Week Thirty: iPod Picks - UB40 - "Red Red Wine" - The Very Best of UB40

For Week Thirty, I'm turning my iPod loose (in the form of putting it on shuffle) and letting it do the picking... so the seven songs for this week were chosen by my trusty little iPod who is now holding close to 5000 of my favorite songs and who is slowly but surely dying battery-wise; however, I am too attached to do an upgrade just yet...

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Back before I had discovered the joys (and the evils) of Vodka, I was all about the Red Red Wine. It didn't help that it had its own theme song in a reggae-style cover performed by UB40.

My dorm-mate, Jenny, whom I mentioned in a previous post, and I would find some unsuspecting 21-year-old (or older) male (typically someone who had a crush on either her or me or both of us) and mislead him into believing that he would be able to partake in our box (oh, yeah, I said box) of Red Red Wine back in our dorm room.

Then, upon returning to said dorm room, we would remind the legal-aged lad that we were not allowed to have boys on our floor past 10 pm, and we would proceed to kick him out. Then the fun would begin!

Jenny and I would plow through our box of Red Red Wine until we passed out in pure bliss. That was our frequent routine until the evening we must have gotten our hands on the cheapest batch of Red Red Wine in all of Denton, TX. We spent the entire night and into the wee hours of the morning vomiting in our little dorm room sink. We could not chance going down the hall to the community bathroom a few doors away because we might have been kicked out of the entire university for under-age drinking on campus.

That was the end of my love-affair with Red Red Wine, but little did I know that Madame Vodka was waiting in the wings for me. I'll save some of those stories for later posts...

I am including the 2002 version of the video minus the special reggae section because it's an interesting little clip, but I'm also including another clip that has the special reggae section because it's what makes this song so super-fly!!! :-D

Red, red wine 
Goes to my head 
Makes me forget that I 
Still need her so 

Red, red wine 
It`s up to you 
All I can do I`ve done 
memories won`t go 
memories won`t go 

I just thought that with time 
Thoughts of you would leave my head 
I was wrong, now I find 
Just one thing makes me forget 

Red, red wine 
Stay close to me 
Don`t let me be in love
It`s tearin` apart 
My blue, blue heart 

I just thought that with time 
Thoughts of you would leave my head 
I was wrong now I find 
Just one thing makes me forget 

Red, red wine
Stay close to me
Don't let me be in love
It's tearin' apart
My blue, blue heart


---Red Red Wine Regge Section--- 


Red red wine you make me feel so fine 
You keep me rocking all of the time 

Red red wine you make me feel so grand 
I feel a million dollars when your just in my hand 

Red red wine you make me feel so sad 
Any time I see you go it makes me feel bad 

Red red wine you make me feel so fine 
Monkey pack him rizla pon the sweet dep line 

Red red wine you give me whole heap of zing 
Whole heap of zing mek me do me own thing 

Red red wine you know of love 
Your kind of loving like a blessing from above 

Red red wine I love you right from the start 
Right from the start with all of my heart 

Red red wine in a 80`s style 
Red red wine in a modern beat style, yeah 

(Chorus) 

Give me little time, help me clear up me mind 
Give me little time, help me clear up me mind 

Give me Red wine because it make me feel fine 
Make me feel fine all of the time 

Red red wine you make me feel so fine 
Monkey pack him rizla on the sweet dep line 

The line broke, the monkey get choke 
Burn bad ganja pon him little rowing boat 

Red red wine I`m gonna hold on to you 
Hold on to you cause I know you love true 

Red red wine I`m gonna love you till I die 
Love you till I die and that`s no lie 

Red red wine can`t get you out of mind 
Where ever you maybe I`ll surely find 
I`ll surely find make no fuss jus` stick with us. 

Week Thirty: iPod Picks - Stone Temple Pilots - "Trippin' on a Hole in a Paper Heart" - Tiny Music...Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop

For Week Thirty, I'm turning my iPod loose (in the form of putting it on shuffle) and letting it do the picking... so the seven songs for this week were chosen by my trusty little iPod who is now holding close to 5000 of my favorite songs and who is slowly but surely dying battery-wise; however, I am too attached to do an upgrade just yet...

