Week Twenty-Two: Movie Melodies - Peter Gabriel - "In Your Eyes" - Say Anything Soundtrack

I don't recall seeing the film, Say Anything, on the big screen in the theaters. If I had, I am certain that I would have distinctly remembered Lloyd Dobler, in all his glory, holding his boombox outside of Diane Court's window, while this song was playing. I do recall renting this film from the local rental shop up the street from where I lived when I was growing up (and definitely liking it).

It wasn't until I revisited this film later on in high school that I absolutely fell in love with it. At that point, the character of Lloyd Dobler elevated himself to the level of everything I could ever want in a guy. I was completely convinced that, at least by my senior year of high school, some guy was going to hold his boombox outside of my window and that he would even “one-up” Lloyd by loudly declaring his undying love for me so that the entire neighborhood would come out and clap for us.

The closest that anyone ever came to this was during my junior year of high school, when this guy, who was in my creative writing class, found out through a conversation that we had that I would sometimes sit out on my roof and smoke cigarettes. He decided to drive through my alley, stop behind my house, and honk a few times in an attempt to get my attention. Although his gesture was teetering on romantic, the mood was definitely killed when my dad stepped out of the garage and into the direction of the alley and angrily inquired: “What the hell do you want?!?!” According to my dad, there was smoke coming off the tires of his small white sports car as he quickly sped away...

Here's a small scene clip of Lloyd (in all his glory) from the film:

Here's the official video:

Love, I Get So Lost, Sometimes
Days Pass And This Emptiness Fills My Heart
When I Want To Run Away
I Drive Off In My Car
But Whichever Way I Go
I Come Back To The Place You Are

All My Instincts, They Return
And The Grand Façade, So Soon Will Burn
Without A Noise, Without My Pride
I Reach Out From The Inside

In Your Eyes (In Your Eyes) The Light The Heat
(In Your Eyes) I Am Complete(In Your Eyes) The Resolution (In Your Eyes) Of All The Fruitless Searches

(In Your Eyes) Oh, (In Your Eyes) I Wanna To Be That Complete
(In Your Eyes) I Wanna To Touch The Light, The Heat I See In Your Eyes (In Your Eyes)

Love, I Don't Like To See So Much Pain
So Much Wasted And This Moment Keeps Slipping Away
I Get So Tired Of Working So Hard For Our Survival
I Look To The Time With You To Keep Me Awake And Alive

All My Instincts, They Return
And The Grand Façade, So Soon Will Burn
Without A Noise, Without My Pride
I Reach Out From The Inside

In Your Eyes (In Your Eyes) The Light, The Heat
(In Your Eyes) I Am Complete(In Your Eyes) The Resolution (In Your Eyes) Of All The Fruitless Searches

(In Your Eyes) Oh, (In Your Eyes) I Wanna To Be That Complete
(In Your Eyes) I Wanna To Touch The Light, The Heat I See In Your Eyes (In Your Eyes)

(In Your Eyes) (In Your Eyes) (In Your Eyes)
(In your eyes)
(In your eyes)
(In your eyes)
(In your eyes)

Week Twenty-Two: Movie Melodies - New Order - "Ceremony" - Marie Antoinette Soundtrack

Although I was introduced to this song long before Sofia Coppola decided to release her film version of Marie Antoinette, I still could not have been more pleased to hear this song in the film, which is why I included a fan-made film clip video with an alternate version of this tune (a bit slower than the original).  I am also including the version from Substance below the lyrics.

I have been a devotee of New Order ever since I heard the song “Bizarre Love Triangle,” somewhere around 1988, and before anyone attempts to remind me that "Ceremony" was originally a Joy Division song, I will make it known now that I am already aware of that.  However, I have always been more inclined to like the New Order version.

I had always kind of skimmed over this song, for whatever reason, but after reading Deborah Curtis’s memoir, Touching From a Distance, I seemed to hear this song differently.  It quickly replaced “Bizarre Love Triangle” as my favorite New Order song and has maintained that position ever since.

