
But she's still danicng
in the night, unafraid
of what a dude'll do
in a town full of heroes and villains
Heroes and villains
just see what you've done.
(Repeat 2x)
Stand or fall
I know there shall be peace in the valley
and it's all an affair of my life
with the heroes and villains.
Doo doo do doo...
In the cantina
Margarittas keep the spirits high
there I watched her
she spun around and walked in the warmth
her body fanned the flame of the dance
Margaritta, don't you know that I love you-
Woooo, wooooo, wooooo, woooooooooo
You're under arrest!
My children were raised.
You know they suddenly rise.
They started slow, long ago,
head to toe - healthy, wealthy and wise.
I've been in this town so long,
so long to the city.
I'm fit with the stuff,
to ride in the rough,
and sunny down snuff -
I'm alright by the...
Heroes and villains
just see what you've done.
(Repeat 2x)
Here are some other cuts from the '66 sessions, compiled and "polished up" by the YouTube source:
Mr's O' Leary's Cow (Fire)
Roll Plymouth Rock (originally titled Do You Like Worms)
Cabin Essence
Good Vibrations
Monday, February 16, 2009
Song Share: Wicked Wedding
By Martin Gonzalez
So this is a mashup of Billy Idol's White Wedding and Chris Issak's Wicked Game.
The video isn't that good so I'd suggest just clicking and maybe go emo for 5 minutes and start shoe-gazing, but the song is just too cool.
Beyond just liking the two songs combined the skill that was involved to mesh these two songs together left me a bit awestruck.
DJ Schmolli appears to have slowed White Wedding down to match Wicked Game without changing Billy Idols vocals (or at least to my ear).
Anyway I didn't even notice that the first ten times I listened to it, it took Steve wondering about the speed before I noticed.
To me that is the mark of a true artist when effort to produce a work is not even noticeable (course I could just suck).
So I hope you all enjoy,
Wicked Wedding by DJ Schmolli
Lyrics:
Hey little sister what have you done
Hey little sister whos the only one
Hey little sister whos your superman
Hey little sister whos the one you want
Hey little sister shot gun!
Its a nice day to start again
[This love is only gonna break your heart]
Its a nice day for a white wedding
[This love is only gonna break your heart]
No, I don't want to fall in love
[This love is only gonna break your heart]
No, I don't want to fall in love
[This love is only gonna break your heart]
With you
Hey little sister who is it you're with?
Hey little sister what's your vice and wish?
Hey little sister shot gun (oh yeah)
Hey little sister who's your superman?
Hey little sister shot gun!
It's a nice day to start again
[This love is only gonna break your heart]
It's a nice day for a white wedding
[This love is only gonna break your heart]
It's a nice day to start again.
[This love is only gonna break your heart]
There is nothin fair in this world, girl
There is nothin safe in this world
And theres nothin sure in this world
And theres nothin pure in this world
Look for something left in this world
It's a nice day to start again
[This love is only gonna break your heart]
It's a nice day for a white wedding
[This love is only gonna break your heart]
It's a nice day to start again.
[This love is only gonna break your heart]
It's a nice day to start again.
[This love is only gonna break your heart]
It's a nice day to start again.
[This love is only gonna break your heart]
Its a nice day for a white wedding
[This love is only gonna break your heart]
Nobody loves no one
So this is a mashup of Billy Idol's White Wedding and Chris Issak's Wicked Game.
The video isn't that good so I'd suggest just clicking and maybe go emo for 5 minutes and start shoe-gazing, but the song is just too cool.
Beyond just liking the two songs combined the skill that was involved to mesh these two songs together left me a bit awestruck.
DJ Schmolli appears to have slowed White Wedding down to match Wicked Game without changing Billy Idols vocals (or at least to my ear).
Anyway I didn't even notice that the first ten times I listened to it, it took Steve wondering about the speed before I noticed.
To me that is the mark of a true artist when effort to produce a work is not even noticeable (course I could just suck).
So I hope you all enjoy,
Wicked Wedding by DJ Schmolli
Lyrics:
Hey little sister what have you done
Hey little sister whos the only one
Hey little sister whos your superman
Hey little sister whos the one you want
Hey little sister shot gun!
Its a nice day to start again
[This love is only gonna break your heart]
Its a nice day for a white wedding
[This love is only gonna break your heart]
No, I don't want to fall in love
[This love is only gonna break your heart]
No, I don't want to fall in love
[This love is only gonna break your heart]
With you
Hey little sister who is it you're with?
Hey little sister what's your vice and wish?
Hey little sister shot gun (oh yeah)
Hey little sister who's your superman?
Hey little sister shot gun!
