Rollins band

As today is my ex's birthday, this is the only way I can serenade him; with a song that describes his personality

Liar

1994, written by Henry Rollins

I'll hide behind a smile
and understanding eyes
and I'll tell you things that you already know
so you can say
I really identify with you, so much
and all the time that you're needing me
is just the time that I'm bleeding you
don't you get it yet?
I'll come to you like an affliction
and I'll leave you like an addiction
you'll never forget me
you wanna know why?
cause I'm a liar

Liam Lynch

United states of Whatever

1999, written by Liam Lynch

Then this chick comes up to me and she's all, like,
" Hey, aren't you that dude?"
And I'm, like, "yeah, whatever!"

Primus

John the fisherman

1989, written by Claypool/Huth

When I grow up I want to be,
One of the harvesters of the sea.
I think before my days are done,
I want to be a fisherman.

Electric six

Gay Bar
2006, written by Electric six

Let's start a war, start a nuclear war,
At the gay bar, gay bar, gay bar.
Wow!
At the gay bar



For the wonderful vikingkitten version, go here

The Naast

Mauvais Garçon

2007, written by The Naast

Miroir mon beau miroir
Dis moi que je suis la plus belle
Je vais finir par te croire quand tu dis que je suis iréelle

Mirror, my beautiful mirror
Tell me if I am the prettiest one
I will stop believing you if you say I am unrealistic

Peter, Bjorn & John

As I am abroad for a few weeks, there will still be a daily post, but not as inspired I'm afraid. So here goes for the first.

Young folks

2006, written by Peter, Bjorn & John

i can tell there's something goin' on
hours seem to disappear
everyone is leaving i'm still with you



it doesn't matter what we do
where we are going to
we can stick around and see this night through

Freaky Friday Files

In our series of songs that should never have been released and/or people who should never be allowed near a recording studio....

Cuby and the Blizzards

Once upon a time, in the 1964, in the small village of Grollo, Drenthe, a group of friends lived in a commune type setting and started making blues music. Their leaders were Harry Muskee, known as Cuby, and Eelco Gelling, known as one of the best blues guitarists in the Netherlands (In fact, yours truly was almost named after mr Eelco Gelling, if not for her gender). For a while the most famous junkie, artist and musician Herman Brood, who was not yet famous then, was their guitarplayer.

They had quite some success, even toured with Van Morrison. After taking a break in the late 1970s, the band got together again in the late 90s.

Wayne Fontana

The game of love

1965, written by Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders

The purpose of a man is to love a woman,
And the purpose of a woman is to love a man,
So come on baby let's start today, come on baby let's play
The game of love, love, la la la la la love



Everyone is entitled to their own personal sexy bitch moment and in 1965 a very stoned seeming young man named Wayne Fontana, born Glynn Ellis, had his.

To be perfectly honest I never even wanted to see more, as all Wayne seems to do these days is occupy his time with conspiracy theories and has been in the news for setting a car on fire with a baillif in it who was about to execute a court order for bankrupcy. Wayne appeared in court dressed as lady Justice, with a sword, scales, crown, cape and dark glasses, claiming "justice is blind.

For me he will however always be that 20 year old sexy bitch crooning his way through The game of love...

Adam Ant

Stand and Deliver 1981, written by Marco Pirroni and Adam Ant Stand and deliver your money or your life! Try and use a mirror no bullet or a knife! And even though you fool your souls Your conscience will be mine All mine Adam Ant, born Stuart Leslie Goddard, became active in the London punk scene in the late 70s. He grew up in London as an only child and is part anglo-romany. Inspired by acts such as Siouxie and the Banshees, he developed his persona of Adam Ant, a word play to the word adamant and a reference to 60s BBC series Adam Adamant Lives! , a show about a Swashbuckler edwardian gentleman, frozen in ice and thawed in the 1960s. The first incarnation of Adam and the Ants was signed by Malcolm McLaren who talked the other members into leaving the band so he could form Bow Wow Wow. Adam got together with Marco Pirroni and Adam and the Ants as we know them was born. It was however a shortlived but successful career. In 1982 they disbanded out of lack of enthousiasm. Prince Charming 1981, written by Marco Pirroni and Adam Ant Prince charming Ridicule is nothing to be scared of Dont you ever, dont you ever Stop being dandy, showing me you're handsome In the videos Adam Ant generally played a swashbuckling exhibitionist and the Prince Charming video also featured Diana Dors  in one of her last on-screen performances. After Adam and the Ants disbanded, Adam Ant focussed on his solo career and his acting career. He released his last album to date in 1995. Early 2002 he was in the news again for threatening people in a pub with a fake fire arm. In court it was revealed Adam suffers from bipolar disorder. He wrote his autobiography and a documentary was made called The madness of Prince Charming. In 2003 he recorded a version of Stand and deliver for the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund called "Save the Gorilla!". http://www.adam-ant.net/

