30 Songs in 30 Days - Day 30

Day 30 – Your favorite song at this time last year

"Okkusenman" (author unknown)

I couldn't stop listening to this song back then. Before my life took an abrupt left at Albuquerque, I played this song to death on my mp3 player, and it was good.

This is the best version, imo: a remix of the original version and one of the many commercial releases done by a female J-pop band whose name I can't seem to locate.

Enjoy.

And, yes, I skipped day 23 on purpose, because I'm not sure it will apply to me.

Day 23 – A song that you want to play at your wedding -

/forever alone/

30 Songs in 30 Days - Day 29

Day 29 – A song from your childhood

"Dirty Laundry" by Don Henley

I have no idea what attracted me to this song when I was younger. Maybe it was the beat, the sweet, sweet synth beat, Don Henley's smooth vocals, I don't know, because I certainly didn't understand the meaning of the lyrics until much later.

The song is a scathing attack on television news transforming from information to entertainment. Those of you who keep at least an ear to network and/or cable news understand, as I do, that even though this song was recorded back in 1982, it still holds true, perhaps even moreso, today.

Although, in one way, this song played a vital role in the slow, inexorable corruption of my mind, because of one word: "Crap". "We all know that crap is king," he says, and I giggled. Boy, did I giggle. I was, like, 6-7 at the time, and that word being in a song just blew my mind.

Now, some 30 years later, I can make a lewd reference to the end of the last paragraph with my eyes closed. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Thanks, Don. In one small way, you helped create a monster.

30 Songs in 30 Days - Day 28

Day 28 – A song that makes you feel guilty

"...Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears

*sigh*

Yes, I totally bought into Britney when she first came out. (musically, I mean. Not as in... "came out", because to my knowledge she hasn't done that yet. ...she's just kissed multiple women.)

I feel ashamed for liking this song when I did. I don't dislike it now, but I don't like it enough to call it a "guilty pleasure". But you know what I'm even more ashamed of?

...I bought the CD.

Yes, folks, I have a copy of ...Baby One More Time sitting on my shelf.

I intend to review it when I get this crate off the ground, but for now, just sheer, unadulterated guilt.

...don't judge me...

30 Songs in 30 Days - Day 27

Day 27 – A song that you wish you could play

"Lady" by Little River Band

The piano and guitar on this song are both amazing. In fact the whole instrumentation melds with the vocals beautifully. This is an incredible song.

Background note: this group is one of two in which I loved more than one of their songs but didn't know who the artist was until much later in life. (Lady, Lonesome Loser, Reminiscing)

The other? Steely Dan. (Rikki Don't Lose That Number, Do It Again, Reelin' in the Years)

Just a bit of randomness about me.

30 Songs in 30 Days - Day 26

Day 26 – A song that you can play on an instrument

"Mama Said" by Metallica

Back when I believed I could learn to play guitar, I learned the chords to this song by ear and played it and sang to entertain myself.

I got rid of the guitar when I just gave up. I don't know if I can ever get back to that.

30 Songs in 30 Days - Day 25

Day 25 – A song that makes you laugh

"Confessions, Part 3" by "Weird Al" Yankovic

Without a doubt the best song on Staight Outta Lynwood, and one of my favorite songs of his; indeed, this song easily makes top 10 of my favorite songs of all time.

The layers of metahumor in this song are amazing: Al skillfully skewers the song's premise, encapsulating the entirety of both songs into a single verse before launching into aweXome. He also subtly pokes the layering effect of modern R & B, even using it to deliver two punchlines at once at the end of the second verse:

FYI, It was not a cold sore

(Not a cold sore)

Oops, my bad!

(Hope you're not sore at me!)

As for the song itself, it comes on at full throttle from the start and doesn't let up. In the "vein" of the first two Confessions letting his girl in on some deep, dark secrets, Part 3 presents us with a laundry list of things, according to the song itself: "...that should scare you away...".

These new Confessions range from the silly:

...remember when I told you that I knew Pauly Shore?

Pauly Shore? That's a lie.

I don't know what I said that for!

To the unhygenic:

I haven't changed my underwear in twenty-seven days...

To the... utterly bizarre:

Oh, and sometimes in private,

Really like to dress up like Shirley Temple

And spank myself with a hockey stick. (Hockey stick)

As a side note, I have two very specific musical pet peeves: long musical introductions to songs, and songs that don't end (a.k.a "repeat and fade").

