Week One Hundred: (500) Days of Summer Soundtrack - Regina Spektor - "Us" - Soundtrack

It took me awhile to figure out how to celebrate Week One Hundred, and then I thought that since I started my blog with She & Him and a video promo for the film, (500) Days of Summer, I would talk about the phenomenal soundtrack for this film, which happens to be one of my top ten all-time favorite movies ever!!!

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Prior to viewing this film, I had heard and seen Regina Spektor's name in various places, but I never bothered to check out any of her stuff --- big mistake!!! Her music is used in some very pivotal scenes in the film, and it should be of no surprise since her voice is so full of emotion! As an added bonus, she's Russian like I am!!!

The film actually uses two of her songs, "Us" and "Hero", which I will include videos for today, but I heard one of my favorites by her called "Folding Chair" on Pandora; so I will include that one for you today, as well.

They made a statue of us

and put it on a mountaintop

Now tourists come and stare at us

Blow bubbles with their gum,

take photographs of fun

have fun

they'll name a city after us

and later say it's all our fault

then they'll give us a talking to

then they'll give us a talking to

cause they've got years of experience

we're living in a den of thieves

rummaging for answers in the pages

we're living in a den of thieves

and it's contagious

and it's contagious

and it's contagious

and it's contagious

we wear our scarves just like a noose

but not cause we want eternal sleep

and though our parts are slightly used

new ones are slave labour you can keep

we're living in a den of thieves

rummaging for answers in the pages

we're living in a den of thieves

and it's contagious

and it's contagious

and it's contagious

and it's contagious

They made a statue of us

They made a statue of us

The tourists come and stare and us

The sculptor's model sends regards

They made a statue of us

They made a statue of us

Our noses have begun to rust

we're living in a den of thieves

rummaging for answers in the pages

we're living in a den of thieves

and it's contagious

and it's contagious

and it's contagious

and it's contagious

and it's contagious

and it's contagious

and it's contagious

and it's contagious

Week Ninety-Nine: Songs of '99 - Len - "Steal My Sunshine" - You Can't Stop the Bum Rush

For Week Ninety-Nine, I'm going to cover songs/albums that were released in '99

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This is yet another song that I have always liked, but I know absolutely nothing about this band either; so I'll let Wikipedia help out once again:

"'Steal My Sunshine' is a song by the band Len, written by band member Marc Costanzo and featured on their third album You Can't Stop the Bum Rush. The backdrop is based on a sample of a short instrumental portion of Andrea True Connection's 1976 disco single 'More, More, More'. Supposedly inspired by The Human League's 1982 synthpop hit 'Don't You Want Me', the song's vocals alternate between Marc and Sharon Costanzo."

"The song became a sleeper hit when radio stations began playing it in March 1999, four months before Len planned to release its album. 'Steal My Sunshine' had a commercial single release in July 1999. It received positive reviews from music critics, and its chart success has made Len a one-hit wonder. The song earned a nomination for 'Best Single' at the Juno Awards of 2000."

Inspired by The Human League's tune, "Don't You Want Me"?!?!?! Really?!?!?! I would have never guessed that in a million years!!!!

I do have to award an Honorable Mention today to a little song called "My Own Worst Enemy" by a little band called Lit. I used the term my own worst enemy in a text conversation just recently, and the responder to my text told me: "don't poach lyrics from Lit"... Now, I swear, this song haunts me like a bad dream... It follows me everywhere!!! :-D

I was lying on the grass on Sunday morning of last week
Indulging in my self-defeat
My mind was thugged all laced and bugged all twisted wrong and beat
uncomfortable in three feet deep
Now the fuzzy stare from not being there on a confusing morning week
Impaired my tribal lunar-speak
And of course you can't become if you only say what you would have done
So I missed a million miles of fun

I know it's up for me
IF YOU STEAL MY SUNSHINE
Making sure I'm not in too deep
IF YOU STEAL MY SUNSHINE
Keeping versed and on my feet
IF YOU STEAL MY SUNSHINE

I was frying on the bench slide in the park across the street 
l-a-t-e-r that week
My sticky paws were in to making straws out of big fat slurpy treats
An incredible eight foot heap
Now the funny glare to pay a gleaming tare in a staring under heat 
Involved an under usual feat
And I'm not only among but I invite who I want to come
So I missed a million miles of fun

