A Holiday Present

Several weeks ago I put out a Tweet encouraging artists to submit their own song with the story behind it. I received two responses that I wanted to share with you, my readers. My original intention was to put the story into my own words here for you, but then I thought, "who the hell am I?" and so instead, have just decided to post their own words and music here. So here they are, my holiday present for you, because what's better than new music?!

Susan Kane - Kesey

Angelo Melendez - What Isn't

Thankful

This is a week of giving thanks and I have a lot to be thankful for. The list is so long in fact that I could take up a whole blog post with it, but that's not why you are here is it? As turkey day has come creeping upon me it's occurred to me that there really aren't a lot of Thanksgiving songs - except, of course, the Adam Sandler classic. Who doesn't love to eat turkey? Well, unless you're a vegetarian, but I digress. It's kind of pathetic actually given the overwhelming number of Christmas songs in comparison. Why no turkey caroling? Why no radio stations dedicated to thankful music? I say - LAME!

So I started thinking about songs that were about being thankful, or giving thanks or just had something to do with the word thank, and there are actually quite a few (still not enough for a dedicated Sirius channel though). I knew that I couldn't feature them all so I decided to pick the one I thought was the best - "Be Thankful" by Natalie Cole.

LYRICS

This is the perfect song for preparing stuffing, glazing the ham, or singing door to door if you want to pave the way for a new neighborhood tradition. It's simple, catchy, and will be stuck in your head long after the tryptophan has warn off. In addition to that, it has a powerful upbeat message that is sure to make even crabby Aunt Cathy smile. It was actually featured on Natalie's 1977 album - 'Thankful' so if you really wanted to get into the holiday spirit you could play the whole thing, although you would probably only recognize the song "Our Love" as it was the only hit on the album - reaching #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 list.

That's my pick - my turkey jam so to speak - message me on Twitter (@kateoquinn) to tell me yours!

Two out of Three? Seriously?

It was 80's day at the hair stylist yesterday. There was plenty of crimped and feather hair, leg warmers, bangle bracelets, and I'm pretty sure I might've even seen a Member's Only jacket. In addition to the righteous duds, they also had some totally bodacious 80's music playing in the background. Halfway through my snipping, one of the worst songs of the 70's and into the 80's came onto the boombox - "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad" by Meatloaf.

This song was on the "Bat Out of Hell" album - sandwiched in between, "You Took the Words Right out of my Mouth" and "Paradise by the Dashboard Light". Now all three songs were written by Jim Steinman, which is interesting only in so far as how one person could write such dramatically different lyrics. 

Of course I, along with every other person alive in the 1980's, has heard this song and pondered to themselves - What kind of an a-hole could actually say that to a woman? - but it didn't occur to me until that moment in the cutting chair how terribly awful that song truly is. What's even more pathetic than the sentiment of the song, is the fact that I haven't been able to get it out of my brain for over 24 hours now. What a depressing earworm. 

So I started thinking that maybe the Loaf was refusing to leave my brain for a reason. The first thing I did was to add a new line to my book referencing the song. It actually hadn't dawned on me until yesterday that the lead character in my book, Jay, was essentially singing this song to me on repeat for almost a year before I realized the mute button was on and opened my ears. With that mission accomplished, the earworm still was burrowing its way into my consciousness. Hence, I'm giving the song its own blog post and hoping that that will be enough for the cheesy music Gods. 

The story behind this song? It was an attempt to write a 'simple' song. It was the last song written for 'Paradise' and in a conversation with a cast member of one of Steinman's musicals (he'd been writing them since school-age) he was asked why he had to write such complicated songs. The challenge became to write something simple. During the conversation, Elvis' "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" was on the radio. Can't you write something simple like that? - So he went home and came up with the chorus, "I want you, I need you, but there ain't no way I'm ever gonna love you". He called it his most simple song, and the epitome of cheese had ascended past the likes of "Billy Don't be a Hero," "Seasons in the Sun," and even the impossible to beat, "Disco Duck". 

The only question I can think to ask is which song do you think was the 2nd WORST song of the 1970's?

And one last note - I'd like to give a shout-out to Alex at Lens Crafters for making the proce pick out some awesome stage glasses yesterday. They are purple, sparkly, have a paisley design, and I can't wait to rock them on stage this Friday at the Music Buffet.

Recording Session

I've successfully completed my first recording session. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it went really smoothly. We worked from 12-7 on Saturday. I had to control my giddiness at the sight of all the equipment. Once I put the headphones on and could hear my own voice I was in heaven. (I've always been obsessed with the sound of my own voice, which is not something that I'm ashamed of as I'm pretty convinced that all singers must have that same opinion - with the exception of Chad Kroeger from Nickelback because no one likes his voice). 

The concept was - LIVE. I played guitar and sang together. Guitar was picked up through an external mic and through the amp. Vocals were recorded in a different mic. We recorded almost every song in one take, except for 'What We Need' which was just as much of a pain in the ass as the guy it was written for. It's as complicated as I get for guitar parts and we did the songs in the order they appear in the book, so it was late in the day and my fingers were sore. We eventually had to record the guitar and vocals separately on that one because I was wincing in pain so much that it affected my singing. 

In a few weeks, I'll be able to listen and tweak as needed. I'll also be able to see if anything needs to be re-recorded.  As soon as things are polished I'll be offering a first listen to all of you. 