This song is beautiful because it actually has an ending. An actual story-like ending (spoiler alert):

The song itself ends teasing a fourth Confessions installment, indicating that he's not "...even halfway down the list...", when the girl he's singing to storms out of the room to the singer's utter disbelief.

Hey, where you going?

Honey?

...what?!

W-was it something I said?

*sigh* Women...

Perfect end!

30 Songs in 30 Days - Day 24

(For those of you wondering what happened to Day 23... good question. Maybe I'll answer it later. Anyway on to...)

Day 24 – A song that you want to play at your funeral

"Bother" by Stonesour

I love this song. It fits my mood perfectly right now. I want this blaring as the drag the empty casket that serves as my memorial from the funeral to its final resting place (I plan on going out not leaving enough to bury) ^^

30 Songs in 30 Days - Day 22

Day 22 – A song that you listen to when you’re sad

"Hide and Seek" by Imogen Heap

For those of you not hip on old, outdated internet memes, let me go over the particulars:

In 2005, the prime-time soap "The OC" had a season finale where someone got shot or something, and it was done in slow motion set to the bridge of this song.

Not long after (if you consider two years "not long"), Saturday Night Live did one of their "Digital Shorts" called "Dear Sister" that spoofed this scene, which, in turn led to a plethora of spoofs and parodies of this theme. See the Know Your Meme entry on it here.

Well, me, not satisfied with just one part of a song, I sought out the whole thing and listened to it, and it is a very emotional song. When I need a good purging of sadness, this is a good song to purge it to.

And it's a capella, so that hooked me right away.

30 Songs in 30 Days - Day 21

Day 21 – A song that you listen to when you’re happy

"Mr. High and Mighty" by Gov't Mule

This song is 100% feelgood from the opening guitar lick to the the very end. The energy of it is unbelievable, and the raspy, angry vocals just lace it with that "I'm better than you" vibe that make a good mood even better.

30 Songs in 30 Days - Day 20

Day 20 – A song that you listen to when you’re angry

"Break Stuff" by Limp Bizkit

Yeah, Limp Bizkit isn't exactly good music, but, honestly, when you're in a pissed-off mood, the driving guitar lick and the angry vocals resonate well. And, well, quite frankly, when you're that deep into the anger, you don't really care who's singing as long as it matches the mood.

So, I suppose Limp Bizkit is the $2 hooch of angry metal. Tool/APC, Korn, Disturbed, Breaking Benjamin, et al may have better music, but when you really want to get drunk on your anger, go with the cheap shit.

Which would explain what happened at Woodstock '99, actually...

30 Songs in 30 Days - Day 19

Day 19 – A song from your favorite album

"(Untitled)" by Eminem

I have no intention of doing a full review of Recovery, mainly because there are only so many ways you can say "THIS IS AWSEOME!!!"

This track is the best example I can give.

Yes, the lyrics are goofy, but that can be forgiven, considering it's a freestyle.

The flow is amazing (Like Troy Polamalu's hair, boy!), and it's just fun to listen to.

30 Songs in 30 Days - Day 18

Day 18 – A song that you wish you heard on the radio

"Fuck You" by Cee-Lo

Radio stations have no balls.

Television stations have no balls.

They're so worried about offending 1% of the population that they're willing to alienate the other 99%.

I mean, the vast majority of people won't care if someone says a "bad word" on the radio or TV. It's just people who either:

a) believe they know better than the rest of the world what is "good" and "proper" and so they seek to ensure all such expression is removed from public consumption

2) people who don't want to bother raising their own children and teach them about shit like this so they always seek a State-sponsored solution (this option is also called the "think of the children" option)

or

III) people who don't want to deal with their own shit, so they devote their focus on the outside world, wanting to "make the world a better place". (This option also encompasses the previous two)

...who want to see songs like this, ideas like this, and words like this removed from public discourse.

And why are words "bad" anyway? The only thing bad about Carlin's "seven dirties" are their reputation. As far as I know, nobody has died, or even been injured, directly by the utterance of any word, let alone one of these.

In fact, I would wager that's why "Fuck You" is so popular: because it uses a "bad word". If such words weren't given the "bad boy" image and reputation that they've been given over the millennia, this song, although it is still amazing in its own right, would not be nearly as beloved as it is.

Okay, rant over. The song: it hearkens back to old school Motown in all the right ways. Cee-Lo's vocals carry the song all the way through, and the angry vocal breaks just punctuate it perfectly.

