Week Forty-Nine: iTunes Finds - Tennis - "Marathon" - Cape Dory

I'll be the first to admit that most of the selections for the iTunes' Free Single of the Week are rather disappointing, but the four songs that I have selected for this week were pleasant little surprises!!!

*****************************************************

Okay, so this one was released on iTunes in 2011, and this band has a rather interesting start-up story; so I will share with you what Wikipedia has to say about them:

"Tennis is an American indie pop band from Denver made up of husband-and-wife duo Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley. During their first tour, James Barone joined the band on drums. The couple met each other while studying philosophy in college, and started the band after they got back from a seven-month sailing expedition down the Eastern Atlantic Seaboard. They took their name from a joke about Patrick Riley playing tennis in college. Prior to joining Tennis, Moore's earliest singing experience was in church choirs during her youth."

Apparently, this song, "Marathon", references that seven-month sailing expedition down the Eastern Atlantic Seaboard and is about sailing at night along the Florida coast. I like to listen to this one as I'm drifting off to sleep...it has a lullaby-like nature to it!

Coconut Grove

Is a very small cove

separated from the sea

by a shifting shoal

we didn't realize that

we had arrived

at high tide, high tide

barely made it out alive

red over white

fishermen working at night

not even once

did we see a light

we didn't realize

the forecast had been revised

by moonless skies and

shifty wind that gusts and dies

on the sand our keel is heaving

but tonight we've got to be leaving

travel through the day and into the evening

Marathon how long we've been gone

and still not yet set foot upon you

your low lying shore opens welcomingly

to one who's spent the night at sea

Adrift in the shallows, a modest repose

adorn with coral, your bright colors show

ushered in through a bridge that is never closed

Week Forty-Nine: iTunes Finds - We the Kings - "Check Yes Juliet" - We the Kings

I'll be the first to admit that most of the selections for the iTunes' Free Single of the Week are rather disappointing, but the four songs that I have selected for this week were pleasant little surprises!!!

*****************************************************

It appears that this was also a 2008 release on iTunes. Whoever that person was at iTunes who was discovering all of these bands back in 2008, they need to be re-instated into their position because it has been awhile since I have been even slightly impressed with any of the iTunes offerings.

Regardless, any time I hear or see the name Juliet, it should not surprise you at all that, as a literature teacher, I automatically assume that is has something to do with Shakespeare's masterpiece. Although the lyrics did not reference Shakespeare's work, the video has a "Romeo & Juliet"-type feel to it.

In fact, here is a bit of info about this video taken from Wikipedia:

"The video was directed by Alan Ferguson. It portrays Travis (lead singer) as Romeo 'tossing rocks' at Juliet's window. Juliet's parents do not approve of Juliet's relationship with Travis 'Romeo' and therefore order Juliet to stay away from him. The video ends with Juliet sneaking out to see Travis perform at a house party."

Check yes Juliet

Are you with me

Rain is falling down on the sidewalk

I won't go until you come outside

Check yes Juliet kill the limbo

I'll keep tossing rocks at your window

There's no turning back for us tonight

[Chorus:]

Lace up your shoes

A O A O O

Here's how we do

Run baby run

Don't ever look back

They'll tear us apart if you give them the chance

Don't sell your heart, don't say we're not meant to be

Run baby run, forever will be

You and me

Check yes Juliet

I'll be waiting

Wishing wanting yours for the taking

Just sneak out and don't tell a soul goodbye

Check yes Juliet

Here's the countdown:

3,2,1 now fall in my arms now

They can change the locks,

don't let them change your mind

[Chorus]

Lace up your shoes

A O A O O

Here's how we do

Run baby run

Don't ever look back

They'll tear us apart if you give them the chance

Don't sell your heart, don't say we're not meant to be

Run baby run, forever will be

You and me

We're flying through the night

We're flying through the night

Way up high

The view from here is getting better with you

By my side

Run baby run

Don't ever look back

They'll tear us apart if you give them the chance

Don't sell your heart, don't say we're not meant to be

Run baby run, forever will be

Run baby run, don't ever look back

They'll tear us apart if you give them the chance

Don't sell your heart, don't say we're not meant to be

Run baby run, forever will be

You and me

You and me

Week Forty-Nine: iTunes Finds - The Black Kids -"I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You" - Partie Traumatic

I'll be the first to admit that most of the selections for the iTunes' Free Single of the Week are rather disappointing, but the four songs that I have selected for this week were pleasant little surprises!!!

*****************************************************

First of all, I had no idea that Bernard Butler, one of the most amazing guitarists and a member of one of my all time favorite bands - Suede, produced this track. I also learned, from the ever-(somewhat)-trusty Wikipedia, about some of the lines that threw me a bit in this song. The lead singer, Reggie, says: "You are the girl, that I've been dreaming of, ever since I was a little girl..." So every time I heard that, I was like: "Huh? What?!?! But you're a dude?!?!?"

Apparently, the tale behind those lines goes a little bit like this:

"According to Reggie's sister and bandmate Ali Youngblood, this is based on an inside joke between the two of them where they would refer to wanting something 'Ever since I was a little girl.'"

This was offered through iTunes at some point in 2008, and it is a super-fun song! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!!!

You are the girl that I've been dreaming
of ever since I was a little girl.
You are the girl that I've been dreaming
of ever since I was a little girl.

One!
I'm biting my tongue.
Two!
He's kissin' on you.
Three!
I walk out, you see
One! Two! Three! Four!

Word's on the streets and it's on the news:
I'm not gonna teach him how to dance with you.
He's got two left feet and he bites my moves.
I'm not gonna teach him how to dance! dance! dance! dance!
The second I do, I know we're gonna be through.
I'm not gonna teach him how to dance with you.
He don't suspect a thing. I wish he'd get a clue.
I'm not gonna teach him how to dance! dance! dance! dance!

You are the girl that I've been dreaming
of ever since I was a little girl.
You are the girl that I've been dreaming
of ever since, ever since

One!
I'm biting my tongue.
Two!
He's kissin' on you.
Three!
Oh, why can't you see?
One! Two! Three! Four!

Word's on the streets and it's on the news:
I'm not gonna teach him how to dance with you.
He's got two left feet and he bites my moves.
I'm not gonna teach him how to dance! dance! dance! dance!
The second I do, I know we're gonna be through.
I'm not gonna teach him how to dance with you.
He don't suspect a thing. I wish he'd get a clue.
I'm not gonna teach him how to dance! dance! dance! dance!

One!
You're biting my tongue.
Two!
I'm kissin' on you.
Three!
Is he better than me?
One! Two! Three! Four!

Word's on the streets and it's on the news:
I'm not gonna teach him how to dance with you.
He's got two left feet and he bites my moves.
I'm not gonna teach him how to dance! dance! dance! dance!

oh! dodododododododo dance dance dance dance
oh! dodododododododo dance dance dance dance
oh! dodododododododo dance dance dance dance
oh! dodododododododo dance dance dance dance
dance dance dance dance dance