This all started with Twitter. A macrobiotics enthusiast was suggesting that the meat industry had influenced society to stop saying “Swine Flu” & instead use “the very abstract” name H1N1. And in my head I could hear the clipped guitar & someone singing “‘Cuz there’s a red, under my bed…” I wonder if there is scientific evidence to show the effects of not eating enough meat on human mental health.
But I can turn anything into a musical experience. I jumped on YouTube & found this rather intriguing live performance.
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.
I’m waiting for the 90’s to come back. This market is dominated by all the “mostalgia” of 80’s dance music. But I’m waiting for that trend to pass, and evolve into a longing for the music of the 90’s. I don’t think we realized it, or fully appreciated it at the time, but the 90’s brought us the resurgence of the singer-songwriter.
It was a time when people were a lot more open to different musical genres, the true hey-day of “alternative” music. From the early grunge musings of Kurt Cobain, Eddie Vedder, Chris Cornell, and Scott Weiland to the sublime and quirky writing of Glen Phillips, Rob Thomas, Rivers Cuomo, Dave Matthews, and Stephen Jenkins, the 90’s brought us a slew of diverse and talented songwriters.
One of my faves, and often overlooked, is Matthew Sweet. As far as the 90’s sound, I considered his style to be as close to the perfect pop sound for the decade. All his songs had giant hooks, sweetly blended harmonies, and perfectly placed guitar solos.
I was shuffling through my CD collection and decided to pop in Matthew Sweet’s Girlfriend CD. I was instantly reminded why I was so enamoured with his music in the first place. You just may enjoy him too. Here’s my favorite song off the album: I’ve Been Waiting.
P.S. He also released a CD of cover songs with Susanna Hoffs called Under The Covers. It’s a great listen and Susanna Hoffs is still hot. I just wanted to mention that.
It’s one of those things. At the time, I could say that I wasn’t a huge fan. Now I look back and wonder why I wasn’t. A couple years back I got a “Greatest Hits’ compilation and popped it in my CD player to check out. Within a couple of tracks I realized that I flat-out love Peter Gabriel’s music.
Shortly after opening, 2 surfer chicks walked into the bar, stopped, & with very big smiles looked at me & screamed.
High school girlfriends.
High school girlfriends, who drink tequila.
I had had 2 Sundays in a row of nothing but cool people, & to be honest I didn’t think I could have another lucky night. So as I got ready for work it was with slight apprehension. Tonight couldn’t possibly be another Only Cool People night. That would be asking too much. I don’t deserve it. I’m not good enough.
This is a recording of one of my heroes, Joni Mitchell, performing “Both Sides Now.” Be careful with the volume; it opens with startlingly loud applause. Whoever was standing onstage with the cassette recorder was a little too close, but the crisp guitar notes & Joni’s beautiful voice are better too loud than too soft.
This all started with Twitter. A macrobiotics enthusiast was suggesting that the meat industry had influenced society to stop saying “Swine Flu” & instead use “the very abstract” name H1N1. And in my head I could hear the clipped guitar & someone singing “‘Cuz there’s a red, under my bed…” I wonder if there is scientific evidence to show the effects of not eating enough meat on human mental health.
First Sunday of the year.
