We embark on a journey back in time. A sojourn in the bright-eyed days of 2009. Oh, the nostalgia is killing me. The Music Court has not clicked the category option of lyric of the day for way too long. And, this in unacceptable. Every category should get love. So, for today’s post, we concentrate on a lyric that can set your night right. And, we rhyme. Because, that’s what we do here. Rhymes and old times with musical chimes. Shut up and get to the song. Okay!
Joe Pisapia is often referred to as “that balding guy from Guster,” but he is certainly much more than that. This multi-instrumentalist is a talented singer-songwriter that has been an essential part of Guster since he jumped on-board 7 years ago. Recently, after completing Guster’s new album Easy Wonderful, he left the band to explore a project with musician, k.d. lang.
A solo release in 2002 by Pisapia is often looked over by fans of Guster. But, if you want a good listen and you are a fan of Guster, definitely check out Pisapia’s work on Daydreams.
Here is my favorite lyric from my favorite song, “Dancing Partner”
To set the scene, Pisapia’s character goes to visit his grandmother (I think) in a nursing home and they discuss how it has been 27 years ago since her husband passed away and how she refuses to dance with anyone now because her dancing partner is away.
It is a sad song. Pisapia’s smooth, innocent voice is a perfect compliment to the piano rhythm that is jumpy and bubbly. But, as the song hits the chorus the piano draws out and we are left with extended vocal and piano notes that help the song. Here is the lyric
“Driving home so late that night
My mind still recollecting
All the many things we talked about
Like living with and then without
I wondered to myself if I would
Ever love someone that way
And in the echoes of that night
I still can see her as she’s saying,
When they play that music
I turn the other way
Since my dancing partner’s away”
That last segment is repeated throughout the song and it just works so well. I like the story above everything. It is personal and allows the listener to explore one single scene/conversation of dealing with loss. Just well done.
We begin this installment of court links with a brief list of instructions on how to make Michael Buble go crazy:
1.) Go to one of his shows (sit close to the front)
2.) Interrupt show and tell Buble you want your son to go on stage to sing with him
3.) Tell teenage son who is quite nervous to go on stage
4.) Let him sing and blow everyone away, including Buble, with his singing ability.
5.) Buble WILD!
Don’t believe me. Watch this video. Thanks Fark.com for posting this!
Buble really goes wild. I mean, look, is it awesome that the kid can sing well? Yes, of course. Do you have to pick him up? That may be crossing the line. I laughed. Buble is a great sport. Plus, it are these moments that can make a kid’s life. I mean, what a story. Yeah, I impressed Michael Buble with my singing voice. No big deal or anything!
Well, I wasn’t joking. After being arrested last week in Texas for marijuana possession, Nelson’s charge was dropped down from a felony to a misdemeanor. This means lesser fine and maximum jail time. This all according to a Rolling Stone article by Jem Aswad
You can quote me on this: Nelson will not serve jail time. Why? Well, first off, he is a 76-year-old celebrity musician who advocates marijuana usage and will never stop smoking. Jailing Nelson would just be stupid. You would be depriving the public of Nelson for a period of time because he was in possession of six ounces of marijuana. Seriously! Sometimes I question the law. Legalize it. Tax it. Make money. Nelson can go on and do what he does…and he will be providing money for the U.S. Government in the process. Instead of propagating this conservative hoopla of arresting people for possession. Let’s keep the law and lawyers out of a place they do not belong…Willie Nelson’s tour bus.
So, you know how occasionally when I review a new band I mention how their sound reaches back to the old days of rock n’ roll, 60’s style. Well, Liam Gallagher has made his living trying to be Paul McCartney on every Oasis album. Now that Oasis has broken up, Liam has gone on to bigger and better things, exploring more musical styles and finally breaking free from the grip of attempting to copy 60’s music. Did you believe that last sentence? Yeah, I am not a good lier. Liam’s new project, Beady Eye, is a flat-out copy of 60’s everything. Here is their new album cover which was just released.
And, how about a band picture:
Seriously. Can you rip the 60’s off anymore? Listen, I do not mind being inspired. Heck, 60’s music inspires me too. But, when you have spent your entire career unsuccessfully copying music from an era 45 years ago, maybe you should just collect your money and stop. I shouldn’t say he has been unsuccessful. Gallagher has made a lot of cash doing this. Just stop. I don’t need to hear your music anymore. But, if anyone is interested. Here is a song from Beady Eye.
It sounds like “Great Balls of Fire” with the piano. It is like early 60’s fused with some background musicians attempting to harmonize with the nasally Gallagher. Well, enjoy!
