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SWOD (Song of the Day/Word of the Day) #20: Hobbledehoy

7 Jun

Today’s Word:

An example of a hobbledehoy

Hobbledehoy (Noun): An awkward, gawky young fellow.

Musical Example:

Ah, now you get the image above. Now, before I get into a musical example of this odd word with unknown origins, let me alert you all of my posting schedule for the summer. Internship orientation was exciting, but a tad bit confusing and overwhelming. That was to be expected. After most likely getting hopelessly lost in the building tomorrow, I believe things will become more clear when I am put in front of a computer and told to write. I can do that well. Heck, I am doing that now. Maybe I will write about a hobbledehoy. I work on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday for now. Does everyone remember the posting schedule that I used when I was in college just a few months ago? Court links will grace your screen on Monday and Thursday. Tuesday’s will be reserved for a SWOD. So, consider this a Tuesday post. Wednesday and Friday will change weekly.

Now, on to the music. You know, “Why must I be a hobbledehoy in love.” Wait, those are not the lyrics Dion and the Belmonts famously sing? That’s right everyone. Tonight is reserved for an oldie but a goodie. “A Teenager in Love” was written by Doc Pomus and partner Mort Shuman in March of 1959. The song hit #5 on the Billboard pop charts. The song was originally sung by Dion and the Belmonts and you can watch a video of a performance of the song below.

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Let’s All Just Dance

6 Jun

Hey folks. Hope your weekend was pleasant. Tomorrow, I begin my internship at Newsday (newspaper in New York). It is orientation and I am very excited. I may not have time to post tomorrow and this is why you are getting some online direction tonight. It is becoming tough to think of different words and adjectives for the links I post, by the way. Tomorrow, after I learn the schedule for my internship, I will finally be able to create a posting schedule for the summer. Hooray! It’s these simple things that get me so excited. And, after I make the schedule, I will let you all know what it is.

By the way, if any of you would like to read about my internship experience, you can follow me on my new blog project The Perennial Intern. On it, I will be posting about my internship on either a daily or weekly basis. I hope it will prove to be entertaining. Thanks in advance for visiting.

The Site: http://theperennialintern.wordpress.com/

Now, on to some links.

You know what I have found quite danceable lately.

That’s right the new laudatory Nike commercial that pairs Kobe Bryant alongside other NBA greats. Do you recognize the song? That’s a clip from a Beatles’ song right? Yes myself, “All Together Now” appeared on Yellow Submarine. Who has an urge to watch “Yellow Submarine” right now? Anyway, that is not Paul McCartney leading the child-like sing-a-long. That is OutKast’s Andre 3000 reappearing on the music scene. Besides a few cameo appearances, Andre 3000 has not released on album since OutKast’s 2006 Idlewind soundtrack. I wonder if this version of “All Together Now” will be released in full. I’ll keep you updated.

Link: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/17386/108549

Rooney preparing for the fifth position

I know someone else that may feel like dancing now. He certainly can dance with a soccer ball between his legs. Hopefully, for the United States’ sake, he will not want to dance after the U.S. meets England in their first match-up of the 2010 World Cup on June 12. I am talking about England’s star Wayne Rooney who, according to goalkeeper David James, is England’s best dancer. But, “Are there any good singers in the  England team? Rubbish! Absolute rubbish.” So, I have just found the weakness you need to exploit, America. I cannot believe James would reveal such a flaw in the English squad. We just need to serenade them with our mesmerizing choir and we are set. We just need to call on midfielder Clint Dempsey. I hope you’re taking notes Bob Bradley.

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Response to Best Album Cover of All Time

4 Jun

The home lawn of Citi field spawns another Mets win and I leave the stadium thoroughly entertained! Now on to the post.

A few weeks ago I ran a poll on the best album cover of all time. I believe it is about time that I conclude that post with a response post of my own. After the vote, Nevermind and its heavily symbolic…and naked album cover won in a close race. I’m not surprised by this. Each album chosen can easily be considered the greatest album cover of all time. But, I’m afraid I have to disagree with the winner. Another album cover has always struck my eye, both for its interesting story and frighteningly intriguing imagery. This is the iconic album cover of In The Court of the Crimson King.