I know it's up for me
IF YOU STEAL MY SUNSHINE
Making sure I'm not in too deep
IF YOU STEAL MY SUNSHINE
Keeping versed and on my feet
IF YOU STEAL MY SUNSHINE

I know its done for me
IF YOU STEAL MY SUNSHINE
Not something hard to see
IF YOU STEAL MY SUNSHINE
Keeping dumb and built to beat
IF YOU STEAL MY SUNSHINE

Sunshine
If you Steal my sunshine
Sunshine
If you Steal my sunshine
sunshine
If you steal my sunshine

sunshine

Week Ninety-Nine: Songs of '99 - Lou Bega - "Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit of...)" - A Little Bit of Mambo

For Week Ninety-Nine, I'm going to cover songs/albums that were released in '99

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This song is soooooo much fun, but I know nothing about it or the artist; so all of today's info is coming from Wikipedia:

"'Mambo No. 5' is a mambo and jive dance song originally recorded and composed by Cuban Dámaso Pérez Prado in 1949."

"The song's popularity was renewed by German artist Lou Bega's sampling and vocal version of the original, released under the same name on Bega's 1999 debut album A Little Bit of Mambo."

"Lou Bega's cover was a hit in the United Kingdom, and Australia, where it reached number one in 1999. It stayed at number one in Australia for eight weeks, ultimately becoming the best-selling single of the year. It also topped almost every chart in continental Europe, including Bega's home country, Germany, and set a record by staying at number one in France for 20 weeks (longer than any stay at the top spot ever on the US or UK charts). The song reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US on November 2, 1999, giving Bega his only Top 40 hit in the US."

"The music video, directed by Jorn Heitmann, features Lou Bega singing and dancing with flappers, possibly a homage to the music of the 1920s and 1930s. The video includes clips of old-style movies and newsreels showing trumpets, big bands and the like."

Ladies and gentlemen, this is Mambo No. 5,

One, two , three four, five
everybody in the car so come on let's ride
To the liqueur-store around the corner,
the boys say they want some gin and juice
but I really don't wanna
beerbust like I had last week
I must stay deep 'cause talk is a cheap
I like Angela, Pamela, Sandra and Rita
and as I continue you know they're gettin' sweeta
so what can I do I really beg you my Lord
to me flirtin' it's just like a sport
anything fly it's all good let me dump it
please send in the trumpet

a little bit of Monica in my life
a little bit of Erica by my side
a little bit of Rita is all I need
a little bit of Tina is what I see
a little bit of Sandra in the sun
a little bit of Mary all night long
a little bit of Jessica here I am
a little bit of you makes me your man

Mambo No. 5!

Jump up and down and move it all around
shake your head to the sound put your hands on the ground
take one step left and one step right
one to the front and one to the side
clap your hands once and clap your hands twice
and if it looks like this then you doin' it right

a little bit of Monica in my life
a little bit of Erica by my side
a little bit of Rita is all I need
a little bit of Tina is what I see
a little bit of Sandra in the sun
a little bit of Mary all night long
a little bit of Jessica here I am
a little bit of you makes me your man

Trumpet, the Trumpet!

Mambo No. 5!

a little bit of Monica in my life
a little bit of Erica by my side
a little bit of Rita is all I need
a little bit of Tina is what I see
a little bit of Sandra in the sun
a little bit of Mary all night long
a little bit of Jessica here I am
a little bit of you makes me your man


I do all to fall in love with a girl like you
You can't run and you can't hide you and me gonna touch the sky 


Mambo No. 5!

Week Ninety-Nine: Songs of '99 - Third Eye Blind - "Never Let You Go" - Blue

For Week Ninety-Nine, I'm going to cover songs/albums that were released in '99

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Although, today's song, "Never Let You Go", did not place as high on the charts as some of their other tunes, I think this is the best Third Eye Blind song, by far.

According to Wikipedia:

"Jenkins comments in the liner notes of the band's compilation album, A Collection, that it was written about a muse of his at the time (allegedly Charlize Theron), and it was written to 'freak her out' when she heard it on the radio."

Third Eye Blind released their debut album, Third Eye Blind, in 1997, and it produced three Top 10 hits that I will also include for you today called: "Semi-Charmed Life", "Jumper", and "How's It Going to Be"...