The Monkees

Hey, hey, we are The Monkees
You know we love to please
A manufactured image
With no philosophies.

You say we're manufactured.
To that we all agree.
So make your choice and we'll rejoice
in never being free!
Hey, hey, we are The Monkees
We've said it all before
The money's in, we're made of tin
We're here to give you more!




In late 1967 Bob Rafelson, Jack Nicholson and the Monkees got together in a resort in Ojai,California with a huge bag of marijuana and a tape recorder. The result was the script of the movie Head.

Circle sky
1968, written by Michael Nesmith



Yes, it looks like we've made it once again.

It's a very extraordinary scene
To those who don't understand,
But, what you have seen you must believe,
If you can, if you can.

There is no storyline to speak off and it is mostly focussed on their attempts to escape "the box", a symbol for the tv and the image forced upon them.


Daddy's song
1968, written by Harry Nilsson

Years ago, I knew a boy,
He was his daddy's pride and joy,
But when the daddy went away
It was such a rainy day
That he brought out all his toys.



How the momma did explain,
Trying to take away the pain,
But, he just couldn't understand
That his father was not a man
And it all was just a game.

Musically the Monkees are very underappreciated. Their upbeat music often is combined with dark themes, and in the late 60s they were friends with Frank Zappa, who has a cameo in the Daddy song scene.

Long Title: Do I Have To Do This All Over Again?
1968, written by Peter Tork



Can I see my way to know what’s really real
They say time can fix things by itself
I know life’s more than just some kind of deal
Won’t you tell me what all, when my soul comes off the shelf
Didn’t i, oh, didn’t i?

Evil Superstars

It's a sad sad planet
1998, written by Mauro Pawlowski

it's a sad, sad planet
a sad planet
wasn't it jesus who said it
it's a sad sad planet


Formed in 1992 in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium, the Evil Superstars are an often overlooked influential brilliant band, led by multi talented Mauro Pawlowski. After winning the HUMO rock rally, they gained a reputation for being a terrific live band. Especially Mauro's odd antics gained a lot of attention. In 1994 15 year old Tim VanHamel, who had a lot of experience from his band sister poo poo joined the evil superstars, creating the absurdist zappa-esque album Love is Okay. They toured europe as a support act for the more wellknown band dEUS, but in 1998 Mauro called it quits as their sales were not too great and despite good reviews they never got over their cult status.

Mauro has since then played in numerous bands, including Mitsoobishy Jacson, Kiss my Jazz, Monguito and Shadowgraphic City. He is currently a member of dEUS, The Love Substitutes, Othin Spake, Club Moral, Archetypes of the Multisabanas and I Hate Camera. Beside these projects, Mauro has released solo work under various aliasses: Mauro A. Pawlowski, Somnabula, while fronting a new group called Mauro Pawlowski & the Grooms.



For information on Tim VanHamel, there is a series planned.

http://www.mauroworld.com/superstars/index_sup.htm

Beach Boys

God only knows
1966, written by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher

If you should ever leave me
Though life would still go on believe me
The world could show nothing to me
So what good would living do me

God only knows what I’d be without you



The album Pet sounds is regarded as the ultimate masterwork of songwriter/composer/musician Brian Wilson. In 1965 he quit touring with the band and focussed all his attention on this album. It was one of the main influences for the Beatles' sgt Pepper album.

