Valentine’s Day Cards
I’m generally a ‘card guy’. I like giving cards, receiving cards and making cards and this year I made my wife an “old school mix-tape” card (only it was a CD because, you know, who has a cassette recorder anymore?) Here’s what was on her mix:
Hem – Waltz (from Rabbit Songs)
Peter Gabriel – In Your Eyes (from So)
Jason Mraz – I’m Yours (from I’m Yours)
311 – Love Song (from 50 First Dates)
Incubus – Dig (from Light Grenades)
Band of Horses – Marry Song (from Cease to Begin)
Dave Matthews Band – I’ll Back You Up (from Remember Two Things)
The Bird and the Bee – How deep is Your Love (from Please Clap Your Hands)
Nick Drake – Northern Sky (from Bryter Layter)
Stevie Wonder – I Believe (When I Fall in Love it Will Be Forever) (from Talking Book)
Prince – Call My Name (from Musicology)
Paul McCartney – Maybe I’m Amazed (from McCartney)
U2 – Sweetest Thing (from U218 Singles)
Hot Chip – Wrestlers (from Made in the Dark)
John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman – My One and Only Love (from John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman)
Dave Mathews Band – Crush (from The Central Park Concert)
Jay Wood – #41 (from ???)Anyone else get crafty and make their sweetie a Valentine this year?
Steve Earle’s Valentine’s Day
I’m glad to say that I’ve never been in the position to identify with Steve Earle in his song “Valentine’s Day”. But if you’re one of the unlucky ones who wakes up Thursday morning cardless and giftless, simply drop to your knees and sing this song.
This is one of the sweetest, most emotional tunes that Steve has ever written. It showed up on his amazing 1996 album I Feel Alright. Providing the perfect background vox are gospel legends the Fairfield Four. If you don’t have the album, I strongly recommend you remedy that right here, right now.
No One’s Gonna Love You
Band of Horses paid a visit to Conan O’Brien last night and performed one of my favorite tracks from their brilliant Cease to Begin. I swear there is magic in Ben Bridwell’s voice.
[redlasso id=’3518b09e-c1d3-4d67-8f66-b714f4d987cd’]
Band of Horses – No One’s Gonna Love You (Last.fm)
Buy Cease to Begin: Amazon | iTunes
Links: Official Site | on Last.fm | on MySpace
Shaq joins the Suns – Sports Music
I’m a baseball fan above all else, but I have to say, my hometown team’s recent trade for Shaquille O’Neal has me pretty excited to watch more Phoenix Suns basketball. The Suns are the second best team in basketball as it is – thanks in large part to the guy they just traded away to the Heat – Shawn Marion. But something tells me things are going to get even better with Shaq on our side. And you Heat fans must be a happy bunch picking up someone of the caliber of Marion.
This of course segues into sports music. The only basketball song I can think of is Kurtis Blow’s “Basketball”, with his shout out to the greats of the day: “Dantley and Wilkins are on the scene, And Ralph Sampson is really mean!” Who’s Dantley?
Are there any other basketball songs out there? For baseball, all I can think of off the top of my head are “Centerfield” by John Fogerty, and Bob Dylan’s “Catfish”. Football…. yep, the “Super Bowl Shuffle”. Ah – Steve Earle’s “No. 29”. What else in the way of pop/rock sports-themed tunes?
Kurtis Blow – Basketball (LastFM)
Bob Dylan – Catfish (LastFM)
John Fogerty – Centerfield (LastFM)
Iggy and Tom – Coffee and Cigarettes
Tonight, I bought a Henry Rollins Show off of iTunes for $1.99. He interviewed the Stooges. Great interview. Off I went to YouTube to watch some old Stooges footage. Sooner or later I ended up watching this clip from Jim Jarmusch’s 2003 film Coffee and Cigarettes. I sat transfixed for this 10 minutes of uncomfortable conversation between Iggy Pop and Tom Waits. There’s something about this clip that just reeled me in. I couldn’t take my eyes off it.
Needless to say, Coffee and Cigarettes just went to the top of my Netflix queue.
