Jem: Down To Earth

In 2004 I came across “24″ by a Welsh singer called Jem & ended up buying her album Finally Woken.   When I first heard “24″ I thought it was Dido & wondered what had happened to make her suddenly so exciting.

Finally Woken is a very enjoyable album, very easy on the ears & foot tapping, even for those with dislocated feet like me, is quite doable.   I shared songs with friends, who enjoyed them, & “24″ became one of my sister’s favorite karaoke songs for me to sing wherever they had Chartbusters.

So now, after a 4 year hiatus, Jem has put out a 2nd album.   I remember how good Poe’s Haunted was 5 years after Hello came out.   When Keola handed me the CD I was all anticipation.

Looking Over My Shoulder

Everyone knows Voices Carry, but this is probably my favorite TT song.

Karaoke Review 10-26

I’m beginning to have problems remembering what nicknames I assigned to various people who don’t make regular appearances, so I’m just going to make up new ones if I can’t remember, so bear with me.   Thanks.

Practice with Mr. Coleman went well; I think we are ready for the gig this Saturday.   We’re getting paid for 20 minutes & we timed our 5 song set – 20 minutes & 9 seconds.

Last night was an awesome night for singing.   Not really in terms of my voice, but overall we had a lot of good & fun singing in the bar.   Mele, Miss J, JJ, Mats, Khorn, The Beatles Guy, Ezra, & a couple of first-time but well-known visitors, Hoax & Superstar, the last of whom quite wittily sprayed me with beer foam after I tapped his Heineken.

Dammit.   I hope no one else gets any ideas.

Karaoke Review 10-19

Sheesh, I’m listening to a recording of myself doing Limp Bizkit’s “My Way.”   I programmed it for Mele originally, who kept insisting he didn’t know it.

I guess he didn’t actually know it.

Last night a group of our WoW friends visited the bar & so I wanted to show Mele’s voice off or at least really humiliate him since they hadn’t really heard him sing before on a good system.   Astoran’s request was Buckcherry’s “Sorry,” which has been requested of Mele so often that I think he wants to cry every time someone else asks him to sing it, but he was a good sport.   He also submitted to Mike Reno’s part singing “Almost Paradise” with me.

We had purchased our own bottle of the Corralejo Anejo & so I got destroyed.   Until Mele arrived I didn’t feel right breaking the seal, so I had a number of Barenjagers prior to that.   And then when Mele did show up, we somehow drank half the bottle by closing.   It’s so odd because neither of us are tequila drinkers, yet here we are with our own bottle of Corralejo.

Mary’s Prayer

For the longest time, I remembered only the hook of this song. I couldn’t remember the title or the artist. Then for some reason, I was writing a blog and it popped in my head. No particular reason. It just came to me. So here is a beautifully written song by Danny Wilson — Mary’s Prayer

Let Her Go

Were they really dumb, or just not afraid to look dumb?

Karaoke Review: 10-12

This past weekend I sent out an email announcing Operation Cool Human Shield, an event which occurs when there is a Monday holiday coming up.   This is a tradition begun a couple of years ago, & I’m blessed with caring, protective, cool, alcoholic friends who answer the call.

The good news is that my sinuses are in better shape.   Does this mean the vog is clearing out?   Probably not, but I surely enjoyed a clearer head range last night.   In fact, it was an exceptional range night for me, as I was able to belt (I know, I’m naughty) the bridge of Patty Smyth’s “I Should Be Laughing,” a feat which normally would be at least a full step above impossible for me.

As mentioned in my email, Tom & I met at 7 to practice.   We started out with Fiction Plane’s “Two Sisters,” the only new song in our lineup.   Our initial attempt went fairly smoothly, with a little discussion on moderation of the guitar solo & other minor details.   I guess the tempo is a little fast.   I wasn’t sure how well this song would translate acoustically, but it seems to have worked out well.

61?

Today I received an invite from my friend Burt to join a music listening/sharing website called The Sixtyone.   I’d heard mention of “The Sixtyone” in the atmosphere over the last day or two & so I didn’t question; I just registered.   Things happen for a reason.   Sometimes not huge, world-saving reasons, but you know.   Besides, the registration page said something about being everything MTV stopped being, or something like that.

I think MTV is the biggest disappointment the world has ever seen.   I mean, really.

Anyway, I wasn’t disappointed with the first artist I decided to listen to.   Meiko (she’s a quarter Japanese) has a single called “Boys with Girlfriends,” but I enjoyed her sad & beautiful “Hawaii” & her dark “Hiding.”

Her voice is reminiscent of Anna Nalick or Colbie Callait, softer & lusher than the first but more interesting than the latter.   The writing, I think, is very good.   I probably won’t buy this cd, but others might really like this.

And so another music listening adventure begins.   Thanks Burt!

Karaoke Review 10-05

Unfortunately I don’t have that much to report about last night other than social stuff.   I’m still range-challenged for the time being, probably due to my sinuses being out of whack.   This condition was probably prolonged by bombing the other side of the house for roaches (my side doesn’t have any, thanks to my vigilant cats) & my dad’s recent visits.   My dad has a smoking pipe permanently attached to his mouth.   He’s visiting as I type, & my nose is stuck.

Last night we were out of Corralejo.   Boo.

One interesting thing – I hear that our misogynist friend Nigel, bass player for a popular rock tribute band, has significantly increased his range due to some voice lessons.   Sounds like Seth Riggs.  I hear also, though, that his tone took a hit.   It’s all hearsay, of course, since I have not heard him myself.   And frankly I’m not interested in hearing him.   Good for him if he can sing Heart now, though.   You go Nigel. 

That’s all for today; sorry!