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Back in 1996, when this song was released, I left “the deli” and began waiting tables at Applebee's. Applebee's had a subscription to some kind of satellite radio, and during the weekdays, the music was very mellow and family-friendly. However, on the weekends, especially during the evening shifts, which were the primary shifts that I worked, the managers and/or bartenders would try to “rock out”.

I despised almost everything about waiting tables - but it could have just been Applebee's!! It was a wonderful method for making money to help put myself through college - (I once got an $87 tip on a $13 food tab), but people are slobbishly disgusting when it comes to dining behaviors.

Really, the only thing that helped me make it through my weekend shifts, especially those crowds that flocked through the doors for ½ price appetizers, was the rocking tunes, like this STP song!

This song just got me so pumped, and even if I was bombarded by tables of trashy, low-class, minimal-tipping, ½ price appetizer-eating cretins, from 10 pm until midnight, the thought of them getting fat as a result of gorging themselves on baskets of buffalo wings and mugs of cheap beer was vindication enough!

Don't cut out my paper heart, I ain't dyin' anyway 
Take a look at eye full towers
Never trust them dirty liars 
Sippin' lemon yellow booze 'ole' leadbelly sings the blues
All dressed up on wedding day keep on trippin' anyway

I am I am I said I'm not myself, but I'm not dead and I'm not for sale
So keep your bankroll lottery eat your salad day deathbed motorcade

Fake the heat and scratch the itch
Skinned up knees and salty lips
I'll breathe your life vicks vapor life
And when you binge I purge alike
Let go it's harder holding on
One more trip and I'll be gone
So keep your head up
Keep it on, just a whisper I'll be gone
Take a breath and make it big
It's the last you'll ever get 
Break your neck with diamond noose
It's the last you'll ever choose

I am I am I said I'm not myself, but I'm not dead and I'm not for sale
Hold me closer, closer let me go let me be just let me be

Week Thirty: iPod Picks - The Creatures - "Standing There" - Boomerang

For Week Thirty, I'm turning my iPod loose (in the form of putting it on shuffle) and letting it do the picking... so the seven songs for this week were chosen by my trusty little iPod who is now holding close to 5000 of my favorite songs and who is slowly but surely dying battery-wise; however, I am too attached to do an upgrade just yet...

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The dorm that I lived in while I was completing my freshman year of college in Denton was called Bruce Hall, and in 1996, it was home to some of this state's finest drag queens. They were so sweet, so much fun to be around, and so intent on doing my hair, make-up, and nails...drag queen-style!

The Rose Room at The Village in Oaklawn announced that it was going to have its First Annual Ms. Budlight “Drag Queen” Competition, and Queenie (whose real name was Michael), my absolute favorite of the resident drag queens, insisted that he must compete.

He consulted my gay best friend and me on what he should do for the talent portion. At first, we tossed around the idea of a seductive number to “Face to Face” by Siouxsie and the Banshees because Queenie was a jewelry designer, and he had just created some of the claw-like rings similar to what Siouxsie wore in the video. Then we were inevitably forced to discuss the fact that it was going to be insanely difficult to hide his man parts in one of those tight cat-suits like Siouxsie wore in the video.

After a bit more thought, we collectively decided on “Standing There” instead. Queenie designed and executed an elaborate costume with a headpiece made out of Budlight bottle caps since part of the contest rules stated that the costumes must incorporate the brand somehow. He did a Salsa-style jig around the stage. Apparently, they required original versions of the CD for the performance; so since I knew how hard he had worked, I lent Queenie my original. Believe it or not, he did actually return it because those queens were terrible about keeping people's stuff.

For the rest of my time in Bruce Hall, Queenie credited me with helping him win runner-up, which was the equivalent of second place. I don't remember the stage name of the queen who won. His real name was Chase, and he sure was pretty!!!

