from Today's Big Thing

Goth Single Ladies shared by a facebook friend - totally funny.

Alice in Chains

Day after tomorrow, at the House of Blues in Cleveland.

iheartradio

Labor day is over and it's back to work. The mountain of stuff to do, however, is lightened by a link sent to me by one of our PM's, to GenXRadio in Louisville. My age group must be obvious. I clicked the link and tuned in to REM, Losing My Religion. Timely and appropriate, as I sit here next to my stack of books to read, The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins next in line after Free to Choose by Milton and Rose Friedman, and before Last Child in the Woods, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, and finally Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. Ah, the intellectual life of the GenX-er, harmonized with our intellectual music. We're the lost generation, the under-employed and over-educated, according to pop culture definitions...

So following through from the GenXRadio link, I found my way to iheartradio where reside all my favorite stations from my 90's in San Francisco. Be still my PC GenX heart!

Labor Day Weekend

Family parties are generally music-less affairs around here. So the mental radio is running random items. I think the Canfield Fair being in session and the trip with the kids to see the cows, ponies, bunnies, roosters, ducks and sheep are the reason for Lime Juice Tub by the Aussie Bush Band to be on repeat play in my head.

They Might Be Giants

When I was a little girl I wanted to be a paleontologist when I grew up. Adults seemed to think this was weird. I had a Land of the Lost lunchbox because in 1977 that was the only one we could find with dinosaurs on it. Other kids seemed to think this was weird.

But now dinosaurs are cool! And TMBG is even cooler for this song!! I am a Paleontologist.

Rootz Underground

The first time I played "my new favorite song" for the kids, I said "raise your hand if you hear a lion." Now they raise their hands every time they hear it. In The Jungle has become a favorite - my daughter asked me to play it repeatedly in the car yesterday evening. After about the 6th play she fell asleep to this groovy tune.

I completed my album the day after buying the song. Also great are 20 Centuries and Hammer.

Bob Marley on Noggin

I was sitting at the kitchen table, surfing around for commentary on the new Snow Leopard OS, while my 4 year old daughter watched Noggin on the small tv on the counter. My head popped up in surprise when I heard Bob Marley's Three Little Birds. On Noggin?

The song has special meaning for me. We heard it numerous times in the stressful days (due to a forced move and evil landlord) leading up to our wedding, and called a local KFOG dj (Buzz Lightyear, or a name that sounded like that...) in San Francisco who spent 10 minutes on the phone with us trying to figure out which Bob Marley song it was, based on the lyrics. In the end he couldn't figure it out, but he told us to go buy Legend because if it was a well known song that disc would have it. He was right. To this day we still have the 2 inch tall Buzz Lightyear toy from a local fast food joint during that time, which we keep in memory of his valiant and kindhearted effort on our behalf.

So I knelt down by my daughter's chair and sang the entire song along with the Noggin video. It was lovely, and she pointed to a baby bat and its parent in the video, sitting on a tree branch, and told me the little one was her and the big one was me.

Three Little Birds is my favorite Marley song of all time and this video is a great way to introduce it to little children. There's a reason this song was in the fresh fish iMix from day one.

With a little bit more googling, I found a blog with this commentary (Zooglobble) suggesting that the song is a shortened version of a track from a Ziggy Marley compilation. Ziggy Marley has a new children's cd? Apparently B is for Bob came out this May. It's Bob all the way, but Ziggy compiled the album and re-mixed the songs. They're beautiful and lighthearted. I may be behind the times, but I'm certainly enjoying catching up now!

Bugs Bunny Music, Part 2

So back to those operatic favorites we all know and love (in some form or another... my playlist isn't called Bugs Bunny Music for nothing). Scanning youtube for videos of Largo Al Factotum yielded some comedic versions. The first is amusing if for no other reason than the hairstyle of the swinger, oops, I mean singer. And of course, we have that classic Tom and Jerry cartoon. The Barber of Seville is a comedy after all, so I figure it's all good if what amuses you happens to be some stylish feathering.

Trailer Choir

Proceeding down the path of laugh out loud videos, this one is a freebie on iTunes this week - Rockin' the Beer Gut by Trailer Choir. Totally funny!

No More Rice Krispies

So today during the opera favorites marathon, Don comes into the kitchen for more spaghetti and correctly identifies Vesti La Guibba from Pagliacci as the rice krispies song. Impressive. After emailing my mom about our afternoon operatic drumming session in the kitchen, she sends back "what is the rice krispies song?" I told her the rice krispies thing was a commercial where the guy came into the kitchen and the cereal box was empty and so he was tragically singing "no more rice krispies..." to the Pagliacci tune. Naturally, I figured I could google this. And what do I get third on the google search, but Drew Carey tweeting about the same thing. So I followed the link Drew posted and here you have it, the original rice krispies song. Classic! Hysterical!

Bugs Bunny Music, Part 1

The playcount on Con Te Partiro, Andrea Boccelli and Sarah Brightman, since I bought it for 99 cents 3 days ago, is at 91 and heading up.

