song of the day: puppet on a string by the hives

I'm not really a huge fan of The Hives. I liked one song when they were really popular and, honestly, I don't even remember what it was.

I always kind of thought they were just another one of those carbon copy bands with hipster Beatles haircuts and ball-crushingly tight black jeans. And, I mean, they are.

But, thankfully for my iPod shuffle, I discovered "Puppet on a String." It's just my kind of quirky. It's almost like the musical equivalent of Halloween (although not as much as Ramalama by Roisin Murphy). It's fairly fantastic.

Now, I decided to listen to the rest of The Black and White Album to make sure that I hadn't prematurely dismissed The Hives. And...nope. I was totally right. They're like...beige. Beige with electric guitars.

So, lone reader, I present you with the one gem in the Hives' collection of sameness and unoriginality.

I'd dare you to not like it, but let's face it, chances are your musical taste isn't as weird as mine. Oh well.

song of the day: Koop Island Blues by Koop (ft Ane Brun)

I've realized, since I started writing out my songs of the day, that a lot of my favorite music isn't from the US.

Obviously, I'm just fantastically open-minded.

Today's gem of foreign fabulosity comes to us by way of Europe. Koop Island Blues, by Swedish electronic jazz duo Koop, kind of reminds me of old school black and white movies. It somehow manages to exude mystery, romance, and an undeniable quirkiness.



The song features Ane Brun, a really fantastic singer/songwriter from Norway, whose sweet and sensuous vocals really do compliment the song with an almost palpable texture.

I know that description sounds really pretentious. I'm well aware. Sorry.

Listen to the song and then we'll continue.



Now, some of you might be thinking, "Wait a minute. This song sounds really familiar."

And, if you watch So You Think You Can Dance, you'd be right.

The extraordinary Mia Michaels choreographed a ridiculously amazing dance to this song in Season 5 (featuring Evan Kasprzak and Randi Evans). It was lovely dubbed the butt dance. Watch the video and you'll see what I mean.



Kind of amazing, right? Well that's Mia Michaels for you. I was horrified when she announced that she'd no longer be choreographing for SYTCYD but I guess after 5 seasons it's time to move on.

Still, her genius will be sorely missed.

One of these days I'll write a post about my favorite SYTCYD dances. I'll do it when I miraculously find myself with nothing but time on my hands, no work, no chores, no obligations.

So, yeah, don't hold your breath.

Until next time, lone reader!

[Image via Oxideradio}

song of the day: blessed brambles by Múm

I don't like Bjork. I never have. Maybe that makes me a bad gay. I think she's whiney, annoying, and frankly, she's a little terrifying.

When I think about it, actually, most of the Icelandic music that I know is pretty experimental and weird. Even though Bjork irks me, though, it's undeniable that there's some great stuff coming from Iceland.

Múm, which brings us today's song of the day, is a perfect example.



Formed in 1997 by Gunnar Örn Tynes and Örvar Þóreyjarson Smárason, Múm features soft vocals and a decent blending of traditional and non-traditional instrumentation. It's actually pretty reminiccent of Broken Social Scene.

Blessed Brambles is the first track on Go Go Smear the Poison Ivy, Múm's fifth studio album.

If you can open your mind to the weirdness, you'll probably like it. If not, no big. I'll have something else for you in no time.



[Image via Euvolution]

song of the day: caught by the river by the doves

Just an amazing amazing song. Nothing more to say.

song of the day: here it goes again by ok go

work has been taking over my life.

I guess I can't complain though; it's probably better than sitting on my ass watching TV all day, hopelessly applying to scam jobs.

yeah, this is better.

Anyway, here's your song of the day. Or, as it seems to have been lately, your song of the week.

song of the day: sister rosetta goes before us by robert plant and alison krauss

Dear Reader,

Sorry I haven't posted in a while - work has been absolutely crazy. Here's your song of the day.

Led Zeppelin lead singer and legend, Robert Plant, teaming up with folk goddess Alison Krauss.

Odd pairing, you might be thinking.

But I promise you, it's a match made in heaven.



