Archive | September, 2009

Lyric #3

17 Sep

Hey everyone,

I hope everything is going well. Let’s see how you fair with today’s lyric.

“And it turns out Mona Lisa, well she ain’t ugly/ yeah but she can’t get much loving from the war/and if some stranger tries to take you from me/ well first I’d rescue you and then I’d punch him in the jaw”

Fun Fact/hint: The album in which this song appeared was actually recorded in the European country that lent it’s name to the album’s and song’s titles.

In Spanish, one could say that the time setting of this song is “por la mañana.”

Answer: Paris in the Morning, by Joe Purdy

Schedule for the Remainder of the Week/Links of the Day

16 Sep

After months of the existence of this blog we finally have a dual category post. I understand this is most likely not a big deal for anyone but me, but, I am a blog loser and hey you have to deal with me. Please don’t click off! Anyway, I wanted to use this post to outline out the rest of the blog week here at the music court. Things will run slightly differently and I will let you know why. Firstly, tonight’s post will only include some links for you to feast on. Tomorrow Josh will be presenting Lyric #3 in his Guess the Lyric series and I will be doing a special section that will profile one song by the Mountain Goats that I find amazing. The Mountain Goats are an eccentric folk rock band led by amazing lyricist John Darnielle (who will eventually be profiled in our top 100 lyricists section). On friday Anthony will be running a special flying Visual Music. You will see what that means friday. On Friday Anthony, our friend Foo (Marc), and myself will be traveling up to Ithaca to visit my brother at Cornell and see John Darnielle and The Mountain Goats. Since we will be staying there the entire weekend there will be no posting on Saturday or Sunday. I know I am crying to. But, we will be back on monday. I promise.

5 Words: Iggy Pop Lego Rock Star: http://www.twentyfourbit.com/post/188917197/iggy-pop-avatar-in-lego-rock-band-correction

An incredibly creative and hilarious post highlighting the best of the worst in the 2000’s. The worst song in this decade so far? I will give you one clue. It is by two people and was released in 2006. Now enjoy the fifty: http://www.gigwise.com/photos/52402/50/The-50-Worst-Albums-Of-The-2000s

Song of the Day #61: “World Spins Madly On,” by The Weepies

15 Sep

Anthony, or Visual Music man as you have come to know and love him as, and I were pondering a song for the song of the day. I decided to pick up my guitar and play a few poorly sung covers in search of a suitable song and I forced Anthony to play along with me. After our unsuccessful jam session where Anthony and I both realized once again that our dream to be the next Simon and Garfunkel will never come to fruition, Anthony asked me if I had profiled The Weepies yet. I said no and he scorned me with some expletives and the song of the day was  born

WEEPIES!!!!!!!!

WEEPIES!!!!!!!!

The story of our Weepies obsession reaches back to a vacation where I was shuffling through new music. The Weepies presented themselves during my 3:00 in the morning search and the song of the day played. After hearing it I let it play around 70 or so times before I told Anthony about the song when we went back to school. Anthony listened to it, got the Weepies, and their music has never ceased to leave our heads. So, now that you know about our weird longing for everything Weepies let me get to something about the song.

Say I Am You

“World Spins Madly On,” fits perfectly into a wonderful description I found online (wikipedia). The Weepies’ music is “subtly intoxicating folk-pop.” You don’t know that the Weep virus is infecting you as you listen but, trust me, it is. It is like a tape worm that just sucks all music into a vacuum and consumes it so the Weep virus keeps all Weepies songs perpetually stuck in your head. Also, the tape worm never leaves. This beautiful analogy leads in perfectly to the creation of the Weepies by Deb Talan and Steve Tannen. Actually it has nothing to do with anything of the story but whatever. The two met at a show Tannen was playing and quickly found out that they shared many of the same music roots and interest. Love sprouted like autumn foliage and these vivid colors have been spread to all listeners. “World Spins Madly On,” is just one example of their great music. The song appeared on the 2006 album Say I Am You and also in the movie “Because I Said So,” which is pretty funny when you think about. Say I am you. Why? Because I said so. Or, just listen to the song.

“World Spins Madly On”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4sa2HoXpsE

I also particularly liked this cover. Good job guys. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIjly8KKNpM

Lyric #2

15 Sep

Hello Everyone,

Firstly, I want to say hello to all my fellow Delta Sigma Phi brothers out there. YITBOS. Congrats to the Jets as well. It’s that time of the week again. Try to figure out what you can about this lyric. I have a feeling it won’t be too hard. I would also like to wish Foo a very happy birthday. I will be giving him his well-deserved birthday punches shortly after I post this. Anyway, good luck with lyric #2. Ready…set…GO.

