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?