Note: this is not the actual music video. Just the song.

song of the day: an animated description of mr. maps by the books

The Books are a little too experimental for some people. Thankfully, I'm not put off by them at all. I guess I wouldn't be though...I did spend seven years trying to find a Steve Reich album that I heard when I was 16.

The Books are a little less out there than Steve Reich. Formed in 1999, the band is kind of an ethereal mix of folk, electronica, and indie rock. Band members, guitarist and vocalist Nick Zammuto and cellist Paul de Jong, mesh together traditional instrumentals and vocals with seemingly random sounds and speech samples

And when I say random, I kind of mean it (even though each audio placement is, in actuality, very deliberate). A Salvador Dali audio file made it onto "Venice" from their 2005 album Lost and Safe. A snippet from Lewis Caroll's "Jabberwocky" is included in “Vogt Dig For Kloppervok”, from the same album. In "If Not Now, Whenever" Mal Sharpe asks a passerby "How're you doin' today?"

The song I've chosen, "An Animated Decription of Mr. Maps" is a perfect example of The Books' style. Weird, eerily beautiful, and incredibly awesome.

Enjoy, tell me what you think.

An Unlikely Coupling

Wait, what? What happened?

Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor were knighted in the prestigious National Order of Arts and Letters this morning by Minister of Culture Frederic Mitterand.

And to celebrate, apparently, they made out.

Which, you know, is totally normal.

Right?

No?

Sorry.

song of the day: tombstone blues by richie havens

Originally a Bob Dylan song, "Tombstone Blues" is, musically, a straightforward blues song. Lyrically, it's kind of typical of Dylan's surrealism.

As he sings, "the sun's not yellow / it's chicken."

Richie Havens recorded his version of the song for I'm Not There, the completely trippy film based on Dylan's life.





Here's an interesting little factoid for you. Stephen King actually quoted the "Tombstone Blues" at the end of his first novel, Carrie.

"Now I wish I could write you a melody so plain
That could hold you dear lady from going insane
That could ease you and cool you and cease the pain
Of your useless and pointless knowledge"

[Image via seatwave]

song of the day: fake empire by the national

I actually didn't like The National when I first got their CD Boxer back in 2007.

I can't really remember why, honestly, because when I set my iPod to shuffle this morning and "Fake Empire" came on, I kind of fell in love with it.

Matt Berninger's deep baritone voice is sexy.

Listen to the song. Let me know what you think.

Betty White is my Hero

If you know me, you knew that. I didn't name my car Betty for no reason.

And once you read this, you'll love her too. If you didn't already.

As you all probably know, Rue McClanahan, Blanche from the Golden Girls, recently had a stroke.

Betty, the kind woman that she is, sent Rue some flowers. Sweet so far, right?

Except that the card read:

"I hope you die, so I can be the last Golden Girl!"

HA!!

Betty, I knew there was a reason that I love you.

[Image via starpulse]

GaGa on the Grammys

I mentioned earlier that the hype surrounding Lady GaGa's Grammy performance with Elton John was largely responsible for the huge ratings that the event enjoyed.



I've written a haiku in honor of the splendor.

GaGa, all smudged up
Elton John looks dirty too
Zoolander is on?



[image via Getty]

Etta James fighting with Alzheimer's

Last week I posted about Etta James' recent hospital trip. It was just a urinary tract infection, so I was understandably relieved.

This week, though, James' son revealed that his mother has been suffering from Alzheimer's disease for the better part of the past year.

When Etta is released from the hospital, she'll be moved to a nursing home so that she can be better taken care of.

I wish you the best, Ms. James. Feel well soon.



[image via WENN]

Grammys, send thank you notes to GaGa

The Grammys KILLED the competition last night. Showing its highest ratings in the past six years, the Grammys pulled in 25.8 million viewers thanks largely to a much hyped Lady GaGa performance.



Now that's what I call GaGa-licious.

[Image via WENN.]

Lucas Silveira: Canada's Sexiest Man Alive

Well. This is just fantastic!