Described by Paul McCartney as the "greatest song ever written", God only knows caused quite a bit of controvery when it was released, because of the usage of the word God. As a result of this controversy the song was banned from airplay on most radiostations. Religious zealots! Recently it was number 25 on Rolling Stone magazine's greatest love songs ever.

http://thebeachboys.com/

Beck

MTV makes me wanna smoke crack
1993, written by Beck Hansen

MTV makes me wanna smoke crack
fall out of the window, and I'm never comin' back
MTV makes me wanna get high
Can't get a ride no matter how I try
And everything's perfect, and everything's bright
And everyones perky, and everyones uptight
I love those videos I watch 'em all day



Multi talent Beck Hansen (yes, Beck is his official first name) is most known for his hit "Loser" which became an anthem to some of my fellow teens at the time. His music is a mixture of all kinds, from hip hop to Jazz to latin music. His lyrics are often absurd and incredibly funny. According to Pitchfork media "Beck wonderfully blends Prince, Talking Heads, Paul's Boutique, 'Shake Your Bon Bon', and Mathlete on Midnite Vultures, his most consistent and playful album yet."

Beck grew up with a father who was a musician, and a mother and grandfather who were into art. After his parents divorced, he moved to LA with his mother, where he was exposed to various different kinds of music. In the late 1980s he dropped out of high school and travelled through Europe, busking. In the late 1990s he was involved in the anti folk movement in New York.

Ironically his hit loser was nothing more than a novelty gag and its cynicism was lost to many. MTV makes me wanna smoke crack is a pretty good analysis of current day pop culture if you ask me!


Sexx laws
1999, written by Beck Hansen

I want to defy
The logic of all sex laws
Let the handcuffs slip off your wrists
Ill let you be my chaperone
At the halfway home
Im a full grown man
But Im not afraid to cry



Check for Jack Black in this wonderful video!

http://www.beck.com/

Freaky Friday Files

In our series of songs that should never have been released and/or people who should never be allowed near a recording studio....

David Hasselhoff

Elvis Costello

(I don't want to go to) Chelsea
1978, written by Elvis Costello

Everybody's got new orders
Be a nice girl and kiss the warders
Now the teacher is away
All the kids begin to play


Men come screaming, dressed in white coats
Shake you very gently by the throat
One's named Gus, one's named Alfie
I don't want to go to Chelsea

Oh no it does not move me
Even though I've seen the movie
I don't want to check your pulse
I don't want nobody else
I don't want to go to Chelsea



Elvis Costello, born Declan Patrick MacManus, started out in the London pub scene in the 1970s. In the late 70s he was one of the influential figures in the punk rock/new wave scene. His artist name is derived from Elvis Presley and his mother's maiden name. "I had a lot of problems with my name ... my first name Declan is really not very well known outside of Ireland, MacManus is a name they could never spell ... if you think about the names of '76, '77 ... I got of kind of lightly — with a name you could live with, you know, in time. ... I kind of liked the dare of it. Of course we weren't to know that within a month of my first album actually being issued Elvis Presley would die, and it would actually be a talking point. ... Let me put it this way — people don't forget you with that name. It's sort of receded as — and this may sound terribly disrespectful and heretical — but as Elvis Presley has receded as a musical force, people make much less of a case about it. Elvis is a sort of cultural figure but there is no direct line between the music of Elvis Presley and the music of today. There is none whatsoever, he's no influence whatsoever, that I can detect, on music made today. Other than people who consciously retro in styling themselves after his ideas. There is no direct impact in the way that you can hear the influence of The Beatles or Stevie Wonder or numerous other people."

Pump it up
1978, written by Elvis Costello

Out in the fashion show,
down in the bargain bin,
you put your passion out
under the pressure pin.
Fall into submission,
hit-and-run transmission.
No use wishing now for any other sin.


Pump it up until you can feel it.
Pump it up when you don't really need it



Pump it up is a double entendre. The lyrics refer to turning the music louder as well as male masturbation.

In the late 1970s he became famous with his band the Attractions. Costello's biting lyrics in combination with his looks (he looked like the lovechild of Buddy Holly and Woody Allen) made quite an impact. His music appeals to a wide range of genres, in the more recent years he has worked with Burt Bacharach, Paul McCartney and opera singer Anne Sofie von Otter. Rolling Stone magazine placed him at number 80 in their greatest artists of all times list. Costello regularly writes articles for Vanity Fair and is married to jazz singer Diana Krall.

