That was an interesting article thanks! I found it depressing, and then I alternately felt oddly elated by it; I think the idea of those Swedish guys having day jobs making big songs, then going home to their wives and young kids just seemed somehow sweet. It's this odd big Kafka like machine, but it's pumping out Little songs that make people smile so how bad is it?
It made me think of the '90's conversations too - the 90's really seemed like a moment of possibility; like maybe we could all get away from the whole machine - there were bands and they wrote and played their own songs and the most sought after producers were good at making the bands sound like themselves. But here we are, back in manufactured pop-land. But again, even if it's not for me, I don't know that it's a bad thing.
Along the same lines, people might like this article about Muzak.
So the article made me curious so I tuned in my local pop station; in the first ten minutes I heard Niki Minaj, Adelle and Rihana, then, oddly, Baby Got Back! Pop is weird.
A fascinating series of articles amc. Lots of thoughts going through my mind, but just one for now. Adele gets played a lot in the UK wherever you go, shops, restaurants, even the instrumental parts get played as background on TV regularly. Does this reflect the high sales of her albums, or are the high sales a reflection of how often people hear the music in a subliminal way? I suspect they were originally chosen because of high sales, but the continual selling is something to do with the exposure she gets.
The eastern world it is explodin', violence flarin', bullets loadin'
You're old enough to kill but not for votin'
You don't believe in war, what's that gun you're totin'
And even the Jordan river has bodies floatin'
But you tell me over and over and over again my friend
Ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction
Don't you understand, what I'm trying to say?
Can't you see the fear that I'm feeling today?
If the button is pushed, there's no running away
There'll be none to save with the world in a grave
Take a look around you, boy, it's bound to scare you, boy
But you tell me over and over and over again my friend
Ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction
Yeah, my blood's so mad, feels like coagulatin'
I'm sittin' here just contemplatin'
I can't twist the truth, it knows no regulation
Handful of Senators don't pa*s legislation
And marches alone can't bring integration
When human respect is disintegratin'
This whole crazy world is just too frustratin'
And you tell me over and over and over again my friend
Ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction
Think of all the hate there is in Red China
Then take a look around to Selma, Alabama
Ah, you may leave here for four days in space
But when you return it's the same old place
The poundin' of the drums, the pride and disgrace
You can bury your dead but don't leave a trace
Hate your next door neighbor but don't forget to say grace
And you tell me over and over and over and over again my friend
Ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction
- P. F. Sloan - 1965
I know the Joan Osborne, will have to look up the Silverflame.
What brought me here tonight, good people, is Frankie's Relax
erm, after watching that youtube, I am SO disappointed. I had in my mind some image of buff guys in speedos.
Is that the real video? They didn't do anything racier? WTF
Must have missed this thread a couple of week's ago. Twelve, maybe thirteen, years ago I used to play the Joan Osborne album with One of Us on it a lot. It was a hard time for me, and that track just meant something.
Well, I sure love the sound of music, so I'll pick the db's I Lie as one one of mine.
-always
Ps I was really hoping Write Back would sound as good on you tube as it does on the album, but the sound isn't so good there right now. Here's hoping I can edit this one day.
The 2nd verse starting "One had been a beauty queen and the other was her friend" is one of the greatest lyrics by this great lyricist...perhaps especially the last two lines:
Though he wasn't tall or handsome she laughed when he told her
"I'm the Sheriff of Nottingham and this is Little John"
The Joan Osborne track above reminded me of this incredible performance from the great Standing in the Shadows of Motown film. She absolutely owns this song. Featuring the late, great Bob Babbitt on bass.
I love both those two tracks BN - amongst my favourite Beatles recordings, but today we celebrate the 50th anniversary of this release, as it helped to change popular music
Interestingly, today also marks the 50th anniversary of the release of the first James Bond film. We didn't know it at the time - I was almost 12 then - but 5th October 1962 was a highly significant day in popular culture history
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It made me think of the '90's conversations too - the 90's really seemed like a moment of possibility; like maybe we could all get away from the whole machine - there were bands and they wrote and played their own songs and the most sought after producers were good at making the bands sound like themselves. But here we are, back in manufactured pop-land. But again, even if it's not for me, I don't know that it's a bad thing.
Along the same lines, people might like this article about Muzak.
So the article made me curious so I tuned in my local pop station; in the first ten minutes I heard Niki Minaj, Adelle and Rihana, then, oddly, Baby Got Back! Pop is weird.
What a song, what a voice.
- A song written by Eric Bazilian of The Hooters: One of us - The Hooters
- Wiki.
What brought me here tonight, good people, is Frankie's Relax
erm, after watching that youtube, I am SO disappointed. I had in my mind some image of buff guys in speedos.
Is that the real video? They didn't do anything racier? WTF
-always
Ps I was really hoping Write Back would sound as good on you tube as it does on the album, but the sound isn't so good there right now. Here's hoping I can edit this one day.
Just over 2 mins, great verse, chorus and guitar break and then finish, what else do you want?
The 2nd verse starting "One had been a beauty queen and the other was her friend" is one of the greatest lyrics by this great lyricist...perhaps especially the last two lines:
Though he wasn't tall or handsome she laughed when he told her
"I'm the Sheriff of Nottingham and this is Little John"
Heard it the other day still gets me every time I hear it
This took up residence in my head while preparing a batch of peaches for freezing. Some may know it better from the John Denver cover.
John Prine - Spanish Pipedream
ETA: Oooops ! - Posted that one way back in 2010 . . . Well, it IS a great song.
This was the start of a love of Todd Rundgren which has me buying lots of his music warts and all.
Interestingly, today also marks the 50th anniversary of the release of the first James Bond film. We didn't know it at the time - I was almost 12 then - but 5th October 1962 was a highly significant day in popular culture history