Lucas Silveira, the openly transgender lead singer of famously angrogynous Canada-based band The Cliks, won the "Throw Your Underwear Award Male" (Sexiest Canadian Man) in the year end reader's poll from Chart Attack, Canada's premier music magazine.

He narrowly beat out Avril Lavigne's ex and Sum 41 frontman, Deryck Whibley, becoming the first transman to win the award!

Personally, I'm not surprised. Because Deryck Whibley is so eh.



In an interview with About.com, Silveira spoke incredibly openly about the difficulties that he has had to face.

"When I first realized that I wasn’t going to be able to go on T, I was very, very disappointed. Because I thought, finally, I’m going to be able to do this. But then I started doing the research and I discovered that it would do what it would do to my voice."



"I started thinking about that because I feel like, not only am I a voice for the trans community going out into mainstream, but there are guys like me. We’re the guys who are truly in the middle. I’ve had top surgery, but I’m not doing T. And to tell you the truth, I don’t know if I ever will. I feel very comfortable being where I am right now."

Well, a tip of the hat to you, good sir! I congratulate you on your openness, your career, and your now documented sexiness. Well done.

And, to pay my respects to Sileira's success, here is your song of the day!



[images from boston.com and AdamPSmith ]

song of the day: surfing on a rocket by air

Not much to say about this one. Except that it's awesome.

Get Well Soon, Ms. James!

Etta James - the legendary jazz singer who gave us "Something's Got a Hold on Me," "Tough Lover," and "Stop the Wedding" - was hospitalized in southern California earlier this week because of a serious urinary tract infection.

Lucky for us, she's expected to make a full recovery soon! Get better Etta!

Here's a little Etta James ditty to keep you busy.



[image from kalamu]

Recommendations: National Lottery Commercial

BBC is giving me lots of treats today. First Mumford and Sons, which I heard on a BBC advertisement, and now this National Lottery commercial!

This one, though, came slightly indirectly from my always musically steadfast friend, Liz F. Though it's not a full song, it's definitely entertaining. And kind of creepy, actually.



What do you think? Looks like it was swept from under Tim Burton's brain, right?

the five levels of hangover

So, I know this isn't music related, but I thought I'd share anyway. A co-worker gave me this today...too good to keep to myself.

One star hangover (*)
No pain. No real feeling of illness. You're able to function relatively well. However, you are still parched. You can drink 5 sodas and still feel this way. For some reason, you are craving steak and fries.

Two star hangover (**)
No pain, but something is definitely amiss. You may look okay, but you have the mental capacity of a staple gun. The coffee you are chugging is only increasing your rumbling gut, which is still tossing aroudn the fruity pancake from teh 3:00 AM waffle house excursion. There is some definite havoc being wreaked upon your bowels.

Three star hangover (***)
Slight headache. Stomach feels crappy. You are definitely not productive. Anytime a girl walks by you gag because her perfume reminds you of the flavoured schnapps shots your alcoholic friends dared you to drink. Life would be better right now if you were at home in your bed watching Lucy reruns. You've had 4 cups of coffee, a gallon of water, 3 iced teas and a diet coke -- yet you haven't peed once.

Four star hangover (****)
Life sucks. Your head is throbbing. You can't speak too quickly or else you might puke. Your boss has already lambasted you for beign late and given you a lecture for reekingof booze. You wore nice clothes, but that can't hide the fact that you only shaved one side of your face (for the ladies, it looks like you put your make-up on while riding the bumper cars). Your eyes look like one big red vein and even your hair hurts. Your sphincter is in perpetual spasm, and the first of about five shits you take during the day brings water to the eyes of everyone who enters the bathroom.

Five star hangover (*****)
You have a second heartbeat in your head, which is actually annoying the employee who sits in the next cube. Vodka vapor is seeping out of every pore and making you dizzy. You still have toothpaste crust in the corners of your mouth from brushing your teeth in an attempt to get the remnants of the poop fairy out. Your body has lost the ability to generate saliva so yout tongue is suffocating you. You don't have the foggiest idea who the hell the stranger was passed out in your bed this morning. Any attempt to defecate results in a fire hose like discharge of alcohol-scented fluid with a rare floater thrown in. The sole purposeo f this floater seems to be to splash the toilet water all over your ass. Death sounds pretty good right about now...