There's every good reason for letting you go 
She's sneaky and smoked out 
And it's starting to show 
I never let you go 
I never let you go 
I never let you go 
I never let you turn around, your back on each other 
That's a good idea, break a promise to your mother 
Turn around, your back on each other 
You say that I changed 
Well maybe I did 
But even if I changed 
What's wrong with it? 
I never let you go 
I never let you go 
I never let you go 
I never let you turn around, your back on each other 
That's a good idea, break a promise to your mother 
Turn around, your back on each other 
And now our friends are gone, are gone 
And all the time moves on and on 
And all I know is it's wrong, it's wrong 
And all I know is it's wrong, it's wrong 
If there's a reason, it's lost on me 
Maybe we'll be friends, I guess we'll see 
I never let you go 
I never let you go 
I never let you go 
I never let you turn around, your back on each other 
That's a good idea, break a promise to your mother 
Turn around, let's turn on each other 
Good idea, break a promise to your mother 
Turn around, your back on each other 
That's a good idea, break a promise to your mother 
Turn around, your back on each other 
What a good idea 
I remember the stupid things 
The mood rings, the bracelets and the beads 
Nickels and dimes, yours and mine 
Did you cash in all your dreams 
You don't dream for me no, you don't dream for me no 
But I still feel you pulsing like sonar from the days in the waves 
That girl is like a sunburn I would like to say 
That girl is like a sunburn I would like to say 
She's like a sunburn, she's like a sunburn

Week Ninety-Nine: Songs of '99 - The Creatures - "Say" - Anima Animus

For Week Ninety-Nine, I'm going to cover songs/albums that were released in '99

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When I heard that The Creatures were releasing a new album in '99, I could barely contain my excitement because I knew that it would also mean a tour in support of the album. The Creatures did, indeed, stop by Deep Ellum Live on May 1, 1999. I already posted my ticket stub for you when I covered "Standing There" during Week Thirty, but I will include it for you again today:

At the concert, I picked up a fancy little concert promo pack with a book and some postcards, and I will also include scans of all of that for you, as well:

Today's song, "Say", was written about Billy Mackenzie's suicide. He was a member of the band, The Associates. I'll post what Wikipedia has to say in regard to some interesting trivia about Mackenzie and today's song:

"Morrissey of The Smiths was said by Craig Gannon of The Smiths to have written the song 'William, It Was Really Nothing' about Mackenzie, after a brief friendship together."

"On 22 January 1997, depression and the death of his mother are believed to have contributed to Mackenzie's suicide. He overdosed on a combination of paracetamol and prescription medication in the garden shed of his father's house in Auchterhouse. He was 39 years old. Now a significant cult figure, much of his musical legacy has been released in the past few years. He was the subject of a biography by Tom Doyle, The Glamour Chase, in 1998."

"The Cure song 'Cut Here' written by Robert Smith, a friend of Mackenzie, is about the regret Robert felt about seeing Mackenzie a few weeks before his death backstage at a Cure concert and not giving him any of his 'precious time' and fobbing him off."

"Siouxsie Sioux wrote the song 'Say', revealing in the lyrics that they were going to meet just before his death. The song was released as The Creatures' single in 1999 and charted in the UK Top 75."

I will also include two of my other favorites off the album, "Prettiest Thing" and "Exterminating Angel"...

I heard the news today 
Billy's gone away 
Left us all for good 
No one understood 
You only had to say 
I would understand 
You only had to say 
Whatever come what may 
I was feeling low 
You called and you were too 
We'd meet Saturday 
It happened on Wednesday 
You only had to say 
It's sad 
I would understand 
I don't want you brave 
A truce we made today 
If you're feeling sad 
On me you can depend 
You only have to say

Week Ninety-Eight: Luck o' the Irish - The Cranberries - "Liar" - Empire Records Soundtrack

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I will be covering Irish artists and bands

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I realize that "Liar" is probably not most individual's favorite song by The Cranberries, but "Liar", along with "How", are two of my favorites because they both appeared in one of my all-time beloved films, Empire Records. "How" did not make it onto the official soundtrack, but it's most certainly in the movie.

The Cranberries hit the scene in '93 during the tail end of my Freshman year in high school, and I also loved their breakthrough release, "Dreams", which appeared in an episode of my favorite TV show at the time, My So-Called Life (did I mention that I own the box set on DVD?!?!?)... so I will include that one for you today, as well!!!