Excuse my horrendous photo editing, but, I believe it gets the point across quite nicely. The 53rd Grammy Awards will take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Feb. 13, 2011, and I could not be less excited. Seriously, over the last few years we have seen the Grammys honor bad musicians with awards they did not deserve. And, there has been no other category that has been more debased, defiled and debilitated, than the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. The scariest part is this bastardization has just been over the last couple of years.
Last year, this once prestigious award was given to Taylor Swift for her album “Fearless,” which is washed down, mainstream garbage. To take a page out of Kanye West’s “get drunk and make a fool out of yourself” playbook, Swift’s album was child-like and not as good as several other options. I don’t beat around the bush Kanye. I just say it. The album sucked.
I'm sorry for interrupting you, but, you and Taylor Swift both play to the same manipulated audience of young kids who do not know good music from bad. And, sorry, but you are both bad
So, with a chance to redeem themselves, the Grammy Nomination Committee, which I presume looks something like this:
The Grammy Committee put together a nominations list that includes albums by Eminem, Lady Antebellum, Lady Gaga and Kady Perry. So, we all cross our fingers and hold out hope for the last choice The Suburbs by Arcade Fire to pull off a win. It’s always terrible when you have to hold out hope for the talent to win. That’s when you know there is an issue. So, why, Grammy Committee, why? There was so much more talent out there. This morning, I delved into the depths of my mind to think of what has happened here. Before I get into my correct nominations for the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, I want to talk a little about a burgeoning issue that is sprouting in our ever-changing music world. How about a little side-by-side comparison
In 1968, this is who won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year:
In 2010, this is an artist who is nominated for the same award:
It is almost nonsensical. The reason it is so funny is because any comparison made would be so out of place and utterly wrong. The fact that I am even including both of these songs in the same post upsets me terribly. So, what the heck has happened? Is it that the Grammy Awards are simply screwing up, or is the music just that bad. I think it is both.
I have noticed a rising trend, especially in the award nominations this year.
Here is some official nominations from the Albums of the Year award.
Katy Perry
Snoop Dogg, featured artist; Ammo, Benny Blanco, Dr. Luke, Kuk Harrell, Max Martin, Stargate, C. “Tricky” Stewart, Sandy Vee & Greg Wells, producers; Steve Churchyard, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Serban Ghenea, John Hanes, Sam Holland, Jaycen-Joshua, Damien Lewis, Chris O’Ryan, Carlos Oyanedel, Paris, Phil Tan, Brain Thomas, Lewis Tozour, Miles Walker, Emily Wright & Andrew Wuepper
Beyoncé, featured artist; Ron Fair, Fernando Garibay, Tal Herzberg, Rodney Jerkins, Lady Gaga, RedOne, Teddy Riley & Space Cowboy, producers; Eelco Bakker, Christian Delano, Mike Donaldson, Paul Foley, Tal Herzberg, Rodney Jenkins, Hisashi Mizoguchi, Robert Orton, Dan Parry, Jack Joseph Puig, RedOne, Teddy Riley, Dave Russel, Johnny Severin, Space Cowboy, Mark Stent, Jonas Wetling & Frank Wolff
Trust me, it is the same with Eminem.
This is how Lady Gaga or Kady Perry's album should look...All of the supporting musicians should get a spot
And, while it may look like the Beatles have a lot of people on their famous album cover, it is just other famous people. Their nomination went like this:
The Beatles (Producer George Martin). And, that’s it.
And this is why they sold 2 million songs in one week on iTunes
The rising trend of hundreds of featured musicians has completely destroyed the concept of bands. The term itself has been played with. Simon and Garfunkel won a Grammy for Album of the Year in 1971 with “Bridge of Troubled Water.” It was just them. They were the band. No featured musicians. No supporting cast. What has happened to bands. Well, they still do exist, but just not in the spotlight of most media attention. The majority of today’s music is solo artists with a marketable name who barely even create their music at all. The supporting cast of around 100 musicians act almost as those people you read in movie credits. You will never know their name but they are behind the scenes making it all go. So, next time you listen to Kady Perry, just keep in mind that there are a lot of people creating that music…not just her. So, shouldn’t the Album of the Year go to bands or musicians that put in work and actually deserve the title? I would think so. But, why does the Grammy selection committee refuse to give credit to these exceptional bands that release very good albums? Well, it is a product of mainstream musics takeover of the industry. Now, I understand. Music is struggling. Live acts like Lady Gaga produce so much revenue that you must immerse the populace with their name so you can produce cash. But, at what cost. Are you not jeopardizing those who make good music? The question is purely rhetorical. I don’t know the answer. Any which way, he would be my list of Albums of the Year. I do not include Arcade Fire because they were nominated by the Grammy committee. Bolded is my choice for album of the year.