A little nuts? Yes, but it got me to put together a fantastic playlist of my opera favorites, some of them spunky enough to lead to a fabulous drumming session on all surfaces in the kitchen with the kids:

Largo Al Factotum from the Barber of Seville (Rossini)

La Donna e Mobile from Rigoletto (Verdi)

Libiamo (the drinking song) from La Traviata (Verdi)

and of course Funiculi, Funicula thrown in for extra liveliness.

Also on the playlist (entitled Bugs Bunny Music, after an old flame who worked at a juvenile facility and got the kids to listen to classical music by calling it Bugs Bunny music) is much from Boheme, plenty of Verdi my all time favorite composer, and some old favorites from my 3 tenors cd's, including Pavarotti singing O Sole Mio. I consider myself very lucky to have seen the 3 tenors in concert at Ohio State about 6 years ago, and also Pavarotti solo at the Shark Tank in San Jose, close to 12 years ago. Both stunning performances.

Threesome Times Two

What got repeated today: Melody Gardot followed by Ben Harper's lullaby from Curious George followed by Counting Crows' Anna Begins. A lovely trio. If there's any one song to define why Counting Crows is worth your ears, it's Anna Begins.

Rough Day

But this was a good one for getting it out of your system - Monster Magnet.

Ben Harper and Relentless 7

I'm not together enough to have any idea why they're not the Innocent Criminals anymore. But I love this song: Fly One Time.

Curious George Soundtrack

Wow! Jack Johnson can make any day better with these songs. With My Own Two Hands, Ben Harper on this gorgeous lullaby. The Sharing Song, leading right into the 3 R's. Some seriously groovy tunes. And Upside Down... time to change my ringtone back from C is for Cookie, to this happy tune.

Discussion about the Kinks

and You Really Got Me. For whatever reason it's fixed in my mind as a staple of the 80's, which likely means a staple of that particular period in my life, because I don't mean the cover by an 80's hair band. Don thought it was a 60's song though it's fixed in his mind as a staple of the 70's. The end result of the discussion was a google search which dated it to 1964. So the fact that we each consider it part of our core teenage musical experience is fascinating. Some classics are truly classics.

Creedence

I could listen to them all night.

TMBG Friday Night Podcast for Kids

Last year They Might Be Giants was publishing a free podcast for kids. Every Friday evening there was a new video with one of their songs from their upcoming album about abc's and 123's. I don't know if this podcast is still available on iTunes, but a few of the videos are out there on youtube. This is the link to our favorite, Never Go To Work, which I realize is somewhat contrary to the theme of music to lighten your load and cheer your attitude for work, so I'll just say this is a lighten your load for that vacation day song. It's fantastic, and my kids still get hysterical and giggly over the cat and mouse in the bathtub. If your little ones are under 6 this is totally worth checking out. And for those who are just young at heart - enjoy!

Dave Grohl Alley

Last weekend, Warren, Ohio renamed a grungy alley after Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters, born in Warren and with family in the area), the alley "picked on purpose to reflect the rocker's personality", according to Ed Runyan of the The Vindicator. Grohl's performance at the ceremony of a couple of songs included a dedication of "My Hero" to Sgt Joe O'Grady of the Warren Police Department, who had asked the city council to rename the street.

So for a local feel good moment, here's a link to Times Like These, played at the ceremony, and to his acceptance speech. There's more on youtube if you're interested.

The Wall Street Journal

... on Radiohead and Harry Patch.

and the song...

Venues

The venues list is new. Just last month I missed a free show in Millcreek Park in Youngstown - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. What is wrong with me?? Free music on the grass, picnic with kids, dancing around in your barefeet, and did I mention it was free? If it weren't for friends who buy t-shirts, I'd never have known what I missed.

So the venue list is starting. House of Blues in Cleveland is up there because it's always a great place and has some excellent shows. Small and friendly. I saw Ben Harper there, Collective Soul, and have tickets for Alice in Chains next month. Diesel in Pittsburgh is on the list not because I've ever been there or heard anything about it, but because Buckwheat Zydeco is coming. Any place that hosts Buckwheat Zydeco gets on the list. On that criteria, I'd better add the Grog Shop in Cleveland. Which also gets points for having hosted Owl City. And I'm being tempted by the 3 hour drive to Columbus to go see Michael Franti and Spearhead at the Newport Music Hall. Never been there, but if I go the show will get reviewed and the hall might make the list.

Feel free to comment with your favorite music spots - I'm a newbie to the area and the best shows always turn out to have come on recommendations.

What's Your Favorite Rush?

The Rush fans are coming out of the woodwork! Steve inspired more commentary than anything else yet.

I came to the realization that I know nothing of Rush, though I've known many die-hard Rush fans over the years. Why is this? I'm angling to borrow a bunch of cd's for a marathon listen, so...

What's your favorite Rush? Songs, albums, shows, stories. Share with us!

The Spirit of Radio

From Steve - a great one!!

"begin the day with a friendly voice"/"the magic music makes your morning mood"- Neil Peart.

Look for the links and the updated iMix tomorrow.

Lovely!!