The Cranberries have so many phenomenal songs, and you owe it to yourself to check out some of their other tunes...

Say it if you want to

And say it if you will

But if you don't say what you are thinking

No, I won't take too kindly to it.

When all I want is something special

And you can't give it to me

And all you do is lie to me 

'cause you're a liar liar liar

I will run I will fight

I will take you through the night

I will run I will fight

I will take you through the night

Say it if you want to

And say it if you choose

Because if you don't say what you are thinking

No, I won't take too kindly to it. 

When all I want is something different

And you couldn't give it to me

And all you do is lie to me 

So you're a liar liar liar

I will run I will fight

I will take you through the night

I will run I will fight

I will take you through the night

I will fight you

I will fight you

I'm fighting you

You know

You're a liar liar liar

Liar

Week Ninety-Eight: Luck o' the Irish - Snow Patrol - "Chasing Cars" - Eyes Open

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I will be covering Irish artists and bands

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This was another one of those songs that I could not stand when it first came out because it was so overplayed...but it eventually grew on me!

An interesting fact about this band is that they were originally called Polar Bear; however, Eric Avery, ex-bassist for Jane's Addiction, already had a band called Polar Bear, which forced a name change for these Irish lads. 

I love the story behind today's song, and I will share it with you, care of Wikipedia:

"The phrase 'Chasing Cars' came from Lightbody's father, in reference to a girl Lightbody was infatuated with, 'You're like a dog chasing a car. You'll never catch it and you just wouldn't know what to do with it if you did.'"

We'll do it all

Everything

On our own

We don't need

Anything

Or anyone

If I lay here

If I just lay here

would you lie with me and just forget the world?

I don't quite know

How to say

How I feel

Those three words

Are said too much

They're not enough

If I lay here

If I just lay here

would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Forget what we're told

Before we get too old

Show me a garden that's bursting into life

Let's waste time

Chasing cars

Around our heads

I need your grace

To remind me

To find my own

If I lay here

If I just lay here

would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Forget what we're told

Before we get too old

Show me a garden that's bursting into life

All that I am

All that I ever was

Is here in your perfect eyes, they're all I can see

I don't know where

Confused about how as well

Just know that these things will never change for us at all

If I lay here

If I just lay here

would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Week Ninety-Eight: Luck o' the Irish - My Bloody Valentine - "Sueisfine" - Isn't Anything

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I will be covering Irish artists and bands

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When I worked at Jason's Deli in high school, it seemed like many of my co-workers and customers were in local bands; so I had lots of music mentors constantly turning me on to good music.

One of my co-workers, Reed, who toured Europe with MC 900 Ft. Jesus found out that I was taking a summer trip to England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, and he insisted that I search out some My Bloody Valentine tunes when I was in Ireland.

He knew I was a huge fan of The Jesus and Mary Chain, and he knew I would love MBV as a result. Interestingly enough, Wikipedia even mentions a JAMC similarity:

"Dave Thompson, in his book Alternative Rock, described the album's sound as 'dry ice-piercingly intense guitar drones and hefty nods to miasmic hardcore soup, oozing a contrary trance-spun drone. Noise becomes beauty as feedback is layered over vocals over feedback ad infinitum'."

"'Several Girls Galore' has been described as 'a cubist take on The Jesus and Mary Chain'."

In addition to today's selection, I will also include "Several Girls Galore", "Soft as Snow (But Warm Inside)" and "Feed Me With Your Kiss"...

***There is inappropriate language in today's lyrics, but it's not easy to make out the words***

I will don't leave
Me here alone, oh

Sueisfine

Hold hold hold me
Talk a lot don't brood again

Sueisfine

Give me (f*ck c*nt)
Now you'll taste so good


Sueisfine

Week Ninety-Eight: Luck o' the Irish - Sinead O'Connor - "Mandinka" - The Lion and the Cobra

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I will be covering Irish artists and bands

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Most people remember Sinead O'Connor for either her cover of Prince's song, "Nothing Compares 2 U" or for her shenanigans (i.e., tearing up a picture of the Pope on television). However, I'm here to tell you that Sinead had far better songs than "Nothing Compares 2 U", and they will be presented to you today in the forms of "Mandinka", "The Emperor's New Clothes" and "I Want Your (Hands on Me)" which also features MC Lyte.