Tasty Update: Just posted this morning, the Popdose Complete Idiot’s Guide to Tom Waits!
Ickmusic goes to the Grammys
As the shadow of Amy Winehouse’s brunette beehive casts a shadow on the 2008 Grammy Awards – it is time, friends, to open the refrigerator, fetch a cold Heineken Premium Lite, and drink my way through this ceremony. The official rules for Ickmusic’s Grammy Drinking Game can be found here.
The telecast starts here in Arizona at 7:00pm MST (9pm EST). Right now, Ace Young is being interviewed on the Red Carpet E Show. Ace Young! I need to pop my beer now. American Idol sighting.
Be with you in 20 minutes…… feel free to add your comments in the – well – Comments.
6:54pm – In the “I sh*t you not” department, here is proof positive that I am committed to this game. Represent!
6:59pm – the wife and kids are hunkered down upstairs. Wise of them! Here we go…
7:00 – Kind of cool, kind of creepy intro with Alicia Keys and a dead black & white Sinatra singing behind her piano. The way he’s snapping hisfingers behind the piano looks a bit like he’s handling his junk. But I digress.
Michael’s IM: Hey, it’s Frank Sinatra… here’s the sound of teenagers all over the country going “who the hell is that guy?”
Okay, these ‘virtual’ performances are creepy as hell. Alicia Keys sounds great and honestly it was a great performance. But what the heck is with all these women with dresses that they look like they are going to trip on. I’m thinking that before the end of the night we’ll see at least one of these ladies eat a chunk of the stage!
7:03pm – Alicia is beautiful. But that green dress is smashing her girls.
7:05pm – Carrie Underwood performance. Is anyone else having flashbacks to Shania Twain? Leatherrrr… In the background, dancers are bashing those swimming pool noodle things into junk.
Michael: They are wasting no time… Carrie Underwear, I mean Underwood is doing a vamped up, rocked out “Before He Cheats”. I guess the cast of “Stomp” was available for the evening. She definitely gets points for the Dusty Springfield inspired look.
7:07pm – Oh! American Idol (Underwood) sighting! 1 Drink!
7:08pm – There’s the Purple man. Eh, 2 drinks! Prince presents Best Female R&B Performance. Alicia Keys wins. I didn’t catch P’s one liner about Sinatra. Drink.
Michael: Dayum… looking every bit the part of Christopher Tracy Prince is here to give the award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. First award goes to Alicia Keys for “No One” and obviously she thanks God and her “Angels” (Prince has a copy of ‘The Watchtower’ in his back pocket to hand her).
7:11pm – first commercials 11 minutes into the ceremony. not surprised I guess.7:17pm – “Jungle Love”! Driiink. Okay, we have Morris, Jerome, Jimmy, Terry… is that Jesse on the flying V?
Michael: Jimmy Jam! Morris! Jerome! It’s the motherf**king TIME!! Somebody get me a mirror! I don’t know… is this show is certainly not letting up on the pace. Jungle Love… oh-eh-oh-eh-oh! Ella-ella-aye-aye… Rihanna flows nicely. And when did Morris start looking just like Prince?7:22pm -Tom Hanks showing love to the Band! Nice. Tom Hanks = Grammy Gold. Eh? But “That Thing You Do” (I think was the name of the movie) was pretty sweet.
Michael: Hey Tom Hanks thanks for pointing out The Band are Canadian.The Grammy Drinking Game
Here’s what I have so far. By all means, feel free to add more rules in the comments. I’ll be adding live commentary beginning at 7:00pm MST.
- Every time someone thanks God (or any higher power) during an acceptance speech – point to the sky – 3 drinks
- Every time music cuts off an acceptance speech – laugh – 1 drink
- Rihanna sightings – nod – 1 drink
- Every time anyone mentions “Rehab” – 1 drink
- Every time the name “Bublé” is mentioned – 1 drink
- Every time an American Idol (contestant or winner) is shown – 1 drink
- Every time an American Idol wins a Grammy – put your drink down – that’s how we ended up with these people in the first place
- If Bruce Springsteen wins a Grammy, stand, salute the television, and drink the rest of your beer.