The lyrics, even in the "clean version" - which doesn't have the same impact. As much as I hate to agree with Dane Cook, "Fuck" is the ultimate insult, complete with the "Fff", the "Uhh", and the "CK". "Forget" just falls flat, imo. But anyway - are nice and filling, but there is one small issue with it that I must address:

In the chorus, he's singing to the guy who stole his girl. "I see you drivin' 'round town with the girl I love...". But in the verses, he's talking to the girl herself. "I said Baby, I'm sorry, I can't afford a Ferrari...". Hell, he even switches subjects in the middle of the chorus "I said if I was richer, I'd still be wit'cha..."

I'm of the mind that you should pick a subject and run with it. Shifting back and forth like that takes me out of the song a bit. I mean, I think this song would be improved greatly by changing the parts singing to the guy and shift it so that it's all about cussing out the girl. Something like,

"I see you drivin' 'round town with another man, and I'm like "Fuck you!"

I guess my style and my money weren't in yo' plans; I'm like "Fuck you and fuck him too!""

See? Simple change, keeps you into the song.

But, then, who am I to second-guess Cee-Lo? Regardless of that one issue, it's still an amazing song that you'll never hear on the radio as it was intended.

And that, my friends, is a shame.

30 Songs in 30 Days - Day 17

Day 17 – A song that you hear often on the radio

"Unchained" by Van Halen

When I used to shuffle through my mix of radio stations, I'd always stop when I hear this song.

Yeah, the driving guitar lick and DLR's raspy vocals are fine enough, but the real kicker for the song is the vocal break just before the last chorus.

That, for me, is my single favorite moment in music, where Diamond Dave decides, in the middle of recording the song, to compliment the producer about his suit. (and, yes, that's his voice on the track)

Whether it was extemporaneous or staged, to me, is irrelevant. It was still awesome, and I loved hearing it on the radio.

...you know, back when I listened to radio...

30 Songs in 30 Days - Day 16

Day 16 – A song that you used to love but now hate

...I'm not going to win many hearts over this one...

"We Are the Champions" by Queen

I still adore Queen, but I can't stand this song any more. It's just played to death. It's a staple on classic rock stations, where it gets played at least once a day, sometimes more.

They play it back-to-back with "We Will Rock You", which is virtually untouchable, but once that last guitar fades out, so do I.

30 Songs in 30 Days - Day 15

Day 15 – A song that describes you

"Unwell" by Matchbox 20

This should come as a surprise to absolutely nobody.

My second choice was:

"Imaginary" by Evanescence

I tend to get stuck in my head a lot. Reality is a place I visit only rarely, if at all - which is why I refer to it as the "Other World". The world I created for myself is much better than the one that I was born into, and I have trouble dealing a lot of the time.

But, then, if I didn't spend so much time there, I wouldn't be able to make stuff like this.

As for the music, Matchbox 20 and Evanescence are among my favorite artists. A Rob Thomas/Amy Lee duet would make me JIMP. Seriously.

30 Songs in 30 Days - Day 14

Day 14 – A song that no one would expect you to love

Okay, given everything else I've said and done on this list, and all the other posts I've made among my other forums (Twitter, FB, Tumblr), you seem to have a pretty good idea of what kinds of music I like, and what kinds I probably don't.

This may surprise you. Then again, it might not. But I loved this song the moment I first heard it, not knowing who it was. Hell, I thought at first it was a Christian rock song. (THAT would be a surprise)

Thankfully, it wasn't, but who it actually is... well...

"Larger Than Life" by the Backstreet Boys

...really.

Yes, really.

You thought the most embarrassing revelation was that last one? Oh, no.

But, seriously, I LOVE this song. I don't love BSB - most of their stuff was total pop garbage - but I can't not love this one. It's got a driving beat, the synth is pretty sweet, and the song itself is a thank-you to their fans. That makes its awesomeness more awesome.

If I lose fans over this, I'd have to say... "Woah, I had fans? Cool."

Anyway, there it is. It's out there.

No regrets.

Moving on.

30 Songs in 30 Days - Day 12

(Thanks to Blogger taking an extended dump last night, I'll be pulling a double for this one)

Day 12 – A song from a band you hate

There are actually few bands that I actually hate (other than Creed, which I've already covered). I can tolerate most music, and even if a group's music is bad, bland, or just stupid, I don't necessarily hate them.