The Creatures stopped by Deep Ellum Live in 1999, and being such a huge Siouxsie & the Banshees fan, there was no way in the world that I would have missed that show:

I'm also including my other favorite by The Creatures under the lyrics; it's called "Fury Eyes"...

Hey creepo's... I'm talking to you 
I've got a message to give to you 
You've got a problem... we know 
But there's something you ought to know 

Standing there across the thoroughfare 
They stand and stare with that gormless air 
So funny to see how dumb some grown men can be 

An unwanted weed, a dying reed 
Left to consider life as it passes by 
Ignoring your calling, ignoring your taunting, 
Ignoring your feelings of self hate and loathing 
How empty and pointless your life must seem 

See them standing 
See them staring 
See them wearing that same stupid face 

Sticks and stones may break bones 
But these taunting crones only cause inner groans 
We ignore all your calling, ignore all your taunting 
Ignore all your problems of self hate and loathing 
Somebody should show them where to go 

See them standing 
See them staring 
See them wearing that same creepy face 

Standing there in the thoroughfare 
They stand and stare with that gormless air 
Does what you won't understand scare and make you mad? 
Resentful and envious, don't you disgust yourself? 
So funny to see how pathetic some men can be 

See them standing 
See them staring 
See them wearing that same stupid face 
Ignore all their calling, ignore all their taunting, 
Ignore all their faking, their self hate and loathing 
Somebody should show them where to go.

Week Thirty: iPod Picks - Buzzcocks - "Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)" - Love Bites

For Week Thirty, I'm turning my iPod loose (in the form of putting it on shuffle) and letting it do the picking... so the seven songs for this week were chosen by my trusty little iPod who is now holding close to 5000 of my favorite songs and who is slowly but surely dying battery-wise; however, I am too attached to do an upgrade just yet...

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Before my senior year of high school, I saved all of my money from “the deli” and sent myself to England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. I had three primary goals for my trip: (a) to purchase a pair of Docs from the Doc Marten Factory; (b) to acquire as much music memorabilia as my budget would allow; (c) to drink as much ale as I could get my grubby little seventeen-year-old hands on. I accomplished all three of my tasks and even managed to fall in love with a Scottish lad while there – well, it was more like drunken infatuation, but it felt like love at the time.

Prior to my departure, I made myself at least five or so mixed tapes because I knew that the plane ride was going to be looooooooong! We landed in Ireland and hopped a tour bus to the tiny town of Killarney, which was actually the birthplace of many of the Irish Roman Catholic nuns who taught me in elementary school. We quickly made the acquaintance of some Irish teens, who were enjoying some ale in a local pub, who were right around our age, and who were fascinated by America and American bands. So you know what I did? I reached into my backpack and handed them all five or so of my mixed tapes.

The next day on the tour bus, while nursing a killer hangover, I deeply regretted my alcohol-induced decision – well, more so, the fact that I did not at least hang onto one cassette for myself. Eventually, we had to stop for petrol, and the fuel station where we stopped had an amazing music section. I picked up this double cassette of UK 80s hits in this awesomely packaged cover unlike anything I had ever seen in the States.

This Buzzcocks' tune was on the compilation. This song always reminds me of that Scottish lad because it was also playing on the jukebox in the pub we stopped by on the night before I had to return home, while we were roaming the streets of London, being young and carefree. **Sigh**

The Buzzcocks stopped by Deep Ellum Live for a show in 1999; so I am attaching my ticket stub:

You spurn my natural emotions
You make me feel like dirt
And I'm hurt
And if I start a commotion
I run the risk of losing you
And that's worse

Ever fallen in love with someone
Ever fallen in love
In love with someone
Ever fallen in love
In love with someone
You shouldn't've fallen in love with

I can't see much of a future
Unless we find out what's to blame
What a shame
And we won't be together much longer
Unless we realize that we are the same

Ever fallen in love with someone
Ever fallen in love
In love with someone
Ever fallen in love
In love with someone
You shouldn't've fallen in love with

You disturb my natural emotions
You make me feel like dirt
And I'm hurt
And if I start a commotion
I'll only end up losing you
And that's worse

