Week One Hundred and Fifty-Six: The Refreshments - "Banditos" - Fizzy Fuzzy Big & Buzzy

So apparently, I am waxing nostalgic for 1996, or something of the sort, because this week's post centers around '96, as well... 

One of my former co-workers and I have decided that we are going to make an honest attempt at trying a new restaurant or a new food type every month. Since she selected the afternoon tea ceremony at Chocolate Angel last month, it was my turn to make the selection this month.

I have only tried Ethiopian food once before in my life, and it just so happened to be back in '96 during my senior year of high school. I was Vice-President of the French Club, and my teacher was educating the French Club members on France's influence on Ethiopia's development.

She had been to Queen of Sheba restaurant, which was located at Lemmon & McKinney, a few times already and was friendly with the owners; therefore, she decided it would be a perfect outing for the French Club to learn first-hand from people who had experienced the French influence.

We made our way down to Queen of Sheba one evening and were taken into a room where we sat cross legged around large circular slabs. When the food came out, our natural inclination was to look for the silverware, but au contraire... there was no silverware. Ethiopian food is eaten with injera bread, which is a spongy sourdough-flavored roll, pictured below:

Back in 1996, I was still practicing a strict vegetarian diet, but I remember the vegetable dishes being delicious! The food is brought out in small piles on a large platter, and you break off pieces of injera bread in order to partake in the meal. 

The original Queen of Sheba closed its doors, but the owners have opened a spin-off, called Sheba's Ethiopian Kitchen. That's where I dined yesterday. I was not particularly taken with any of the meat selections, so I went with the vegetarian platter yet again, which looked very similar to this picture that I found online:

I personally felt that the food was just as delicious as I remembered it from almost 20 years, but my co-worker was not as impressed. To make up for it, I treated her to an ice cream sundae at Braum's right around the corner after dinner.

So where does today's song fit into today's post??? I'll tell you where!!! First of all, it was released in '96, which was the same year that I first tried Ethiopian cuisine, and secondly, I have always loved the line: "Everybody knows that the world is full of stupid people..." I just couldn't believe the behaviors of the people in Sheba's Ethiopian Kitchen vs. Braum's. The children at the Ethiopian restaurant were very well-behaved; everyone was using their "indoor" voices, and the overall environment was pleasant and peaceful. At Braum's, kids were screaming; two workers were fixing one another's hair in the middle of the restaurant, and the environment was a bit much, to say the least! I fully understand that Braum's is not the same type of eating establishment as Sheba's, but people should still know how to conduct themselves in public!!!

I'm sure that it's no surprise to any of you, who have been reading this blog for some time now, that I am not a huge fan of people, but I also despise the superior attitude that most Americans attempt to assume over other cultures and races. The shift from the Ethiopian restaurant to Braum's was just a reminder of such behavior and how completely erroneous the beliefs are at times.

With that said, I will step down from my soap box and let you enjoy "Banditos" and another tune called "Down Together"...

So, just how far down do you want to go?
Or we could talk it out over a cup of joe
And you could look deep into my eyes
Like I was a super-model
Uh-huh

Well, it's you and me baby, no one else we can trust
We'll say nothin' to no one, no how or we bust
And never crack a smile
Or flinch or cry for nobody
Uh-uh

Well, give your ID card to the border guard
Yeah, your alias says you're Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Of the United Federation Of Planets
'Cause he won't speak English anyway

And everybody knows
That the world is full of stupid people
So meet me at the mission at midnight
We'll divvy up there

And everybody knows
That the world is full of stupid people
Well, I got the pistols, so I'll keep the Pesos
Yeah, and that seems fair

So, put the sugar in the tank of the sheriff's car
And slash the deputy's tires and they won't get very far
When they finally get the word
That there's been a hold-up
Uh-huh

Well, give your ID card to the border guard
Now your alias says you're Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Of the United Federation Of Planets
'Cause he won't speak English anyway

And everybody knows
That the world is full of stupid people
So meet me at the mission at midnight
We'll divvy up there

And everybody knows
That the world is full of stupid people
Well, I got the pistols, so I'll keep the Pesos
Yeah, and that seems fair
Well, that seems fair
And that seems fair
Well, that seems fair

Well, give your ID card to the border guard
Now your alias says you're Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Of the United Federation Of Planets
'Cause he won't speak English anyway