Thanks for all of your support and for reading my blog. I know that if music matters to you all as much as it does to me, that you find this place a comforting one. 

And one last note, I'll get back to writing about the stories behind the music now - at least for a little while - until the next milestone comes down the pipe, or is it pike? Damn - even Google doesn't seem to know - oh well!

P.S. Here are some pictures from recording day - notice the bitching guitars I got to play (not mine BTW - once I found out I had access to a Taylor and 2 Gibsons, my plastic-assed Ovation stayed in its case)

The Music Behind Me

I've been stalled out lately. Not with everything, just with this blog. It's kind of hard to write about other people's music when you are obsessing about your own. My music has come out of hiding. I brushed off the tiny black spiral notebook that holds any song I've written of quality. The rest are on scraps of paper and Greyhound bus tickets inside of an old, faded, purple binder on the bottom shelf in my office. They are too embarrassed to be seen (they seemed like good ideas at the time).

So I've been wanting to write about the stories behind my own music, even though I'm sure these posts won't draw a crowd like talking about how 'Pretty Girl Rock' makes me want to stab myself in the eye, at least they are true to me and something that I feel needs to come out.

What caused the musician in me to come out of hibernation? A little divine intervention I think, if you really want to know the truth. My life, as of the past year, has been doing this weird circle thing that most lives seem to do (at least that's what the songs tell you - I hadn't had the experience myself until recently) **Total song side-track - "The Circle Game " by Joni Mitchell or "Wheel" by John Mayer - Discuss **

VS.

Back on track - I was dragged to Maine for the 8th grade, what seems like years ago, from Buffalo, NY. I was already a sullen teenager - this move did not help the process. I went to school in a tiny town and lived down a mile long dirt road on a horse farm. I came from a house that didn't have a front yard - what's grass? - I was in shock, in many ways. After a year in that tiny school, I moved on to high school at a slightly bigger, but still tiny by my experiences, school, in a different tiny town. After 4 years I graduated, went off to college, and tried to find out who the hell I was and why I was here. In those 4 years I started playing guitar seriously and had dreams of being a professional musician. I also fell in love, got trampled on, and repeated the cycle like it was laundry day.

Flash forward to 2 years ago. I'm living with my husband approximately 30 minutes from that tiny town that I always swore I would get as far away as possible from and I decide to write a book about that time in college when everything was ripe, in your face, and wrenching. I finish the book and a funny thing happens - I get a job as a teacher at that same tiny school - in the same tiny classroom.

In comes the janitor to clean my classroom and we start chatting. He plays guitar - small world, me too. He's from just outside of Buffalo - smaller world. He runs an open mic night every month - Do I want to come play? Funny you should ask...

And as it is in the circle, my time in the tiny town comes to an end just after a year and I move to another school in (you guessed it) the slightly bigger, but still tiny town - across the street from where I went to high school. There I get an email from someone else who works in our school district, who has heard about me through the man from Buffalo. He has a band that needs a singer. I am a singer that has always wanted to sing for a band. Through our chatting it comes up that I have lots of my own tunes, and even a book that I'm trying to shop. Turns out he doesn't just have a band, he has connections.

So here I am, exactly 2 weeks away from recording my own album of songs that will be a companion to the book I wrote. None of which could have been possible without many, many things happening in my life. So whether you believe, "we can't return, we can only look behind from where we came, and go round and round and round in the circle game," or "that's the way this wheel keeps working", that is the way it has worked for me.

Modern Love

I've been really excited to write about this new album since I downloaded it a couple weeks ago, but I haven't been able to stop listening to it long enough to do so - until now. That album is Matt Nathanson's latest - Modern Love. 

The single that's all over the radio right now is 'Faster' which features an infectious horn section and an ear worm hook. Add to that, Matt's raspy voice and you have a song that any girl's toes would curl to hear. And unlike so many pop albums lately, this one doesn't just start and end with a bang of one radio hit. It is brimming full of soon to be hits that fight for control of your brain. And even better - it's not all about the pep. While their are plenty of songs that make you want to roll your window down and bob your head, there are also plenty that will make you take pause and think - some do both.

This album analyzes every aspect of a relationship you could think of - so it's for everyone. Did you just find love? Are you wondering where you stand with your current love? Do you wish you never met the last love? There's a song for you on this album. There are lines that you will swear were written exactly for your situation, or definitely one that you've been in before. One that knocked me out was from the song that lends its name to the CD. It's told from the girl's point of view, "I burned my house down, just to hear 'em scream my name." Oh yes, I have.

And that is the beauty of Matt Nathanson's song writing abilities. He can take seemingly mundane, everyday things and write them in such beautiful ways that will tug at you and have you yearning to hear them again and again. His rhyming schemes create images in your head, and tickle your ears. Nothing is ordinary or predictable. This is what the word 'lyrics' was written for. These aren't just words set to music.

If you want to experience everything that Matt Nathanson is, listen to 'Kiss Quick'. Sadly, this will probably never be a song that they play on the radio as it is too real. It shows you the raw emotion that can be portrayed in a song. Basic music, beautifully written and thoughtfully carried out lyrics, a raw delivery that paints a picture of a late Saturday night alone, all blend together to showcase what the radio will never show you about this talented musician.

