For Friday, have one of my all-time favorite love songs: Not My Slave. I'm not generally the violins and sweeping gowns type, you know. This one offers that unique Danny Elfman twist (and voice) and a huge Oingo Boingo sound perfect for spinning wildly in the arms of the one you love. Where else can you find lines like, "We make ourselves like clay from someone else's dreams?" Now list to it, darn it! I'm off to dance.
I don't know that Nova Scotia has a great surf scene, but if the Urban Surf Kings are anything to go by it must. As a bonus, given the "ooga-chuka" beginning of Go Go Island, you may find yourself wondering how Blue Swede would sound over some great surf guitar. Have a listen to this fantastic instrumental, do a little go-go dancing, and let me know what you think!
By now you likely know I'm a fan of Red Elvises and of disco. Thus, you can see how Closet Disco Dancer might be high on my list of favorites. Today, I'm bringing it to you so you, too, can enjoy the story and the woo hoo! Should you still doubt the surf-rock silliness that the gents can bring to you, try Party Like a Rock Star.
Ecstatic Dancer portrays how a long weekend makes me feel: I don't have to work on Monday? Let's dance! It's also a slightly mellow electro groove from the ever-intriguing Fujiya & Miyagi, which makes it doubly fun. After two days of hard labor, that's about all the energy I have to spare encouraging you to enjoy the song. Let your Ecstatic Dancer out and hit the floor while I look for some pain reliever.
Having left you all without the Scottish goodness of Salsa Celtica, I thought it was high time I brought you more. My utter weakness for horns made Vampiras the perfect choice for a Saturday evening groove.
After a day's hard labor, that's about all the energy I have. Read the earlier post for a bit more about the band and enjoy Vampiras. Perhaps tomorrow I'll be half as peppy as this song.
After a day's hard labor, that's about all the energy I have. Read the earlier post for a bit more about the band and enjoy Vampiras. Perhaps tomorrow I'll be half as peppy as this song.
I'm back to funk tonight. At this rate I'm going to have to make Friday Funk a regular thing! For now, get down and do The Bump with The Haggis Horns. Don't let their vintage sound fool you: these lads are a part of the so-called nu-funk movement. They've released two albums and, if they stick with their three-year cycle, they ought to be getting a third ready as you read. If you like these two, and are a fan of cheesy 80s cartoon, try The Snarf Dance. Thundercats, ho!
It's difficult to imagine Ohio natives coming up with anything too terribly sinister. Somehow I imagine their idea of villainy would be putting training wheels on their buddy's bicycle.
Whatever you think of their potential for evil, have a listen to You, You're Awesome and let me know what you think. Is there more potential lurking in these bleeping hearts than I think?
Yet again, a mashup has introduced me to a song I've never heard outside it. I can't help but think the original Eric Hassle song will suffer by comparison. Dan Mei has used Katrina & the Waves cheer that mopey Hassle right up by shining a little sunshine on him. Voila! Hurtful Sunshine.
You can, of course, download it from Dan Mei Productions for free, as with all the mashups I post. As a side note, Mr. Mei and the rest of Mashup Industries has restarted their wonderful site filled with mashes, remixes, and more so you can pick up many of your favorite DJs from the same place. That's got me Walking on Sunshine.
You can, of course, download it from Dan Mei Productions for free, as with all the mashups I post. As a side note, Mr. Mei and the rest of Mashup Industries has restarted their wonderful site filled with mashes, remixes, and more so you can pick up many of your favorite DJs from the same place. That's got me Walking on Sunshine.
You've likely read how videos distract me from a song a few times, here on The NPJ, so I thought I'd post a counterpoint today. Mayday RED does mostly creative covers of songs I don't know but they also do original songs. Get Over It comes across as an interesting pop song but the message, in this case, is only strengthened by the video. Have a watch and a listen while I try to list all of the things I need to get over before I finally jump out of a plane.
Only Willie Nelson could convincingly sing a song explaining how he doesn't want to get drunk but that he must. Okay, Albert Collins might have pulled it off as well but the fact of the matter is that he didn't. Mr. Nelson gave us I Gotta Get Drunk and made us want to buy him a beer...or at least I do. Seriously, don't you think a night out with Willie Nelson would be amazing?
Whatever the case, you can't argue with his logic that there are more old drunks than old doctors, can you? And he can't let down all of those folks waiting to party with him, now can he?
I have a hankering to hear this one remixed over more instruments. Have a listen to I Gotta Get Drunk and let me know what you think, particularly if you know of a cover or remix that would make this an even better party song.
Whatever the case, you can't argue with his logic that there are more old drunks than old doctors, can you? And he can't let down all of those folks waiting to party with him, now can he?
