Blogs are so passe and pretentious. Oh well, here's my blog about music that's stuck in my head when I wake up in the mornings along with adventures of the Cash family and wacky wacky crazy wacky shenanigans.
I have more music from Fiona Apple playing this morning.
This song is from her new album which is very dark and has a very long title. It's called "Jonathan" (the song, not the album)
So, according to my arduous and deep studies (google) Fiona Apple had a relationship with author Jonathan Ames. Could this song be about him? Don't know, but I do like how it sounds- especially the intro music, sounding like Jon Briony dissonant circus music.
Here is song number 3 for the week, from Ingrid Michaelson. Here is the YouTube video, and as with the other songs this week, I will have the video up as soon as we have it ready.
Also, it looks like I've compiled enough songs to do another compilation disc. That means there will be another amazing-zing-zing-zing giveaway-away-away-away (those are loud speaker echo sounds) so look for next post for that. Maybe you'll win something unbelievable...
Here's the second song for the week that we will attempt to perform. I assure you all videos will be posted as soon as we have them ready. It's easier to do it this way and there is less pressure to throw them together this way. But as the title promises, "I will" have them done soon.
For now enjoy today's song "I Will" from The Beatles.
Sooooooo....... my brain has played a cruel little trick on me and my family.
We are supposed to perform a song today that will be difficult to find the music to. The song is by a little group called 8in8. I've talked about this group a bit- it's a teaming of author Neil Gaiman, his wife Amanda Palmer, Ben Folds and Damian Kulash of OK Go.
8in8 was formed, by Amanda Palmer, as an effort to write and record 8 songs in 8 hours. They used Neil Gaiman for help with lyrics (he even sings a song!) and streamed the writing process live online. In the end, they were able to write 6 songs in 12 hours. I bought and downloaded the album here for a dollar:
I love this idea, and I think the songs turned out to be pretty good. Today's song (called "Twelve Line Song) is one of these songs. Here's a clip if you want to hear it. It's about a squirrel who commits suicide.
As promised, here's our version of the song. Such a strange little song- we had fun doing it anyway.
I swear to you, I have not seen this movie since High School, maybe earlier. Without any explanation, this song is playing in my head this morning. It's from the musical NEWSIES, and it's the most random song from the show. Here it is.....
I just found out that Newsies is making a comeback and has been adapted to the stage with professional productions touring.
Here is me doing a Newsie kick to celebrate:
Don't make fun of my ghetto phone and how it can't take pictures. Even though the picture didn't catch it, my foot nearly touched the ceiling because I'm so athletic and passionate about Newsie Kicks.
I've heard everyone's whining about my family not performing enough on the blog and so I will appease you with a commitment to perform this week.
I plan to blog Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. On those days, whoever I can round up to get involved, we will perform the song stuck in my head. I will not make excuses and I will twist the arms of my opera singing wife and cute kids to get them involved. It should be amazing, especially when we will be performing songs on the fly and unrehearsed. What song will it be? Stairway to Heaven? Lou Lou, Skip to my Lou? The theme song to Mr. Belvedere? Stay tuned......
What on earth is a tymp? I did a google search and it says something about a blah blah blah something about the upper part of an archway blah blah. Or is she referring to a tympani? Who knows, but I enjoy the song anyway.
I don't get to go to concerts very often, what with watching little babies when I'm not working to pay for little babies. This week, a miracle occurred, I got to go to 2 concerts in 2 nights!
Monday night I got to see The Gipsy Kings a flamenco group from southern France. Tuesday night I went to see Andrew Bird.
If you are wondering whether or not I liked these concerts, the answer is yes.
My subconscious is rewarding all of us with an Andrew Bird song that I really enjoy. You will too.
Whenever I've introduced Andrew Bird's music to people, they always tell me they enjoy the music but they're confused as to what he's singing about. But I don't think it's that hard- so I will break down a sampling of the song's meaning line by line with handy visual aides.
Over prescribed
Under the Mister
We had survived to turn on the History Channel
And ask our esteemed panel
Why are we alive?
And here's how they replied,
You're what happens when two substances collide
When by all accounts you really should have died
That's just the introductory verse of the song. I'm not gonna do the whole song, but if you think about it, the lyrics to the song TOTALLY make sense.
Joking aside, I do think Andrew Bird's lyrics are different and a bit vague at times, but this is what makes his music clever and challenging. For me, lyrics have always been a challenge.
He's great live too, he was switching off between violin, guitar and xylophone and looping instruments to make all kinds of noise and complex music. A cautionary note, however, don't dig too deep or you might get a nervous tic motion of your head as well.
Who remembers this song, "Pinch Me" by Canadian band, Barenaked Ladies?
I like to call this kind of song with a term I've just coined: Canadian Sing-Rapping. It's sung by Ed Robertson, one of two primary songwriters for this band. You can hear what I'm talking about in the chorus of this song. It's fun enough, but unfortunate to me when BNL has a whole slew of songs that are great pop-rock songs. As far as I know, the only kind of considerable radio play these guys have had is with this kind of song.
This is the first image that comes up when you Google "Canadian Sing Rapping."
It totally makes sense.
Barenaked Ladies best music is when Steven Page is singing- he has one of the coolest voices. If you don't believe me, then listen to any of these songs: "What A Good Boy" "Break Your Heart" or "Call and Answer."
Steven Page left the band a few years ago, and I have to be honest that I haven't been interested in their music ever since.
Good day to you from us here at thesongsstuckinmyhead.blogspot.com and good day from our lovely friend Amanda Palmer and The Dresden Dolls.
