Music Clip of the Week-The Evolution of Clutch

No secret Clutch is one of my alltime favorite bands. Thought I'd post a few of their videos to show how they've progressed over the years...really remarkable, I think.

1. A Shogun Named Marcus- 1993


2.Dragonfly- 2000 (no video, just the song...but it's a great one. This is my boys' favorite album.)


3.Electric worry-2007

Music Clip of the Week-Queen/ Who Wants To Live Forever

I thought I'd post this quintessential eighties classic as a tribute to American Idol contestant Kady Malloy who tried her darndest to win over America w/ her rendition of it. I guess it didnt pay off-heh heh.

But hey, let's enjoy the hokey fun of 'Highlander' anyway.

Music Clip of the Week-Bruce Springsteen/ Girls In Their Summer Clothes

I cannot get enough of this song. Love it. Love...it.

Music Clip of the Week-Gene Kelly in It's Always Fair Weather

An often overlooked piece of Kelly's work...and sincerely one of his best!

Not sure what the deal is with the french subtitles but the song is called 'I Like Myself'.

Music Clip of the Week-Sister Rosetta Tharpe: Up Above My Head

Yes, I'm ashamed I discovered her in the movie, Amelie. But hey, a late discovery is better than no discovery at all. She just makes me so happy!

Music Clip of the Week: The Old Crow Medicine Show

A couple of great video clips from my heroes, The Old Crow Medicine Show:

Music Clip of the Week: Brandi Carlile , The Story

I am an unashamed fan of this woman's incredible voice! Actually made it a point to buy her cd last weekend which was a worthy purchase indeed. She just moves me, I guess. My favorite pop discovery since The Killers...

Music Clip of the Week: Scott H. Biram-Hit The Road

I tried doing a monthly feature last year and kept up w/ it somewhat but I figure w/ all these great videos I've been seeing lately, a weekly feature would be more in order this year. We'll see how long I can keep it up.

Scott H Biram was featured in that documentary I mentioned on my last entry, 'Seven Signs' by Col JD Wilkes (of the Legendary Shack Shakers). The performance was the best part of the film, for me, and made me realize again how great he really is. I've been listening to him like crazy lately. Enjoy the Dirty Ol' One Man Band...Oh! and incidentally, the auto accident footage in the video is Scott's own. He was in bad shape for a while and performed some of his shows from a wheelchair...

Goodbye Dan...

I was just informed that Dan Fogelberg passed away Sunday. I know I should probably have known he was sick, my childhood having been wrapped up in his music the way it was, but I didnt. This video clip reminds me that I need to get out all of his albums and play them back to back...such an extraordinary talent. He was my first concert ever as well.

Song For A Winter's Night...

The lamp is burnin' low upon my table top
The snow is softly falling
The air is still within the silence of my room
I hear your voice softly calling
If I could only have you near
To breathe a sigh or two
I would be happy just to hold the hands I love
Upon this winter's night with you

The smoke is rising in the shadows overhead
My glass is almost empty
I read again between the lines upon each page
The words of love you sent me

If I could know within my heart
That you were lonely too
I would be happy just to hold the hands I love
Upon this winter's night with you

The fire is dying now, my lamp is growing dim
The shades of night are lifting
The morning light steals across my windowpane
Where webs of snow are drifting

If I could only have you near
To breathe a sigh or two
I would be happy just to hold the hands I love
Upon this winter's night with you
And to be once again with you


-Words and music by Gordon Lightfoot

HUM

I heard this song on a Cadillac commercial today and was reminded how off-my-butt-crazy I was inlove with it when it came out. I bought most of their albums and still love the band alot. Sometimes you just need reminders.

Here is the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=legOdkkUzP0

September Lullabies...

Last year I posted the lyrics to this- one of my favorite songs- for my friend Heather and her new baby, Ava. I'm so inlove with the lyrics that I'm shamelessly posting it again for myself. No baby yet, by the way. But I'm starting to feel very ready for the weight of that little body on my heart and that fuzzy little baby head under my chin:

PALE SEPTEMBER
lyrics by: Fiona Apple

Pale September
I wore the time like a dress that year
The autumn days swung soft around me like cotton
on my skin

But as the embers of the summer
lost their breath and disappeared
My heart went cold and only hollow rhythms resounded
from within
But then he rose brilliant as the moon in full
and sank within the burrows of my keep

And all my armour falling down
in a pile at my feet
And my winter giving way to warm
as I'm singing him to sleep

He goes along just like a water lily
Gentle on the surface of his thoughts his body floats
Unweighed down by passion or intensity
Yet unaware of the depth upon which he coasts
And he finds a home in me
For what misfortune sows, he knows my touch will reap

And all my armour falling down,
in pile at my feet
And my winter giving way to warm,
as I'm singing him to sleep

Officially Bottomed Out...