Even the easy hate targets I can't say that I hate. Nickelback? I like some of their harder stuff, and "Rockstar" is just too much fun not to sing along to. Daughtry? His/their stuff is pop pablum, sure, but it's listenable.

Even Van Hagar doesn't inspire hate for me; I still dig on Van Halen's old stuff, and listening to the stuff with Sammy Hagar as lead makes me more sad than angry. And Gary Cherone? I'll have a special episode based around that ill-conceived pairing.

So, I'm going to have to go outside my normal genre-based comfort zone and pick on music I don't normally listen to: country.

Again, I don't hate country as a genre. I like a few country songs as well, and a few country artists. And seeing as how if and when I go to Lone Star Steakhouse for my semi-regular dose of their ranch dressing that I HAVE to listen to it, I've learned to tolerate it, and make fun of it - not out of hatred, but because I'm just a smartass like that.

But there is one guy that inspires just as much hate if not moreso than Creed, and I'm fairly certain you'll agree:

"I Love This Bar" by Toby Keith

In the world of uber-patriotic, chauvinistic, unabashed rednecks, Toby Keith is king. If ever there was a man who would drive me to renounce my American citizenship, it is Mr. "We'll Put A Boot In Your Ass; It's The American Way" here.

The thing is, he's not really that intense of a singer. Even when he's flying the flag at full staff and getting ready to chow on raw venison, his vocal style comes off as... well... bored.

I chose this song specifically for two reasons: 1) it's the song of his that's freshest in my mind, having heard it at a bar very recently, and b) it's a good example of what his songs are like lyrically and vocally. It comes off as having a trait most people associate with rednecks: laziness. Like he's not even trying.

And that's what infuriates me the most: How can you have that much bombast, that much over-the-top militaristic love of God and country be that fucking boring? And, worse, how does he still have fans?!

/sigh/ There isn't much else to say... primarily there isn't much else to it. Rest assured that this is my last foray into the realm of country music. I can't go back there. I won't go back there.

30 Songs in 30 Days - Day 11

Day 11 – A song from your favorite band

Had a lot of material to pick from, so I went with the aweXome:

"Lookin' Down the Barrel of a Gun" by the Beastie Boys

The Beastie Boys are my favorite music thing, person, group, and/or menagerie ever. Looking forward to their new disc, but I thought I'd go back in time to a disc that many have said was their crowning work: Paul's Boutique.

You can feel the energy in this piece from the first drumbeats all the way to the last lines, in the bell ring that precedes each verse, and in the half-second sample of the opening guitar from Mountain's "Mississippi Queen" at the start of the second verse.

The shout-outs come fast and furious in this one, even moreso than most other B-Boy songs. I may be wrong on this, but I think "Barrel" has more shout-outs per capita than any other B-Boy song outside of Hello Nasty's "Dedication", which doesn't really count, since it's song entirely composed of shout-outs.

Anyway, bask in the awesome that is Ad', D, and MCA.

30 Songs in 30 Days - Day 10 (Day 11 Edition)

Sorry this is late; I fell asleep last night. Anyway...

Day 10 – A song that makes you fall asleep (Ironically enough)

"A Horse With No Name" by America (Listen to it here)

Not much to say about this one: the combination of acoustic guitar, droning lyrics, and almost no variation of tone make this song a snoozer. It's like an acoustic cover of Nelly reading the dictionary, only not as potentially entertaining.

30 Songs in 30 Days - Day 9

Day 09 – A song that you can dance to

"Party Up (Up In Here)" by DMX (Listen here: normal explicit)

I had completely forgotten about this song until I pulled my copy of "...and Then There Was X" out of my visor and popped it into my car CD.

I was bopping, head-shaking, and moving as much as I could safely while driving.

I love DMX (trivia: "DMX" stands for "Dangerous Man of the Unknown"). I only know of a few of his songs, but this CD is pretty good, and his rap style comes off like a Rottweiler: he talks, you better fucking listen!

This track, and really, DMX himself, is unique because, although I hate edited tracks with a motherfucking-ass passion, he doesn't fuzz or blank them out; he fills them in with his voice going "Woo!" or "What?!" and other stuff. I put both versions up so you can hear how both versions are sweet in their own way.

The driving beat, DMX's flow, and the sweet, sweet horn track make this a get yo' ass up and shake it song!