Song of the Day #47: “Ace of Spades,” by Motorhead

6 Aug

Let me first apologize for not including the umlaut mark over the o. I have upset German’s everywhere. I do not know how to do it on wordpress blogs. Plus, I do not think I will ever need to use it again. Also, for everyone eagerly awaiting the#99 lyricist you get to see the highly anticipated post tomorrow. But, for now the most kick butt song of all time.

I was having a lot of trouble thinking of what to do for the post today. I was supposed to wake up early and go for a walk by the beach but the gloomy weather prevented me from doing so. So, exercise was on my mind, and the most crazy song to pump you up on my motorheadcompact exercise playlist is “Ace of Spades.” Yes, I know that you are sick of playing this song Motorhead, but whenever I need an extra boost you are who I turn too. Why am I talking to Motorhead. Ian Kilister, who just goes by Lemmy, says it best. They, “can’t ditch Ace of Spades, it wouldn’t be right. If I go to see Little Richard, I expect to hear Good Golly Miss Molly or I’d be pissed off.” Good point.

The song is their best, having been covered and used by countless bands and television shows, movies, and various other media conduits. The song is ranked #10 on VH1’s list of best Hard Rock songs. It is fast paced, loud, and I love it. Lemmy’s voice strains perfectly and the guitars and drums are quick. I am not the biggest fan of loud metal but this is just a great song. The English band truly rocked England with a style of music that they had not heard before. Yes, Black Sabbath, was early metal but in 1980 not many had heard this real head-banging  Metal before.

Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e5cqe_JE0Q

How about some fun facts?

Did you Know:
– Hayseed Dixie, a satirical bluegrass band has covered the song, appropriating the piece for acoustic guitar, mandolin, bass, banjo and vocals. Got this one straight from wikipedia. You can’t make this stuff up. What? You think I am joking? Oh, I have video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYJUywl7CFw

– One more great one. Between 8pm and 2am on November 9th, 2005 the song was played at The Boat nightclub in Toronto. No big deal right. Well, it was played consecutively 128 times. By the end of the night three were dead and everyone had a gambling problem.

Lyric of the Day #47: Let’s Have Some Fun #100

5 Aug

lyrics

I’m guessing after one look at the title of this post confusion washed through your body and you felt cold and scared. “Where is the song title,” the question shivered from your mouth as your teeth chattered. Okay, none of that happened but in case you were wondering lyric #47 starts a brand new ball game of lyrics of the day. Why? I was getting a little bored of random songs. So, without further ado, I will reveal to you the new format.

It is nearly impossible to take all of the rock lyricists who have ever written a much sought after first word down on a piece of paper and rank them. Think about it. How many rock songs are out there? How many of these songs have poetry behind the guitars, the drums, the keyboards? The answer is a lot and I have to give my total props to the list compiled by Digitaldreamdoor of the top 100 lyricists of all time. I guess by now you know where I am going with this. For today, and the following lyrics of the day I will follow their list loosely from 100-1. What I mean by loosely is, if there is someone at a spot that I do not believe should even be on the list I am going to replace their name by someone not on the list who I think deserves it more. Easy enough? Oh yeah, the way the posts will work is a little information about the lyricists and then a segment from what I believe to be there best work. Shall we begin?

Digitaldreamdoor’s #100: Axl Rose

My Pick: Robin Pecknold

Robin Pecknold

Immediately a change in the list. As we go through the lyricists lower down on the list you will see the majority of the changes. Not saying the lyricists replaced are poor with words, but, the ones that I replace them with are, most likely, rising younger musicians. So is the case with #100. Axl Rose never really hit it off for me. Guns & Roses, in my opinion, was made mainly by the excellent guitar playing of Slash, rather then the lyrical prowess of Rose. “Welcome to the Jungle,” “Sweet Child of Mine,” they all are rather corny and, in some cases, grotesque. How can I give credit to a lyricist who wrote,

“Welcome to the jungle
Feel my, my, my serpentine
I, I wanna hear you scream”

It just ain’t happening. I mean I am all for metaphors but I mean come on. That is a horribly noticeable metaphor. Axl Rose you are not a hard man to read. So, instead of Axl Rose’s insipid lyric, let us focus on lyrics that thrive on taste. Lyrics that are wonderfully pastoral and make you want to go outside, rather then looking out for the jungle that is Axl Rose’s no-no zone.

