scraps & lagniappe

Sunday rewind: songs that I like to sing along to

So, for today's Rewind, I give you my favorite songs I like to sing along to.  If I'm being really honest, it's more like songs I think I can sing the hell out of.  

They're mostly one-hit wonders, but such good stuff.  Oh, and these videos are some 80's gold.

First up is one of my all-time favorite 80's songs evah.  T'pau's "Heart and Soul."  Best line: I used to have a lover with a Midas touch.  IF I HAD A NICKEL, PEOPLE.

T'Pau Heart and Soul
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Next would be my theme song, "Goody Two Shoes" by the one and only Adam Ant.  Best line: You don't drink, don't smoke/What do you do/The subtle innuendos follow/There must be something inside.

Adam Ant - Goody Two Shoes
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This one would be a duet.  It's "Obsession" by Animotion.  It's the song that spawned a million stalkers -- if you listen to the lyrics, it's nuts.  The video makes exactly ZERO sense.  Best line: My fantasy has turned to madness /And all my goodness /Has turned to badness. 

Animotion-Obsession
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Lastly, totally not a one-hit wonder and completely the opposite of the other videos today -- The Commodores with "Nightshift."  I love this song.  Major love.  When I sing this one in the car it's dangerous, because I have to do the hand motions.  It's a fab song, more subtle than "Brickhouse," (obviously) and it's about Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson, who both passed away in 1984, the year before this song came out.  The Kerry Blog is all about musical education, is it not?  This video is perfect.  The outfits at the end SO remind me of Isaac from the Love Boat, it's good times.  Best line: At the end of a long day/It's gonna be okay/On the Nightshift. 

Commodores - Nightshift
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Sunday rewind: Edie Brickell & New Bohemians

Today's Rewind with Edie Brickell is a little different.  There were two songs I wanted to share and I didn't put any research into it or look up any other songs because it's all about the two I had in mind.  Everyone remembers Edie Brickell & New Bohemians for their song "What I Am" from their 1988 album Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars, and while that's a great song, "Circle" was always my favorite.   I think it still holds up.

I also loved "Nothing" because of the lines

"There's nothing I hate more than nothing
Nothing keeps me up at night
I toss & turn over nothing"

So, that's it.  Just a little Edie Brickell for today.  It's good stuff.  Enjoy your Sunday.

Nothing - Edie Brickell & New Bohemians

80's Sunday rewind: Pet Shop Boys

This post has been a long time coming.  I've finally found LOTS of decent quality videos that allow embedding.  So, the 80's Sunday Rewind is jam packed full for you today.  Yippee. 

The Pet Shop Boys have been one of my favorite bands since 1986.  Please was one of the first albums I bought, then Disco,  Actually, Introspective, Behaviour, and the other one-word albums that followed.  It's always been interesting to me to grow up with a band.  There are several bands I feel that way about, Pet Shop Boys being one of them, one that I've been a fan of since their first album.  And being been a fan for so long, I couldn't tell you what it is exactly that hooked me.  I loved the synth pop then, the almost spoken word style of singing Neil Tennant is now known for, the full sound of their songs, thoughtful lyrics -- there are so many things to love about PSB. 

I thought I'd give you my favorite of their 80's tunes as well as two 80's leftovers from '90 and '91, one of which is "Being Boring," which I can't say enough good things about.  I love a literary song.  "Being Boring" references Zelda Fitzgerald and her quote, “...she covered her face with powder and paint because she didn’t need it and she refused to be bored chiefly because she wasn’t boring. She was conscious that the things she did were the things she had always wanted to do.”  Love that.  PSB said the song is about the ideals you have when you're young and about growing up, and the lyrics reflect that.  My favorite lines have always been:

Now I sit with different faces
In rented rooms and foreign places
All the people I was kissing
Some are here and some are missing
In the nineteen-nineties
I never dreamt that I would get to be
The creature that I always meant to be
But I thought in spite of dreams
Youd be sitting somewhere here with me

That's good stuff. 

First up is the first PSB single, "West Eng Girls," then "Love Comes Quickly," followed by the capitalist theme song "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)." One of the greats, Dusty Springfield joins PSB on "What Have I Done To Deserve This," then our 80's leftovers, "Being Boring" and "Jealousy" round out the videos today. "Jealousy" is wonderfully orchestral and the vid features a fabulous fight scene at the end -- such a good video from that era. So, enjoy my Pet Shop Boys today, it's good times. 

Pet Shop Boys lyrics

Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls Video - Pet Shop Boys Music Videos

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Pet Shop Boys lyrics

Pet Shop Boys - Love Comes Quickly Video - Pet Shop Boys Music Videos

Music Videos by VideoCure

Pet Shop Boys lyrics

Pet Shop Boys - Jealousy Video - Pet Shop Boys Music Videos

Music Videos by VideoCure

Pet Shop Boys lyrics

Pet Shop Boys - Being Boring Video - Pet Shop Boys Music Videos

Music Videos by VideoCure

80's Sunday rewind: New Order

It's a gray day here in southeast Louisiana and you know what that means.  That's right, post-punk 80's to get me going this morning.  Today it's New Order. 

