Nine years, in fact - which is the last time she released music.
This is her new single. It is the best single released this year by a former vice president of equity research for Bank of America (a job she left in 2000 - this is true). Toiling for more than 20 years in the music industry, she has achieved a lot of critical acclaim and deserves a lot more than that.
Her new album, Just Like A Rose: The Anniversary Sessions, celebrating her more than 20 years of work, comes out in June. It is almost guaranteed to be great. The first single, the title song from that album, is here.
There's a reason I'm posting this today, and it has to do with Friday's post.
A cover of this song by the Breeders, produced by J Mascis, appeared on the Head to Toe EP. When I sat back and thought about this, I laughed heartily.
Why?
"The Freed Pig" , in its original form, is a song from Sebadoh's 1991 album "III" that was directed towards J Mascis, the frontman of Dinosaur Jr., a band that Lou Barlow, the founder of Sebadoh, was previously a part of. The song's lyrics were meant to be a biting commentary on the strained relationship between Barlow and Mascis, and their musical and personal differences.
The song's opening lines, "You were right, I was battling you, trying to prove myself," reflect Barlow's feelings of frustration and insecurity in his relationship with Mascis. The lyrics, "I tried to bury you with guilt; I wanted to prove you wrong," suggest a sense of resentment towards Mascis, who had a dominant presence in Dinosaur Jr.
Throughout the song, Barlow's lyrics continue to express a mix of anger and vulnerability. The lines, "I'm self-righteous, but never right, so laid back, but so uptight," highlight the contradictions in his personality, while the chorus, with its repeated line "Now you will be free," suggests a sense of liberation from the constraints of his relationship with Mascis.
The song itself is a lo-fi classic. Barlow delivers the vocals over fuzzy guitar with a bit of detachment (it had been a few years) and that's kind of the point.
I don't like doing special edition posts. I do them because someone has passed away.
In this case, it's Luscious Jackson songwriter, keyboardist and mostly backup vocalist Vivian Trimble, who passed on April 4th after a long battle with cancer.
First off, that's sad, and my thoughts go out to her family and loved ones. Cancer is terrible and she was only 59 - far too young.
The loss goes beyond her family, too - she was a fantastic musician. Trimble's ability to seamlessly blend different genres and experiment with different sounds made her a sought-after collaborator and producer, with her work being featured on projects by artists such as Kate Pierson, the Black Keys, and David Byrne.
Trimble's musical prowess aside, she was also a vocal advocate for women in the music industry. Trimble's commitment to empowering women in music and amplifying their voices was a testament to her character and her commitment to making a difference.
Second, this isn't a Luscious Jackson song, but rather, a song from her side projects with Luscious Jackson bandmate Jill Cuniff, Kostars. The other members of Luscious Jackson do also appear on the project, which was recorded at Kate Schellenbach's home studio along with the rest of the Klassics With a "K" album.
Cowritten by Trimble and Cuniff, "Red Umbrella" is a beautiful and heartbreaking song that will resonate with anyone who has ever loved and lost. It's a testament to the power of music to evoke emotions and memories, and a reminder that even in heartbreak, there is still beauty to be found. Strongly featuring Trimble's vocals, it serves as a reminder of what we as fans are going to miss.
You know, they had more songs than "Cannonball", right?
This was the single that came two singles later, the last issued off the Last Splash album. Weirdly, though, it's a different take of the song - not the album version. This version and its key shift are aligned with their live versions of the song.
You could say this was the first single released from the Head To Toe EP, which included this version.
In both versions of the song, the instrumental arrangement is minimal and fuzzy. This version, produced by J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr., is in a better register for Kim Deal's gravely delivery and the background vocals of Kelley Deal and Josephine Wiggs.
The song received fairly solid airplay on alternative radio.
Today, we talk about s a song that tells the story of the chaotic adventures of John Lennon and Yoko Ono. From getting marriedm to dealing with the media's unrelenting scrutiny, the song covers a lot of ground. It's a tale of two people deeply in love, doing whatever it takes to be together. And as a bonus, it's kind of a fun song.
The song starts with John lamenting the fact that he and his beloved Yoko can't seem to catch a break. They're constantly in the public eye, and everyone seems to have an opinion about their relationship. But despite the criticism, John and Yoko remain steadfast in their love for each other.
One of the standout lines in the song is "Christ, you know it ain't easy / You know how hard it can be / The way things are going / They're gonna crucify me." It's a tongue-in-cheek reference, comparing John and Yoko's relationship to that of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. The media had a field day with that one.