This was yet another song that the band to which I belonged covered, but before selecting our official band name, we temporarily had another moniker; it was under this first band name that we would perform this song.  When we moved away from live drums to a drum machine, this song was left behind.  However, I loved playing the bass line to this song.

Although the life story of Ian Curtis was a tragic one, he left behind this jewel of a song, and I hope his tortured soul has found peaceful rest somewhere in the vast beyond.

This is why events unnerve me
They find it all, a different story
Notice whom for wheels are turning
Turn again and turn towards this time
All she ask's the strength to hold me
Then again the same old story
Word will travel, oh so quickly
Travel first and lean towards this time

Oh, I'll break them down, no mercy shown
Heaven knows, it's got to be this time
Watching her, these things she said
The times she cried
Too frail to wake this time

Oh I'll break them down, no mercy shown
Heaven knows, it's got to be this time
Avenues all lined with trees
Picture me and then you start watching
Watching forever, forever

Watching love grow, forever
Letting me know, forever

Week Twenty-One: Wild Card Week - The Sundays - "Love" - Blind

Week Twenty-One, aka Wild Card Week, will be full of random gems

-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-

The year was 1992, and what a year it was!  It was a time of great change for me and for my family.  It was the year I started high school; it was the year my father finally decided to stop drinking, and it was the year that my brother drove us to school in the silver Saab.

Now, before you let yourself get somewhat impressed, let me tell you a little bit about that “hot mess”.  On the outside, it looked pretty presentable; however, it was a standard, and one of the gears was practically stripped.  The windshield wipers worked when they felt like it.  The front defrost was a joke (the back worked), and my brother and/or I, along with various kind strangers, pushed that piece of crap more than once, in order to get it started.

But, it had a cassette deck that worked, and that is all that truly mattered, now isn’t it?  My brother was an avid fan of rap music and hip hop at that time, so I’ll never truly understand why he let me play this tape for at least two weeks on the way to school. 

I think it was because this song spoke to both of us… We knew we were growing up and would soon be going our own separate ways – two little innocent souls who had raised ourselves and one another.  We also knew that the two people who were supposed to love us until we could “love ourselves,” as this song suggests, simply could not accomplish that task.  Now, don’t get me wrong – my parents were not cruel or unkind.  It’s just that you can’t give away something that you don’t even have, and I don’t think that my parents truly knew how to even love themselves at that point in the game.

This story does not end in sadness; my family is closer than any other family I know, but it took us many years and twists and turns to get there.  “Time's so scarce where I come from; Let them say what they like cause they still can't take your love...”

Picture myself as a thin white child 
back to the day I was born on 
they slapped me into line as it crossed my mind 
I've felt better 
I've felt worse 
this is my life and it's all very well but never again 

as they say "we've been robbed"
and don't you know that this time 

love, just love yourself like no one else
love, it's enough
they can say what they like but they still can't take that 

distance myself from the things I'd like but
everyone has something I need
don't let me wake up & find
all those others leaving me behind
if you don't have a clue about life
then I'm happy to say neither have I 
although I'm not going to shrug my shoulders & suck my thumb
this time 

cause there's something I deserve 

love, just love yourself like no one else
love, it's enough
they can say what they like but they still can't take that 

picture my house in a postcard town 
picture a bomb in the sky
history at the door who could ask for more?
I've felt better
so kill me with love
just love yourself like no one else
time's so scarce where I come from 
let them say what they like cause they still can't take your love 

Week Twenty-One: Wild Card Week - The Charlatans - "The Only One I Know" - Some Friendly

Week Twenty-One, aka Wild Card Week, will be full of random gems

-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-

Any time I hear any Charlatans' song, it reminds me of one place – Hairy's Rock Shop. Hairy's is/was located at Ferguson Road & Lakeland Drive in Dallas. The reason I say “is/was” is because when I drive by it, to this day, the sign is still there, but it doesn't look very open; however, the advertising hearse is still parked out front. So who knows?