I just can't say enough about this album. It's a rarity - good from start to finish, don't skip anything. Your new favorite song is on this album, I guarantee it. Oh! And if you decide you like him, he's a great person to follow on Facebook. He posts an album of the day everyday, he's very funny, and recently he just put together an iTunes playlist of songs that he enjoys. He definitely keeps you in the loop as a fan. And if you REALLY like him, you should go see him live on his new 'All Night Noise' Tour!

Songs: Hot to the Touch

Almost all of the country has been in the midst of a pretty significant heat wave lately, with seemingly no end in sight. The best I can offer in the relief department are some songs about it being hot. Although, now that I've said it, probably listening to songs about being hot isn't much of a relief. So better yet, listen to these songs when you are in the safe confines of air conditioning or a body of water.

The second caveat I want to make is that I had a hard time when picking these songs out. There were also many good songs about summer that didn't necessarily fit into the 'hot' category, but were still mentionable. So, later this summer, I will have a separate post about those specific songs.

To the list...

Top 5 Hot Weather Songs

1. Summer in the City - Lovin' Spoonful (don't be fooled by the title)

Released in 1966. #1 Billboard Hot 100. #393 of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

2. Heat Wave - Martha and The Vandellas

Released in 1963. #4 Billboard Hot 100. #1 Billboard R&B Chart.

3. Hot, Hot, Hot - Buster Poindexter

Released in 1987 by Poindexter, and originally in 1982 by Arrow. Is played as the opening song at Jimmy Buffet Concerts.

4. The Heat is On - Glen Fry

Released in 1984 as part of the Beverly Hills Cop Soundtrack. #2 Billboard Hot 100 Chart.

5. Hot in Herre - Nelly

Released in 2002. #36 on VH1's Greatest Songs of Hip-Hop. Listed in 1,001 Songs to Hear Before you Die. #1 on Billboard Hot 100.

Which ones will you be listening to this summer?

Bartender, Pass me a Song

I'm back with another weird holiday. One that I bet very few people have ever heard of or know about. It's Legal Drinking Age Day! Now while I wasn't able to find the history behind this bizarre holiday, it did lead me to thinking about great drinking songs, but that's as far as I got. The problem? I don't really drink, and have never been drunk - so who the hell am I to talk to you about drinking songs? 

So I went to my best reference - the internet - and found numerous lists of the best drinking songs. Instead of being fake and presenting them to you like I have even the slightest idea of what I'm talking about I'm going to do this instead. I've posted links to the lists below. I would love for you to check these out and then report back here about what YOU think is the best drinking song. Then I'll crack open an ice cold root beer and listen to the best ones. 

Top 10 Drinking Song - askmen.com

Ten Great Songs about Drinking - latimes.com

Hip-Hops 25 Greatest Drinking Songs - complex.com

Top 100 Drinking Song - barstoolmountain.com

That should be enough to at least get you started. Report back and let me know what you think!

Who's in the Doghouse?

Today is 'National Get Out of the Doghouse' day, and you know how much I love weird holidays! So I figured that today would be the perfect time to talk about songs that say 'I'm Sorry'. In my opinion it is actually one of the better qualities and purposes of a song - that it can do the talking for you when it might be too difficult to do it on your own. The problem is - finding the right song. It's got to be just right if you are going to be able to play it and get yourself out of the doghouse and back into the bed snuggling the one you love.

So I took some time to really analyze apologetic songs and I have landed on what I believe to be THE perfect song that if used properly (and not often) will succeed in the task every time. The song - 'If You Leave me Now' by Chicago. Now wait! Don't judge before you hear me out. I know this song is cheesy, lame and without any real lyrical substance, but I will propose to you that that is exactly why it would work! The song was the biggest hit that Chicago ever had and was number one in America for 2 weeks. It's also been covered more than 100 times! This song not only portrays the feelings of pain and regret in as few and relatively ambiguous words as possible, but it does so in such a ridiculously cheese-ball way that there is no way your partner wouldn't at least crack a smile, if not laugh when they heard it. The song would be especially effective if you were to sing it, but the vintage video would probably be just as good.

Now granted, this is just a theory, but I am pretty confident in the potency of the tune and would welcome any of you who are currently in the doghouse to use this national holiday, as well as this national treasure of a song by a great American rock band to your advantage and report back to us if it does work.

Lyrics

What songs have gotten you out of the doghouse?

Moves Like Jagger - Maroon 5 Featuring Christina Aguilera

Summer Song Hopeful #8:

Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5 Featuring Christina Aguilera

Lyrics

Pros:

• This song wasn't on the original list, but as those of you who follow me on Twitter (@kateoquinn) know, after watching the live debut of this song on NBC's The Voice, I knew that I would have to make an exception. 
• The beat to this song, as to 95% of Maroon 5's songs, is infectious. A mix of techno and rock,  there is no way that your finger won't automatically gravitate to the window button when this song hits the radio this summer.
• The whistling and repetitiveness of the song also make it a very catchy, and easy to sing along with hook. 
• This is the first song on the list that absolutely meets the summer song criteria for being current. It debuted on June 21st, and has held a nice little home on the charts since. There is no doubt that this is a summer song.