High Fidelity
1980, written by Elvis Costello

Even though you're nowhere near me
And I know you kiss him so sincerely now
Even though the signal's indistinct
And you worry what silly people think
Who just can't wait to feel so frozen out
I bet he thinks that he was chosen out of millions
I suppose he'll never know about


High fidelity
Can you hear me?



http://www.elviscostello.com
http://www.elviscostello.info

Serge Gainsbourg 5

During the 70s Serge experimented with different music styles, from reaggea to rock.

Nazi rock
1975 by Serge Gainsbourg
On va danser le


Nazi rock nazi nazi nazi rock nazi



In 1975 he recorded an album called rock around the bunker with rock n roll music and nazi themed lyrics. The irony of this was lost on many, as Serge himself had lived in Paris under german occupation and been forced to wear a yellow star as well as leave Paris.

In 1986 Serge shocked the country by telling Whitney Houston on tv while drunk that he wants to fuck her.

Find the clip here

Lemon Incest

1986, written by Serge Gainsbourg

Inceste de citron, lemon incest,

Je t'aime t'aime, je t'aime plus que tout, papa papa


This song was, again, considered scandalous, as it was a duet with his 14 year old daughter with Birkin, Charlotte, now a famous singer and actress. As Jane Birkin has said, "While he couldn't resist doing Lemon Incest, I never saw Serge in anything but a dressing gown, and none of the children ever saw him naked," says Birkin. "As prudish as anyone about his person, he thought being naked was the most vulgar thing in the world. But then I would say about Lemon Incest or something, 'I think you've gone too far,' and he would reply, 'The people in the street think it's funny, so too bad for you.'"

Serge died on March 2, 1991, died at the age of 62. His dead caused national grief in France. Even the president gave a statement.
More Serge:

Official website

More Serge

More about Serges lyrics and themes. Includes translated lyrics!!

Interesting Vanity Fair interview

An interview with Jane

Charlotte's website



Highly recommended

A fistful of Gitanes By Sylvie Simmons

Serge Gainsbourg 4

Je t'aime... moi non plus
1969, written by Serge Gainsbourg

L'amour physique est sans issue

Physical love is a dead end

Je t'aime... moi non plus is most famous song, with long term partner Jane Birkin, was a scandal. Originally he had recorded this song with Brigitte Bardot, who he was having an affair with, but she begged him not to release it as she was married and did not wish to upset her husband. The Bardot version surfaced again after Serges death.

Jane recalls, "Serge thought it was vulgar that people said 'I love you' all the time. Either he didn't believe it or because he was pudique he didn't want to say, 'Moi aussi.' Or he didn't believe the girl would really love him. [In 1969] he asked me if I wanted to sing 'Je T'Aime … Moi Non Plus' with him, and given that all the pretty actresses in Paris wanted to do it, I said, 'Yes, but don't play me Bardot's version because I'd be embarrassed as hers was so wonderful.'" (In 1986, Bardot gave permission to release the original version to benefit her animal charities and Greenpeace. Today, Bardot says, "He was a lord, and 'Je T'Aime … Moi Non Plus' is a hymn to love, a unique homage for me. I only want to keep the best and forget the worst … if it's possible. I will love him forever, me neither.")

Gainsbourg declared it the "ultimate love song," it was considered too "hot"; the song was censored in various countries, and in France even the toned-down version was suppressed. The Vatican made a public statement citing the song as offensive. It reached no. 1 in the UK singles chart.

Compare:

Bardot





vs

Birkin

Serge Gainsbourg 3

In 1959 Serge met famous actress and sexkitten Brigitte Bardot. He helped her music career, and they carried on an affair for several years. After their affair ended he wrote the initials BB for her.

