The Friday Five: July 22, 2011
Friday Five : ‘frī-(,)dā,-dē ‘fīv : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes, then share the first five tracks and thought for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, occasionally we’ll have a guest, but most of the time it’s just me. The rest is up to you, our friends and readers! Fire up your media player of choice and share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments.
The Five:
“Rewrite” by Paul Simon (from So Beautiful or So What, 2011)
There aren’t enough hours in the day to listen to Simon’s latest record as much as I’d like. “Rewrite” is just one of the many reasons why.
“Another Lonely Christmas” by Prince & The Revolution (from 12″ Archive 2.0, 2001)
Christmas in July? With temperatures across the country reaching well into the triple digits, I’d bet everyone could stand a little holiday cheer to remind them that snow and sub-zero temperatures that’ll be here in just six short months. There’s not much cheer to be found here, though.
“Legs (dance-enhancing version)” by ZZ Top (from Greatest Hits, 1992)
I know, I know … what is “Legs” without the video, right?
That’s better, right?
“The Scientist” by Johnette Napolitano & Danny Lohner (from Wicker Park, 2004)
Take the already haunting Coldplay cut, amp it up with the incomparable vocals of Concrete Blonde’s Johnette Napolitano, and you’ve got yourself a perfect cover.
“[silence]” by Nine Inch Nails (from Broken, 1992)
They say silence is golden. I swear, this is the next track that shuffled up, though I feel like I might be cheating you guys. Maybe I should elucidate on just how … oh, forget it. I used the word elucidate and I want to kick my own ass right now.
What’s on your shuffle today?
The Friday Five: January 23, 2009
If you’ve been working for the weekend, well you are in luck because it’s just about that time. That’s right, it’s Friday and it’s time to kick back hit the shuffle button and let the music take us where it will. Today we’re firing up iTunes to battle the post-lunch dip!
For those who have not joined in the Friday Five here is all you need to know; each Friday I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes and share my five and drop a little knowledge and insight for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, sometimes there isn’t. Sometimes we have guest, but most of the time it’s just me.
The rest is up to you, our friends and readers! Fire up your media player of choice and share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments. The more the merrier!
The Five:
“For Giuseppe Franco” – Frank Zappa (from Trance-Fusion)
This is an outtake solo from “Hot Plate Heaven at The Green Hotel” recorded December 17, 1984 Paramount Theatre, Seattle, Washington. And to think, this is an outtake…
“Dirty Mind” – Prince (from Dirty Mind)
Listening to this era’s records is making me antsy to hear the new record.
“Linger” – The Cranberries (from Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?)
Definitely in my top 5 of 1993, there really is nothing to compare to this record.
“Tomorrow, Wendy (live)” – Concrete Blonde (from Still in Hollywood)
A stark and poignant song written from the view of a woman coping with the AIDS virus and the frustrations and challenges to faith that come with it. This particular verse has always stood out as particularly powerful:
“I told the priest, don’t count on any second coming.
God got his ass kicked the first time he came down here slumming.
He had the balls to come, the gall to die and then forgive us.
No, I don’t wonder why, I wonder what he thought it would get us.”This live version holds nothing back with Johnette Napolitano delivering every line with the utmost conviction.
“Dear God” – Sarah McLachlan (from Rarities, B-Sides, & Other Stuff)
A quiet and introspective take on the XTC classic. I adore Sarah’s voice and could listen to her sing the phone book.
Okay, I’ve shown you mine, now show me yours!