I have a hankering to hear this one remixed over more instruments. Have a listen to I Gotta Get Drunk and let me know what you think, particularly if you know of a cover or remix that would make this an even better party song.
I'd like to thank +Jason Meininger for broadening my funk horizons the other day by introducing me to Geraldo Pino & the Heartbeats. I've very much enjoyed exploring their sound and would love to share them with you, too, my dears. To that end, have a listen to Power to the People.
I particularly enjoy how Mr. Pino talked to his band, bringing in various musicians with funk-appropriate comments. He did this on several songs on this album (the only one I could find pretty much anywhere, on-line) and I'd bet it was a staple of his live shows as well. As he passed in late 2008, sadly I'll never get a chance to see him and find out for myself.
On that less-than-cheerful note, I'm going to shush and let you listen. If you're a fan I'd love to hear which song is your favorite and if you're new to The Heartbeats please let me know what you think. You can listen to Heavy, Heavy, Heavy over at the Listening to...music community at G+ if the funk catches your feet, too.
I particularly enjoy how Mr. Pino talked to his band, bringing in various musicians with funk-appropriate comments. He did this on several songs on this album (the only one I could find pretty much anywhere, on-line) and I'd bet it was a staple of his live shows as well. As he passed in late 2008, sadly I'll never get a chance to see him and find out for myself.
On that less-than-cheerful note, I'm going to shush and let you listen. If you're a fan I'd love to hear which song is your favorite and if you're new to The Heartbeats please let me know what you think. You can listen to Heavy, Heavy, Heavy over at the Listening to...music community at G+ if the funk catches your feet, too.
Some people might be ready for drinks and a night out, but I'm offering you instead a steaming heap of Jambalaya, chock full of bayou sass and made by everyone from Hank Williams to The Carpenters. Should that not be enough to tempt you I also threw in a crazy helping of Brenda Lee, the essential seasoning of Clifton Chenier with spoons in hand, and the unexpected flavor of Los Felinos.
"But," you say, "what about that well-known Cajun swingster, Harry Connick, Jr.?" He's in there, too, with a side of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Creedence Clearwater Revival to whet your appetite. Jeff Healey brings the bite of serious boogie and then The Residents balance the recipe with a creepy take on the whole concept.
All together I've assembled fourteen ingredients to make one enormous pot of Jambalaya (On the Bayou). Dip in and have a taste. I won't blame you a bit if you eat the whole thing, though this is one meal that will likely leave you starving when you've finished dancing your way through it. If I've missed your favorite cover, I'd love to know who performed it.
"But," you say, "what about that well-known Cajun swingster, Harry Connick, Jr.?" He's in there, too, with a side of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Creedence Clearwater Revival to whet your appetite. Jeff Healey brings the bite of serious boogie and then The Residents balance the recipe with a creepy take on the whole concept.
All together I've assembled fourteen ingredients to make one enormous pot of Jambalaya (On the Bayou). Dip in and have a taste. I won't blame you a bit if you eat the whole thing, though this is one meal that will likely leave you starving when you've finished dancing your way through it. If I've missed your favorite cover, I'd love to know who performed it.
Here's a boogie-starter for your Friday night: Herbie Hancock. I'll bet you never thought you'd read that! And yet here I am, suggesting that a Afro Boogie will be a great jump-start for your weekend. Get down with your bad self!
With a big thank you to +Kirk Jordan for reintroducing me to Daniel Amos, I bring you the song that made me think, "I loved these guys!" Rocket Packs sadly still resonates as much today as it did in 1984. Why aren't we living in space? Why are we still so far from love?
While the Devo-esque sound of Rocket Packs couldn't be more 80s (especially as they keep saying, "It's the 80s") don't let it fool you into thinking this is some flash-in-the-pan band. Daniel Amos got together in 1974 and released their most recent album (as far as I can tell) in 2002. As far as I can tell, their sound covers a wide range of genres, including somewhat rockabilly and folk rock as well as something a bit on the harder side. They also have a religious bent that you don't get at all from this song or many of their others, though they really aren't "beat you over the head" about it even on "Bibleland".
At any rate, give Daniel Amos a listen and let me know if you know what happened to those promised Rocket Packs. Share if you've got a favorite song from the band as well!
While the Devo-esque sound of Rocket Packs couldn't be more 80s (especially as they keep saying, "It's the 80s") don't let it fool you into thinking this is some flash-in-the-pan band. Daniel Amos got together in 1974 and released their most recent album (as far as I can tell) in 2002. As far as I can tell, their sound covers a wide range of genres, including somewhat rockabilly and folk rock as well as something a bit on the harder side. They also have a religious bent that you don't get at all from this song or many of their others, though they really aren't "beat you over the head" about it even on "Bibleland".
