The Friday Five: February 26, 2010
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:
“Loom” by Ani DiFranco (from Little Plastic Castles, 1998)
There are songs that define you; coming into your life at the exact right moment in your life, taking up residence next to the memory of that time. This song is one that finds place in a very distinct period in my life. Lyrically it spoke to a relationship that had consumed me in a decidedly unhealthy way. I will admit, I listened to this a second time before moving onto the next song.
“Endless Summer Nights” by Richard Marx (from Richard Marx, 1987)
Nearly a decade earlier, here is nostalgia in a jar. You see, before I grew into the wise old music geek that I am today, I was a young music geek — with an emphasis on the geek. Even at the tender age of 13, I was smitten with the schlock-pop of Marx. Fast-forward some twenty-odd years and I still get that tinge of youthful yearning that hearing this tune brings to mind.
While we’re on the subject, has anyone else heard the Adam Lambert single, “Whataya Want from Me,” and asked themselves, “Hey, does Richard Marx have a new song out?”
“The (Shipped) Gold Standard” by Fall Out Boy (from Folie à Deux, 2008)
I know I have stated it here before, but I dig Fall Out Boy. If you can manage to ignore the gossip-columnist drama of the band, and get past the image, the band has actually cranked out some quality pop music. It certainly does not hurt that Patrick Stump’s voice is golden.
“Bad Habits” by Maxwell (from BLACKsummers’night, 2009)
The lead off track from Maxwell’s triumphant comeback record, BLACKsummers’night; this song starts at a smolder and builds to its soulful climax before breaking it back down to a simmer. It might have taken him eight years to create this record, but it was well worth the wait.
“Don’t Stop ’till You Get Enough” by Michael Jackson (from Off the Wall, 1979)
In all, not a bad way to end this week’s installment of The Five and kick off the weekend. Can’t wait to see what you guys come up with this week!
What’s on your shuffle today?
12 Comments
Ken Shane
“Ball Peen Hammer” – Chris Whitley
“Hang You From the Heavens” – The Dead Weather
“Spider Wisdom” – Nels Cline
“Come and Get These Memories” – Martha and the Vandellas
“New Star” – Tears For Fears
twojams
“Skin it Back” by Little Feat. This is a groovy song which I love. However, I read somewhere that this was about um, well, um… the unaltered male part. Not sure if that’s true or something the Feat came up with to mess with the fans?
“Rainbow Connection” by Willie Nelson. I downloaded this to put on a collection for my daughter when she was a baby.
“Underneath the Bunker” by REM. Cool tune from a great album, Life’s Rich Pageant. Freshman year of college.
“I Can’t Get Next to You” by Al Green. Like this version as well or better than the Temptations.
“Beautiful Day” by U2. Meh. I like a lot of All That You Can’t Leave Behind, but this tune really didn’t speak to me like it did so many other people.
Happy Friday!
Michael
Let’s put it out to the experts, can anyone validate the rumor that Little Feat’s “Skin it Back” is related to an uncut schmekel?
Matt
Speaking of Richard Marx, I might have recently acquired this on “DVD”
http://snipurl.com/uj36e
My Five:
1. “Inside Out” by Phil Collins
2. “Boys Don’t Cry” by The Cure
3. “Shout At The Devil” by Motley Crue
4. “Take Me To Your Promised Land” by Jason & The Scorchers
5. “Everybody Loves A Whore” by The Brought Low
Michael
I’m pretty sure that there is an address in CT and one in Astoria that you are going to have to send copies of that “DVD” to.
Also, nice Five, I especially like how you get from Phil Collins to Motley Crue via The Cure.
Mike (Popblerd)
Excellent five, Michael. “Endless Summer Nights” is by leaps and bounds my favorite Richard Marx song, I too noticed the similarities between that and the Lambert song, *and* I also give mad props to FOB, although I think Patrick Stump will be better as a solo artist. Great Mikes think alike-or something. Anyway…
1) “Let’s Get High” by Dr. Dre (two observations…a) hip-hop only seems to play on my iTunes when I’m doing these Friday 5 things) and b) I’ve been jonesing for some good bud for a long time.