Ever fallen in love with someone
Ever fallen in love
In love with someone
Ever fallen in love
In love with someone
You shouldn't've fallen in love with

Ever fallen in love with someone
Ever fallen in love
In love with someone
Ever fallen in love
In love with someone
You shouldn't've fallen in love with
Fallen in love with
Ever fallen in love with someone
You shouldn't've fallen in love with

Week Thirty: iPod Picks - Icicle Works - "Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly)" - Single

For Week Thirty, I'm turning my iPod loose (in the form of putting it on shuffle) and letting it do the picking... so the seven songs for this week were chosen by my trusty little iPod who is now holding close to 5000 of my favorite songs and who is slowly but surely dying battery-wise; however, I am too attached to do an upgrade just yet...

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In one of my earlier Synthpop posts, I mentioned The Wall, which was one of my favorite nightclubs located in Deep Ellum. On Wednesday nights, they hosted a Synthpop night, but on Fridays, they hosted a retro night.

What I appreciated most about The Wall's retro night was that the DJs tended to steer clear of the mainstream retro tunes, and they would play more obscure retro tunes, even if it meant having a half-empty dance floor on occasion. Do you even know how much I respected them for that?!?!?!? Well, now you do!!

They were also not afraid to play retro tunes that were somewhat hard to dance to, like “Whisper to a Scream”, because songs like this definitely have a tendency to clear the floor.

I found that the secret to mastering this tune on the dance floor in order to prevent oneself from looking like a goofball is to resist the temptation to speed up your dancing once all of the drums kick in. Instead, keep a steady pace with the distinct bass line from the opening of the song. The bass line will kind of pop in and out of the song, which creates a bit of a challenge, but if you try to keep up with the drums, you will wear yourself out before the song is over. You will also eventually lose a definite beat and end up looking drunk and/or uncoordinated.

Try it next time you hear this tune being played at your favorite retro night. Instead of clearing the dance floor with the others who are weak of beat, find that bass line and see if it works for you – I guarantee you that the key is the bass line!

Some things take forever,
But with building bricks of trust and love,
Mountains can be moved

Love come, down upon us 'till you flow like water,
Burning, with the hope of insight,
Feathered, look they're covered with a bright elation,
Stolen, in the sight of love,

Chorus: We are, we are, we are but your children, finding our way
Around indecision, we are, we are, we are ever helpless,
Take us forever, a whisper to a scream

Birds fly, in the eye of the faithless daughter,
Broken, at the bitter end,
Wasted, sacrifice for a new nirvana,
Night time, send us on our way

Repeat Chorus

A whisper to a scream

Repeat Chorus

Week Thirty: iPod Picks - Cyndi Lauper - "Change of Heart" - The Essential Collection

For Week Thirty, I'm turning my iPod loose (in the form of putting it on shuffle) and letting it do the picking... so the seven songs for this week were chosen by my trusty little iPod who is now holding close to 5000 of my favorite songs and who is slowly but surely dying battery-wise; however, I am too attached to do an upgrade just yet...

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Boy, oh boy! This song takes me way, way back. I remember going to a record store with my mom to purchase the album. My mom has always loved Cyndi Lauper, and she often breaks out into singing “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” at the most random times, even to this very day. Cyndi Lauper was a huge hit on MTV back when we first got cable. So three years later, when we heard “True Colors” (video below the lyrics), we just had to have a copy of it.

Little did I know that this tune, “Change of Heart”, would end up assuming the title of “my favorite” from this album, eventually passing up the song “True Colors”. I think that the video is really what sold me on this song. This video is partially responsible for helping me to fall so madly in love with London.

I guess that my little nine-year-old mind somehow figured that, in London, bands were all over the city, playing on street corners and in city squares. I just knew that if I could somehow get to London, I would meet Cyndi and all of my other musical idols of that time.

I did make it to London eight years later, but lo and behold, there was no Cyndi to be found anywhere. The street corners and city squares were filled with lame tourists, but the spirit of the '80s still permeated the city if I really used my imagination, which was damn near impossible because I was hardly sober for even a minute while I was there – so maybe it was actually drunken delirium that had kicked in!