But despite the scrutiny, John and Yoko remained devoted to each other. They even got married in Gibraltar, much to the surprise of their fans and the media. In the song, John sings about the couple's trip to Paris and their attempts to find a place to stay. "Finally made the plane into Paris / Honeymooning down by the Seine / Peter Brown called to say / 'You can make it okay, you can get married in Gibraltar near Spain.'" Of course, the line about Peter Brown is a reference to the Beatles' assistant of the same name. Peter helped John and Yoko navigate the logistics of getting married in Gibraltar, and it's clear that John was grateful for his help.
The Ballad of John and Yoko is a song that celebrates love in all its messy, complicated glory. It's a reminder that even when the world seems to be against you, love can conquer all. And it's also a reminder that even the Beatles had their fair share of drama.
It's worth noting that The Ballad of John and Yoko was recorded by only two Beatles: John Lennon and Paul McCartney. George Harrison and Ringo Starr were either on vacation or working on other projects. But John and Paul didn't let that stop them from creating a hit song. It was released as a single on May 30, 1969, and quickly climbed the charts. The song reached number one in the UK, Ireland, Australia, and several other countries. In the United States, it peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100.
Although the song only featured John and Paul, Ringo and George DO appear with them in the video, playing instruments. It would be the last single on which all four Beatles would appear together.
This is probably the longest single music video we've ever posted here. But it's worth it.
Bad Bunny is arguably the biggest star to come out of Puerto Rico in a generation, and he's very proud and very defensive of his roots and his home. HIs reggaeton-infused music has made him an international superstar. He uses his huge platform for good - highlighting issues that are plaguing Puerto Rico.
One of the biggest issues that has plagued Puerto Rico over the last decade has been the weakness of their power grid. LUMA Energy, the company that primarily controls the grid that took over the grid in 2021 from the government for $115 million, has been under fire for mismanaging exactly that. A joint venture between Texas company Quanta Services and Alberta company ATCO for the express purpose of managing and improving the grid, it serves the further benefit for those two companies of being a tax shelter, as it was established as a result of Act 22 of 2012, which exempts external investors from taxation on passive income. LUMA is by far not the only beneficiary of Act 22, as a lot of real estate investors are also injecting their money into the territory and displacing residents.
So, you're thinking, "Well, that paragraph was quite the left turn. What the hell does that have to do with reggaeton?"
"El Apagón" literally translates to "The Blackout". 53 seconds into this video for his song, you are introduced to a 20-minute documentary on LUMA Energy and Act 22 - and it's really, really well done. The reporter, Bianca Graulau, is eloquent and well-researched, and passionate about the subject.- she does a LOT more videos on her YouTube channel, on both the power grid and Act 22, as well as other issues that impact Puerto Rico (and, also, interestingly, Hawaii, which has a similar history of United States colonization).
I encourage you to watch this video. If you don't know Spanish, turn captions on - it has English subtitiles. Also, please go check out Bianca Graulau's other videos, many of them in English, as they give a lot more detail than this video can.
I am going to talk about the music, but talking about that video first was important.
Lyrically, the song is typically boastful - he talks about how he is a particular fan of the Puerto Rican variety of a particular body part only found on a woman, but in a somewhat vulgar manner ("Me gusta la chocha de Puerto Rico") - but it's also a fun song, incorporating pop and trap sounds in with the reggaeton. It's a song that expresses pride about Puerto Rico - about being proud of his homeland. It's NOT the political song you think it is - but he DID use the title and song to suck people into a bigger message.
Gabriela Berlingeri, his former girlfriend, provides the outro song, which is a pure pop contrast. She's not a famous musician in her own right (although she has worked on several of Bad Bunny's song, including recording reference vocals for Jennifer Lopez on another song) - and the selection of her as a singer here is by design and not just because Bad Bunny and her had adopted a puppy together - but she, just a citizen, sings passionately about HER homeland.
If you think Prince sounds a little squeakier than usual, you're right - he's using a sped-up voice on the recording of this song. You see, Prince recorded an album in 1986 as an artist named Camille - with sped-up vocals feminizing his voice. It was never released (although it looks like it is getting a release, possibly as part of a Sign O' The Times rerelease), but he still had the technology and used it on this song, which he DID release.
The song went to #2 on the US pop charts and ended up being a worldwide hit, immortalizing the World Series of Love. By the way, the year this was released, 1987, the World Series came to Minneapolis, Prince's hometown.
City Girls went looking for the best twerker in the world, and at the end of this video, I think you see they found the best twerker in the world. There's a lot of ass shaking that happens before you see the best ass shaker.