It's a nice day to start again
[This love is only gonna break your heart]
It's a nice day for a white wedding
[This love is only gonna break your heart]
It's a nice day to start again.
[This love is only gonna break your heart]
There is nothin fair in this world, girl
There is nothin safe in this world
And theres nothin sure in this world
And theres nothin pure in this world
Look for something left in this world
It's a nice day to start again
[This love is only gonna break your heart]
It's a nice day for a white wedding
[This love is only gonna break your heart]
It's a nice day to start again.
[This love is only gonna break your heart]
It's a nice day to start again.
[This love is only gonna break your heart]
It's a nice day to start again.
[This love is only gonna break your heart]
Its a nice day for a white wedding
[This love is only gonna break your heart]
Nobody loves no one
Friday, February 13, 2009
Music Night: February 2009
Josh Boyle - Kids by MGMT
Sarah Scoville - Tire Swing by Kimya Dawson
Jordan Glass - Title & Registration by Death Cab For Cutie
Christine Fujino - Big Girl (You Are Beautiful) by Mika
Adam Brown - Me And Aurthor by a guy Adam served with
Sarah Scoville - Tire Swing by Kimya Dawson
Jordan Glass - Title & Registration by Death Cab For Cutie
Christine Fujino - Big Girl (You Are Beautiful) by Mika
Adam Brown - Me And Aurthor by a guy Adam served with
Monday, February 2, 2009
Song Share: Paraan
By Kohl Glass
Once upon a time there was a guy named Matt Harding who had a deep love of travel and an odd little way of dancing. While in Vietnam one of Matt's travel companions suggested that they video Matt doing his little dance in front of a famous land mark. It was a success and Matt started recording his dance at all the landmarks he visited, then uploading the videos to the Internet. These videos grew in popularity and in 2008 Matt was sponsored by Stride Gum to dance in 42 countries over 14 months, with a cast of thousands . . . the end product being Where the Hell is Matt? (2008).
For the production Matt had Garry Schyman compose the song Paraan, which in my opinion totally makes the video. Dancing is harmony. Seeing Matt dance with people all over the globe to this beautiful slowly building exotic song stirs up joyous feelings of a literal brotherhood of Man . . . at least in me any way. I rushed out and purchased Paraan from iTunes shortly after seeing this video. I love this song so much. It lifts me every time I hear it. Keep dancing, Matt, keep dancing.
Paraan by Garry Schyman
Once upon a time there was a guy named Matt Harding who had a deep love of travel and an odd little way of dancing. While in Vietnam one of Matt's travel companions suggested that they video Matt doing his little dance in front of a famous land mark. It was a success and Matt started recording his dance at all the landmarks he visited, then uploading the videos to the Internet. These videos grew in popularity and in 2008 Matt was sponsored by Stride Gum to dance in 42 countries over 14 months, with a cast of thousands . . . the end product being Where the Hell is Matt? (2008).
For the production Matt had Garry Schyman compose the song Paraan, which in my opinion totally makes the video. Dancing is harmony. Seeing Matt dance with people all over the globe to this beautiful slowly building exotic song stirs up joyous feelings of a literal brotherhood of Man . . . at least in me any way. I rushed out and purchased Paraan from iTunes shortly after seeing this video. I love this song so much. It lifts me every time I hear it. Keep dancing, Matt, keep dancing.
Paraan by Garry Schyman
Monday, January 19, 2009
Song Share: Alone Again
By Angus McKay
I was first introduced to this song in my songwriting class my first term at LIPA. Our project for that term was to write a "break up" song, and this was one of the examples of an approach we could take.
For a little history: Gilbert O'Sullivan is an amazing songwriter who missed out on a lot of money and glory because he was duped into a contract in which his manager paid him £10 a week and let him live in a little shack on the manager's property while Gilbert wrote songs that the manager would then record and sell for millions. Eventually he got wise and walked out to start his own career. He's done much better since then.
I really dig this song because it's about incredibly painful events, yet it takes a rather playful approach, lyrically and musically, to conveying the stories. I also really like how he is able to lay his lyrics over the meter he's set . For example, note how he places the word "whoever" in the first verse: it's one of those situations where most songwriters would try to find another word to fit, rather than stretch the same word over two different melodic phrases, but Gilbert maintains the lyric and it flows nicely.
Alone Again (Naturally) by Gilbert O'Sullivan
Lyrics:
In a little while from now,
If I'm not feeling any less sour
I promised myself to treat myself
And visit a nearby tower,
And climbing to the top,
Will throw myself off
In an effort to make it clear to who
Ever what it's like when your shattered
Left standing in the lurch, at a church
Where people 're saying,
"My God that's tough, she stood him up!
