The Music Nerds Discuss Local Music

At one of my East Side Grill gigs, we performed “Send Her My Love,” & then I announced that we would be doing “one more from Journey” before we launched into “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’.”   My sister’s boyfriend turned to her in surprise because he thought “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’” was written by a local band (notice how this local band’s fan doesn’t even know the correct lyrics to the song).

KK described this as being as bad as thinking that Jodeci wrote “Lately.”   And although my sister denies it, I swear I remember her thinking, when she was in high school, that Keali’i Reichel had written “In My Life.”   When I told her that it was by The Beatles, she had said, “Who are The Beatles??”

This is me today.

Euphoria Morning, Part 2

When I wrote about Chris Cornell’s Euphoria Morning over a year ago, I thought I was done discovering it.   Apparently I’m not.

For the time being I’ve given up burning compilation CDs of my favorite songs or flavors of the week to listen to in my car because for whatever reason (I suspect a sound quality issue, although you wouldn’t expect that from car audio listening — there is no such thing as good sound quality in a car.   Hm.), I get tired of them after a week or so & then I have to burn another one.    However, original copy CDs seem to stay in my car forever.   It’s just something I noticed, & since I’ve begun listening only to actual albums I’ve actually thrown out a stack of blank Mitsui Golds because they were old.

Need To Get In A Good Mood? How About Some Brand New WEEZER!

I went in to work after a really crappy night.  Just totally in a foul mood.  There’s isn’t a lot of things that could turn my frown upside-down.  So imagine my delight when I fired up the computer and saw the words “NEW WEEZER TRACK LEAKED”.  Let the awesomeness begin…
Weezer – (If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To

Unless it’s Jawaiian music

Came across this image by accident.   Sorry Bob.   Debunked.

Wouldn’t It Be Good

Thank God for VH-1’s penchant for airing countdown shows from different eras.  They always have these 5 part shows like The 100 Greatest Hip Hop Songs or The 100 Greatest Hair Metal Songs that remind you of songs that get lost in your head.

I remember being drawn to this song because the video was so cutting edge at the time.  Real top notch 80’s video technology, up there with Take On Me by A-Ha and Money For Nothing by Dire Straits.  After it landed on VH-1’s 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders list, I took the time to re-examine the song.  It’s just a potent cocktail of homesickness and hope, shaken over that wonderful 80’s sound (saxophone solo,bitches!).  And to me, the video still holds up.  Here’s Wouldn’t It Be Good by Nik Kershaw.

Ten Karaoke Songs That Make Me Want To Hurt Someone

Ok, look.   I’ve been working in karaoke bars for over 10 years.   So not only have I gotten tired of songs the average non-karaoke-bar-working person can still appreciate, but I’m also getting old & cranky.   But anyway.

Sometimes it’s not the caliber of singing but the actual song choice that wears on the nerves.   Other folks who have done time in karaoke bars will know what I mean, & they will probably have their own lists of hated song selections.   The other night one of my friends, who also owns a bar & deliberately excluded karaoke from the entertainment options, approached me as I stood at the side of the bar & said, “Punch me in the balls, right now!”

Playlist: Lauren’s Happy Songs.

Click here for the playlist, which should open in a separate window. Then you have to click the Play button.   Sorry; I can’t embed playlists in WordPress.

Kim Wilde

Kim Wilde is still beautiful. This is because she never moves her face except to blink or sing.

Still one of the amazing songs of the 80s, expressions aside.

Glen Phillips

You’ve  heard me mention him before.  You’ve listened to me gush about the man’s songwriting prowess.  You’ve heard me wonder aloud how Toad The Wet Sprocket wasn’t a bigger band in the 90’s than their contemporaries.  I just flat out dig his music.

He’s one of the hardest working musicians out there.  Besides his solo stuff and work with Toad The Wet Sprocket, he’s also currently working with three other musical projects — Works Progress Administration, Remotetreechildren, and Plover.  But let’s just concentrate on his solo work for now.

I was searching YouTube, trying to keep myself occupied when I came across a concert that he posted on his official YouTube Channel.  He’s sharing the stage with Jonathan Kingham, an up and coming singer-songwriter who was on tour with Glen Phillips and Jonatha Brooke during this footage (A tour that Lauren would KILL to see, probably). 

I’ve posted the link for the entire playlist here.  Enjoy the show and hopefully become a fan like me.

UPDATE:  The link now works.