It's also a fun and naughty - not safe for work - song that ended up being a top 30 hit for the duo.
For at least a year, this blog has practiced Stella Parity. That means we post as much of each Stella sister as the other. If we post Lennon, we post Maisy. When possible.
Thankfully, this is one of those times where it is possible.
Since we opened the month with Stellas, it makes sense to end it the same way. And the pride of Whitby, Ontario is the best way to finish a month of Canadian music.
Lennon Stella didn't end up in the country music landscape like her parents did. Instead, she went with thought-provoking pop music, with a light, airy feeling. This particular brand of light and airy comes with horns, but still.
(Editor's note: I love that we can make callouts to things we wrote a decade ago)
I hope you've enjoyed this March as much as we have. Every year, it's a bigger challenge, but every year, we're discovering new music along with you - music that stays with us.
The largest airport in Canada, and 21st busiest airport in the world, is Toronto Pearson International Airport, in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
Its IATA code? YYZ. (I'll let you debate whether it's Why-Why-Zee or Why-Why-Zed)
I've been to every Tim Hortons at that airport. It's a great airport.
In the early days, Canadian airports were identified by two letter codes - and Toronto's main airport was YZ. This was used for ease of communication between airports. If an airport was open and not closed due to weather, it was easy to send a Y - for yes - and the two letter code via Morse code, and quickly communicate their status.
In the 1940s, as more airports were being opened worldwide, all airports were forced to adopt a 3-letter code. So, every Canadian airport - since they already had the protocol in place - just added the Yes signal to the beginning of all their airport codes. It's why they are the only country to consistently name all their (commercial passenger) airports with IATA codes all beginning with the same letter.
You've learned something today. Maybe.
Alex Lifeson didn't learn anything today, because he already knew Morse Code - because in addition to being the guitarist for Rush, he's also a commercial pilot. So, he heard - . - -- . - -- - . . - Y Y Z - quite a bit. One day, when he was flying the band into Pearson, he introduced the rhythm of that airport code to the band.
An instrumental classic, written by Neil Peart and Geddy Lee and NOT Alex Lifeson, was born. You can hear that morse code, that rhythm that stuck with them, from the very beginning of the song - that's the odd-sounding rhythm you hear at the start.
We couldn't not include a live version of this, eh? Yes, there is an extended Neil Peart drum solo, and you're welcome.
When you dig into Canadian music, you find stuff. I found this group while researching another post - for reasons that will become clear in a minute.
Take this musical duo, Once A Tree. A husband-and-wife duo, and named by Rolling Stone as one of the new artists you need to know, they met while both separately leaving their religion, Jehovah's Witnesses, and used their excommunication from their separate communities to fuel their musical creativity.
Once A Tree's music has been described as a blend of electronic, pop, and R&B. Their lyrics often touch on themes of love, loss, and self-discovery, as well as issues related to Indigenous identity and cultural preservation.
This song, from their 2017 album Phoenix, was produced by Hayden John Wolf, who also co-wrote the song. He also happens to be half of the duo, alongside his wife, Jayli, who is the other vocalist for the duo and who also co-wrote the song. It is a hauntingly beautiful and heart wrenching song, about turmoil and what looks like a near-breakup surrounding great loss.
Aujourd'hui, nous allons parler d'une chanson de Cœur de pirate qui a été largement ignorée, mais qui mérite d'être mise en avant : "Tu peux crever là-bas".
"Tu peux crever là-bas" est une chanson triste et émouvante qui raconte l'histoire d'une personne qui essaie de surmonter une rupture difficile. La chanson commence par des accords de piano mélancoliques et se développe en une ballade douce-amère qui met en valeur la voix fragile et expressive de Cœur de pirate.
Les paroles de la chanson sont sombres et poignantes, exprimant le désespoir et la douleur ressentis après une rupture amoureuse. Cœur de pirate chante : "Tu peux crever là-bas / Je ne te retiens pas / J'essaie juste de faire passer le temps / Avant de tout abandonner".
La production minimale de la chanson permet à la voix de Cœur de pirate de briller, capturant toute l'émotion et la vulnérabilité de l'artiste. La chanson est un témoignage de la profondeur et de la qualité du talent de Cœur de pirate en tant que musicienne et chanteuse.
Bien que "Tu peux crever là-bas" ne soit pas aussi connue que certains des autres hits de Cœur de pirate, elle reste une chanson puissante et émouvante qui mérite d'être découverte. Si vous cherchez une chanson pour vous consoler après une rupture, ou simplement pour vous plonger dans un état de réflexion mélancolique, "Tu peux crever là-bas" est un excellent choix.