Michael Franti and Spearhead

Oh thank you KFOG for the suggestion! I love Light Up Ya Lighter, Everybody Ona Move, Hole in the Bucket, Say Hey, Red Beans and Rice. Another great song is Have a Little Faith on All Rebel Rockers. Here's Franti's, and an inspiration by John Hiatt.

And thinking about concerts

Marc Broussard played a free concert in Pittsburgh last summer. Where is he now? Would like to know...

Scanning the Lollapalooza Lineup

Reads like my most recent bunch of Starbucks freebies. Take that as you will.

Compare with Alice in Chains at the tiny little House of Blues in Cleveland in September. Yeah. Got my tickets. Waiting patiently.

Ed wanted to know

... where in all this 90's music was Dave Matthews? On Letterman tonight, that's where, and again on Friday if Friday is the 31st. So the iMix gets its first addition thanks to Ed's suggestion. I'm adding in Ants Marching for its all-around appeal, but I'll agree that it's definitely time to hear the new album.

Not for me today, though, because I'm listening to Pele Juju! And yeah, you probably need to be from Berkeley to get that reference.

Thank you Starbucks

...for the Melody Gardot freebie, Who Will Comfort Me (my collection is sadly lacking good jazz). And for the lunchtime lattes that keep me going.

Random Rediscoveries

So the random event about a year ago was finding 10 Things I Hate About You on sale on iTunes for $4.99, and thinking, hey that had some great shots of Seattle and I kind of remember liking that movie. Then forgetting about it for a long time, and rediscovering it a few weeks ago. Thinking hey, those are still great shots of Seattle and that is an awesome soundtrack! Next thing you know I'm playing the end credits a hundred times while pausing, rewinding and trying to write everything down. What came out of this was a hunt for all the songs I could find, including

Madness - Wings of a Dove (a Celebratory Song)

Joan Armatrading - The Weakness in Me

Spiderbait - Calypso

Jessica Riddle - Even Angels Fall

Sister Hazel - Your Winter

The Colourfield - Can't Get Enough of You Baby

George Clinton - Atomic Dog

Semisonic - F.N.T.

and Letters to Cleo with Come On, Cruel to Be Kind, I Want You to Want Me. The final shot of the band on the roof - excellent.

What I couldn't find included Sprung Monkey - Get 'Em Outta Here and some others. One thing leads to another, including the dialogue reference to Bikini Kill reminding me that I loved L7 when they played in a dorm (!) at Bryn Mawr while I was in college. So along comes Bricks are Heavy.

That was the high school movie, next up is the reunion movie. Grosse Pointe Blank, including the Violent Femmes - Blister in the Sun. I'll have to work on that...

Madness

Song of the day - Wings of a Dove by Madness. More on this later.

Owl City

... was reviewed by EW this week. Surprising for "Hello Seattle" fans who got the link from their sister who got it from her 15 year old son who got it from another kid on the bus at frisbee camp in Wisconsin somewhere. Surprising until you read that his is the "fourth-most-played act on MySpace, where teen girls eat that stuff up." (credit the quote to Melissa Maerz who wrote the review for EW) So I'm now in the teen girl category, yikes. I almost bought the el cheapo ticket when he was playing at the Grog Shop in Cleveland, due to the sheer surprise that he was traveling or playing live at all. And no, I don't know who "he" is. I'd have to actually go to MySpace for that. But now I'm going to go check out Ocean Eyes, the new cd, and listen to "Dental Care". Because how can you not be interested in a song with a name like that?

Sum of the Parts

There are times when your shuffle seems to reflect the day perfectly. Individual parts may be exciting but the sum of those parts? Bleh. John Hiatt followed by Placido Domingo followed by Aerosmith. In solo awesome, together... bleh.

Then along comes Solsbury Hill.

Just like that I was 19 again and riding in the back of our friend's car on a warm Italian night, windows open for the breeze, looking behind us at the lights of Rome, a Peter Gabriel tape serenading our drive as we headed up a hill above the Colosseum, all brightly lit stones and shadowed archways.

Squeeze

... provided the song of the day today - Take Me I'm Yours. It popped up in the iPod shuffle on the way home from work. It's an acoustic version from KFOG's Live From the Archives 1. For those who don't know this San Francisco radio station, every year they do a benefit for Bay Area foodbanks with proceeds from the sales of the CD's. All tracks are donated by the artists, and are live from KFOG's studios or from Bay Area clubs. The very first year Squeeze did what is to this day my favorite version of the song. We have the first 7 or so years of CD's and recently did an online search. CD buyers are paying about 12 bucks a CD for the old ones, and selling them for over $75! Think I'll hang on to it. But mostly, because Squeeze got it right.

And in a well shuffled follow up, Modern English - I Melt With You. Ah, nostalgia...

Music and Driving - Notes from the Road

After 3 days, 2 nights and 65 miles on a river, getting back behind the bug-covered windshield, the funky smell of wet clothing permeating the jeep, a brisk wind blowing, ACDC on the car stereo and that huge cup of coffee you've been waiting 3 days for - is there anything else more energizing?