Excuse me if I digress, but WHAT has happened to this gal? No, I'm not a 'fan', and no, I don't think she's got some extraordinary talent or anything but you had to admit that she had it together for a while there. Her VMA performances were pretty legendary and seemed to 'top' themselves each year what with her crazy outfits, killer body, and increasingly racy songs. Role model she wasnt, but media babe she definitely was. Now it seems that she is an entirely different person...one who has no idea how to dance, perform, or even speak coherantly (again, not that she was ever particularly adept at any of those things). Yes, the body is good for a mother of two (she evidently still feels comfortable at the gym) but my husband and I both were completely awed by how truly terrible her much-touted 'reappearance' at the VMA's was. She stumbled around the stage like a very nervous 'Britney impersonator', almost like she was embarassed to be seen. The dancing was laughable (if you could even call it that), the lip-synching was off, and she kept casting her eyes from side to side in what could only be termed as blatant confusion. SO wierd.

Speaking of wierd, the whole VMA program this year was kooky. Initially, the idea of changing the venue to Las Vegas seemed like a good one but now that the fiasco is over, I don't remember a thing about it (except for the hilarity and embarassment caused by Sarah Silverman who-although quite tasteless much of the time-comes up w/ some truly inspired bits). Mostly, I believe, this is because of the poor construction of the show itself which came off more as a New Year's Party than an awards show. The performances were rediculously inadequate and the best ones were cut off by commercial breaks and difficult to observe because of the cramped quarters of the hotel suites that served as their respective 'stages'. Also, it was no secret that most of the award recipients and presenters were intoxicated, almost to the point of slurred speach. Jamie Fox and Justin TImberlake especially seemed to be throwing back a few too many. I don't know if MTV has learned its lesson from this chaotic attempt at 'modernizing' their standard awards show but if not, I hope they do some major tweaking before they try it again next year. This was a waste of time for everyone involved, if you ask me.

And why exactly do I watch this show every year, you may ask? I have NO idea. Teenage habits die hard, I guess.

Neko Case

Has anyone heard of Neko Case? I discovered her last year (kinda late, I'll admit) when that show 'On the Edge of Country' featured a video of her's. I can't remember the name of the song but it showed scenes from that Cate Blanchett movie 'The Gift' in it, so it was obviously a couple of years old, even then. More recently, my husband got the album 'Fox Confessor Brings the Flood' and I am officially a big ol' fan! Her video for 'Maybe Sparrow' is in pretty heavy rotation on the above mentioned show, and it gives me chills. It's my favorite song from the album. But really, the whole thing is worth your time.

I guess you could say her genre is contemporary folk but that just doesnt seem to really convey the idea of her sound. Very original.

Her myspace page is : http://www.myspace.com/nekocase

And you can check out that video to Maybe Sparrow here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOa5BujYYPQ&mode=related&search=

enjoy!

The Soundtrack of My Life...my choice. :)

My friend, Moose, decided to add a little 'post script' to her 'Soundtrack of my life' blog entry by including the ones SHE would choose. I thought I'd do the same.

This is the soundtrack of my life...by choice, not ipod. :)

The Soundtrack of My Life :

Opening Credits: "Into the Mystic-Van Morrison"-okay, this is my theme song ...my brother and I danced to it at my wedding and it's always reminded me of being young...and 'Dream a Little Dream',the Corey Feldman flick. LOL

2. Birth: "Doomsday"-Mephiskapheles-after all, us 1975 kids had a lot to contend with

3. First Day At School: "Kindergarten"-Faith No More-seriously one of my all time favorite songs.

4.Falling In Love: "Buttercup"-Brad. Yes, my hubby and I have 'a song'. This one is it.

5. Fight Song: "Cocaine Blues"-Johnny Cash...yeah, that's right. I said it.

6. Breaking Up: "You Will Be Loved Again"-The Cowboy Junkies...just rips my heart out and stomps it flat.

7. Prom: "C'mon Eileen"-Dexy's Midnight Runners- Okay so I didnt go to prom...but if I did, I'd be really mad if this song didnt play.

8. Life: "Ain't That a Kick in the Head"-Dean Martin...another perfect song and one of my very favorites

9. Mental Breakdown: "Twisted"-Joni Mitchell

10. Driving: "Puke and Cry"-Dinosaur Jr.

11. Flashback: "Release Me"-Pearl Jam

12. Wedding: "Thank You"-Tori Amos...the song we danced to and a brilliant cover of a brilliant song

13. Birth of a Child: "Pale September"-Fiona Apple...'and all my armour fallen down/in a pile at my feet/ and my winter giving way to warm/ as I'm singing him to sleep'

14. Final Battle-'Tear it Down'-The Old Crow Medicine Show...'when you feel the mule kickin' in your soul/ you gotta tear it down'.