2) “Rag Doll” by Aerosmith (another repeat artist from last week…bizarre!)
3) “Want You” by Mariah Carey and Eric Benet (one of the three or four decent songs on the “Glitter” soundtrack…Jam & Lewis went back to the early ’80s sound for this…reminds me of some of their S.O.S. Band work).
4) “Portrait of the Artist as a Hood” by 3rd Bass
5) “Everything is Everything” by Lauryn Hill (I was at a Citizen Cope concert last night and some songs from “Miseducation” came on over the PA before the show. I’d actually forgotten how good that album was).
Michael
I’m actually pretty excited to hear what Patrick comes up with. I have a feeling it’s going to surprise a lot of folks. Did you check out his turn on Live from Daryl’s House? He was pretty stellar.
Anne
There is no flow to my 5 today.
1. “The Turn”–MIA
2. “I Was a Little Too Lonely”–Erin McKeown
3. “Marian”–Harlem Shakes
4. “Phonography”–Britney Spears
5. “Money”–Jesca Hoop
Mike (Popblerd)
Just watched some of the Live from Daryl’s House stuff. Wow-pretty good stuff. Also took a look at his website, which has a video of him recording a song and overdubbing all the instruments himself-starting with drums and then working his way through keys, guitar and even trumpet (I think). I’m officially excited to see what he’s got up his sleeve next.
EightE1
John Mayer, “Edge of Desire.” From Battle Studies. A nice ballady thing; I really like the melody in this, and he doesn’t over-emote or overplay. It’s a cool, sustained moodpiece. He’s still apparently a douchebag, but this is a good song.
Shawn Colvin, “I Don’t Know Why.” This is from the Live ’88 disc, which she used to sell cassettes of at her shows, prior to getting signed. Apparently, according to the Popdose Interview with her last year, she’d just as soon forget this record, but it’s one of the first things of hers I really liked. I think the studio version of this (on Fat City, her second record) is a bit overproduced; the simplicity of this voice/guitar thing just makes the meat of the song — it’s lyric and melody — come through so much better. Fave line: “Everytime that you look that way / I would lay down my life for you.” I needed this song about five years before I heard it the first time.
Willie Nelson, “I Can Get Off on You.” He doesn’t really mean it.
Deep Purple, “Mistreated.” From the Burn album, with Coverdale and Glenn Hughes on vocals. This one sees Sir David getting his Paul Rodgers on — that deep-chested bluesy thing. Ritchie Blackmore tries to pull off a blues solo, but it doesn’t quite work — he needs to be doing the flashy, thousand-note-and-whammy-bar thing (for my money, he’s one of the coolest gee-tar players ever). His Clapton-ish turn here doesn’t cut it.
Pat Travers Band, “Boom Boom (Out Go the Lights).” Live and goin’ for what he knows, Travers delivers a sweet arena rocker here, and does it with a Little Walter tune, of all the fucked up things. It’s great stuff. My buddy and I used to listen to this all the time. I mean, really, if someone walks up to you and says, “When I get her in my sights / Boom boom — what is it?” how else can you answer but,”Out go the lights!”
Jay
1. “The Man With The Magic Touch”, Brian Setzer Orchestra – Guitar Slinger
2. “Tell Me How”, Buddy Holly & The Crickets – From The Original Master Tapes
3. “She’s The One”, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band – Live – The Main Point, Bryn Mawr, PA, 2.5.75
4. “The Flowers Of Guatemala”, R.E.M. – Life’s Rich Pageant
5. “Anything That’s Rock ‘N’ Roll”, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Breakdown: Live in Boston,1970
lacoste shop
You made some good points there. I did a search on the topic and found most people will agree with.