It's difficult to describe exactly what Hairy's even was back in the early 90's. When I used to go there, it was a complete hodge-podge of styles – hippie-chick meets metal-head meets alterna-teen meets new-waver meets indie-bopper. For me, it was a place to find inexpensive cassettes and to purchase Clove Xtra cigarettes without presenting an ID when I was 16-years-old.

The guys who worked there also lived there, somewhere in the back. If they thought you were cute and determined that you weren't going to rat them out for selling to those underage, they would not hassle you one bit. Either that or they were too stoned to remember that the law required them to check IDs for cigarette purchases.

One day when I stopped by for my usual two packs of Clove Xtras, I saw it just hanging there - so out of place – a Charlatans' t-shirt. It was perfect because it said “Weirdo” on the back to promote their other well-known hit (included below), but the description could not have been more fitting for someone like me at the time!

The only one I know, has come to take me away
The only one I know, is mine when she stitches me
The only one I see, has found an aching in me
The only one I see, has turned her tongue into me

Everyone has been burned before, everybody knows the pain

The only one I know, never cries, never open her eyes
The only one I know, wide awake and then she's away
The only one I see, is mine when she walks down our street
The only one I see, has carved her way in to me

Everyone has been burned before, everybody knows the pain
Everyone has been burned before, everybody knows the pain

Everyone has been burned before, everybody knows the pain
Everyone has been burned before, everybody knows the pain

Week Twenty-One: Wild Card Week - PJ Harvey - "Down By the Water" - To Bring You My Love

Week Twenty-One, aka Wild Card Week, will be full of random gems

-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-

I can't recall where or when I first heard this song, but I do remember a coworker at the Deli telling me, prior to hearing it, that I should check out PJ Harvey's work. He felt that I bore a striking resemblance to her, since I also sported dark hair and red, red lips, and he felt that I would also appreciate her music.

I never got around to checking out any of her tunes, as he suggested, but I guess she kind of found me as a result of releasing this song. I do remember that it was played on the radio quite frequently, and I remember seeing the equally intriguing video on MTV over at my friend Cecilia's house.

I ended up scoring a copy of this album on CD, and I put it on a mixed cassette so that I could listen to it in my car. After my younger brother's bike was stolen a second time from his elementary school, my parents paid me a small fee to pick my siblings up before I had to rush off to work.

I remember them hopping into my car and asking me if the “fishy” song had come on yet. They would squeal with delight every time they heard it. The three of us would be singing this song all the way home with the windows rolled down.

Those were really fun times with my younger siblings. I just wish I would have cherished them more, instead of viewing it as one more thing to do on my already insanely long list of things to do!!

I lost my heart, under the bridge
To that little girl, so much to me
And now I moan, and now I holler
She'll never know, just what I found

That blue eyed girl, she said "No more"
That blue eyed girl, became blue eyed whore
Down by the water, I took her hand
Just like my daughter, I'll see her again

Oh, help me, Jesus, come through the storm
I had to lose her, to do her harm
I heard her holler, I heard her moan
My lovely daughter, I took her home

Little fish, big fish, swimming in the water
Come back here, man, gimme my daughter

Week Twenty-One: Wild Card Week: Starflyer 59 - "I Win" - My Island

Week Twenty-One, aka Wild Card Week, will be full of random gems

-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-

It is a very interesting story about how I came across this song. Back when I still had cable TV, right after I moved into my duplex and right before Time Warner realized that I was getting it for free, I used to be one of those crazy channel-flippers because I could never find a program that could hold my attention for very long (except for The Real Housewives of New York – don't even ask!)

One evening when I had embarked upon my channel-flipping routine, I was stopped dead in my tracks by this tune. Now here's the interesting part: when I realized what channel I had stopped on, it turned out to be the Christian Television Channel – yeah, the one where they show Mass and nuns singing hours worth of Gregorian chants and priests lying prostrate on the altar and such. Yep, it's all weird to me too, and I grew up surrounded by it.