The following is part of the Wikipedia entry on New Order:

New Order were an English musical group formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner (vocals, guitars, synthesizers), Peter Hook (bass, backing vocals, electronic drums) and Stephen Morris (drums, synthesizers). New Order were formed in the wake of the demise of their previous group Joy Division, following the suicide of vocalist Ian Curtis. They were soon joined by additional keyboardist Gillian Gilbert.

New Order combined post-punk and electronic dance, and became one of the most critically acclaimed bands of the 1980s.^[2] Though New Order's early years were shadowed by the legacy of Joy Division, their immersion in the New York City club scene of the early 1980s introduced them to dance music. The band's 1983 hit "Blue Monday" saw them fully embrace dance music and synthesized instruments, and is the best-selling 12-inch single of all time.^[3] New Order were the flagship band for Factory Records, and their minimalist album sleeves and non-image reflected the label's aesthetic of doing whatever the relevant parties wanted to do, including an aversion to including singles as album tracks. The band has often been acclaimed by fans, critics and other musicians as a highly influential force in the alternative rock and dance music scenes over the past 25 years.

New Order were on hiatus between 1993 and 1998, during which time the members participated in various side-projects. The band reconvened in 1998, and in 2001 released Get Ready, their first album in eight years. In 2005, Phil Cunningham (guitars, synthesizers) replaced Gilbert, who had left the group due to family commitments.

So, there ya go -- that's New Order in a nutshell.  They pretty much ruled. 

New Order also produced some of the most innovative music videos of the era.  You did know there would be videos, didn't you?

And from my favorite movie evah, Pretty in Pink, it's "Shell Shock" and "Thieves Like Us." Love love love these two songs.  "Shell Shock" is a great bitter break-up song.  You'll remember "Thieves Like Us" as the instrumental in the montage in which Molly Ringwald's character is sewing her prom dress (the 80's montage from which all other montages are judged).  Pure 80's goodness, people.  Enjoy.

80's Sunday rewind: Eurythmics edition

The Eurythmics have been on my list of bands for the 80's Sunday Rewind for a while (yes, I have an actual list in one of my various notebooks) and I decided this was the Sunday to feature their videos after my rain post from Wednesday. 

You see, it is simply this: the Eurythmics were the 80's.  I'll explain.  When the Eurythmics released their first U.S. #1 hit, "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" in 1984, they were as synth-pop as you get. 

Eurythmics - New Music - More Music Videos

25 years later and I still don't know what the cows were about.  I've never had sweet dreams about a cow. 

Anyway, around the same time they released a really good song you may not know unless you had the  Sweet Dreams album.  Here's "Love is a Stranger."

Eurythmics - New Music - More Music Videos

So, the Eurythmics pretty much cemented themselves as a synth-pop band with those songs and "Here Comes the Rain Again," then they went a reinvented their sound with 1985's Be Yourself Tonight and were straight up rock and roll with an awesome R&B sound.  Crazy, right?  Yeah, but it worked.  The big hit off that album was "Would I Lie to You," which happens to be my favorite Eurythmics song (and convinced me that I needed to be a back-up singer).

Eurythmics - New Music - More Music Videos

But they didn't stop with that song, no, they went and did a duet with my hero, Aretha Franklin. 

Eurythmics - New Music - More Music Videos

The Eurythmics made a few more albums together before their hiatus and ventures into solo work.  It's only fitting that they closed out the decade with their last album (pre-reunion), 1989's We Too Are One, which gave us a glimpse of what to expect from Dave Stewart, Annie Lennox's partner in the band, who is pretty amazing.  For more on Stewart, go read my friend Will's blog for some Dave Stewart edumacation.  I'll leave you with "Baby's Gonna Cry," in which we hear Stewart sing (imagine that) and look like a cool rock star -- shut up, that red suit is awesome.   

Eurythmics - New Music - More Music Videos

blame it on the rain, yeah yeah

It's raining here and flooding in Georgia, a state I love.  It's raining everywhere.  I've been in a crappy mood all week and I blame it on the rain.  You know what that means.  Yep, time for an 80's raindance party!  Put on your gold lame raincoat and get your groove on, baby.

Let's let the original kings of lip synching kick it off. 

That's right. Whatever you do, don't put the blame on you.  That rain can't be good for the instruments they weren't actually using.

And this is the song that's been in my head all week.

Eurythmics - Here Comes the Rain Again
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Is it just me or does Dave Stewart look like a creepy stalker in the video? That's right, I said it -- creepy stalker.

Prince would kick my ass if I didn't include him in the dance party and the last thing I need is Prince on my case. It's a slow jam, you know, 'cause Prince likes it that way.  And if you want to send out any long-distance dedications, now is the time.

Prince and the Revolution - Purple Rain - Watch more Music Videos at Vodpod.

Damn, that's a long video.