And since you should know by now how much I favor music trivia, I will offer you a few interesting facts from Wikipedia:

"The photograph of O'Connor on the album cover was taken by Haysi Fantayzee member Kate Garner. The U.S. cover differed from the European release, as it was felt a more subdued pose would present a 'softer' image of O'Connor." --- You may recall that I covered Haysi Fantayzee during Week Twenty.

And here's another fun fact from Wikipedia:

"In an interview in The Tech, 12 April 1988, O'Connor said:'Mandinkas are an African tribe. They're mentioned in a book called Roots by Alex Haley, which is what the song is about. In order to understand it you must read the book.'"

I'm dancing the seven veils 

Want you to pick up my scarf 

See how the black moon fades 

Soon I can give you my heart 

I don't know no shame 

I feel no pain 

I can't see the flame 

But I do know Man-din-ka 

I do know Man-din-ka 

I do know Man-din-ka 

I do 

They're throwing it all this way 

Dragging it back to the start 

And they say, "See how the glass is raised?" 

I have refused to take part 

I told them "drink something new" 

Please let me pull something through 

I don't know no shame 

I feel no pain 

I can't 

I don't know no shame 

I feel no pain 

I can't see the flame 

But I do know Man-din-ka 

I do know Man-din-ka 

I do know Man-din-ka 

I do 

I do 

I do 

I say I do 

Soon I can give you my heart 

I swear I do 

Soon I can give you my heart 

I do 

Mandinka 

Soon I can give you my heart 

Soon I can give you my heart 

Soon I can give you my heart

Week Ninety-Seven: 90's Power Ballads - Nelson - "(Can't Live Without Your) Love and Affection" - After the Rain

Definition (from Urban Dictionary): power ballad 

1. any song written by a hairband that is sung and not screamed.

2. any song that creates suicidal thoughts in teenage girls of the 80's.

3. any song that played at a prom from 1981-1995.

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I will start this post by saying that every time I watch this video, I feel so much better about every poor fashion choice that I ever made in the 90's because none were near as awful as the fashion choices made by the Nelson twins in today's video!!! Holy smokes!!!

Here's some background info from Wikipedia about the video and the song:

"The song was based on a crush on Cindy Crawford. The music video features model and actress Judie Aronson who first appears on the cover of a magazine called 'Vague', a play on Vogue. The song itself is known for its technical drumming involving syncopation and double bass, and virtuoso guitar soloing."

And I'll also share with you a bit of a humorous tale that involves Nelson. So the Nelson twins that you'll see in today's video are named Matthew and Gunnar, and yes, they are Ricky Nelson's sons. One day, we were completing an estate plan for some clients, and I noticed that one of their sons was named Gunnar. I jokingly asked if he was named after one of the Nelson twins because I saw that the clients were from a generation that might have known of this band, and I swear that the wife's eyes were shooting daggers through my soul. I could not wait to get out of that meeting!!! Some people seriously need to learn how to lighten up and take a joke!!!

I'll also include another hit called "After the Rain"...

Here she comes, just like an angel 
Seems like forever that she’s been on my mind 
But nothing has changed 
She thinks I’m a waste of her time 
There she goes, she don’t know what she’s missing 
Can’t she see I’ll never give up the fight 
I’ll do all I can til she understands my desire 
I've been on the outside looking in 
Let me into your heart – oh – 
There’s nothing on earth that 
Should keep us apart 
I can’t live without your love and affection 
I can’t face another night on my own 
I’d give up my pride to save me from being alone 
‘Cause I can’t live without your love 
So I wait, here for an answer 
And wonder if tomorrow will be like yesterday 
I’ll keep holding on 
But I can’t go on living this way 
I’ve been on the outside looking in 
Bring my tears to an end – oh – 
I realize there’s no use for me to pretend 
Oh yeah 
I can’t live without your love and affection 
I can’t face another night on my own 
I’d give up my pride to save me from being alone 
‘Cause I can’t live without your love 
For your love…I’d put my arms around you 
For your love…I’d find the strength to tell you 
Chorus
I can’t live without your love and affection 
I just can’t go on this way anymore 
As hard as I try there’s one thing that I know for sure 
I can’t live without your love 
I can’t live without your love