I am still uncertain what this band's link to Christianity is exactly. I briefly tried to research it on Wikipedia, and all I could find was a tag at the bottom of the page that said something like: Christian bands from California. Regardless, this song rocks – thanks, Christian Television Channel!!

When I try to erase or calculate
For a moment could you just decide
Which way to go I need advice

I've been wrong, it's just close quarters
And they have a way to cloud your mind
Is my lot in life to just resign
Oh could you tell me

Should I travel, and maybe get the starring part
And a monogram that says I W-I-N

So what am I supposed to say
My talent's an acquired taste
Well that's just what you say
When you've missed your train

Week Twenty-One: Wild Card Week - Ned's Atomic Dustbin - "Happy" - God Fodder

Week Twenty-One, aka Wild Card Week, will be full of random gems

-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-

Ned's Atomic Dustbin always reminds me of one of my really close friends from freshman year of high school who was named Colleen. Our other friend, Stephanie, and I would always call her “Little Colleeni” because she was so cute and petite. We all had honors English class together, and Colleen and I also had a theology class and a French class together.

Colleen lived in Oak Cliff, which was even worse than my Pleasant Grove neighborhood at the time, but she lived in a really cool old house closer to the Arts District. She was also dating a guy named Chip when I knew her. I went to stay over at her house one night, and Chip stopped by for awhile. He had somehow (probably by theft) acquired 2 copies of the album, God Fodder, and he was kind enough to offer me one of the copies. I wasn't too familiar with Ned's at that time, but I quickly grew to love them.

I ran in to Colleen at New Amsterdam Coffee Shop (now the Amsterdam Bar) in Fair Park right before I stopped drinking and started teaching. She ended up marrying a mutual friend of ours, but he turned up on the news a little over a year ago for attempting to skip out on a bar/lap dance tab at a local strip club that he was attending (with another woman). Yikes... busted!!!!

Ned's Atomic Dustbin has a ton of awesome songs, and just in case I don't get to revisit them, I am attaching two additional videos below the lyrics - I know I've said this before about other bands, but you owe it to yourself to check out all their tunes...

Feeling so frustrated even antiquated'Cause you can't update me if I'm overratedSo frustrated, so frustratedYou can't update this
You fly off the handle wait till I'm not thereIf you will fly off the handle wait till I'm not there'Cause I will talk, maybe you will listenBut you won't hear a single word I sayI will talk you will listen

We have a house where I'm in your hairI'll go spare and leave you happy in thereWe have a house where I'm in your hairI'll go spare and leave you happy in there

You fly off the handle wait till I'm not thereIf you will fly off the handle wait till I'm not there'Cause I will talk, maybe you will listenBut you won't hear a single word I sayI will talk you will listen

Week Twenty-One: Wild Card Week - Christian TV - "1, 2, 3, Turnaround" - 1, 2, 3 Turnaround Single

Week Twenty-One, aka Wild Card Week, will be full of random gems

-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-

I'm fairly certain that I already mentioned this in one or two other posts, but prior to beginning my legal studies, I was studying to become a substance abuse counselor. I got through the entire program, and when it was time to begin my internship, I simply decided that it was not the career for me.

So during my final semester of taking the substance abuse counseling courses, I was enrolled in a group counseling course. One of our assignments required us to watch certain movies or TV programs in order to analyze the various techniques that the counselors were using on the clients.

I selected one of the seasons of Celebrity Rehab that I was able to access through the VH-1 website (yes, the same VH-1 that I used to watch music videos on), since they showed Celebrity Rehab as part of their regularly scheduled programming. However, one of the obvious downsides of having to watch through VH-1 was that I was subjected to their advertisers with no way to fast-forward through the commercials.