Brigitte and Serge together with english subs:

Bonnie and Clyde
Comic Strip

The Initials BB
1969, written by Serge Gainsbourg

Une nuit que j'étais
A me morfondre
Dans quelque pub anglais
Du cœur de Londres
Parcourant l'Amour Mon-
Stre de Pauwels
Me vint une vision
Dans l'eau de Seltz

One night while I was
Sombering
In some English Pub
In the heart of London
Looking over "Mon-
Ster love by Pawels
A vision came to me
In the seltzer water

Serge Gainsbourg 2

In 1965 Serge wrote the winning eurovision song, as performed by France Gall

Poupée de cire poupée de son
1964, written by Serge Gainsbourg



Je suis une poupée de cire
Une poupée de son
Mon cœur est gravé dans mes chansons
Poupée de cire poupée de son


I am a doll of wax
A doll of sawdust
My heart is etched in my songs
Doll of wax doll of sawdust


For a more thurough translation, click here

Serge and France accepting the Eurovision song contest prize


Serge talks the naive France Gall into singing les sucettes. She does not realize the double entendre of the song and is ashamed and enraged when she realizes. You would think that video gave it away though!

Les Sucettes
1965, written by Serge Gainsbourg

Annie aime les sucettes,
Les sucettes à l'anis.
Les sucettes à l'anis
D'Annie
Donnent à ses baisers
Un goût ani-
Sé. Lorsque le sucre d'orge
Parfumé à l'anis
Coule dans la gorge d'Annie,
Elle est au paradis.


Pour quelques pennies, Annie
A ses sucettes à l'anis.
Elles ont la couleur de ses grands yeux,
La couleur des jours heureux.




Annie likes suckers
The anise flavored suckers
The anise flavored suckers
Of Annie
Give her kisses
A aniseed taste
While the creamy sugar
Flavored with anise
Sinks in Annie's throat,
She's in heaven.


For a few pennies, Annie
Has her Anise suckers
They are the color of her big eyes,
The color of happy days

Serge and France

Serge Gainsbourg 1

First person to receive a special!



Serge Gainsbourg was one of France's most influential musicians. Born from a jewish russian family and raised in Paris during the second world war, young Lucien Ginsburg was very insecure about his looks. In the early 50s he gave up his art career and became a songwriter and artist, becoming the womanizing hard drinking and chainsmoking Serge Gainsbourg. During the 50s and 60s he wrote songs for and cooperated with famous female singers such as Brigitte Bardot (about whom he wrote the initials BB) and Juliette Greco. The themes of his songs are often dark, ambiguous and/or humerous.

The Beatles

The end
1969, written by Paul McCartney (yeah, suprises me too actually)

And in the end,
the love you take
is equal to the love
you make





I hardly feel the fab four require an introduction, but here is some interesting background information nontheless. The end is actually the last song (and climax) of the side two medley on The Abbey road album.As the final song on the final Beatles album, it is considered by some fans to be the grandiose finish of their career. It has the only drum solo in the whole beatles repetoire and has a very typical late 60s rock sound.

Freaky Friday Files

In our series of songs that should never have been released and/or people who should never be allowed near a recording studio....

William Shatner

Grauzone

Eisbär Ich möchte ein Eisbär sein im kalten Polar, dann müßte ich nicht mehr schrei´n, alles wär so klar Eisbären müssen nie weinen. I would like to be an polarbear in the cold artic Then I wouldn't have to cry anymore everything would be so clear. Polarbears don't have to cry. 1981, written by Stephan Eicher Little known swiss band with the Eicher brothers at the core. Stephan Eicher is a succesful singer songwriter these days. His brother Martin is a techno dj

Q65

The life I live

1966, written by Bieler/Nuyens/Baar/Roelofs/Vink



once we were on Joops wedding
we smoked and drink all night
at twelve we were thrown out
'cos the house was changed into a crowd

Sung in very dutch english, The life I lived was a quite a big hit in the Netherlands. In the 60s there was quite an intense music scene in the Hague, also referred to as the "haagse beat". Q65 was founded in 1965 and lasted until 1967, when one of the main members had to join the army for his duty. In this time period they had several hits and made the album revolution. In 1970 they got back together again and this time they lasted until 1974. Because of their rough looks and sleazy music style, they were considered enfant terribles. The errors in the lyrics of this songs are very literal translations of dutch expressions and sentences.