Things that are impossible to say when you're drunk:- Thanks, but I don't want to have sex.
- Nope, no more booze for me.
- Sorry, but you're not really my type.
- Good evening officer, isn't it lovely out tonight?
- Oh, I just couldn't. No one wants to hear me sing!

song of the day: the cave by mumford and sons

It's not every day that my interest is peaked by the phrase "English folk rock." For Mymford and Sons, however, I can work up some excitement.

This band came around in 2007, rising out of London's folk scene with other artists like Laura Marling, Johnny Flynn, Jay Jay Pistolet and Noah and the Whale.

Mumford and Sons' newest single, "The Cave" is one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs that I've ever heard. It's the kind of song that fills your heart with angst and banjos and fiddles and happiness. And now I sound like a fan boy. But there you go.

Take a listen, you'll see what I mean.



[image from slappingfish]

song of the day: heartbeats by the knife

"Heartbeats" is The Knife's breakout single from way back in 1999. This Swedish electro pop duo is all sorts of badass. Have a listen. I dare you to disagree.

Wanda Sykes, you're my hero.

You've heard "Pants on the Ground", but have you heard "Boobs Out Your Blouse"?

song of the day: girl anachronism by the dresden dolls

In college, we made a kings rule that forbade using pronouns. Inevitably, this song would come on as soon as the rule was enforced.

Try singing this song without pronouns. Try drinking every time you screw up. I dare you.



In other Dresden Doll related news, fabulous and bisexual (fabulously bisexual?) performer Amanda Palmer has been keeping really busy even though the Dresden Dolls are caput. I'm particularly looking forward to her new project, "Evelyn Evelyn" with Jason Webley.

Dear Black Eyed Peas...stop plagarizing!!

Ebony Latrice Batts (a.k.a. Pheonix Phenom) and Manfred Mohr have filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against the Black Eyed Peas. Not a shocker, really, since this is happened a bunch of times before.

The members of Groundation accused the BEPs of stealing from them in their 2006 recording of "Voodoo Doll" and, more recently, the BEPs settled a lawsuit filed against them by Adam Freeland for copyright infringement agaisnt his song "Mancry" which somehow ended up in "Party All The Time."

(for more info, see http://perezhilton.com/2009-11-18-repeat-infringer-william-and-black-eyed-peas-settle-plagiarism-case)

Batts' and Mohr's attorney stated that “[His] clients submitted their copyrighted song “Boom Dynamite” to Interscope Records after Interscope had shown interest in some of their music, and the Black Eyed Peas later copied the song when they wrote “Boom Boom Pow.” A simple listening of the two songs will tell you that the songs are substantially similar, and that the hooks of the two songs are virtually identical in rhythm and lyrics.” They do sound a lot a like...have a look-see.





Maybe the Black Eyed Peas should start being more careful. Or, you know, more original.

[image from scrapetv]

Nick Jonas, who are you kidding?

Nick Jonas is on the cover of men's fashion magazine, VMan. His caption: How to Be a Rock Star.











Although he does look dashing, it's difficult not to view him as a kid dressing up in big boy clothes.

I hate to break it to you, Nick Jonas, but you aren't a rock star. You're a Mickey Mouse hat wearing, Disney bred teeny bopper.

Sorry.

(images from Perez Hilton / VMAN)

GaGa-licious to open the Grammys

This just in!

Lady Gaga is set to open the grammys this sunday!

Can't wait to see what she decides to wear. Let's hope it's as entertaining as her Kermit the Frog dress.

song of the day: take me on the floor by the veronicas

"Take Me on the Floor" is an electropop-dance song by twin sister electropop-dance sensations, The Veronicas. It is from their second album, Hook Me Up, which was released to radio stations as their second single in the United States on March 24, 2009.

Try not to dance. I dare you.

MOVING ON!

So, now that the thesis is over, we can move on to more enjoyable topics! Musings on songs and whatever else happens to catch my fancy.
Enjoy and comment! I love feedback!