(you didn't actually think we'd not post her twice this month, did you?)
I didn't have strong feeling about this song, except that I liked it and I really wanted a folky song to highlight Carly Rae Jepsen, and this song fit the bill.
So, I let ChatGPT write the rest of this post. I'm embarrassed to say it writes better than I do.
Carly Rae Jepsen has made a name for herself in the music industry with her catchy pop songs and infectious melodies. While she's known for hits like "Call Me Maybe" and "I Really Like You," one of her lesser-known tracks, "Western Wind," is definitely worth a listen.
"Western Wind" is a dreamy, synth-pop ballad that showcases Jepsen's ability to craft a memorable melody. The song's opening line, "I get lost in the memory / Of what it felt like when I loved you," sets the tone for the rest of the song as Jepsen explores the emotions of a past relationship.
The song's production, which features twinkling synths and a driving beat, creates a dreamlike atmosphere that perfectly complements the wistful lyrics. Jepsen's vocals are delicate and vulnerable, conveying the raw emotions of the lyrics without ever feeling over-the-top or melodramatic.
While "Western Wind" may not have been a hit on the charts (editor's note: it was in Japan), it's a gem that showcases Jepsen's songwriting and vocal talents. The song's intimate lyrics and dreamy production make it the perfect soundtrack for a rainy day or a quiet night in.
If you're a fan of Carly Rae Jepsen's poppy sound, give "Western Wind" a listen. It's a hidden gem that proves Jepsen is more than just a one-hit wonder.
Tommy Genesis is a literal walking embodiment of a Wicked Guilty Pleasure, and "100 Bad" is her supporting evidence. This song is like a car crash: you know it's bad, but you just can't look away. It's a mesmerizing, hypnotic track that sucks you in from the very first beat.
The song is built around a sparse, bass-heavy beat that throbs throughout the track. Over this beat, Tommy Genesis lays down a series of blunt, confrontational verses that are delivered with an unapologetic swagger. The production is minimalistic, but it's incredibly effective in creating a menacing, almost eerie atmosphere that perfectly matches the song's dark themes.
Lyrically, "100 Bad" is a celebration of bad behavior. It's all about living life on the edge, taking risks, and doing whatever you want, consequences be damned. The chorus is catchy as hell, with Tommy Genesis repeating the refrain "I'm 100 bad, bad, bad" over and over again. It's a simple, effective hook that will get stuck in your head for hours on end.
Of course, the subject matter of "100 Bad" is not for everyone. The song is full of explicit lyrics and graphic descriptions of sex, drugs, and violence. It's not a song you'd want to play for your grandmother, unless your grandmother happens to be a badass who loves a good bassline.
Despite its controversial content, there's no denying that "100 Bad" is a great example of Tommy Genesis' unique sound and style. She's a boundary-pushing artist who's not afraid to take risks and challenge the norms of the music industry. Love it or hate it, "100 Bad" is a track that demands your attention and refuses to be ignored. So go ahead and indulge in this guilty pleasure – just be sure to turn down the volume if your boss walks by.
Les Louanges is a Canadian band that has been making waves in the music industry with their unique sound and undeniable talent. One of their most popular songs is."Qu'est-ce que tu m'fais".
Les Louanges is a band from Quebec, Canada, and they have been creating music that is both innovative and captivating since their inception. The band consists of lead singer and guitarist Vincent Roberge, bassist and keyboardist Philippe Fleury, drummer and percussionist William Côté, and saxophonist and keyboardist Mathieu Leclerc. You know we love a band with a saxophonist.
Their music is characterized by a blend of genres, including jazz, rock, and pop. They use a variety of instruments to create their unique sound, and their lyrics are often introspective and thoughtful.
It's easy to see why this song is so well-received. The song begins with a simple beat and a catchy guitar riff, but it quickly evolves into a complex and layered composition. The lyrics are in French, and they explore themes of love, desire, and the ups and downs of relationships.
The song has a distinct Canadian flavor, with lyrics that are both poetic and introspective. The band's use of multiple instruments and intricate arrangements adds depth to the song, and it is a perfect example of their unique style.
Les Louanges is a truly special band. Check them out!
We last posted about this great folk group in 2021, during our first #MapleLeafMarch. Since then, there has been huge changes for the greatest folk group to ever come out of Prince Edward Island - and unfortunately, the biggest one isn't positive.
Founding member Koady Chaisson passed away in January 2022, while the group was working on their latest EP, House of Dreams. Koady did work on all seven songs on the EP before he passed, which means his music and his image live on in this song and video.