Trivia: one of the bands mentioned by Kurt Cobain as major inspiration

http://www.xs4all.nl/~mfokkens/

Juliette and the Licks

You're Speaking My Language
2004, written by Juliette and the Licks

I don't think you heard me

I know you think you know me better than that
I bit your dog cus he hit on my cat
I wipe my face off and keep your kisses back baby
Keep your trigger loaded
Rockin' or rollin' all night



Most of you probably know Juliette Lewis as Mallory in Natural born killers. Though she proved in this movie that she possesses a decent singing voice, I was sceptical when I heard she had formed her own rock band and was now throwing herself at a music carreer. Still my curiosity took over and I have not regretted it one bit. So far Juliette and the Licks have released one EP (Like a bolt of lightening) and two full cds (You're speaking my language)and Four on the Floor. Especially the EP is very good in my opinion. Juliette said that the inspiration for a lot of her songs are her own sexual fantasies.

Hot Kiss
2006, written by Juliette and the Licks



Oh father, I pray to thee
I got a man so blind I can't see
I'm his favorite toy, like a beach ball
Bang it up and down or throw it against the wall
Oh tallulah, he said, you're so dramatic
What's all that shakin' goin on in your attack


As for Juliette's qualities as a rock singer? Courtney Love and Kat Bjelland, eat your hearts out. She rocks hard and she is just as great at singing as she is at acting.

http://www.julietteandthelicks.com/

Sinéad O'Connor

Troy
1987, written by Sinéad O'Connor

Oh, I love you
God, I love you
I'd kill a dragon for you and die

But I will rise
And I will return
The Phoenix from the flame

I have learned
I will rise
And you'll see me return

Being what I am
There is no other Troy
For me to burn



When most people think of Sinéad O'Connor, they remember a bald young woman with huge eyes that sings the tearjerker "nothing compares to you". Though the performance of Sinéad in that song is absolutely heartbreaking and touching, I feel Sinéad's debut album The lion and the Cobra gives a much better view of her talents as song writer and performer.



1987, written by Sinéad O'Connor and Steve Wickham

I can see too many mouths open
Too many eyes closed, ears closed
Not enough minds open
Too many legs open
Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me, do
Why isn't it why why
I don't see why I listen, why, why
This album is mostly written by Sinéad herself, who at the time of recording was only 20 years old. It launched a very successful carreer with a lot of controversy (such as the famous incident where Sinéad ripped up a picture of the pope on live tv to protest against the catholic church).

Peaches

dedicated to babycakes

Joy Division

Wilderness
1980, written by Ian Curtis

I travelled far and wide through many different times,
What did you see there?
I saw the saints with their toys,
What did you see there?
I saw all knowledge destroyed.
I travelled far and wide through many different times.



Joy Division was founded in 1977 in Manchester. Their bandname is a reference to the concentrationcamp brothels, where women were forced to work as described in Ka-Tzetnik 135633's 1955 book "house of dolls". The band was accused of neo nazi sympathies, because of references to nazi themes in their music (the song Warshaw refers to Rudolf Hess), something they have often denied. The music is detached, the lyrics dark and Ian Curtis' voice haunted.



In 1980 Ian Curtis committed suicide, the night before the band was leaving for a US tour. He was only 23, but had been plagued by depression, suffered greatly from epileptic seizures and his marriage was supposedly on the rocks. The other band members continued their cooperation and formed New Order, which became a very successful band in the 80s.

Cornelis Vreeswijk

Felicia Adjö
1968, written by Cornelis Vreeswijk

Felicia försvann.
Kan någon säga hur?
Som fågeln ur sin bur.
Som isen när det våras.
Som kärlek när den såras.
Som tur utan retur.

Felicia disappeared.
Can anyone say how?
Like birds out of their nest.
Like the ice when it's turning the spring.
Like love when it hurts.
Like a one way ticket.



Cornelis Vreeswijk was a dutch/swedish folk singer. As a child he moved to Sweden from the Netherlands and after being teased in school for pronouncing vitamin as "fitta min" (slang for my pussy), he decided to learn and master the swedish language as well as possible. In the 60s he started his carreer, and some people in Sweden were quite shocked as his lyrics were often not the sweet and lovely songs they were used to (though he also wrote some of those), but also discussed subjects like drinking, poverty and suffering. Cornelis himself lead a hrm, artistic life. He was a heavy drinker and once got in troubles for beating a transvestite after he found out when they were about to mess around that the lady was a dude. When he died in 1987 as a result of cancer, he got a swedish state burial.

