It's been a while since I last posted here. And in that time, I was busy with party preparations for a double birthday party for my kids, ages six and four. I was to be responsible for -- what else? -- the music. And while there were a few requests from my six-year-old, her selections alone wouldn't get us through the freeze dance portion of the party. So here's what I chose:
"Wake Me Up" - Avicii
Seems like a good, danceable tune to get a party started. And thematically, it's about the passage of time. Seems like a win-win.
"Safe and Sound" - Capital Cities
A dance party favorite in our house, although the kids don't actually know it by name. Still, its irresistible hook makes it a no-brainer.
"Let it Go" - Demi Lovato
The first request from my daughter. I couldn't make it the first song of the playlist because I wanted the crowd -- and all the little girls who adore Frozen -- to be assembled at the party before it came on. And when it did, it was a smash. Especially if you like to see six-year-olds belt out Disney girl-power anthems.
"Strawberry Fields Forever" - The Beatles
The second of my daughter's three requests. A bit of a come-down from the upbeat fare that preceded it, but I honored her wish. I'm not sure it worked.
"Fall Back Down" - Rancid
Surprisingly, this is one that we play a lot at home. Sure, it's bona fide punk rock, but it has a kid-friendly message: "If you fall back down, I'm gonna help you back up again/If you fall back down, I'm gonna be your friend." If there's an evil subtext lurking in there, I can't figure it out. And I can say that the kids kept dancing, so its inclusion was justified.
"Family Time" - Ziggy Marley
Another family favorite in our house (and our car, which is a sensible family station wagon). While the other kids probably didn't know this song, mine did and they all sung and danced anyway.
"The Magnificent Seven" - The Clash
This is one my four-year-old son likes hearing in the car, so I stuck it on here for him. And it worked great during the limbo and the obstacle course.
That concluded the dance portion of the party. Had it gone on, we would have enjoyed the following:
"Signal in the Sky" - The Apples in Stereo
"Yellow Submarine" - The Beatles (the third of my daughter's three requests)
"Song 2" - Blur
"Girl" - Beck
"New Life" - Depeche Mode
"Just Like Heaven" - The Cure
"Fantastic Day" - Haircut 100
"Midnight City" - M83
"Our House" - Madness
"Temptation" - New Order
"Fireflies" - Owl City
"Such Great Heights" - The Postal Service
"Whip It" - Devo
"When You're Young" - The Jam
"Crash" - The Primitives
"One Step Beyond" - Madness
"A Message to You Rudy" - The Specials
"Mass Romantic" - The New Pornographers
"Last Nite" - The Strokes
"It Must be Love" - Madness
"Polish Girl" - Neon Indian
"The Mother We Share" - Chvrches
"The Electric Version" - The New Pornographers
"Love Shack" - The B52s
"History Never Repeats" - Split Enz
I went to a play last night -- actually, a one-man show written and performed by the Brooklyn artist Mac Premo (full disclosure: My brother-in-law). It was an autobiographical piece of performance art, and it closed with a song I hadn't heard or thought of in many years: Camper van Beethoven's version of "Pictures of Matchstick Men", which was originally a hit for Status Quo back in 1967.
The CVB version came along 22 years later, just prior to the band's dissolution. Frontman David Lowery went on to form Cracker, a more straightforward rock outfit that largely did away with many of the folk, psychedelic and world music elements that made Camper van Beethoven so good. The track starts with a fiddle part -- vintage CVB -- before launching into something sounding more like what Lowery would go on to do in Cracker.
I always liked this track from under-rated Philly hip hop trio Three Times Dope.
Yep, it's "Funky Dividends". And it features some unintentionally funny lyrics like "The new wave 80s has everything reversible/Instead of walks, you drive a Cadillac convertible." Keep in mind, this was 1989, so the 80s were hardly "new wave" at that point. And back then, no one drove Cadillac convertibles, did they? (Allante anyone?)
The Grammys always pair artists from different eras. Take last night, for instance, when Robin Thicke and Chicago shared a stage. Or Carole King with Sarah Bareilles. Usually the pairings span generations but sometimes they cross genres. Either way, here are five pairings that we'd actually want to see.
#1
Morrissey and Public Enemy
Can you imagine Morrissey's gladiola bouquet going up against Flavor Flav's clock?
#2
Jay Z and Orleans
I don't know about you, but I'd want to hear a rap version of "Still the One".
#3
Rage Against the Machine with special guest vocalist Terry Jacks
"We had joy, we had fun -- Fuck You, I won't do what you tell me". Awkward.
#4
Daft Punk with Kraftwerk, Devo and Gary Numan
Rise of the Man Machines.
#5
Gary Glitter and R. Kelly
Hide your daughters, this could get ugly.
8:27
I'm joining late. Who is Hunter Hayes? And why is LL telling me I have to listen to him? Honestly, this is dreadful. It's another over-wrought, over-vibratoed voice singing something that would have been at home on AM radio in the 1970s. Next!
8:29
Best pop duo or group performance.
It's got to be between "Get Lucky" and "Blurred Lines"... wasn't that the whole point of last year?