Robin Pecknold is the singer/guitarist/lead song-writer of the relatively new band Fleet Foxes. The only reason why he is not on this illustrious list of song writers is because the last time the list was updated was in 2005. Pecknold is only 23 right now and his band did not come to fame until 2007. See the time problems? If the list was continually updated Pecknold may be at around 80 but I am not changing the order just some of the named.

Pecknold, who has admitted suffering from social anxiety, is indeed an eccentric person and this is portrayed in his lyric. He comes from a music background in Seattle, Washington, proving that awesome bands will always come out of a place that rains coffee everyday. His father played in an underground Seattle band entitled The Fathoms (not to be confused by the Boston band of the same name). This Fathoms played a similar style of music to The Dynamics, an interesting soul/horn mix. Pecknold’s sister is also a rock critic for the magazine Seattle Weekly. I love Fleet Foxes who describes their music as, “Baroque harmonic pop jams.” The oddness just emits itself from their instruments. But, it is their elaborate vocal harmonies mixed with the rustic, bucolic feel that drifts into awaiting ears that makes them so good. Man, I am running out of adjectives. Anyways, on to my favorite lyrics. Soon you will see why Robin Pecknold is kinda much better then Axl Rose.

“I was following the pack
all swallowed in their coats
with scarves of red tied ’round their throats
to keep their little heads
from fallin’ in the snow
And I turned ’round and there you go
And, Michael, you would fall
and turn the white snow red as strawberries
in the summertime..”

“White Winter Hymnal,” by Fleet Foxes (written by Robin Pecknold) off of their debut album Fleet Foxes

So, let’s see. “Welcome to the Jungle, We have fun and games,” compared to this beautiful imagery. I think it is a no brainer. How about you?

Song of the Day #46: “Sometime Around Midnight,” by Airborne Toxic Event

4 Aug

             

           Today’s song of the day comes to you more out of “the damn song is stuck in my head” then anything else. This takes nothing away from the talented band who performs this excellent song with great musicality. I originally listened to the music of this band because of their band name. I am a huge fan of Don DeLillo’s “White Noise” and The Airborne Toxic Event is the name of a title of the second part of the book. Apparently, I am not alone.

           Mikel Jollett, a writer himself, had a rough go at it in 2006. After finding out his mother had been diagnosed with cancer, he experienced a break-up and a diagnosis of his own, a genetic Autoimmune disease. To say he needed immediate gratification and something uplifting is an understatement. He decided the long term process of novel writing could be put on hold in favor of lyrics and songs. After enlisting the help of a trained violinist and several other succesful musicians, Airborne Toxic Event was born. They quickly jumped on the scene and in 2008 released the depressingly beautiful tale, “Sometime Around Midnight” about Jollett running into an ex-girlfriend, who he still loved, at a night club. Awkward!

     You can tell he is a writer also. The song is focused on his lyrics. Yes, the orchestra beginning is something out of a movie or Muse song (take your pick) and the guitar that follows is a constant pleasantry for the ears. But, it is Jollett’s voice and lyrics. “The piano is a meloncholy soundtrack to her smile.” Wow! He has a real taste for truthful lyrics. The song gets stuck in your head and you are sent into a whirlpool of Jollett’s “naked” lyrics. Naked meaning lyrics stripped down to the bare necessity. Lyrics that need to be written. You feel a real need for this song. As if, Jollett is telling us we need to listen.