Cons:

• This is the trouble with most Maroon 5 songs. They are pretty overtly sexual. Although this one isn't as in your face as 'sinking my fingertips into every inch of you', it still does say, 'shit', 'drunk' (although in reference to kissing, not drinking - take that Ke$ha), 'tongue' and Christina's part could be very uncomfortable for grandma when she sings 'rub me right'. The flip of this is that grannie might have been a big Rolling Stones fan and know exactly what Adam Levine means when he sings 'I've got them moves like Jagger'. This could put her into a reminiscent state long enough to gloss over the other content.

Fun Facts:

• This song was just one of many to become very successful because of the show The Voice. Seriously, check out the iTunes Singles chart right now and you'll see what I mean. That show is way more powerful than Idol ever has been. (Check out the live debut below)
• This song was the first time that two former Best New Artist Grammy winners have collaborated for a Billboard Hot 100 hit. (Christina got the Grammy in 2000, beating out, among others, Britney Spears, and Maroon 5 in 2005 beating out among others, controversial rapper Kanye West. 

Does 'Moves Like Jagger' have what it takes to be crowned Summer Song 2011?

Paris (Ooh La La) - Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

Summer Song Hopeful #7:

Paris (Ooh La La) by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

Lyrics

Pros:

• The dirty grit of this song screams for you to crank the volume up and lower the windows down this summer. There is no way you can groove to this beat without feeling like a sexy rock star - male or female.
• This song follows traditional blues structure and so repeats most of its content - making it catchy by default. Add a line like 'ooh la la la la la la la' and you've got us hooked.  (And did you catch the subtle 'ooh's' in the background that stick in your head without you even fully hearing them? Brilliant.

Cons:

• This song has a similar problem to Mike Posner's 'Cooler Than Me' in that it was debuted last summer, but thanks to the stagnate radio waves didn't make it to Maine until recently. Which is made even more ironic by the fact that Grace hails from Vermont. 
• The content of this song is borderline, but it definitely kicks itself over the line in the video. The running guitar riffs, the powerful yet still feminine squeak in her voice and the bluesy bass line of this song basically scream sex. A little awkward with grandma in the car. 
  

Fun Facts:

• I wrote a feature on this song back in April when it was just getting mainstream play here. Check it out for more fun facts about this awesome tune!

Does 'Paris (Ooh La La)' have what it takes to be crowned Summer Song 2011?

Price Tag - Jessie J Featuring B.o.B

Summer Song Hopeful #6:

Price Tag by Jessie J Featuring B.o.B

Lyrics

Pros:

• Between the reggae influence and the sing-a-long style chorus this song is sure to get stuck into the fibers of your brain tissue for the entire summer. 
• The message of this song is very up-beat and positive (even though it says 'hoes' - who could argue her point?, and even seems to mirror Mike Posner's 'Stop being fake!' anthem. 

Cons:

• This song was released in January of 2011, so if you wanted to be a real stickler about it you could say that it doesn't count. I would submit to you - exhibit A. My own blog post from March when I said that this song would be a hit in the U.S. soon, and it is - now, not then.

Fun Facts:

• This song has reached #1 in 14 countries including Jessie J's home country of England. (It only reached #23 here in the U.S.)
• The video is really bizarre and features a music box, a giant teddy bear and marionettes.
• Check out the video below to see 12 year old Maddi Jane, a young girl from Chicago known for her YouTube videos, performing a just as good if not better version of the song!

Do you think 'Price Tag' has what it takes to be crowned Summer Song 2011?

Cooler Than Me - Mike Posner

Summer Song Hopeful #5:

Cooler Than Me by Mike Posner

Lyrics

Pros:

• This song follow the very successful 'Thong Song' formula. That is to say, it found a really catchy couple of lyrics and it just repeats the crap out of them. I'm not knocking it. It really is catchy - and easy to remember at karaoke too!
• The beat of this song does double duty. It is capable of fueling you at the beach or the club. Not many songs can say that. 
• The message behind this song is one that everyone can get behind. 'Stop being fake!' It is the 21st Century 'Your So Vain'. What grandma wouldn't like to kick some skinny bitch off her high horse? Grannie approved!

Cons:

• The only con to making this the best Summer Song of 2011, is that it really should've been crowned Summer Song 2010! It was released in April 2010, but because (as I've already proven) Maine is so behind the times, this song didn't hit the radio waves until late fall 2010. What a rip off!
  

Fun Facts:

• The songs vocals were recorded by Posner on his computer through a really cheap microphone. The lyrics were written about a girl in one of his college classes who had snubbed him. 
• Posner's mom really liked this song better than his others because of the message and because there wasn't a lot of swearing in it. Looks like mom has good taste too.

Do you think 'Cooler Than Me' has what it takes to be crowned Summer Song 2011?

The Big Bang - Rock Mafia

Summer Song Hopeful #4:

The Big Bang by Rock Mafia

Lyrics

Pros:

• The casual whistling and the repetitiveness of this song make it incredibly catchy. I heard it first on the radio in Las Vegas over Christmastime and it stuck in my head for the entire vacation. 
• The beat makes you tap your toe, but it is also interesting to listen to. It's definitely not a 'Ringo' beat. 