I think we can all agree we need to break up the melancholy mood with a little up-tempo number. And I think we all know what that means -- the dragtastic "It's Raining Men."

So, that's the rain post. Stay tuned for the "Here Comes The Sun" post , that is, if the sun ever comes out for more than half the day.

80's Sunday Rewind: the you're so vain, I bet you think this post is about you edition

Who wants to bet Typepad puts a limit on characters allotted for post titles after this one?  

 I'm almost positive those of you who have been read the 80's Sunday Rewind for a while wouldn't take me for a closet Carly Simon fan, but then again, I'm full of surprises aren't I?  There are a few Carly Simon songs that when I hear them stay with me for days, and it's one of those days.  Not a bad day, but a sad day.  We all have them, I'm no different from any of you.  

The first song up is "Coming Around Again," which fits my life right now.  Why?  Let's go to the lyrics, shall we?

Baby sneezes
Mommy pleases
Daddy breezes in

So good on paper
So romantic
But so bewildering

I know nothing stays the same
But if you're willing to play the game
It's coming around again

So don't mind if I fall apart
There's more room in a broken heart

You pay the grocer
You fix the toaster
You kiss the host goodbye

Then you break a window
Burn the souffle
Scream a lullaby

I know nothing stays the same
But if you're willing to play the game
It's coming around again

So don't mind if I fall apart
There's more room in a broken heart

And I believe in love
But what else can I do?
I'm so in love with you

I know nothing stays the same
But if you're willing to play the game
It will be coming around again

Apologies for the shitty video quality, but this is the only complete version of the video I could find.

So, that's the sad song for today.  It fits.  If you know me personally, you know.  If not, just know everything's okay, just having a breaking windows, burning souffles, and screaming lullabies kind of day/week/month/year -- whatever.  That should suffice.  

The next song is "Let The River Run," which is from the movie Working Girl, an 80's classic starring Melanie Griffith (pre-lip injections), Sigourney Weaver, Harrison Ford, and Joan Cusack.  This song is one of my favorites for some reason.  It's hopeful.  And this video has enough 80's fashion and hair for all of us and don't blame me if you see it and run out and buy frosted eyeshadow and jackets with shoulder pads -- blame Carly.   Oh, and am I crazy or is there something cool about a guitar solo by a guy in a trench and fedora on a ferry?  Just me?  Shut up.

80's Sunday Rewind: the Replacements

The Replacements are a band I've loved since my love of music started, around 1986-87.  I'm always surprised when fellow music lovers haven't heard their stuff or don't remember them, because the Mats were simply fabulous.  Paul Westerberg has one of the best rock and roll voices around and he wrote some great tunes back in the day. 

Here are a few of my faves, starting with "Achin' to Be."

The Replacements - New Music - More Music Videos

And this is the demo (better) version of "Can't Hardly Wait."

"I'll Be You" is a great song (watch the video quick! WMG is taking down the original vid faster than you can say Westerberg!).  I played this record OUT in '89.  Yes, I said record.  "I'll Be You" is from the fantastic album Don't Tell a Soul.  Westerberg sings the line "I'm dressin' sharp and feelin' dull" which I love, as well as "rebel without a clue," which Tom Petty heard and borrowed the line for "Into the Great Wide Open." My favorite lyric is "a dream too tired to come true," which is sad and lovely all at the same time. Anyway, have a beautiful Sunday and I'll tell you what we should do, you be me for a while and I'll be you.

80's Sunday rewind: Morris Day and The Time

People, there are lots of bands I like for many reasons and then there is Morris Day and The Time. 

Morris Day and The Time are the jam.  If you need an education on The Time, you're in luck today, peeps.  And when you've finished with today's post, do yourself a favor and watch Purple Rain.  If you're the ONE PERSON in America who hasn't seen Purple Rain -- rent it.  Don't make me call you out on my widely-read blog, friend.  I digress, Morris Day and The Time were not simply Prince's funk pet project, they were (and are) a fabulous band.

The first video is "The Bird."  I fully admit  that "this dance ain't for everybody, just the sexy people" is something I say at least once a week.      

Now, you'll have to cover your virgin ears for part of this clip, but it's too awesome to leave out.

And if you have virgin ears, it's best you skip this clip -- my favorite from Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.  Don't you ever say a bad word about the greatest band in the world, Morris Day and The Mothereffin' Time!

80's Sunday Rewind: wouldn't it be good edition

It's a short 80's Sunday Rewind today, alas there is much to be done for ScrapFest! 

I've had "Wouldn't it be Good" by Nik Kershaw in my head for a couple of days.  It's one of my all-time favorites; the Danny Hitton Hitters cover is on the Pretty in Pink Soundtrack, but Kershaw's original is the best.  The theme of the song, as Kershaw puts it is a common one and well put:

Wouldn't it be good to be in your shoes even if it was for just one day:
And wouldn't it be good if we could wish ourselves away.
Wouldn't it be good to be on your side

The grass in always greener over there.
Wouldn't it be good if we could live without a care