         At around 3:40 in the song he almost starts pleading. His voice becomes loud and it strains. At 4:00 he literally pleads. “You just have to see her.” It repeats. Have you ever been in love? That sheer necessity to be with that one person. You just have to see her and in my case you just have to listen to this song.

Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2YnDlEMXiU

Lyric of the Day #46: “No Rain,” by Blind Melon

3 Aug

For your morning pleasure I have for you a band who shoves it in your face that they have the ability to sleep all day. I kid, I kid. “No Rain,” by Blind Melon (a.k.a the song that holds together all early 90’s music) was a true revolutionary song that signaled back to acoustic 60’s music. The song sounds like it could have been performed at Woodstock and been greatly enjoyed. Yet, possibly the only difference between this song and 60’s music is that “No Rain” comes with a directed music video which showcases a girl in a bee costume dancing.

Some lyrics:

All I can say is that my life is pretty plain

I like watchin’ the puddles gather rain

And all I can do is just pour some tea for two

and speak my point of view

But it’s not sane, It’s not sane

I just want some one to say to me

I’ll always be there when you wake

– “No Rain,” by Blind Melon off of their 1992 self-titled album

I’ve always loved these lyrics because of their truthfullness. Shannon Hoon, the lead singer and songwriter who unfortunately passed away in 1995 from a drug overdose, seems to be saying that his life is no different then the rest of the world’s population. Doesn’t everyone metaphorically “pour… tea for two” and just hope someone is there to listen to them. Someone there to promise that they will be there when they awake.

Fun Fact: This is a good one. The song is mentioned in an episode of Beavis and Butt-head where they comment on a dwarf in the video of “Safety Dance” by Men Without Hats. Beavis comments, “I think that’s that bee from that Blind Melon video”. Classic.

Song of the Day #45: “New York, New York,” by Frank Sinatra

1 Aug
Frank Sinatra Doing Work

Frank Sinatra Doing Work

Two things are being said with the choice of Sinatra to head the new era of the Music Court. Firstly, it says that I am egotistical person, surrounding all of my posts around events in my life. This one celebrating my glorious return to the lights of New York (at JFK airport). But, hopefully, if you spotted my sarcasm there, you realize that the choice of Sinatra is due to us not discriminating against any music here at The Music Court (seriously we will do anything, From big band to punk pop *does that even exist*) and the song symbolizes a man that embodies greatness, independence, and really good music.

So, what is “New York, New York?” What has made this song so iconic, so recognized by the masses? Why is it one of those songs that everybody recognizes? Is it because of its timeless attribute or because how famous the musician is? Or, is it just a great song? Well, let us take it apart and give some history

First, “New York, New York,” was originally composed and written for the same titled 1977 film by Martin Scorsese. Can you guess who it was written for? Liza Minneli. I know my reaction was a big really too. The song was written by Fred Ebb and composed by John Kander, who were the two members of the popular Broadway team of Kander and Ebb who frequently wrote for big stage actors and actresses. In 1979, Sinatra recorded the song for his 1980 album entitled Trilogy: Past Present Future. The song did not become popular until Sinatra performed it, changed around some lyrics, and made it a charted hit. Since then, it has become one of his most noticeable songs. Seriously, who hears “New York, New York,” and thinks Liza Minelli.

The draw of the song is definitely Sinatra’s croon. It has to be. He belts out this song with such emotion that it becomes alive inside of you. A melody that travels through your ear canals into your long-term memory store in the Hippocampus after hearing the song enough times. (All of that information could be wrong and skewed but hey I ain’t no doc. I’m a English Major. That colloquial english was supposed to be a joke. Yeah, haha, okay.) The song is just memorable. He glorifies New York and makes everyone want to go there. It is a song of overcoming adversity and making it in the big city that never sleeps. The funny thing is, of course, Sinatra found his way quickly to the top of the heap. He made it there in New York, New York! Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da. Sorry!

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