08 January 2019

8 January 2019 - Captain & Tennille - Do That To Me One More Time

I was remiss in not posting this last week.  Daryl Dragon, The Captain, passed away last week.  I usually pay tribute to artists who pass, especially ones that mean so much to me.  As long time readers of this blog know, I had a significant conversation with the man many years ago.  I'd like to say it somewhat guided my chosen IT career (he was a huge proponent of technology) and while that's probably overstating the impact, it is a conversation I remember and recall regularly.


The song was the duo's last #1 hit, and they sang it in Spanish, too. Even though they divorced a couple of years ago (it's rumored this was to get Daryl better access to health care), it's still a beautiful love song, a throwback to a simpler time, even when it was new. 

07 January 2019

7 January 2019 - Bonde do Rolê- Picolé

It took 45 directors to make this video.  That's probably about 43 more than they needed, but the song itself is fantastic.

The title itself, in Portuguese, loosely translates to "popsicle" in English.  But you probably figured that out.  More likely, it is referring to a Brazilian-style of frozen treat with alcohol and fruit.

They're also not really talking about popsicles.  But you probably figured that out, too.

04 January 2019

4 January 2019 - Ashlee Simpson - Invisible

Tomorrow is the 7th anniversary of this blog - I know it's gotten a lot more occasional than it used to be, but we're going to do better in 2019.

We started the blog - I say we, because there were two of us, although Scott Colvin has moved on - because two college radio DJs bonded over a love of pop music, specifically Ashlee Simpson.  Which is why "Boyfriend" was the first song we posted here. I called it "one of the guiltiest pleasure songs ever to be performed."

I also said, and I quote,
It's really hard to say "Ashlee Simpson" and "bad-ass" in the same sentence while keeping a straight face.
To end our seventh year and kick off our eighth, I felt it right to visit a song where Ashlee Simpson tried to be even more bad-ass.  Nope, time doesn't make that any easier to say. 

03 January 2019

3 January 2019 - Poppy - X

Look, I don't understand Poppy any more than you do, and that's saying something for a woman who has her own church.  We've all seen and not understood her videos like this:


However, she is a decent EDM artist in her own right, and that weirdness plays well for that very specific job.  This song cleverly mixes metal with folk.... with some very strange lyrics.  But her very odd personality makes it actually WORK!



One of the most enigmatic things about Poppy?  She doesn't just live in a YouTube channel.  She does live shows and is fact on tour right now.  Here she is, performing what was a surprisingly hard-edged song live on Halloween 2018.

And yeah, she's apparently exactly like that live.



Those of you who are true Poppy fans were probably hoping I'd add this little gem in.  Those of you who are just learning about her for the first time, let her introduce herself, in her own words:

04 December 2018

4 December 2018 - Grimes (ft. Hana) - We Appreciate Power

It is extraordinarily uncommon for me to make a post based on a lyric video, even one featuring Metroid cosplay.

However, this isn't a typical lyric video.  This is the first new Grimes in three years. And it's a banger!  Well worth the wait!  Is it about AI taking over?  Is it another alien song?  Is it a tribute to Elon Musk?  I'll let you decide that for yourself! 

03 December 2018

3 December 2018 - DNCE - Cake By The Ocean

Look closely at that lead vocalist.

Yep.  That's a Jonas brother. 

And a newly married one at that.  Congratulations to Joe Jonas and Priyanka Chopra on their wedding this last weekend.  I wish them both much cake by the ocean, and like this song, I ain't talkin' about baked goods.


29 November 2018

29 November 2018 - Tubeway Army - Are 'Friends' Electric?

We're back!

And we return with the first synth-based song to hit #1 in the UK.   Tubeway Army was a three-piece led by Gary Numan which lasted for one album.  After that, he "went solo", and by that I mean he dropped the band's name but kept them as his backup group.

The song itself is a very paranoid, very lonely song, with no real hook or standard song structure, and yet it's infinitely catchy.  Enjoy!