Why? Because it is incredibly cute. This is what Hanukkah is all about.
I’m Jewish. Perhaps the most consistent question I am asked in regards to Hannukah is: How the heck do you spell it?
Hanukkah. Spell it like that. The Chanukah spelling is the Romanized version. Or, better yet, just spell it like this:
The Festival of Lights.
See how much clearer and English that is. Yes, most people’s knowledge of Hanukkah is limited to Adam Sandler‘s Hanukkah description. “Instead of one day of presents, we get eight crazy nights.”
And, that’s about it. Just kidding. Hanukkah celebrates the exceptional burning of candles for eight night. That’s right, the candles burned for eight days. What many people do not know is that Hanukkah has some serious historical undertones. Well, religious history. Here is the very, very, very condensed, one sentence version.
Jews outlawed, fight and than re-dedicate temple (Hanukkah comes from the Hebrew verb to dedicate). Do you want something a little more detailed? Check this out: http://www.theholidayspot.com/hanukkah/history.htm
Now, what do people generally think of when you say Hanukkah. Dreidels come up, or, that spinning top thing with the weird letters on each side. Or, this:
This is just too funny
And, what’s better than some jazzy swingin’ dreidel.
Kenny Ellis is a jazz/big-band performer who makes Hanukkah songs, like the one above. This Philadelphia native makes some pretty awesome Hanukkah hits, and while you light the first candle, eat some latkas and spin the dreidel tonight…enjoy this unconventional dreidel song. And, if you are not Jewish, you still have a little time until Christmas or Kwanzaa, so celebrate with us!
I like revamping old-school blog entries just for the sake of wanting change. Today, I sat a row closer to the front of my English classroom just for a change and most of those who usually sit around me, followed me and adjusted to my change. Those who generally sit next to me in the fourth row sat with me in the third row. And, those who sit a row in front of me in row three sat in row two. Seriously, people are creature’s of habit and are susceptible to being tricked. So, hopefully this slight change to court links won’t freak you out so much. Don’t worry, I am not going to trick you. Court Links will be split into three sections tonight (Random Video, What Did You Say and Awesome Link)
We start with:
What Did You Say?:
Headline: Abba star loses bankruptcy dispute with Buddhist Monk
Well, I guess I won’t be taking a chance on her. Here is what I have been able to gather from this odd story. Former Abba-er Anni-Frid Reuss brought a bankruptcy order, which is an order issued by the court as a result of a petition for bankruptcy by either a creditor or a debtor in order to declare an individual bankrupt, against her former Buddhist teacher. Alright, so we are clear. No. Well, trust me I shook my head also. Well her, and her boyfriend Henry Smith, lost the dispute. But, have no fear, the lifestyle of this particular member of the rich and famous is not changing anytime soon. The 4.5 million euros she lost is mere pocket change. She is worth somewhere around 100 million euros. Moral of the story. Don’t sue monks. They have super powers. (Disclaimer…In no way does the Music Court support the claim that monks actually have super powers).
Random Video
We are going to stick with Abba, because, why not? Here is a really nice acoustic instrumental of “Dancing Queen.” Just because you know enough words to sing along does not make you a loser!
Awesome Link
Rolling Stone Magazine has been running this amazing playlist special where they ask famous musicians to pick their personal top 10. May I present to you Art Garfunkel‘s Top 10
“Killer Joe” by the Rocky Fellers. Wow, that is an obscure early 60s rock band made up of children. Yes, they were all kids. This was one of those bands that will never be remembered because they were overtaken by the British invasion. They were talented. “Killer Joe,” by Bert Russell and Bob Elgin, reached #16 on the charts in 1963. This band of Filipino brothers also possess a very interesting fun fact.
Did you know that in 1963, the Fellers recorded “Santa, Santa,” a Christmas song written by a 22-year-old, unknown Neil Diamond.
We embark on a journey back in time. A sojourn in the bright-eyed days of 2009. Oh, the nostalgia is killing me. The Music Court has not clicked the category option of lyric of the day for way too long. And, this in unacceptable. Every category should get love. So, for today’s post, we concentrate on a lyric that can set your night right. And, we rhyme. Because, that’s what we do here. Rhymes and old times with musical chimes. Shut up and get to the song. Okay!
Joe Pisapia is often referred to as “that balding guy from Guster,” but he is certainly much more than that. This multi-instrumentalist is a talented singer-songwriter that has been an essential part of Guster since he jumped on-board 7 years ago. Recently, after completing Guster’s new album Easy Wonderful, he left the band to explore a project with musician, k.d. lang.
The Music Court 