8:30
"Get Lucky" wins. Of course it does. It was clearly THE song of last year. And I love the helmets!!!
Pharrell has the old school Adidas top and the Daft Punk boys are in tuxes with robot masks.
8:32
Steve Coogan is fantastic. He played Tony Wilson in 24 Hour Party People, one of the best music movies ever. And he's introducing the guy who did "Hard Out There for a Pimp" -- he may be the only one who remembers him. Oh... I'm wrong. It's Katy Perry.
8:37
Question: What exactly is an "intimate performance" by Taylor Swift?
8:40
Robin Thicke takes the stage with Chicago? How about Alan Thicke takes the stage with the Everly Brothers?
8:44
I'm sure there's someone out there who would pay good money to see Chicago trombonist James Pankow twerk Robin Thicke...
8:48
It's pretty clear that the producers of the Grammys have that cutaway shot of Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr on constant standby...
Speaking of which, Steve Coogan had the line of the night about reuniting two of the Beatles versus all of the Jonas Brothers...
9:02
The best Rock Song. Wow... the Rolling Stones look like they came from a zombie movie.
But of course, anything with Sir Paul is going to win tonight.
9:04
What's better? 1/2 of the Beatles or 2/3 of Nirvana?
9:08
Taylor Swift may be the biggest musical star from Pennsylvania in history. Check me on that, but I don't see a lot of competition. Hall and Oates? Teddy Pendergrass? Live?
9:12
And the Blazers - Warriors game just started. That said, I do want to see Macklemore and Daft Punk perform...
9:17
Pink and the guy from Fun! First, it's two Pennsylvanians in a row -- first Taylor Swift and now Pink. And second, there is zero chance Pink is actually singing when she's swinging upside down. Sorry.
9:23
Best Pop Solo Performance -- Is Lordes going to win?
I've got to say, I'm more interested in her New Zealand accent than her music.
9:28
Yoplait commercial: "Just Can't Get Enough" is the only old song -- from the Vince Clark era -- that Depeche Mode still play live.
9:30
Were Black Sabbath just mistakenly identified as the winner of Best Rock Song? That's a diss to Sir Paul!!!
9:32
Ringo was never a frontman. Never meant to be a singer. Why is everyone going ape over this performance? It belongs in a casino at best... or better yet a cruise ship. I'll bring the dysentery.
9:47
Kendrick Lamar and Imagine Dragons? Was the world clamoring for this collaboration?
I love how the Grammys resorts to the polarization digital effect. Looks cool, guys... like 1989 cool.
9:51
Light up boots on Casey Musgrave!!!
10:01
Oh, Paul and Ringo are the Beatles they were talking about? Half the Beatles and none of the fun...
10:04
Fifty years ago, the Beatles changed music. Fifty years later, the world changed channels.
10:15
Kraftwerk with a lifetime achievement award!!!
10:16
Is it wrong that every time I see Willie Nelson I think of an old David Letterman Top Ten list of headlines that would cause panic? One of them was "Willie Nelson caught washing hair in city water supply".
That said, that was a good thirty seconds of music. Until Uncle Merle and Blake showed up.
Damn... we're going on a third country song? It's like the CMA's have taken over the Grammys.
10:25
Daft Punk and Pharrell with Nile Rogers should be fantastic. I'm honestly excited.
Nile Rogers is responsible for some of the greatest funk and hip hop riffs of all time. And he's still got it. Effortlessly cool.
Yoko gave that peace sign like she's getting lucky tonight...
I know my fellow Discordant isn't a fan of that song... but that truly was very cool.
10:37
Cyndi Lauper hasn't changed in 30 years.
And is it bad that every time I see Carole King I think that I nearly bought a car from her son-in-law?
And is it bad that every time I hear this song, I want to break a Windows operated machine?
10:41
The list of nominees for Song of the Year reads like a commercial break. Except for "Same Love."
Not sure I agree with "Royal" as song of the year. Unless we're grading on a curve.
"Locked Out of Heaven" is a good pop song, and "Same Love" marks a major milepost in music. The rest of the schlock on this list is material from ads -- like that awful Katy Perry song.
10:43
Steven Tyler and Smokey Robinson? "Walk This Way" needs a cane.
10:53
Metallica were old when I was old.
Why not Metallica with special guest Mick Fleetwood?
10:57
I like the wide cutaway shot of the crowd and there's one of the Daft Punk guys still in his helmet.
10:59
Good call on Record of the Year. Daft Punk wins again. But will Pharrell do the talking for them?
11:07
Tell me if "Same Love" doesn't move you. Fantastic songcraft -- right song, right moment.
And Mary Lambert is there to sing it, too. I was worried they'd have Madonna or someone filling in.
OK, officially ruined by Madonna's "Open Your Heart". Even Yoko doesn't have a cane.
Not that I'm surprised, but Mary Lambert can sing rings around Madonna.
Ah yes, it's that time of year again, and here we are. Our 3rd annual Grammy blog. Enough of the small talk...
8:00 - Beyonce opens up with "Drunken Love." All we are fixated on is her ass. The song is not good, and out comes hubby Jay Z to do his thing. Sorry, I just don't get it.