15. Death Scene: 'Song of the Siren'-Liz Frazier...that's a pretty idea.

16. Funeral: "Nessun Dorma"-Luciano Pavoratti OR "Clementine" by Bobby Darin...either one would be fine. :)

17. Ending Credits: "My Gal is Red Hot"-Billy Lee Riley and His Little Green Men

Giant Dancing Dinosaurs...

Heh heh. No, there will be no pictures of dancing iguanadons on this entry. That was my not-so-clever way of combining three little subjects in one.

Last night was the first 'competition' episode of 'So You Think You Can Dance',my favorite of all talent shows. As mediocre as American Idol was this year, I won't be a bit surprised if this one takes over as America's favorite talent competion. Last season was phenomenal and introduced us to some great performers and fantastically choreographed routines (like the one above). This year, judging by last night's show, will be just as good or better. Wade Robson (choreographer extraordinairre) will have a bigger part in the routines this season and the dancers are a little more varied as well. I'm so excited to see what comes! (Can you tell I watched Star Search religiously as a kid?)

Yesterday, I also finished reading the book 'Giant' by Edna Ferber. I have to admit I was strangely disappointed with it and this was a surprise since the 1957 movie starring Rock Hudson, Liz Taylor, and James Dean is one of my all-time favorites. The book lacked so many of the characters and great scenes from the movie so my hat is off to the screen-writers for adding this stuff. As most of you know, it is a rare thing indeed for a movie to outshine the book it is taken from. In this case, Ferber's writing was a bit more stiff than usual and the characters less dimensional than the movie. Also, it seemed like more of one-sided commentary against the Lone Star State than the movie respresented. I'll post a review of the movie on my movie review blog in the next few days or so.

And also last night, hubby was doing is daily online browsing and discovered that The Black Keys are playing on the 22nd at the Nashville City Hall (a club, not an actual government building...ha) and WHO is opening for them? Dinosaur Jr! I am not only thrilled to my fanatical toes but shocked at this unexpectedness and going online to purchase our tickets today! Who knew such a thing could happen??? I have been listening to J Mascis' band since my teens (I actually discovered them late) and adore them, to say the least. They are the quintessential summertime band, ideal for driving about in the heat with the windows down. I've been listening to them alot lately and this was icing on the cake for me. Yay!

Okay, this is fun!

The Soundtrack of Your Life:

(A friend put this on her blog months ago and I never put it on mine, though I did intend to because it's very fun. Here's how it works: Open your computer music files, ipod etc and set to 'shuffle'. Whatever song plays first goes in the first slot (no cheating!). When you go to a new question, hit the 'next' button' and continue doing so until all blanks are filled.)

1. Opening Credits: "Folsom Prison Blues"-The Reverend Horton Heat

2. Birth: "Give It To Me"-The Stray Cats

3. First Day At School: "All I've Got"-The Hellacopters

4.Falling In Love: "Then I Close My Eyes"-David Gilmour

5. Fight Song: "Where the Flavor Is"-Mudhoney

6. Breaking Up: "Why Georgia"-John Mayer

7. Prom: "Digging the Grave"-Faith No More

8. Life: "Paranoid Opioid"-Corrosion of Conformity (LOL...that is just a coincidence, I SWEAR!)

9. Mental Breakdown: "Into the Void"-Kyuss

10. Driving: "In a Jar"-Dinosaur Jr. (a happy conicidence this time since Dinosaur Jr is my favorite band to drive to of all time!)

11. Flashback: "The Selector"-Missing Words

12. Wedding: "Red Red Wine" -Tony Tribe

13. Birth of a Child: "So In Love"-KD Lang

14. Final Battle:"My First Taste of Texas"-Ed Bruce (haha. I guess that shows you how 'non confrontational I am)

15. Death Scene: "Blue Suede Shoes"-Carl Perkins

16. Funeral: "Motor City is Burning"-MC5

17. Ending Credits: Cinema Paradiso (Se)-Josh Groban (couldnt end any prettier :) )

Okay guys, get to it!

12 Years and Still 'Twitterpated'...

On May 20, 1995, the old man and I got 'hitched'. We were married at The Magnolia Room in Overton Square (Memphis) at the ripe old age of nineteen. Two and a half kids and one house project later, I can honestly say we've made a nice little success of us. I guess sometimes even teenagers know what they're doing. :)

( Listen honey, they're playing our song! So help me, it still makes me swoon. )

Song Title: Buttercup

Artist: Brad

http://www.badongo.com/file/3151684