One of the advertisements was for GAP jeans, and this song was played in the background while skinny models stood around in even skinnier jeans. After having to listen to this song against my will so many times that I eventually lost count, I absolutely despised it and vowed to never listen to it again.

A few weeks later, I caught myself humming this tune, and next thing I knew, I was purchasing it. I still had to listen to it very sparingly, but now I consider it a treat when it shows up on the iPod.

P.S. - I looked all over youtube for the GAP jeans commercial with this song, but all I could find was a JC Penney commercial.  I did find an awesome video with scenes from the comic strip, Cyanide and Happiness...

Doo, doo, doo-doo doo-doo (x4)

I race my feet
I miss a beat
Throw my seat
Don't care, get off my back

I make a sound
I wash down
Around, so round
Get off, don't touch my stack

Come step outside
To shoot me high
'Cause I'm about to crack

1,2,3, Turnaround
Don't you watch me now
Just turnaround
Touch your knees, don't look
Just turnaround
Do it now--don't make me count to 4

1,2,3, Turnaround
Watch yourself
Why don't you turnaround
Can't you see
I don't need you around
Do it now--walk right through that door

Doo, doo, doo-doo doo-doo (x2)

Who could it--
Don't look at me
So obviously
It makes me sweat
Straight to my head
I'm turning reddish, someone said
So I'm upset

Come step outside
To shoot me high
Oh, before I forget...

1,2,3, Turnaround
Don't you watch me now
Just turnaround
Touch your knees, don't look
Just turnaround

Do it now--don't make me count to 4

1,2,3, Turnaround
Watch yourself
Why don't you turnaround
Can't you see
I don't need you around
Do it now--walk right through that door

Doo, doo, doo-doo doo-doo (x4)
Somebody take this, please

Alright, alright, hey, hey, hey, ay ay, ay, ok, ok

We're unannounced
So shut your mouth
We can do it now
If you make it fast

My head is wired
I'm so damn tired
I hope that this feeling lasts

1,2,3, Turnaround
Don't you watch me now
Just turnaround
Touch your knees, don't look
Just turnaround
Do it now--don't make me count to 4

1,2,3, Turnaround
Watch yourself
Why don't you turnaround
Can't you see
I don't need you around
Do it now--walk right through that door

1,2,3 (Doo, doo, doo-doo doo-doo)
Don't you watch me (Doo, doo, doo-doo doo-doo)
Turn around
Do it now--walk right through that door

1,2,3 (Doo, doo, doo-doo doo-doo)
Come on watch me (Doo, doo, doo-doo doo-doo)
Hmmmmm do it now

Walk right through that door 

Week Twenty-One: Wild Card Week - The Mock Turtles - "Can You Dig It?" - Turtle Soup

Week Twenty-One, aka Wild Card Week, will be full of random gems

-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-\-/-

This little gem was introduced to me in the early 90’s on what I had originally thought was an obscure alternative show called “The Adventure Club with Josh and Alex,” which appeared on The EDGE; its radio frequency at that time was 94.5, not 102.1, as it is today.  However, after being directed to Jeff K's website to check out some of his EDGE Club playlists, I realized that it might have actually been Jeff K who introduced me to this tune and many, many of the tunes that I have mentioned in previous posts and credited to Josh, Alex, or George Gimarc.  My apologies to Jeff K for not initially realizing what an integral part he played in my musical development.  How could I have forgotten "Chef K" and all those "Flashback Cafe" broadcasts I spent with him over the years?!?!?!

In fact, I vividly remember that on the day I got sent home while trying to register for school --- see the Book of Love - "Witchcraft" post from last week --- I went straight home and called up and requested "The Boy With the Thorn in His Side" on the "Flashback Cafe". Josh was interning with Jeff K at that time and starting freaking out that someone was requesting The Smiths.  So Jeff K put Josh on the phone, and we chatted for a bit that day.  Jeff K was kind enough to play my request, as well, after I explained to him the tragedy that I had endured at registration!!!