8:07 - Our host, once again is LL Cool J, and he is trying to let us not forget who he is by putting his song titles into his speech.
8:14 - Maclemore wins I guess Velvet suits are in this year.
8:16 - Lorde performs live. A decent live performance. Too much makeup. As my 14 year old daughter says, "What's up with those pants?"
8:28 - Sorry I was too bored to type. I was surfing Facebook.
8:30 - Daft Punk wins. I love they are wearing their helmets. Pharell looks like Dudley Do Right. A very awkward acceptance speech.
8:33 - Juicy J & Katy Perry. I'm getting old. So much time & effort is put into production and choreography. I guess if you like these artists, it's a great show. I wonder if it is to mask a lack of musicianship. I'm a sucker for watching a talented musician play his instrument.
8:43 - Why the big push for Chicago? What is Robin Thicke adding to them besides a velvet suit? I give Chicago a little credit, musically, they sound sharp. Not that I like the songs, but they sound like the records. Where is Peter Cetera? As my daughter says " a bunch of old men dancing to Blurred Lines. Not Cool." At least Ringo gave the nod of approval.
9:03 - what's up with all the retreads for best rock song? At least the winner came from the Sound City documentary. In all sincerity, Courtney Love hates that the remaining members of Nirvana got together to perform that with Sir Paul.
9:05 - My younger girls stayed up for Taylor Swift. To me, this would be a good time to put them to bed.
9:17 - My wife says she likes Pink. Deja Vu moment: didn't she do this same acrobatic circus act last year at the Grammy's? I know I have seen her do this before. Which to me is really disappointing. We are all fascinated with her legs. Monsterous without an ounce of cellulite. The guy from fun. looks like he could get snapped in half by Pink. Nice ironic hipster mustache! He is having trouble with his notes - yikes!
9:23 - I'm fascinated with the clips they showed for best solo pop performance. What were those?
9:25 - Lorde is a kid. Glad to see it. Much talk about how serious she takes herself.
9:30 - I like how watching Ozzy stammer through a live read has become "cute" like an old grandpa. Best Hard Rock album for Black Sabbath. Reminds me of when Tull won.
9:32 - Why do we need to see Ringo sing? Peace & love. Peace & love.
9:36 - Odd, uncomfortable joking between Jamie Foxx & Jay Z. My daughter asked if that's the "golddigger?" I like Jay Z best when he was a sidekick...
9:44 - a little love for P.E. & the Beasties!
9:53 - No need to comment on the light up jackets.
10:00 - people on FB are talking about how much they liked that song and her light up boots. I think I need new friends.
10:01 - Julia Roberts - rock goddess!
10:02 - Tonight is all about Paul & Ringo. I heard Paul play "Queenie Eye" back on Howard Stern about 9 months ago. It does have a Beatles sound. What is the video that is playing along with it?
10:04 - a Yoko sighting, dancing and showing off some 75 year old cleavage. Even worse, there's Sean Lennon right next to her. How sad he has to still pal around with mom.
10:16 - With Johnny Cash dead, why should I care about the Highwaymen?
10:20 - Kris Kristofferson looks lost. Rough few minutes.
10:22 - People love the Zach Brown Band. I can't say I know a single song.
10:25 - I'm not a fan of "Get Lucky," but I predict this will be the highlight of the show.
10:30 - ...and I was correct. Enjoyable. My daughter informed me Yoko Ono is trending on Twitter. I told her she should be.
10:35 - correction. That was 80 year old cleavage. Peace Yoko, peace.
10:39 - now my wife is asking how old Carole King is. The Grammy committee is officially old. Knock off the stroke fest you two!
10:41 - we're taking bets. I lost. I bet "Same Love." My daughter is officially more in the know.
10:49 - Glad to see Lou Reed get his due. The Velvet Underground's influence on music is highly under-rated.
10:50 - Wow. "One" getting mainstream respect.
10:59 - How will history look at 2014 when two French guys with matching white suits and helmets win Record of the Year?
11:10 - "Same Love" doesn't do it for me. I respect that a hip-hop artist had the guts to speak out about homosexuality. I just don't like the song - or Madonna.
11:22 - "In Memorium" who gets the biggest applause? The session musician for Steely Dan is winning!
11:25 - Phil Ramone takes the lead...and wins.
11:27 - It sounds like a syllable is either rushed or missing in the Phil Everly tribute by Billie Joe Armstrong & Miranda Lambert.
11:36 - Daft Punk = album of the year. The robots generally seem happy.
11:39 - "This is how we rock & roll." Trent Reznor, Lindsey Buckingham, Queens of the Stone Age and Dave Grohl. This is what the committee members "feel" is alternative.
11:42 - Some serious maraca playing going on. What an anti-climatic ending. I remember a few years back, we ended with Springsteen doing "London Calling." The state of music is not a good one. Let's hope for a great 2014.
Noel Gallagher doesn't like music videos. He really doesn't. The folks at Jezebel posted a very funny clip of the Oasis guitarist and songwriter commenting on his band's music videos... and for Noel it's all about how stupid the videos are and the many times he was drunk in them. It's great fun, and worth ten minutes of your time.