Cons:

• Released in November 2010, it isn't exactly current, but then again this song still isn't huge as a radio hit in Maine even though in Vegas it was being played every 10th song. 
• The content is dicey. The big bang could be a sexual reference, or if you've seen the video featuring Miley Cyrus it could mean a car crash that kills your crazy ex-girlfriend. You might be able to slip this song by grandma, but definitely not the video.
  

Fun Facts:

• Rock Mafia is a production team/band that has worked with several up and coming artists - including Miley Cyrus, which would explain why she is featured in the video. 
• There are rumors of turning the music video into a feature film, also starring Miley. If the music video serves as the trailer the movie is sure to be about how dating Cyrus can turn you into a schizophrenic and should be avoided at all costs, no matter how much eye make-up and tousled beach hair she throws at you.
  

Does 'The Big Bang' have what it takes to be crowned Summer Song 2011?

Blow - Ke$ha

Summer Song Hopeful #3:

Blow by Ke$ha

Lyrics

Pros:

• The beat on this song is definitely meant for the club rather than the beach, but even so it will still get your head moving in the car on the way to any summer destination.
• I am not a huge Ke$ha fan, but this song has somehow worked it's way in to my brain recently. Maybe it was from the repeated exposure while chaperoning middle school dances. No matter how it happened, there is no denying that this song is catchy.
• This song was released in Feb. 2011, but as with the other songs I've mentioned so far, it hasn't received a ton of radio play until recently.

Cons:

• While this song isn't exactly inappropriate, I don't think you could get away with calling it family friendly either. I think grandma would be quite confused by the content, specifically 'making it rain' - that has an entirely different meaning to the older generation. I also think grandma might become agitated by the auto-tuned synthesized effects put on Ke$ha's voice. Can sound induce a seizure like a strobe light can?

Fun Facts:

• In interview Ke$ha has stated that this song is for her fans. She said in Beatweek Magazine, "I love that I say ‘we’re taking over’ in it because my fans and me have started a cult. We’re misfits of society but we’ve banded together and we’re starting a revolution. We are taking over. So get used to it."
• Much like her other music videos, this one is equally as bizarre featuring unicorns, James Van der Beek, and laser gun battles. 
• Perhaps the most interesting of all - Ke$ha reportedly earned an almost perfect score on her SAT's, which leaves me without much left to say but - HUH!?

Do you think 'Blow' has what it takes to be crowned Summer Song 2011?

Dog Days are Over - Florence and the Machine

Summer Song 2011 Hopeful #2:

Dog Days are Over by Florence and the Machine

Lyrics

Pros:

• The combination of drums and soulful lyrics will not only knock you out of your seat, but will also stick in your head long after you've heard it.
• The beat is nothing short of primal. Those deep drum sounds and hand claps would give even Bill Gates rhythm.
• Lyrically I think you could say that this song is open to interpretation, but with that being said - it is definitely family friendly. 
• This song has the hippy good-feeling-ness that you can really get behind!

Cons:

• This song isn't exactly 'Current'. It was first released on December 1, 2008 and then re-released on April 12, 2010, so it's been out for awhile. Even so, I think that currently it has really received main stream radio play (at least in Maine - which as I've already established can be a bit behind the times). So this is a toss-up.
• This song has the hippy good-feeling-ness that you might not want to get behind.
  

Fun Facts:

• The song was inspired by a huge neon sign called "Dog Days Are Over" by artist Ugo Rondinone which Florence used to see every day while riding her bike over Waterloo Bridge in London.
• It was recorded with no instruments in a studio the size of "loo".
• The song was recently covered by The Voice contestant Vicci Martinez and her recording is currently #23 on the iTunes download charts. (If you haven't seen it you should and you'll understand why 'The Voice' kicks American Idol's ass any day of the week)

Do you think 'Dog Days are Over' has what it takes to be crowned Summer Song 2011?

The Lazy Song - Bruno Mars

Summer Song 2011 Hopeful #1:

The Lazy Song by Bruno Mars

Lyrics

Pros:

• Upbeat tempo (Reggae influenced)
• Fun and whimsical lyrics
• Catchy whistling (That actually isn't featured on the album version)
• Awesome video featuring Poreotics - an all male, Asian dance crew from California dressed up as monkeys!
• References to popular things that will help time stamp the song for nostalgic purposes (ex. P90X and The Snuggie)

Cons:

• Some lyrics are definitely questionable. Particularly, "meet a really nice girl and have some really nice sex", and "throw my hand in my pants" - not grandma approved!
• It was released as a single Feb. 15, 2011 so it might not fall into the 'summer range' - although since I live in Maine where hairstyles from the 1980's are still being worn, I will say that this song just hit the radio waves about a month ago.

Fun Facts:

• This song has made it on the charts of over 20 countries including Hungary where it reached #1!
• They have recently released another 'official' video of the song, featuring a very disturbing scene of 'Spock' peeing, which can be seen below.

Do you think The Lazy Song has what it takes to be THE Summer Song of 2011?

Summer Songs

June 21st, 2011 is the official first day of summer. Also known as the Summer Solstice. It is the longest day of the year which is bittersweet, because it also means that the days will only get shorter from here until the Winter Solstice. Summer is a big deal to me, and I think to most people. It is a time when you can basically live outside, barbeque, go swimming, sing around bonfires, and stay out late with friends. Not to mention that summer also means vacation for me because I'm a teacher - does it get any better?