No point in us remaining.
May as well go home."
As I did on my own,
Alone again, naturally
To think that only yesterday,
I was cheerful, bright and gay,
Looking forward to, but who wouldn't do,
The role I was about to play
But as if to knock me down,
Reality came around
And without so much as a mere touch,
Cut me into little pieces
Leaving me to doubt,
All about God and His mercy
For if He really does exist
Why did He desert me
In my hour of need?
I truly am indeed,
Alone again, naturally
It seems to me that
There are more hearts
Broken in the world
That can't be mended
Left unattended
What do we do? What do we do?
Now looking back over the years,
And what ever else that appears
I remember I cried when my father died
Never wishing to have cried the tears
And at sixty-five years old,
My mother, God rest her soul,
Couldn't understand, why the only man
She had ever loved had been taken
Leaving her to start with a heart
So badly broken
Despite encouragement from me
No words were ever spoken
And when she passed away
I cried and cried all day
Alone again, naturally
Alone again, naturally
I was first introduced to this song in my songwriting class my first term at LIPA. Our project for that term was to write a "break up" song, and this was one of the examples of an approach we could take.
For a little history: Gilbert O'Sullivan is an amazing songwriter who missed out on a lot of money and glory because he was duped into a contract in which his manager paid him £10 a week and let him live in a little shack on the manager's property while Gilbert wrote songs that the manager would then record and sell for millions. Eventually he got wise and walked out to start his own career. He's done much better since then.
I really dig this song because it's about incredibly painful events, yet it takes a rather playful approach, lyrically and musically, to conveying the stories. I also really like how he is able to lay his lyrics over the meter he's set . For example, note how he places the word "whoever" in the first verse: it's one of those situations where most songwriters would try to find another word to fit, rather than stretch the same word over two different melodic phrases, but Gilbert maintains the lyric and it flows nicely.
Alone Again (Naturally) by Gilbert O'Sullivan
Lyrics:
In a little while from now,
If I'm not feeling any less sour
I promised myself to treat myself
And visit a nearby tower,
And climbing to the top,
Will throw myself off
In an effort to make it clear to who
Ever what it's like when your shattered
Left standing in the lurch, at a church
Where people 're saying,
"My God that's tough, she stood him up!
No point in us remaining.
May as well go home."
As I did on my own,
Alone again, naturally
To think that only yesterday,
I was cheerful, bright and gay,
Looking forward to, but who wouldn't do,
The role I was about to play
But as if to knock me down,
Reality came around
And without so much as a mere touch,
Cut me into little pieces
Leaving me to doubt,
All about God and His mercy
For if He really does exist
Why did He desert me
In my hour of need?
I truly am indeed,
Alone again, naturally
It seems to me that
There are more hearts
Broken in the world
That can't be mended
Left unattended
What do we do? What do we do?
Now looking back over the years,
And what ever else that appears
I remember I cried when my father died
Never wishing to have cried the tears
And at sixty-five years old,
My mother, God rest her soul,
Couldn't understand, why the only man
She had ever loved had been taken
Leaving her to start with a heart
So badly broken
Despite encouragement from me
No words were ever spoken
And when she passed away
I cried and cried all day
Alone again, naturally
Alone again, naturally
Monday, January 5, 2009
Song Share: Vaka
By Alex Madrigal
It was very hard for me to choose a song from this band, but i finally settled on this song, vaka. This album "( )" originally had no song names, so the other name for this song is "untitled 1" The singer sings in no real language--his voice is usually used simply as an instrument. [it's funny, but sometimes i think i hear him sing real words... and they usually go with what the song is meaning to me at the time] This is a great Sigur Ros song, like many other songs of theirs-- there's a build-up, there's a climax, and finally a great explosion/resolution/falling apart at the end... and the pure emotion manifested in their music is really what grabs me. Sometimes their songs can sound happy, or sad, or hopeful, or proud, or that feeling of letting go and losing hope... sometimes it's the same song. I find that my own state of mind usually dictates what the song is to me at the time. I hope everyone likes it, i encourage everyone of watch the sigur ros videos (the untitled tracks are the my personal favorites) on youtube... also, they give away mp3s of their songs on their web page (media tab)
It was very hard for me to choose a song from this band, but i finally settled on this song, vaka. This album "( )" originally had no song names, so the other name for this song is "untitled 1" The singer sings in no real language--his voice is usually used simply as an instrument. [it's funny, but sometimes i think i hear him sing real words... and they usually go with what the song is meaning to me at the time] This is a great Sigur Ros song, like many other songs of theirs-- there's a build-up, there's a climax, and finally a great explosion/resolution/
i hope i didn't ramble too much.
peace.
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