Interesting fact is that in the Netherlands he is not very wellknown at all, and though he is considered one of Sweden's greatest artists, he never gave up his dutch nationality and refused a swedish passport.

http://www.cornelisvreeswijk.nl/
http://cornelis.just.nu/

Ash

Goldfinger
1996, written by Tim Wheeler

I'm feeling so alive, feeling so real
On a stormy night, the rain is coming down
Rain like never before
I've got some records on, some bottles of wine
On a stormy night, the rain is lashing down
And I'm waiting for her



Ash come from Northern Ireland. Three teenage geeks, who loved Star Wars (the album opens with the osund of a TIE fighter plane). In 1996 Ash brought out their debut album 1977. I was in awe, these guys were my age and they created such a great album. I still listen to this album on a regular basis and I still enjoy it as much as I did on the day I first heard it.

Freaky Friday Files

In our series of songs that should never have been released and/or people who should never be allowed near a recording studio....

Mr T

The Pogues

If I should fall from grace with god
1987, written by Shane McGowan

This land was always ours
Was the proud land of our fathers
It belongs to us and them
Not to any of the others



The pogues were a famous irish folk band, fronted by the to say the least exentric drunk bard Shane McGowan. Founded in 1982 as Pogue Mahone — "pogue mahone" being the Anglicization of the Irish póg mo thóin, meaning "kiss my arse", the Pogues existed until 1996. They got together for reunions in 1994 and in 2005. Most of the band members have irish roots and in their music as well as textual themes they often refer to typical irish things, legends and politics.



what else can I say than that I have a weak for Shane. Sure, he can't sing and is very hard to understand, he is quite insane (he once ate a Beach boys vinyl record during an acid trip to prove to the other world leaders, as he was representing Ireland, that the USA was inferior culturally) and he drinks too much (the only time I saw him live, he left the stage and festival in an ambulance), the man is witty, intelligent and has poetic talent!

Millionaire

This speaks for itself :)

Jim Morrison

People fear death even more than pain. It's strange that they fear death. Life hurts a lot more than death. At the point of death, the pain is over. Yeah, I guess it is a friend.

The unknown soldier
1968, written by Morrison, Krieger, Manzarek and Densmore

Breakfast where the news is read
Television children fed
Bullet strikes the helmet's head


And, it's all over
The war is over



I was reminded today by babycakes that it is the (supposed according to some) death day of mr Jim Morrison aka Narcissus, Dionysus. I will go into the details of the story some other time, as I am quickly putting this together but in short: In 1971 Jim was an alcoholic, he had gotten fat and he was in Paris with his junkie girlfriend Pam. She claimed he went to take a bath, passed out and she found him dead later. Some people however claim Jim put it all in scene so he could start over elsewise. Kind of like everyone keeps spotting Elvis. So is Jim dead or not? Vote in the poll!

Between childhood, boyhood,

adolescence

& manhood (maturity) there

should be sharp lines drawn w/

Tests, deaths, feats, rites

stories, songs, & judgements

Part one of a series on Jims death is here. You can find the rest of the series by clicking on youtube.

Magnapop

Dedicated to P and his man R

Lay it down
1994, written by Linda Hopper and Ruthie Morris

I'm sorry doesn't matter
And it makes you mad
And if it always stays the same
Then you'll never see it
I'm sorry doesn't help it
And it turns you away
You know there's something there
And it's tearing away at

The part that kills your faith



Magnapop was founded in Atlanta Georgia in 1990 and has consistently included Linda Hopper as vocalist and Ruthie Morris on guitar. In 1991 they were noticed by REM's Michael Stipe who produced their first album. In 1995 they supported REM on their world tour. Between 1996 and 2005 the band was dormant. In 2006 the band toured the Netherlands and Belgium successfully.

The band is supposedly releasing a new album and touring again in 2009

bandwebsite

A Camp

I can buy you 2001, written by Nina Persson and Niclas Frisk I wanna buy you a home I'll pay your friends if you're feeling alone The pain of losing a guy like you Is a bigger cost than paying your dues Nina Persson is known to most people as the singer of swedish alternative band The Cardigans, known for songs like lovefool and my favorite game. In 2001 she teamed up with Niclas Frisk and A camp was born. The album has country influences and is deffinetely worth a listen.