At any rate, give Daniel Amos a listen and let me know if you know what happened to those promised Rocket Packs. Share if you've got a favorite song from the band as well!
Here a rockin', brass-filled cover of Sugar Blues for you all of an evening. If you're unfamiliar with the song you can find covers by all sorts of folks but this one pushes all my happy buttons so I'm sharing it with you all. If you prefer another (or if you happen to know who recorded the original), please do let me know.
I'd like to change the lyrics for _My Favorite Things_ to include a song that kicks me in the face on first listen and makes me run over here to share it with you. That's what happened with Lila Downs this morning. I was considering posting what I think is the best cover of La Bamba ever when I tripped over Shake Away. Since I was already chair dancing, I thought I'd keep going and the song gave me plenty to keep my shakin' it.
Then there was the theme, which brought Florence + the Machine to mind, with the bonus image of shaking it off like a rattlesnake. And then...then...well, then, my dears Lila Downs nailed me to my chair, open-mouthed, while she pulled off the same thing Bobby Darin did in Blue Skies, maybe even better. That note, that power, that strength!
Have a listen, my darlings, and see if you're as pleasantly stunned with Shake Away as I have been.
Then there was the theme, which brought Florence + the Machine to mind, with the bonus image of shaking it off like a rattlesnake. And then...then...well, then, my dears Lila Downs nailed me to my chair, open-mouthed, while she pulled off the same thing Bobby Darin did in Blue Skies, maybe even better. That note, that power, that strength!
Have a listen, my darlings, and see if you're as pleasantly stunned with Shake Away as I have been.
If you've been to The NPJ in the last long while, you might have noticed my adoration of Janelle Monae. Thus I squealed like a little girl getting a pony when +Caren Kelleher pointed me at the video for Q.U.E.E.N., uploaded a whole two days ago.
Why, you may be wondering, am I calling this a True Confession post? Well, with two and a half million views in two days I'm pretty sure she can now be considered popular. But the best part? The song made me dance my booty off, drool over her coat, groove to the horns, and then raise my fist. Keep in mind the message: the booty don't lie.
Sorry, I'm too interested in watching this again to be coherent. Watch, love, and share. Happy Friday!
Why, you may be wondering, am I calling this a True Confession post? Well, with two and a half million views in two days I'm pretty sure she can now be considered popular. But the best part? The song made me dance my booty off, drool over her coat, groove to the horns, and then raise my fist. Keep in mind the message: the booty don't lie.
Sorry, I'm too interested in watching this again to be coherent. Watch, love, and share. Happy Friday!
In case you were unaware, Eels dropped a new album today--"Wonderful, Glorious". You know what that means: Eels for the evening! I'm sharing Peach Blossom because it's got a great, fuzzy bass line and...well, actually I'm not sharing it with you directly because I can't embed it. You'll have to click over to SoundCloud because the label did not allow embedding.
Instead, have a great older Eels song, one that my kids adore. Maybe it's the line that says "It's alright to act like a turd". Whatever the case, I Like Birds has become not only a family favorite but a bit of a catchphrase when buying time or changing the subject. It's also a great dancing-around-the-living-room song. Until I get my digital hands on a widget for the new stuff, have some older Eels to tide you over.
I like birds.
Instead, have a great older Eels song, one that my kids adore. Maybe it's the line that says "It's alright to act like a turd". Whatever the case, I Like Birds has become not only a family favorite but a bit of a catchphrase when buying time or changing the subject. It's also a great dancing-around-the-living-room song. Until I get my digital hands on a widget for the new stuff, have some older Eels to tide you over.
I like birds.
A few years ago I posted a song from Bob Schneider and then left you hanging, waiting for more. That wasn't very nice of me, but I bring you a song guaranteed to earn your forgiveness: Bombanaza. It's Latin but Austin white-boy Latin.
Considering Bob Schneider's folky, sometimes-country style on many of his albums, you may not be expecting the boogie-down horns and big sound of Bombanaza. The song is, however, a great deal of fun. If you find yourself looking for something a little more on the acoustic side, I recommend Funky Weather, which will still get your toes tapping and your booty shaking. And if you want something even wilder try Boombox.
Considering Bob Schneider's folky, sometimes-country style on many of his albums, you may not be expecting the boogie-down horns and big sound of Bombanaza. The song is, however, a great deal of fun. If you find yourself looking for something a little more on the acoustic side, I recommend Funky Weather, which will still get your toes tapping and your booty shaking. And if you want something even wilder try Boombox.