Because I've always been passionate about summer, I've also always had a 'summer song'. I'm quite obsessed with the idea actually and have even given my students writing assignments about their summer songs. I've also tried in recent years to find the perfect summer album, but that is so tricky because very rarely can you find an entire disc that you could listen to with the windows rolled down while on your way for a picnic at the lake. (The last 'summer album' I had was The Secret Handshake's 'My Name up in Lights')

So what criteria must a song meet in order to qualify for 'summer song' status? Well, I imagine you could argue that it would be different for everyone, but I think there are some rules that cross all boundaries. 

1. Stickiness - The song has to be catchy. This does not necessarily mean well-written, clever or a masterpiece. For example, my 2000 summer song - 'The Thong Song' by Sisqo or my 2001 summer song - 'Oops! Hit 'em up Style' by Blue Cantrell. 

2. Beat - A summer song must be up tempo. Even if you just got dumped. No one wants to listen to For the First Time by The Script while at the community pool. 

3. Family Friendly - This criteria might be controversial, but to me it is important. I think you should be able to listen to a summer song anywhere. A 4th of July family picnic, on the beach, riding to get an ice cream. If you have questionable lyrics and content that will make grandma choke on her mint chocolate chip, it ain't gonna fly. 

4. Current -  The song should be representative of the summer that you are in. This helps to bookmark the year and certain events for you. For instance whenever I hear 'Hey Leonardo (She Likes Me For Me)' By Blessed Union of Souls I immediately jump back to senior year in high school and can actually put myself in my '79 Toyota Celica on a dirt road while camping with my boyfriend. That's the power of a summer song.

So those are my four criteria. You might have more, but I like to keep it simple. You might have less, but I'm a geek so...

With that being said I listened closely to songs being currently rotated on the radio for several days and kept a list of several possibilities. 

1. Lazy Song - Bruno Mars

2. Dog days are over - Florence and the Machine
3. Blow - Ke$ha
4. The Big Bang - Rock Mafia
5. Cooler Than Me - Mike Posner

6. Price Tag - Jessie J Featuring B.O.B.

7. Paris (Ooh La La) - Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

Here's where you come in. I'm asking you to vote for which song you think should be my summer song. If you want, you can even drop a comment to sway my decision. You can also let me know if you think I've dramatically overlooked a song. What I will do is dig into the stories behind these 7 songs for the next 7 days, and we'll meet back here in a week when I will unveil my Summer Song 2011! 

Father's Day Songs

I know that some of you have been expecting a Father's Day Songs edition of the blog, much like what I put together for Mother's Day. (Sorry, but Mr. T didn't write a Father's Day song). I am afraid that I will need to disappoint you even further - this won't be a list of great songs that you can share with your loving fathers today. Nothing that you can burn on a disc and send to your dad to put a tear in his eye. The reason I won't be doing that type of post is because I don't celebrate Father's Day. I don't have kids and my dad is an asshole so the sentiment is lost on me. 

Now I could go into all the boo-hoo reasons why I haven't spoken to my dad in years, but we all have our own problems and you don't really care about mine. What I will share with you are three songs that I always think about this time of year. 

Everclear - Father of Mine - When I first heard this song I was in high school and I wished like hell that I could have the courage to perform this song in front of my own father one day, or at the very least send it along to him. I never have - waste of postage. The emotions inside this song paint a clear picture of a childhood that all too many children have endured, and the damage that it can leave.

John Mayer - Daughters - On the title alone this one might throw you, but as anyone who is familiar with the song can attest - this song is directed at father's everywhere as a cautionary tale of how you can really fuck up your daughter for the male population. This song speaks to me, as a girl who was fucked up for awhile. The responsibility of molding my female-ness wasn't taken seriously by the man in question and I left many a fella with their 'heart in their hands'.

The third song is one of my own - Your Kind of Love -  I didn't set out to write a song about my father, but one night in college I couldn't sleep. I crawled out of bed and grabbed my classical guitar (the best gift he ever gave me), and started playing around with some chords. Within 15 minutes the song was written and I fell right to sleep. I had no idea at the time who it was for because to me it didn't really match anything going on in my life. It wasn't until years later when my cousin asked me if the song was about my father that I realized that it kind of was. At that time I was trying to find him and reconnect after many years of being estranged, and I was pretty conflicted about it. 

So those are my Father's Day songs. I hope that yours are more on the order of 'Butterfly Kisses' or 'Father and Daughter'. And in the hopes of not being too cynical, if you are looking for the perfect Father's Day song for your dad who isn't an ass - here's a list of the 100 Greatest Father Songs from Digital Dream Door.

Star Spangled Banner

Today is Flag Day - a seldom celebrated holiday. As a social studies teacher I always try to take opportunities to teach my students about being patriotic so today was no exception. Each morning we start our day by saluting our flag. Pledging our allegiance to the flag and all that it represents, and it is a pledge that I teach others not to take lightly. I started this morning with some facts about flags. Like, did you know that old flags should be either burned or buried? Also, did you know that in the morning the flag should be raised briskly, but at night it should be lowered slowly? I love the ceremonies of our country and think they are too often overlooked. 

It was my search of flag facts that led me to think about the story behind the 'Star Spangled Banner' - our National Anthem. Most people know that the words were written by Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812 as he watched a battle at Fort McHenry, but here are the top 5 things you might not know. 