The Breeders

1993, written by Kim Deal

I'm just looking for one divine hammer
I'd bang it all day
Oh the carpenter goes bang
Bang bang
I'm just looking for one divine hammer



In 1988 miss Kim Deal, famous as the sexy lady voice of the Pixies, and Tanya Donelly of the Throwing Muses got together to form a band they called the Breeders. Tanya Donelly eventually left the band to form Belly, so Kim invited her troubled twin sister Kelley into the band. Kelley didn't even know how to play a guitar, but that never stopped them from performing and recording some great albums. I clearly recall Kelley messing up really bad during a performance I witnessed and then beaming when she managed to hit one perfect note!

The band was put on hold due to Kelley's drug addiction, which she has overcome by knitting handbags and selling them (here is the link if you don't believe me). Good for her!

Trivia: this video was produced by Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth amongst people

Dexys Midnight Runners

Geno
1980, Written by Kevin Archer and Kevin Rowland

The crowd, they all hailed you and chanted your name
But they never knew like we knew me and you were the same
And now you're all over, your song is so tame
You fed me, you bred me, I'll remember your name

Academic inspiration, you gave me none
You were Michael the lover, the fighter that won
And now just look at me as I'm looking down on you
No I'm not being flash, it's what I'm built to do



Inventors of the celtic northern soul music, the Dexys midnight runners were founded inthe late 70s in Birmingham, UK. The name of the band refers to the drug dexedrine, very popular in the music circles of that area at that time. Their debut album became a greatsuccess, but half the bandmembers quit over tensions with Kevin Rowland, the singer and songwriter. Too-Rye-ay, the second album, is still considered a classic by many.

Celtic soul Brothers
1982, written by Billingham, Paterson, Rowland

Introducing the Celtic Soul Brothers and featuring the strong devoted,
Ladies and gentlemen, would you now please take your leave.
Because we've sat back looking and nearly been took,
even been scared but now I don't care and I'm telling anyone who'll listen.
I've seen what's on show and now there's no more to know
'Cos I've been there, I've been seen there, I've seemed it, dreamed it,
Beened it, schemed it.

Unfortunately I can only link to this song, so please click here to watch.

David Bowie

Station to station
1976, written by David Bowie

Once there were mountains on mountains
And once there were sunbirds to soar with
And once I could never be down
Got to keep searching and searching
Oh, what will I be believing and who will connect me with love?

In 1975 chameleon David Bowie took on another form and the Thin White Duke emerged, an aristocratic and cold persona with apparent fascist sympathies, creating commotion and controversy. At this time Bowie was heavily addicted to cocaine, which lead to the cold and almost detached atmosphere of the opening song of the album "station to station".



The song is apparently inspired by the strains of a 3 day train journey through the US. The reference "magical movement from Kether to Malkuth" refers to a cabbalistic term for the tree of life, Kether to malkut meaning crown to kingdom/royalty/kingship (keter to malchoot).

Jacques Brel

Mathilde
1964, written by J. Brel, G. Jouannest

Ma mère arrête tes prières
Ton Jacques retourne en enfer
Mathilde m'est revenue

Mother, stop your prayers
Your Jacques returns to the fires of hell
Mathilde came back to me



Jacques Brel was a belgian composer/chansonier who lived between 1929 and 1978. Hated as well as loved by many, he gave the word intense a new meaning with his stage performances. It is rumored that during a one-hour performance Brel lost almost one kilo of body weight because of excessive sweating. His lyrics were poetic, but their subjects often were far from romantic. He sung about the old, the drunk, the cheating and the hypocrits. His "Ne me quitte pas" counts amongst the legendary love songs and his work has been translated and performed by many artists, such as David Bowie and Frank Sinatra.

Though I consider Ne me quitte pas one of the most heartbreaking and beautiful love songs ever made, I chose Mathilde because of its intensity and its story. His lost lover is returning to him, and she is no good. He bids his mother farewell, almost begging those around him to please stop him, as he knows he is heading for complete heartbreak. He reminds himself to stay calm, his hands to stop shaking and that she is only a whore, but in the end his longing wins. And he heads off for destruction, screaming at the skies once more in anger.