It's a Pose

1/19/2021 Nellie McKay really is pretty fantastic. Today's song is full fledged, no holds barred attack on men. It's ok, we deserve it, mostly. Here's "It's a Pose" from McKay's fantastic 2004 record, "Get Away From Me" Noteworty, I've made a master playlist of all the songs I've ever blogged about. I THINK They're all here.... I hope they are. Here's where you can check it out: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4rZe4yMErlRIYfBqTrsqgB?si=QoUTFDiPQ9mfIrKMQrtMKg Enjoy- Hugs, Brady

Suitcase Song

The neurotic Jazz-Queen of strong opinions found her way into my head today.  (Her name is Nellie McKay, she really is fantastic.)  Her song, stuck in my head is called "Suitcase Song."  In this moment I'm way too lazy to delve too much into the lyrics.  She sings in Spanish in the song and says "me falta una maleta" which I think means, "I'm missing a suitcase."

So, maybe Nellie McKay was traveling abroad and one of her suitcases got lost?!? 

This is one of her less politically charged songs.  Here's "Suitcase Song" the song stuck in my head today along with an intro from Nellie.  The song starts about about 2 minutes in, if you don't care to hear her talk. 

I only have one of McKay's albums, her debut "Get Away From Me."  I really do recommend the album.  It's ambitious, clever, full of catchy music and she released the thing when she was only 19 years old. 

Blah blah blah.  That's the end of my post today. 

Change The World

Hello from decadent Las Vegas! I'm out of town at a tradeshow. I really don't like this town. It's out of control, over the top and ridiculous. Everywhere you go is loud and expensive. Worse yet, is being here for business, away from the wifey and kids.

So, I'm starting to feel like I'm unoriginal, I promise I listen to lots of different music, but today I woke up again to a song by Nellie McKay. It's a good enough song, here it is posted below. I've warned earlier that she is extremely outspoken with her lyrics, this one isn't too bad, but feel I should warn anyone reading this the same:

So, as I read the lyrics to this song, I thought about what I would change about the world. There are many things, but I will only mention one today. For 2 days straight, I've been standing at our company booth at a tradeshow here in Vegas. There are hundreds of people that walk by, not caring about why we're there, but just wanting to get free stuff. It doesn't matter if it's not worth anything, if they have no practical use for it, or if they need it. As long as it's free, they are happy to take it. This sort of mentality makes me crazy!

One thing that people don't understand is that nothing is free. Everything costs something, maybe not to you, but to someone else! The product my company manufactures, is a specialty product, with specific applications. Someone just wanting a sample, to never use it, makes no sense, and just costs our company money. But since it's "free," most people don't care and try to take whatever looks neat on the shelf.

Think about this sort of thing too: When you go to a fast food restaurant condiment stand to get ketchup and napkins, do you take more than you need? Most people do, and this stuff is not free either. It just costs the restaurant money, and higher costs lead to higher prices. Again, these things are not free. So, think about the conveniences and services that you get "for free" as you go about. Be courteous and thoughtful about the person who picks up your garbage at the movie theater. Ask yourself, do I really NEED to take 20 courtesy mints at the restaurant? It may seem like a silly thing, but think about how everything we do finds its way back to us in the end, truly nothing is free, even in Vegas!

I Have Lots to Say, Hey Hey Hey

I'm excited to post this song, because I really think it's great:

Nellie McKay was introduced to me by a friend a few years ago.  She is a very talented, very outspoken and often funny jazz songwriter.  Her debut album came out soon after Norah Jones' "Come Away With Me."  She was majorly overshadowed by Jones, and as a joke named her debut album "Get Away From Me." 

It may seem unfair that Norah Jones beat her to the punch, but I don't think the masses would be ready for someone like Nellie.  Her music is very smart, very catchy, but can be a bit too opinionated and politcal for my taste.  Still, you can't beat lyrics like this:

"Mr. Bushie says, I'm your president,
I have lots to say, hey hey hey.
and click goes the remote
there you have my vote
catchin' the next boat out of here"

I love the sound of this song, from the strange introduction, to the minor tones, to the clever lyrics.  I've wondered who David is as I listen to the lyrics.  According to some sites, a man named David Eisenbach was her music teacher at the Manhattan School of Music.  Some claim during the strange intro to the song she is says "Chabnesie" (Eisenbach backwards) over and over again.  It would seem this song is by a girl with a morbid schoolgirl crush. 

After watching McKay interviewed a few times and seeing her put a song together on a television program, I can say that she is one of the most eccentric and neurotic musicians I have seen. I think if she had a schoolgirl crush on me, I would run in terror.   But her talent is undenied, and her music is worth checking out.  I wouldn't even put her in the same league or discussion as Norah Jones, at least Nellie McKay writes her own music.