When I first started listening to The EDGE back in the early 90s, I would tune in on my purple Sharp boombox (similar version pictured below) because it was the only radio in the entire house that would pick up the broadcast - not even our fancy schmancy stereo system would clearly pick up the low frequency.  Plus, I needed to be able to record all the awesome tunes they were playing.  I was in the 7th grade at the time, and I thought I was such hot stuff since I was not listening to the “mainstream nonsense” that my mindless classmates seemed to be enjoying.

“Can You Dig It?” is not one of those tunes you can easily chat about with most people, simply because most have never heard it or don't recognize it by name; however, once it’s been played for them, they usually beg for a copy.

I'm including the Steve Proctor remix below the lyrics, in honor of Jeff K, because that was probably the first version I ever heard on EDGE Club, but I'm honestly more fond of the original version. 

Can you understand me now
I'll get through somehow
You won't ever get me down
Won't see me hanging around

Can you dig it, oh yeah
Can you dig it, oh yeah
Can you dig it, oh yeah
Can you dig it what I'm saying
One little kiss isn't anything
I won't be sad

Someone turned a light on

See how big and strong I've grown
I'm standing on my own

Can you dig it, oh yeah
Can you dig it, oh yeah
Can you dig it, oh yeah
Can you dig it what I'm saying
One little kiss isn't anything
You keep insisting on everything
I won't be sad

Someone turned a light on

Can you dig it, oh yeah
Can you dig it, oh yeah
Can you dig it, oh yeah
Can you dig it what I'm saying
One little kiss isn't anything
You keep insisting on everything
I won't be sad

Someone turned a light on

Can you dig it
Can you dig it
Can you dig it
Can you dig it 

Week Twenty: Wacky 80s - Men Without Hats - "Pop Goes the World" - Collection

Most people remember Men Without Hats for their other wacky hit, "The Safety Dance," but I like "Pop Goes the World" much, much better!  When I was searching for the video on youtube, I kept seeing comments about a Tide Detergent commercial.  After a little investigating, I was so disheartened to see that not only is this song indeed in a Tide Detergent commercial, but it is a cover of the original and nowhere near the level of Men Without Hats.  Don't get me wrong, if it takes a Tide Detergent commercial for people to discover fun little tunes like this, then that's cool with me.  I just wish they had used the original... that's all!

While you're at it, take a listen to my other favorite Men Without Hats' tune - "I Got the Message"... below the lyrics...

Johnny played guitar, Jenny played bass. 
Name of the band is The Human Race. 
Everybody tell me have you heard? Pop goes the world. 

Jenny played keyboard, Johnny played drums, 
Called Little Baby and a big Bonhomme 
Everybody tell me have you heard? Pop Goes The World. 

It goes something like this: (p p p pop) 

Johnny and Jenny had a crazy dream, 
See their pictures in a magazine. 
Every little boy needs a girl. 
Pop Goes The World. 

Jenny and Johnny getting smart (it seems) 
Made more money on a movie screen. 
Every little nest needs a bird. 
Pop Goes The World. 
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/m/men+without+hats/pop+goes+the+world_20091777.html ] 
One two three and four is five, 
Everybody here is a friend of mine. 
Whatever happened to the Duke of Earl? 
Pop Goes The World. 

Six seven eight and nine is ten, 
Send Al Gunn to see the doctor (Ben) 
Say what planet are we on? The third! 
Pop Goes The World. 

And Every time I wonder where the world went wrong, 
End up lying on my face going ringy dingy ding dong 

And every time I wonder if the world is right, 
End up in some disco dancin' all night & day. 

Johnny played guitar, Jenny played bass, 
Name of the band is The Human Race. 
Everybody tell me have you heard? Pop Goes The World. 

Johnny played guitar, Jenny played bass, 
Ain't nobody couldn't take their place. 
Everybody tell me have you heard? Pop Goes The World....