Y'all were expecting reverse order of admittance into the Union, weren't you?
Nope.
Today is Puerto Rico's day to shine.
And, for today, I decided to go with Circo. They are in that category of "best band you've never heard" DESPITE their multiple Latin Grammy nominations.
Anyway, they rock. And you should have been listening to them already. But we're giving you the opportunity to do so now.
Happy Autumn! Today is the Autumnal Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere.
If you're in the Southern Hemisphere, Happy Spring, but I'm not making two hashtags.
Anyway, I wanted to do something special this autumn - and that is feature artists from the United States, one state and territory at a time. Because yes, I am including territories.
#AmericanAutumn
I did choose a non-logical order that I will probably reveal at some point, but for now, we start with the most logical beginning, Hawaii, or, if you prefer, Hawai'i. The state consists of all but one of the islands of the Hawai'ian Archipelago (Midway Atoll is outside the state), and is a volcanic state.
Poi Dog Pondering, a bunch of street musicians from Honolulu, with a mi of modern and traditional instruments, are the perfect representatives of the state. Starting as a solo project of Frank Orrall, the lineup grows and shrinks, currently sitting at about 17 members.
This song was from the band's 1989 self-titled debut album and introduced the Hawai'ian sound to the rest of the world.
I mentioned their lineup grows and shrinks. Because it does.
Here they are in 2021, in New York City, performing their 1989 song. And sounding different and great and neat.
Next week is Courtney's birthday - she and I have been together for a bit more than three years. I already have a post scheduled for her birthday.... because on Monday, I'm starting a thing on this blog that's going to run for a couple of months. Frankly, this post was previously scheduled for November 13th as part of that, before I moved it here.
And also, we're at the ocean now.
And, as I was watching some of my sister Dawn's concert videos, I played a video of this song that they performed this year, and Courtney, who is present for the writing of most of these posts, remarked - and really, reminded me - that it is one of her favorite songs.
I have to admit, I did not always like or appreciate this song. I liked other stuff of theirs a bit more. But this song has grown on me. It's a sweet song, with great harmonies. And singer Glen Phillips, who wrote the lyrics to the song (bandmate Todd Nichols largely did the music) wrote these lyrics as a placeholder as he was whale watching with his family.... and couldn't come up with anything he liked better.
So yeah, that's how a hit song is written.
Remember when I said my sister saw them live and I was watching that video?
Here's the video I was watching. And although the song is in a lower key now, it still sounds great.
This song was/is a TikTok trend. I put it like that because I know you come back to read my stuff years later.
From a pop chart standpoint, this barely registered in the US (#96 on the Hot 100), but that hardly matters, does it?
The video explores the negative impact of drugs - which seems like an 80's thing to do - and the song samples heavily from "Dark and Long" by The Underworld - which seems like a 90's thing to do. It's all combined to make something cute and fun and modern.
I know it's weird that a DJ would perform live (and SING), but here ya go. Glastonbury is weird, man. But also, the crowd loves it and she puts on a great show.
OK, but anyone with a little stage presence can do a huge stage show. What about an NPR Tiny Desk Concert?
Yep. And it is amazing and fun (as is the whole concert. Watch the rest, too!)
Last night, the Polaris Music Prize was awarded. It's a Canadian prize, loosely based on the UK's Mercury Prize, honoring the best in Canadian music over the last year. Traditionally, they've awarded a prize (occasionally 2) to the best Canadian album of the past year. This year, they also awarded a single prize.
The album prize this year went to the Yves Jarvis album All Cylinders. It's very reminiscent of CSNY, and yes, I made sure I added Neil Young for the Canadian artist, with a hint of disco. This single from the album is one of my favorites.
I think watching him perform it live and seeing how he builds the song in front of the audience is a sight to see, and you should see it too.
This early single by the Cardigans was the first thing I ever heard by the band. I knew there were great things to come, but no one could have predicted how great.
It is a sweet and basic love song. That's all you need to know.
Except there's a lot more to say.
This very sweet song begging for love is practically a prequel to "Lovefool". Basically, it's about a girl who wants to go to a carnival with a boy but doesn't because the boy does not ask her. The first single from their second album, Life, it was their first UK hit. Which is why I chose a live performance from the UK.
Is Peruvian-Ohian Isabela Merced an actress - who was recently featured as Hawkgirl in the new Superman movie and who also made an appearance in a Marvel-adjacent movie we shall not mention (ok, it was Madame Web) - or is she a musician?
Why not both? This is her debut single, from 2019, and it is a Latin-tingled pop masterpiece, a modern Spanglish classic.
But also, she was the first live action Dora the Explorer.
But also, this is a great song.
This song was from 2019, just before the pandemic, and so, when trying to promote the song, quarantine got in the way.
So she did an at-home concert which was, no lie, pretty cool.
She did manage to sneak in a few performances pre-lockdown, including this one in San Francisco on March 5, 2020.
