Archive | July, 2009

Song of the Day #39: “1500 Miles,” by Stephen Speaks

10 Jul

               numbers

              Well we have reached 1500 views and to honor this number we have reached into our bag of, “There must be a song about anything,” and found a song with the theme of 1500. See, this blog can never get old because there is simply way to many songs out there. Just not enough words so I am most likely becoming trite, hackneyed, repetitive and whatever other words you would like to use to describe uninteresting. Anywho shall we get to the song?

              Out of the deepening bag of unknown and unrespected artists comes the Oklahoma independent band that combines two stepbrothers Rockwell Ripperger and Dain Samuelson. Well I probably should not say unknown because they have 2,024,385 myspace profile views. So, yes they are beating me by a lot in the hits count. Don’t rub it in. But, hey they get their shout out here with their song 1500 miles which is a mellow, well sung, acoustic song with pleasant lyrics. The more I listen to it the more I like it and that most likely explains their draw. You should definitely check out this song and then visit the blog daily to get us to 2000 views soon. Come on I know you cannot wait to see what song I choose for 2000.

Stephen Speaks

Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiuFMs3bRhw

Lyric of the Day #38: “I’m Waiting for My Man,” by The Velvet Underground

9 Jul

           Velvet Underground and Nico

             38 lyrics of the day gives one a lot of time to think of lyricists. A common question when anyone discusses lyrics is the simple who is the best. Yes, every band (unless they are an instrumental band which is okay just not for this section) has someone who writes their lyrics. In my opinion one of the greatest lyricists of all time is Lou Reed, the lead for The Velvet Underground. His lyrics are beyond truthful. Until the late 60’s a lot of the real was blocked. By the real I mean the drug-filled war-torn 60’s. Reed always was truthful and he did not hold anything back in his lyrics. This is best displayed by one of my favorite songs off of their 1967 debut album, “The Velvet Underground and Nico,” called “I’m Waiting for My Man.”

“I’m waiting for my man
Twenty-six dollars in my hand
Up to Lexington, 125
Feel sick and dirty, more dead than alive
I’m waiting for my man
Hey, white boy, what you doin’ uptown?
Hey, white boy, you chasin’ our women around?
Oh pardon me sir, it’s the furthest from my mind
I’m just lookin’ for a dear, dear friend of mine
I’m waiting for my man
Here he comes, he’s all dressed in black
Beat up shoes and a big straw hat
He’s never early, he’s always late
First thing you learn is you always gotta wait I’m waiting for my man
Up to a Brownstone, up three flights of stairs
Everybody’s pinned you, but nobody cares
He’s got the works, gives you sweet taste
Ah then you gotta split because you got no time to waste
I’m waiting for my man
Baby don’t you holler, darlin’ don’t you bawl and shout
I’m feeling good, you know I’m gonna work it on out
I’m feeling good, I’m feeling oh so fine
Until tomorrow, but that’s just some other time
I’m waiting for my man”

Links of the Day: Another Guitar Hero and Another Guitar Master

9 Jul

Links

You know I have had similar links before. I posted a link of Tommy Emmanuel, the guitar freak, playing the guitar incredibly fast, and I have posted a set-list of a new Rock Band Game. So today, I will not stray far away from my past. Some guitar hero 5 tracks and a video of a guitarist who equals Mr. Emmanuel, Roy Clark.

Guitar Hero

Guitar Hero 5 has just announced that Bob Dylan and Kings of Leon will be added onto their growing set-list which already includes Deep Purple’s “Woman from Tokyo,” and Tom Petty’s, “Runnin’ Down a Dream.” Check out the rest of them over here: http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/07/09/guitar-hero-5-adds-bob-dylan-kings-of-leon-to-eclectic-set-list/

Roy Clark

Roy Clark is awesome. Here is a video of him displaying his amazing quickness and proficiency. Really Really Really cool: http://www.fark.com/cgi/vidplayer.pl?IDLink=4498403

Song of the Day #38: “Optimistic,” by Sounds of Blackness

9 Jul

            

Okay it is a little tasteless but still rather comical

Okay it is a little tasteless but still rather comical

         One of my favorite things on televsion has recently become the ESPN Make A Wish specials where they take a child who has suffered ten times more then anyone should ever have to suffer and they grant them their wish to meet their sports idol. It is not only touching but it humbles sports idols who are on top of the world. It is both inspiring and touching and I love watching the stories and how our sports stars, while they may be fantastic athletes, are all human just like us. So, inspired by the optimism displayed in these brief stories between highlights and top plays I am taking a completely different route and choosing “Optimistic,” the 1991 gospel hit by Sounds of Blackness.

         Yes, gospel. I know not usually my cup of tea on this site but it is necessary to touch upon all genres (except for hardcore rap because that is not music). You know gospel is an incredibly important genre. It is true roots music that is the main inspiration of blues and soul music. Without blues there would be no rock. Without rock and soul no R&B. Without R&B no hip-hop and Rap. You can see how important it is now. While Sounds of Blackness is more a fusion band which combined elements of gospel, R&B, soul, and jazz together, gospel music is still noticeable in a majority of their songs. “Optimistic,” is a good example of this.

          Sounds of Blackness

        The 1991 hit has inspiration lyrics that plead, “Don’t give up and don’t give in, Although it seems you never win, You will always pass the test, As long as you keep your head to the sky, You can win as long as you keep your head to the sky, You can win as long as you keep your head to the sky, Be optimistic.” It is a catchy song which focuses on great vocals as well. But, it really is the lyrics that pull the song together. Optimism is key in order to live life the correct way. Look at these kids for example. They have suffered terribly over their short lives. So, next time you may be stressing about work or a sports game for example, trust me, many have it much worse then you. So smile like them and stay hopeful.

Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML_QydtOae8

Lyric of the Day #37: “On Any Given Day,” Carbon Leaf

8 Jul

             

              My day has so far been focused on lists. A list of classes that my brother can sign up for, for his freshman year. A mental list of all the reasons I should not go running because of the tail-end of my head cold. A list of possible songs to use for the Lyric of the Day. I am a regular Tim O’Brien who wrote his best work, The Things they Carried, with many lists. So, with lists on my mind I wanted to find a good song with some lists. I also felt like it was a good time to give a shout out to the great indie folk/rock band Carbon Leaf. So, without further waiting, lists in a Carbon Leaf song.

“A flannel shirt at the five and dime
A leather coat cut big city style
Boots from plastic crocodile
A pine cone dipped in glitter glue
A penny 1942
A necklace with a cheap green stone
Barefeet, cold sand, chilled to the bone”

“On Any Given Day,” by Carbon Leaf off of Echo Echo

Echo Echo

He says he is window shopping in the song. I have two questions. Where are you shopping? The five and dime. Okay one question answered. Wait, I do not know any five and dime like that. I mean I know it is a variety store but where the heck are you finding a 1942 penny for sale? Great stuff from Carbon Leaf.

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