1. The 'song' started out as a poem called 'Defence of Fort McHenry'

2. It has 4 stanzas (the 4th being reserved for more formal occasions)

3. The tune of the song is a British drinking song called, 'The Anacreontic Song' (ironic?)

4. It wasn't voted as the National Anthem until 1931

5. Before this song was our National Anthem, we used 'My Country, 'Tis of Thee' which is the same tune as the British National Anthem.

What can we gather from this? That we need to write our own tunes and stop borrowing from the British! Hmmm...Remind you of anything?

Sleepy Songs

The third, and final, reason that I haven't been writing is connected to the others - I've been over-tired! Between searching for a job, preparing for my gig, finishing up units at school, and dealing with my husband's allergies/snoring flare up, I haven't gotten much sleep lately.

Thankfully, there are many songs about being tired that I can listen to when I'm trying to drown out the sound of the hubs stuffed nose. Here are my top 3.

1. I'm So Tired - The Beatles - This one is the classic. I love the passion behind this song. It is full of raw emotion and is featured on arguably the best Beatles album of all-time - The Beatles A.K.A. - The White Album. John Lennon wrote this song at a Transcendental Meditation camp when he couldn't sleep and was missing his fiance - Yoko Ono. He also wrote later that it was one of his favorite tracks. The original recording was done at George Harrison's home in 1968 and is the same as the version we all know, except for a spoken part....

When I hold you, in your arms,
When you show me, each one of your charms,
I wonder should I get up, and go to the funny farm.
No, no, no!

This was taken out later when the final version was recorded.

2. (Last Night) I Didn't Get to Sleep At All - The Fifth Dimension - I couldn't find anything about the background of this song. In fact, I wasn't even able to find the full lyrics because of licensing issues. As far as the song goes, it has just always been a favorite of mine. I love the story that it tells, and again - the emotion. It is also quite hooky. Definitely one of those songs that will stick in your head.

3. Lullaby by Jack Johnson featuring Matt Costa - Costa has produced a handful of albums, but hasn't gotten any mainstream recognition. He actually has recorded on Jack Johnson's record label - Brushfire Records - and has toured with Johnson as well. This sweet tune is seemingly about Johnson leaving his wife while on the road. Through lyrics in other songs they seemingly have a tight relationship.

So those are my top three songs about being tired and/or not being able to sleep. What are yours?

What's a Gig?

Reason #2 that I haven't written a lot lately is definitely an exciting one. I was preparing for a gig!

I haven't played anything other than open mics and the occasional bonfire in years. My friend, Skip Bean, is an amazing guitarist and songwriter with over 30 years of experience. We met at my current job. He is the janitor of our school by day, and musician by night. When we got to talking we realized that we have this awesome commonality! His is also the coffee house that I have played at (3rd Friday night of the month).

Anyway, he asked if I would come and do two 20 minute sets at the top of each hour during his performance so that he could take a break. I, of course, jumped on the opportunity. Finding the right mix of covers and originals proved to be quite difficult, and it was interesting to see which songs made the patrons at the restaurant pause their meal, and which ones caused me to see backs of heads.

Here is a link to my set list. I decided that each set should contain 2 originals, and 3 covers. So, the question is - how do you decide which songs to play in a gig? Does it depend on the clientele? The talent? The occasion? Or do some songs transcend all others?

Job Songs

I haven't written in a long time for 3 main reasons. I will go into depth about each reason over the next few days. Today, let's start with reason #1 - I've been busy preparing for a job interview. 

I am a teacher currently and I teach 2 subjects to grades 5-8. Needless to say, it is pretty overwhelming. The job I was preparing for is only 1 grade level with 2 subjects. The curriculum also focuses on the 1950's to present day history as well as Government - which couldn't be any better for me if I had planned it myself. Focused song study is definitely in the cards for next year. Anyway, so the good news is - I got the job! The bad news, I've been neglecting my followers!

So in honor of my job interview and subsequent job offer, I thought I would talk about songs that might help pump you up in your search for a new job, or that you might listen to on the way to your interview.

The best list I found was on the BINC Blog, and features everything from Van Halen to Miley Cyrus. Personally, I didn't listen to any of these songs on the way to my interview or while getting ready. I listened to Jason Mraz's new 'Life is Good EP', which I've become quite obsessed with. (Partially because one of the songs was recorded at a concert I attended, and partially because I just love Mraz).

What about you? What song has pumped you up on the way to a job interview?

...and good luck if you are or you'll be on your way soon!

Mother's Day Songs

Maybe you are already a sappy person who likes to write poems about the meaning to the world and your feelings for the rain drops. In that case, you don't need songs to help you express your feelings. You can just sit down and create a masterpiece on your own. If you are like most people though, you rely on songs to help you express your feelings in your most intimate of moments. Think about when Santana and Britney went all 'Stevie Nick's on Glee. Got the picture? Great!

Today is Mother's Day, and in case you are in need of a great song to send to your momma, I've gathered a few for you here. I tried to include one from each genre of music so that you could cater to your ma's listening preference. Please feel free to add any that I didn't include! 

Enjoy and Happy Mother's Day!