Here I am
Just like I said I would be
I'm your friend
Just like you think it should be
Did you think I would stand here and lie
While our moment was passing us by
Oh I am here

Waiting for your change of heart
It just takes a beat
To turn it around
Yes I'm waiting for your change of heart
At the edge of my seat
Please turn it around

Days go by
Leaving me with a hunger
I could fly
Back to when we were younger
When adventures like cars we would ride
And the years lied ahead still untried
While I stand here

Waiting for your change of heart...

Blind leading blind
Never feel the laughter
Search through time
Nothing reveals the answer
If it's truth that you're looking to find
It is nowhere outside of your mind
I bide my time
Waiting for your change of heart...

Week Thirty: iPod Picks - Tammy Wynette - "'Til I Can Make It On My Own" - Classic Country Golden 70s

For Week Thirty, I'm turning my iPod loose (in the form of putting it on shuffle) and letting it do the picking... so the seven songs for this week were chosen by my trusty little iPod who is now holding close to 5000 of my favorite songs and who is slowly but surely dying battery-wise; however, I am too attached to do an upgrade just yet...

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As I mentioned in a previous post, my paternal grandmother fell victim to a phone solicitor from Time Life Records, and I'm supposing that after she became the proud owner of every Elvis Presley album they offered, she moved on to the Classic Country albums. She had various Classic Country compilations, ranging from the 1950s and all the way up through 1979.

Now, I grew up on what would be considered Classic Country music – singers like Johnny Cash, Buck Owens, George Jones, Hank Williams, Marty Robbins, & Webb Pierce. C'mon, I come from a long line of Czech, German, and Russian farmers. My ancestors were definitely partial to fiddles and accordions. So what would you expect? 

I also attended at least one Czech dance every weekend during my youth with my maternal grandparents. How many of you can say that you are the grandchild of the former Polka King & Queen of Texas?!?!? --- very precious memories, especially in light of the fact that I just lost my last remaining grandparent - my maternal grandmother - this past Wednesday evening. 

Therefore, I'm not one to snub a good Classic Country tune, by any means. I even have a deep appreciation for the greats who came after them, especially the female singers, like Barbara Mandrell, Crystal Gayle, Dolly Parton, and today's artist, Tammy Wynette.

This song, “'Til I Can Make It On My Own”, just hits me right in the heart where it hurts the most. It is such a sad, sad song of loss, but I love it!!

To commemorate the wonderful lives of all my grandparents, I am going to include some snazzy pictures of them when they were young, vibrant, and full of life. Both sets of grandparents were phenomenal individuals. I am so lucky and so privileged to have had the opportunity to love them and to be loved by them, and I miss the hell out of all of 'em...

These are my paternal grandparents, W.J. & Mary, pictured above.

And these are my maternal grandparents, Albert & Esther, pictured above.

Finally, back in 1991, when The KLF released their song, “Justified and Ancient”, I was shocked and amazed to see that it featured Tammy Wynette. It's such an odd mash-up of genres, but it somehow works to perfection. Take a look and listen for yourself - I have posted it underneath the lyrics...

I'll need time to get you off my mind 
And I may sometimes bother you, try to be in touch with you 
Even ask too much of you from time to time 
Now and then, Lord, you know I'll need a friend
'Til I get used to losin’ you let me keep on usin’ you,
'Til I can make it on my own 

I'll get by but no matter how I try 
There'll be times you know I'll call
Chances are my tears will fall 
And I'll have no pride at all from time to time
But they say “Oh, there'll be a brighter day”
But 'til then I’ll lean on you, that's all I mean to do, 
'Til I can make it on my own 

Surely someday I'll look up and see the morning sun 
Without another lonely night behind me
Then I'll know I'm over you and all my cryin's done 
No more hurtin' memories can find me

But 'til then, Lord, you know I'm gonna need a friend
'Til I get used to losin’ you, let me keep on usin’ you 
'Til I can make it on my own
'Til I can make it on my own