“If you’re black/you better not show up on the streets/’less you want to draw the heat”

Highlight the white area to reveal the text:

Fun Fact/Hint:  This song was rerecorded by the artist, who was currently practicing for a tour anyway. After Columbia Records noted that as the references stating that Alfred Bello and Arthur Dexter Bradley “robbed the bodies” were not legally charged or proven, they would probably result in a lawsuit. This song cinematically tells the story of Rubin Carter.

Answer: Hurricane, by Bob Dylan (co-written with Jacques Levy)

Lyric of the Day #60: Top 100 Lyricists #87

14 Sep

Delta Sigma Phi

Alright, I admit it, I have not posted in a while. I know it is obviously a crime in the blogosphere to leave a blog vacant for several days, but, I have a reasonable excuse. This weekend was incredibly busy. Firstly, I was initiated into Delta Sigma Phi and am now officially a brother of this fantastic fraternity. YITBOS. Secondly, my Jetsies kicked some Texan butt on sunday and I was incredubly happy to see such a great performance. Both subjects quite green surprisingl.y Now, after my long weekend I am back on the blog looking to provide you with some music before I have to go to class at 1:10 and learn about the Merchant of Venice.

New York Jets

Before I get into the post let me outline out for you the schedule of the other posters. Since, I am so thrilled to have other people writing with me, I am forcing them to post more. Yes, they have no choice. Josh and his lyric of the day column is going to run Tuesday and Thursday and he would very much like if some people would guess his lyrics. Anthony and his photoshop creations on visual music will run Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, for your enjoyment, and he too would like some responses. So, please people, guess and please them. For me, I shall remain writing my daily musical explosion for your enjoyment. For I am your musical servant, your trust court jester!

Wow already 12 down on the Top 100 Lyricists. We have covered obscure and well known lyricists, depressing and happy lyrics, and Donovan and his mellow yellow. What is there left? Well, 87 lyricists, but that is besides the point. Let’s see the big old 87. Hope we do not choose a Pretender. Well, lookie here, one misplaced transition and we have done what I just hoped we wouldn’t do. We have chosen a Pretender!

Chrissie Hynde

Chrissie Hynde, the only constant member of the new-wave group The Pretenders, is the subject of our prestigious lyricist search. The Pretenders have never been top on my list of bands to listen to, but, like I will always admit, Hynde is a tremendous band leader and a force in the music and lyric world. When interviewed Hynde mentions that here childhood revolved around going to go concerts and dreaming of something bigger. She never went out with any guys from her school because she aimed for guys like Iggy Pop. Setting your sights surprisingly low. Just kidding Iggy. In the late 70’s, Hynde gave a demo tape to Dave Hill, the owner of Real Records, and he advised her to compile a band and as the band came together the name of The Pretenders was chosen in honor of “The Great Pretender,” by The Platters. Bet you did not know that. See that is why you always come to read this blog. Are you not entertained? Why did I just reference Gladiator. Well, possibly because the two songs I am profiling are “Brass in Pocket,” and “Back on the Chain Gang.” How does that have to do with Gladiator? I don’t know. Let us move on.

As a female bandleader Hynde became a prominent style-setter for her young women following. It also did not hurt that she was truthful and I guess that is all people can ask for. Her music focuses on female confidence and some sad realizations. Let us go to our two songs.

The Pretenders

We will start with the happier of the two songs. “Brass in Pocket,” which appeared on The Pretender’s debut self-titled album and just emits confidence and female pride. Here are some lyrics.

“Got brass in pocket
Got Bottle, I’m gonna use it
Intention, I feel inventive
Gonna make you, make you, make you notice

Got motion, restrained emotion
Been driving, Detroit leaning
No reason, just seems so pleasing
Gonna make you, make you, make you notice”

There is not to much to discuss with this song because these lyrics are self-explanatory. Hynde is saying that she is going to make you notice no matter what and that is pretty confident.

Next we have “Back on the Chain Gang,” which is not positive. It is rather sad. The song was originally going to be about Ray Davies of The Kinks who Hynde fell in love with and had a daughter with, yet, after Pretender’s guitarist James Honeyman-Scott passed away due to a drug overdose at the age of 25, the meaning of the song took an understandable turn. The song appeared on the 1984 album Learning to Crawl.

“The powers that be
that force us to live like we do
bring me to my knees
when I see what they’ve done to you.

But I’ll die as I stand her today
knowing that deep in my heart
they’ll fall to ruin one day
for making us apart.

I found a picture of you oh
those were the happiest days of my life
now we’re back on the train
oh back on the chain gang.”

This song just seeps symbolism. The last verse is just so revealing and truthful which is Hynde’s strong point. The song makes mention to Sam Cooke’s “Chain Gang” but focuses more on the depressing what if’s and unfortunate nostaligia. Great lyric from a succesful and truthful Chrissie Hynde, #87 on our dear list.

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