Let me tell you a little story about the album that Pete Townshend considers an “uncanny masterpiece” and I consider to be one of my favorite pieces of connected music ever. In 1969, a few talented and already accomplished musicians joined forces to play a euphonious mixture of modern classical, folk, jazz and pop music. The odd combination emitted a true ethereal sound that gave fans a real sensory music listening experience, especially when paired with the richly obscure and rather dense poetry of lyricist Peter Sinfield. When this all came together on King Crimson’s debut 1969 album In The Court of the Crimson King, music fans heard one of the finest examples of the newly established progressive rock genre (formed out of the art rock experimentation of The Beatles, Frank Zappa, Jeff Beck and even early Pink Floyd in the mid 1960s).

Here enters Barry Godber, the young computer programmer (yeah, they existed) and artist who painted the album cover. The tortured face on front (see above photo) is the frightened schizoid man (there is a song on the album called “21’st Century Schizoid Man”) while the seemingly stoned face on the inside cover is the Crimson King. Yet, intelligent guile on the part of Godber reveals a completely different Crimson King if you cover his grinning face. Go ahead, try it. After the album was released with Godber’s painting on October 10, 1969, Godber died of a heart attack at the age of 24 in February of 1970. The curse of the Crimson King. Or, just bad, bad luck. But, his legacy still lives on through the only copy of the original painting owned by King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp, and the many copies of the 12-inch LPs and CD’s that continue to be sold today with Godber’s perennial image permanently pasted on front. The paranoid face melting into the surrounding space, lost and alone…

Like this

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Meet the Mets

4 Jun

I am heading out to Citi field tonight to welcome the “only can win at home” New York Mets back from another unfortunate road trip. Stay tuned later for the official Friday post. But, for now here is the true Mets fight song below. It does not matter how old I get or how much the Mets stink; whenever I know I am going to watch the Mets play I get weirdly giddy. Enjoy and Lets Go Mets!

Upcoming Releases: The Weepies and Blitzen Trapper

3 Jun

I love the Internet. The fact that I can post on this blog and be linked to various other sites, searches and people in a matter of seconds is something extraordinary. Yesterday, directly after Armando Galarraga’s perfect game was taken away by a missed call at first base by umpire Jim Joyce, numerous videos, pictures and reactions spread like the bubonic plague throughout Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and several blogs. A black mark for baseball turned into an Internet wildfire resulting in over 5,000 people joining an anti-Joyce Facebook group by this morning. 

Musicians have also learned to take advantage of this age where a mere Google search can reveal up to the second information about a particular subject. Yes, the unfortunate prevalence of torrents and stealing music has not made life easy for the musician. But, since this topic seems to be as inevitable as Chipper Jones (the third basemen for the Atlanta Braves) injuring himself, musicians have had to learn new ways to get people interested in buying their albums. What is one way they are doing it?

http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=127035190&m=127200669

By releasing the entire album several days before it goes on sale. Blitzen Trapper, the experimental folk/rock/pop sextet based in Portland, Oregon, has released the entirety of their fifth studio album Destroyer of the Void as an exclusive preview on NPR’s website.

Credit: Todd Roeth

 This is an interesting release strategy. It seems similar to going to Borders and reading an entire book before you choose whether or not to buy it. The question can be raised, does this help with sales. I think it’s smart. Blitzen Trapper is just taking advantage of a quick-paced Internet age by allowing fans to get a real bite out of the album. And, if they think it is tasty, they may be more willing to buy either the entire album, or specific songs they like, from Itunes.

After chewing on the album for several minutes, I have tasted something a little wacky, but certainly delectable. Blitzen Trapper’s last release, Furr, ranked #13 on Billboard’s Best Albums of 2008 and the title track “Furr” hit #4 on Billboard’s Best Singles of 2008. This major success lifted Blitzen Trapper to a level of recognition, and I predict that their new release Destroyer of the Void may propel them to an even higher level. Trapper singer/songwriter/composer Eric Earley, with his bands skilled touch, has found a way to organize a true hugger-mugger of genres and styles into a harmoniously neat album that is even more experimental and dramatic than their last album. They have convinced me to buy the album when it officially goes on sale on June 8.

Another idea is simply releasing the album’s first single several months before the entire album is released. The Weepies, the married folk/rock duo from California, have taken this route. Their highly anticipated Be My Thrill will be released on August 31, but, until then, you can listen to the album’s single “I Was Made For Sunny Days” over and over again on their website…or buy it on Itunes. And, if the song is any indication of what the rest of the album will be like, Weepies’ fans can rejoice.

Listen here: http://www.theweepies.com/

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