R&B - Corrinne Bailey Rae ~ Butterfly

Lyrics

Audio

Funk/Jazz - Jason Mraz ~ What Mamma Say

Lyrics

Audio

Rap - Kanye West ~ Hey Mama

Lyrics

Audio

Country - Taylor Swift ~ The Best Day

Lyrics

Audio

Rock (Sort of) - Mr. T ~ Treat Your Mother Right

Lyrics

Audio

I pity the fool that doesn't share at least one of these with their mom today!

The Better Cover Song?

Last week I wrote a post about songs that should never, ever be covered. It turned into one of my most popular posts. So it got me thinking more about cover songs. What about songs that were actually better when they were covered? There are a lot of examples, but I'm going to focus on just one. It is probably a song that you never even realized was a cover - Blinded by the Light. 

This song was originally written by The Boss - Bruce Springsteen - and was released as the first song on his debut album 'Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J.'. It was also his first single. It wasn't a hit and never appeared on the charts. Four years later Manfred Mann's Earth Band, a British Progressive Rock group, released a version of the song on their album 'The Roaring Silence'. It reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and the Canadian RPM chart in 1977. I say 'version' because Manfred Mann changed several of the lyrics. The most popular was part of the hook. Instead of singing "cut loose like a deuce", they sang, "revved up like a deuce." The biggest change in versions for me is the fact that in Springsteen's version you can actually hear and understand the lyrics. In the cover, lead singer Mann was hard to understand and that line has been commonly misunderstood as, "wrapped up like a douche." In fact, Springsteen has joked about it saying that it wasn't until Mann rewrote the song about a feminine product that it become popular. 

So, what do you think? Do you think 'The Boss' has the better version, or was the song better after Mann got his hands on it? And, what other songs were better as covers?

Original

Cover

Sound Alike Day?

Today is National Look Alike Day, but I say - let's call it 'National Sound Alike Day'! I would like to honor this day by talking about songs that sound like other songs. It can happen. There are only so many chord combinations out there. Heck, I was writing a song for my niece's birthday the other day and then I realized that it was a Maroon 5 song! What is hard to understand about these songs though is that someone didn't figure it out before it hit the radio. You've got to play the song for people before you record it, then play it multiple times during recording. Next, you have to play the recording before it makes it on the album. How do these things get overlooked? Or maybe they don't and artists just think they can get away with it. Hmmmm...

Probably the most famous sound alike is between 'He's so Fine' by the Chiffons and 'My Sweet Lord' by George Harrison. 'He's So Fine' hit the radio in 1963 and became a lackluster hit. 6 years later George Harrison slipped away from a press conference and starting riffing on the guitar trying to fit chords to the words 'Hallelujah' and 'Hare Krishna'. Later on, members of his band joined in and lyrics were developed. Harrison recorded a version on his album 'All Things Must Pass' and was the first single from the album which was released on Nov. 28, 1970. By Feb. 10, 1971 he was being sued. Fast forward through almost 10 years of litigation and the federal court ruled that Harrison had 'subconsciously' copied the song. They said that 3/4 of the song's success was from the melody of 'He's so Fine' and 1/4 of the success was from George Harrison's name and his new lyrics. So he was ordered to pay a majority of the royalties to Bright Tunes - the owner of 'He's So Fine'. Ironically, The Chiffons went on to record 'My Sweet Lord' to capitalize on the publicity from the case.

Here are some more recent sound alikes:

Green Day's '21 Guns' Vs. Electric Light Orchestra's 'Telephone Line' 

Lady Antebellum's 'Need You Now' Vs. Alan Parsons Project's 'Eye in the Sky'

Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' Vs. Madonna's 'Express Yourself'

What do you think about these sound alikes? Are there other modern ones that I've missed?

Imagine a World Without Covers

I love cover songs. I get great joy in hearing a new re-imagining of an old song. It is one of the reasons why I watch and love 'Glee'. It is also one of the biggest reasons that I listen to The Coffee House station on Sirius. My favorites are when an artist takes a Pop or R&B song and turns it into an acoustic performance. Think Yael Naim's version of Britney Spears' 'Toxic'.

Without covers, what would bands play at the bar on Saturday night? How would we learn how to play guitar? There are so many benefits of covers, but there are also songs that should never, ever be covered. Some songs are just sacred in their original form and to change or rearrange them is not only disrespectful, but borderline sacrilegious.

The number one song that I think should NEVER be covered has indeed been covered over 100 times (including by the cast of 'Glee'). That song is John Lennon's 'Imagine'. This is a beautiful, if not hard to listen to, song about a world filled with peace and tolerance. It is simple, yet moving. Understated, yet philosophical. I don't believe that it is possible to do a better version than Mr. Lennon. Nor do I think it is possible to rearrange or pull alternate meanings out of it, as you can in so many other songs. The song is what it is - perfect.

And it isn't that I think that this song should only be covered by amazing artists. Indeed it has been covered by amazing artists! Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Joan Baez, Elton John, Queen, Smokey Robinson, Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young, Ray Charles - just to name a few! It doesn't matter. It just shouldn't be touched. And it especially shouldn't have been touched by Rick Springfield, Avril Lavigne, American Idol singers and Miley Cyrus! Really? How do you have the balls to cover this song when you can't even sing your own?

So, as I say to my dog when she is about to get into something that she shouldn't be - LEAVE IT!

What songs do you think should never, ever be covered?