As of this writing, we have heard that the band is going to continue as a duo, and we hope they do for years to come - because they're making wonderful, award-worthy music.
During Maple Leaf March, I recognize that I feature a lot of artists that haven't really been heard outside of Canada. They SHOULD be guilty pleasures everywhere, but in a lot of cases, they just aren't.
Today's artist is not one of those.
Alessia Cara of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, has three top 10 hits in the US. This is one of them, hitting #8 on the pop chart in 2015. It is a huge body positivity anthem. It is, however, not your typical "you're beautiful just the way you are" anthem. It discusses cutting, depression, and eating disorders - all real things that affect so many people.
The video features real people struggling with all of these things - and if you look closely, you'll see another pop star - JoJo - among the real people, because being somewhat famous doesn't make these issues go away.
We found a pretty cool performance of this song, from the 2017 VMA awards. We love how Cara starts all made up and ends up without makeup or a fancy dress. It's quite neat.
Banx & Ranx are from Montreal. They are a producing/music-making duo who won the 2023 Juno Award for Breakthrough Artist - which is wild, because they aren't a new act, having created music for the better part of the last decade. They are multiple Grammy nominees.
Their music is modern and innovative, injecting Caribbean rhythms and music into a unique electronic sound. Their services are in high demand, with artists outside of Canada clamoring to work with them. Their music is catchy. This song is going to be your latest earworm.
Simple Plan are a power-pop-rock band from Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Which means they are bilingual.
So, that means they do multiple versions of some songs.
Take this fun little song about travelling a lot and missing the one you love. This version, in English, was recorded with British singer Natasha Beddingfield - and was an international hit. The video was filmed largely at YYZ - Toronto Pearson Airport - and Toronto Sheridan Gateway Hotel.... but they want you to think it's a hotel in Chicago, despite the Westjet and AirCanada planes and Canadian flags everywhere. Anyway, it's a fun song.
True story - I've flown in and out of YYZ a lot. Great airport and I instantly recognized it.
This version is just like that version, except the female version is almost completely in French and sung by Quebec singer Marie-Mai. Also, Simple Plan sings some stuff in French, too - although not all the lyrics. I wonder if Natasha and Marie-Mai hung out together at all in that hotel room.
It is essentially the same song and same video.
Official version #3 of this song is filmed by the band in English at YYZ still, but Chinese pop star Kelly Cha is somewhere in China singing almost entirely in Mandarin.
Other than the Kelly Cha footage, it is essentially the same song and same video.
Official version #4 is..... completely in English, but this time, the woman is in Jakarta, Indonesia, because she is Tantri Syalindri, vocalist for the band KOTAK - who all seem to be hanging out in the room with her.
It is essentially the same video.
That's it for the official versions, but there is this French demo version we found floating around..... Vocals for the female part were provided by some obscure Canadian artist who seems to go by some French name with an œ in it.... something something Pirate.
Apparently, when Simple Plan performs the song live, they just find whatever female pop-rock vocalists happens to be standing closest to the stage. Here, they get Sierra Key, vocalist for the band VERSA (who at the time were VersaEmerge, standing in for Natasha Beddingfield.
For this Australian appearance, they partnered with Jenna McDougall from Tonight Alive on an acoustic version of the song. The two bands happened to be on an Australian tour together, so it made sense.
The band is still together. Most of these performances above are from 2011, when the song was new. This one is from 2022, in Montreal, and yes, it's the French version, and yes, that's Marie-Mai.
If you read what I wrote on Saturday, you know I think Jayli Wolf released one of the most important songs of the last decade.
This song is a little less important - but no less about indigenous and female empowerment. The song and video are both super dark.
But we're not going to talk about that.
We're going to talk about why Jayli Wolf is one of my most listened to artists on Spotify. It's not because I want to feel pseudo-Canadian guilt, or that I only listen to First Nations protest music. No, it's because this strongly emotionally-charged music slaps, and it slaps hard. She's a fantastic musician and a fantastic songwriter, and she paints a picture with her music and lyrics like no other artists is doing today.
The rarest of Americans. Of course, technically, they are - because they live in the Americas. We in the United States seem to think we have dominion over the term "American", but we really don't.
Anyway, this young bunch of punks formed in 2018 in Vancouver, and are gaining traction. This song is a truly a sad song - about a probable breakup. We've all been there.
Now here's a stripped down version of the same song. For literally any other song, I'd probably have just updated that original post with an extra video. Not this time. That post was too perfect and this song is too raw.
