I don't know that I've ever professed my love of Madonna's music. I know I have posted her music in the past. One of these days, I'm going to do a super post about her. But today, I want to talk about one of her recent hits.
This song is very complex musically, with a ticking clock and a sample from an Abba song making the bulk of the dense backing track. Madonna's lyrics are sung with urgency, but are very simple in contrast to the music. However, this video is all about the dancing - I've never seen moves like some of these!
So, enjoy this video, enjoy the song, enjoy the Abba music.
24 June 2013
21 June 2013
21 June 2013 - Katrina and The Waves - Walking on Sunshine
No song personified mid-80s optimism quite like this one. The only U.S. hit by Katrina and The Waves, Kimberley Rew (who was one of the Waves) wrote it as a ballad. Katrina had other ideas, and belted the song.
She made the right choice. Now, they've together crafted one of those songs that you just can't help but smile when you hear.
Katrina Leskanich is still singing the hell out of this song. Here she is in a television performance from 2010.
She made the right choice. Now, they've together crafted one of those songs that you just can't help but smile when you hear.
Katrina Leskanich is still singing the hell out of this song. Here she is in a television performance from 2010.
20 June 2013
20 June 2013 - Clan of Xymox - Obsession
Let's go dark wave on this 80s Thursday. I was always intrigued by Clan of Xymox (AKA Xymox), but never really owned any of their records until a few years ago when I got 1989's Twist of Shadows from a now defunct CD trading site (RIP Lala.com). I can't say I listen to it often, but it's certainly filled with electro-gothy goodness. Here's the video for Twist of Shadows' highest charting single.
19 June 2013
19 June 2013 - Morris Day & The Time - Jungle Love
Few people can successfully steal the spotlight from Prince. Morris Day, however, did just that in Purple Rain. He truly stole the show. And this song, from their 1983 album Ice Cream Castle, was one of the highlights of that.
Here's what you don't know, though. The song, cowritten by Morris Day and Jesse Johnson, was performed on record by three artists. Morris Day provided the vocals, Jesse Johnson some guitar.... and Prince Rogers Nelson himself played the rest. There is some debate over whether Johnson even did guitar! Day was required to follow Prince's vocal track note for note. Since they were signed to Prince's label, he had full creative control.....
....which led to tension and a rift between Prince and The Time, who were themselves accomplished musicians and producers.
But forget about all that drama for five minutes. Listen to this great, funky song!
Here's what you don't know, though. The song, cowritten by Morris Day and Jesse Johnson, was performed on record by three artists. Morris Day provided the vocals, Jesse Johnson some guitar.... and Prince Rogers Nelson himself played the rest. There is some debate over whether Johnson even did guitar! Day was required to follow Prince's vocal track note for note. Since they were signed to Prince's label, he had full creative control.....
....which led to tension and a rift between Prince and The Time, who were themselves accomplished musicians and producers.
But forget about all that drama for five minutes. Listen to this great, funky song!
18 June 2013
18 June 2013 - New Radicals - You Get What You Give
"Fashion shoots with Beck and Hanson/Courtney Love and Marilyn Manson/You're all fakes run to your mansions/Come around we'll kick your asses." It's lines like that from You Get What You Give that are sorely missing on modern rock radio today.
The New Radicals should have been HUGE. Certainly this song was. But somewhere between the release of the first two singles off of Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too, the band's leader, Gregg Alexander, decided he'd much rather be the man behind the scenes (producing and writing for others). Good for him, but I often wonder what could have been. Well, at least we got this late 90s gem.
The New Radicals should have been HUGE. Certainly this song was. But somewhere between the release of the first two singles off of Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too, the band's leader, Gregg Alexander, decided he'd much rather be the man behind the scenes (producing and writing for others). Good for him, but I often wonder what could have been. Well, at least we got this late 90s gem.
17 June 2013
17 June 2013 - The Jets - Crush On You
The eight eldest children (of 17!) of the Wolfgramm family from Minneapolis, MN, decided to start a band. From 1986, this family band had a cute, innocent hit song. It would not be their only hit, but it was their first big one.
The song itself was pretty standard pop/R&B that was appropriate for the era, but it was less sleazy... more innocent than its contemporaries. The video continued the theme of innocence, and showed eight brothers and sisters just having a good time performing a fun, lighthearted song about the confirmation of a crush.
And yes. They were named after the gang from "West Side Story."
The song itself was pretty standard pop/R&B that was appropriate for the era, but it was less sleazy... more innocent than its contemporaries. The video continued the theme of innocence, and showed eight brothers and sisters just having a good time performing a fun, lighthearted song about the confirmation of a crush.
And yes. They were named after the gang from "West Side Story."
14 June 2013
14 June 2013 - Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out
I couldn't tell you when I first heard this song. I know it is indispensable for me now.
The song starts off very guitar-heavy, and somewhat light musically. Lyrically, it's about shooting someone, so not so light. But then, about 50 seconds in, the song, while remaining guitar-heavy, adds a heavy drum and bass piece. And the tempo and feel of the song changes strongly, and not to the lighter. It's a well constructed song, and I like how it so seamlessly changes like that after such a long time. There's a third change, which goes more to the jangle-pop sound that is so core to the band.
The song starts off very guitar-heavy, and somewhat light musically. Lyrically, it's about shooting someone, so not so light. But then, about 50 seconds in, the song, while remaining guitar-heavy, adds a heavy drum and bass piece. And the tempo and feel of the song changes strongly, and not to the lighter. It's a well constructed song, and I like how it so seamlessly changes like that after such a long time. There's a third change, which goes more to the jangle-pop sound that is so core to the band.
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