If for anything, check out the drumming in this video. I'm not a drummer- but man, it seems like some serious drumming.
My interpretation is that this song is about 2 friends (or a relationship?) one who is trying to move on from a darker time, and the other who is still sucking life out of the former. There is something about the dark mood of this music that sticks in my brain. I have always been a fan of sad music. I think this is because I'm such a happy-go-lucky person- I am forced to show my darker side through art and music especially.
Today's song comes from probably the most famous song writer of all time. It's from the 1973 James Bond movie, "Live and Let Die."
I don't know if you know this, but Paul McCartney makes gobs and gobs of money from his music.
FYI, I make gobs and gobs of money from this blog* from all the visits we get from all over the world. Most of the visits are from my mom and the people she shows the blog to, so I have her to thank for this. And since we have so much extra money** we have been able to get an exclusive interview*** with Sir Paul McCartney himself! And to show appreciation for giving me life and showing my blog to so many people, my mom is going to do the interview:
My mom: Thank you for being with us, Paul McCartney.
Paul McCartney: The pleasure is mine.
My mom: Did you read my son's blog post when he talked about the Beatles and made a pie with Ringo's face?
PM: No I didn't
MM: It was so cute. It was adorable.
PM: Oh, I'm sure (looks at watch)
MM: So, how have you been?
PM: Well. Thank you.
MM: Have you been cleaning behind your ears?
PM: Uh.... yes.
MM: That's good. It's the nooks and crannies that are hardest to keep clean.
PM: Yes.
MM: So, did you see my son's blog post when he sang that adorable song with the kids?
PM: Uh, no.
MM: Oh, you have to watch it. YOU. WILL. DIE.
PM: I don't know that I have time....
(My mom pulls out her iPhone to show him the clip. A few minutes pass, she can't figure out how to make it work)
PM: I'll watch it later.
MM: OK. Honestly Paul, you are adorable, just like I remember you when I was a rebellious teenager. But really, you could use a haircut.
PM: (looks at watch)
MM: But anyway lets "Get Back" to the good stuff. What's "A Day in the Life" like for Paul McCartney?
PM: Really, it's not very interesting. I play a bit of racquetball in the mornings, try to eat healthy....
MM: Did you catch the Beatle song references in my question?
PM: Uh....
MM: Never Mind! Now Paul, have you ever tried using Fuller Brand carpet stain remover? It's the bestest!
PM: ...... No offense, I really appreciate you making time for me, and you seem like you're a wonderful mum, but could we talk about music?
MM: Of course, Paulie poo. Tell us what it was like to work with John Lennon.
PM: (Looks at watch) Uh... well, I've talked about this before, but, yeah, it was good.
MM: Are you still doing drugs?
PM: Pardon me? Did you really just ask me that?
MM: (Looks him down) A mother knows, Paul.
PM: I appreciate your time, but I've had enough of this nonsense. I'd like to excuse myself.
As McCartney stands up and walks out, he knocks over my Mom's vase that she got in Europe breaking it in half.
MM: This is why I can't have nice things, Paul McCartney!
Sometimes people ask me how certain songs get stuck in my head in the morning. Truly there is no explanation. I've been listening to music my whole life and I own nearly 8000 songs in my collection. Usually when I listen to music, it's through my iPod and I usually shuffle albums when I listen. I used to like to listen to just a shuffle of all songs, but I like to listen to the complete album better and usually can't decide which album to listen to, so I let the iPod do the choosing.
So really what I listen to is usually music I like pretty good and it's pretty random what's playing if you find me. I'm also inexplicably anal about not skipping songs. It's how I learn to love new songs.
Today's song is from a singer-songwriter named Alison Sudol otherwise known as A Fine Frenzy.
This is about someone choosing to move on in a relationship in order to be "happier." My wife and kids have been vacationing in southern California while I stay at home to work. Having them come home has made me much much "happier" and so the title is fitting, but the subject matter of the song is way off.
I've had the fortune of having an amazingly kind and patient father. It would seem that poor Amanda Palmer of The Dresden Dolls has not had the same thing. Either that or she's singing about somebody else that has a lousy dad. Or maybe she's singing about watermelons and Gallagher or something else important like that.
Today's song, "Half Jack" I personally believe touches on this unfortunately common subject, dead-beat dads. It uses the poem "Jack and Jill" as a metaphor- very clever- very dark and sad.
I've already touched on Amanda Palmer a bit in the past. I believe we'll be hearing lots from her in years to come. Not only is she a great song writer with an intense passion for the arts, she's also headlined music news with the upcoming release of her new album "Theatre is Evil."
Completely independent of a studio, she managed to raise well over a million dollars (of a 100,000$ goal!) from fans to fund the album's release. She offered all kinds of valuable merchandise, including original art, music, and even a visit to a private party for the right price.
Amanda Palmer may very well have revolutionized the way artists publish music. I know some artists like Ben Folds Five have already followed in her footsteps.
The buzz is that it is cutting edge and incredible music. I can't wait to hear it.
Amanda's fund raising has inspired me! I have an original work of art available.
This is a beautiful piece of work inspired by things that I love and beautiful neon colors, it's available to the highest bidder. My fingers were practically bleeding when I was done I worked so hard on it. And if you can believe it, I did it only with art supplies available to me in my work office!
Also for 500$ or some Hi-Chew candy I will come to your next party and play the piano backwards. I can only play one song, but it will BLOW YOUR MIND!
This sort of mentality will make us all rich some day. Thanks, Amanda Palmer.