- During the Foo Fighters performance take 1 drink every time: 1. Dave Grohl spits 2.Dave Grohl screams like a madman 3. Taylor Hawkins spins his drumstick a la Tommy Lee
- During the Rihanna / Time performance:
- If they go into ”The Bird”, stand up and join in for at least 5 seconds, then sit down – 3 drinks
- If it’s “Jungle Love”, exclaim “Somebody bring me a mirror!” – 3 drinks
- Should Prince win a Grammy for “Future Baby Mama” do a shot of Purple Motherf**ker (Recipe Below)
- Should Prince win a Grammy and accept it during the broadcast drink a pint of Purple Motherf**ker
Purple Motherf**ker
Over Ice pour:
1 Part Blue Curacao
1 Part Triple Sec
1 Part Vodka
1 Part Pineapple Juice
Top with 7-UpOne shake and serve as a shot or drink in the glass!
Prince and the Boss: Nominations at Tonight’s Grammys
Here are the categories where Bruce and Prince are nominated tonight. [Source: Grammy.com]
Coming Sunday: The Ickmusic Grammy Drinking Game with Live Commentary
If you’re watching the Grammys on Sunday night, don’t forget to dial up Ickmusic for some live commentary from me and Michael, as well as the premier Ickmusic Grammy Drinking Game ®. If somebody thanks a higher power during an acceptance speech? Point to the sky and take 3 big gulps! Kanye West appearing visibly upset after losing another award? One hearty laugh and chug a beer.
So bring your laptop and a six-pack over to the TV and join us, won’t you?
More rules to follow…
Ickmusic’s Friday Five: February 8, 2008
While science has yet to prove that everybody is working for the weekend it is undeniable that when Friday’s post-lunch dip occurs there is nothing better than tying on a red headband, hitting shuffle and letting the music soothe your soul.
Last week’s five found us all over the map, from heading down south with ‘The Man in Black”, up north to Newfoundland with our friends in Great Big Sea, to LA for a one-two punch from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Black Flag. Joining in the musical voyeurism, our readers have proven that diversity is the rule. For those new to the concept it’s quite easy, I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes and share the first five tracks along with thoughts, memories and the occasional fun fact.
The rest is up to you, feel free to add your random ‘Friday Five’ in the comments and remember be honest!
Here are this week’s tracks:
1. Peter Gabriel – In Your Eyes (from So)
This is an appropriate start to the five being the Friday before Valentines Day. This was the first song that I danced with my wife to at our wedding and it under no uncertain terms holds a place dear in my heart. I can still clearly picture her eyes welling as we danced to the band performing the song. This song is to me timeless and perfect in every way.
2. Prince – Kiss (Extended Version) (from Ultimate)
I find it curious that in three weeks this is the first Prince track to surface. The extended version of this track includes a predecessor to the “Mashed Potato Girl” intro from the brilliant (and much overlooked) Exodus record. I’ll admit to truly enjoying the moments where His Royal Badness is trying to be funny.
3. George Michael – Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me (from Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael)
I have very little issue admitting to being a fan of George Michael. For all his flaws the man has a golden voice and there are few who can write a better pop song. This performance with Sir Elton John was one of those moments where you could see that there was so much more to his talent.
4. Coheed and Cambria – Once upon Your Dead Body (from Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear through the Eyes of Madness)
If there is any hope for progressive rock then Coheed and Cambria are it. They’ve taken the concept record to a new level with a story spanning three records (so far). And while that might be intimidating for the casual listener, the trick in the tale is that you do not need to know what any of the songs are about (in the context of the greater story) to enjoy them.
5. Kanye West – Roses (from Late Registration)
As we head into Grammy weekend it’s been revealed that Kanye will perform during the show in tribute to his mother. This is one of my favorite tracks from his sophomore effort. Lyrically he paints pictures with metaphors that are as impossible as they are clear.
What tunes are getting you through your day?