And everybody knows
That the world is full of stupid people
So meet me at the mission at midnight
We'll divvy up there

Well, everybody knows
That the world is full of stupid people
Well, I got the pistols, so I'll keep the Pesos
Yeah, and that seems fair
And that seems fair
And that seems fair
Well, that seems fair

Week One Hundred and Fifty-Five: Spacehog - "In the Meantime" - Resident Alien

So, as I was flipping through my Sirius XM stations yesterday, I came across this song by Spacehog. When it was released back in 1996, I recall thinking that it was one of the most awesome songs that I had heard in awhile. I also recall that I could not wait to get my hot little hands on a copy of the cassette. You, on the other hand, might recall, from some of my other posts, that I was still traveling around town in my 1987 Hyundai Excel back in 1996, and all I had at my disposal was a cassette player.

I finally got my hot little hands on a copy of the album, Resident Alien, but I was utterly disappointed by the other track selections. I thought surely that there would be at least one other tune on that album that would equal, or at least come close to, the caliber of "In the Meantime". Sadly, I could not find one.

The only saving grace was that this song was the first track on Side One, so I could just keep hitting rewind and listening to it over and over and over again. In fact, I listened to it so much that I actually drove myself to hating it after quite some time. However, every time I happen upon it now, I blast it as loud as I can stand it!

A fun fact about this band is that the lead singer, Royston Langdon, was married to Liv Tyler. You might remember me talking about her not too long ago when I posted about the film, Stealing Beauty, with regard to the weeks that I covered Hole and Portishead.

Ooh hoo
Ooh hoo
Ooh hoo
Ooh

And in the end, we shall achieve in time
The thing they call divine
And all the stars will smile for me
When all is well and well is all for all
And forever after
Maybe in the meantime, wait and see, yeah

We love the all the all of you
Where lands are green and skies are blue
When all in all, we're just like you
We love the all of you

And when I cry for me, I cry for you
With tears of holy joy
For all the days of still to come
And did I ever say I'd never play
Or fly toward the sun?
Maybe in the meantime, something's sung

We love the all the all of you
Where lands are green and skies are blue
When all in all, we're just like you
We love the all of you

That sounds fine, so I'll see you sometime, give my love to the future of a-humankind
Okay, okay, it's not okay
Ooh, while it's on my mind, there's a girl that fits the crime for a future love dream, that I'm still to find
But in the meantime

We love the all the all of you
Where lands are green and skies are blue
When all in all, we're just like you
We love the all of you

We love the all the all of you
Where lands are green and skies are blue
When all in all, we're just like you
We love the all of you, yeah

Love the all the all of you
Lands are green and skies are blue

Just like you
We're just like you
We're just like, we're just like 
Just like you
Just like you
We're just like you
We're just like, just like 
Just like you

Week One Hundred and Fifty-Four: Suzanne Vega - "99.9F°" - 99.9F°

There has been a huge influx of '80s/'90s bands making their way through DFW as of late, and it's brought a great deal of excitement to my often humdrum existence! In fact, I had the extreme pleasure of catching one of these beloved bands, Information Society, at The Granada last night. However, since I already covered InSoc in Week One Hundred and Twenty-Three, I will not cover them again today. Also in town for the evening at The Winspear was Aimee Mann (from 'Til Tuesday) whom I covered in Week One Hundred and Thirteen. Alas, for me, my love of synthesizers won out over my love for Aimee Mann. 

But to get back on today's focus... I decided to finally post about Suzanne Vega because she keeps appearing as a suggested artist on YouTube. I was first introduced to her through her catchy little tune, "Left of Center", which appeared on the Pretty in Pink soundtrack.

Not long after, she released "Luka", which became a major radio hit. Off the same album was "Tom's Diner". You may recall, however, that it did not become a major hit until a dance beat was added, and it was re-released in the '90s.

One of my favorites from Suzanne Vega, though, is called "99.9F°". It's slightly sinister sounding, and it gets stuck in my head for days. Another favorite off that same album is "Blood Makes Noise". I'll include videos for all the songs I mentioned today.

So, Suzanne Vega, I saw on Pollstar.com a whole slew of East Coast and European dates...any chance you'll appease your centrally located fans and make your way through Dallas anytime soon???

99.9 Fahrenheit degrees

Stable now, with rising possibilities

It could be normal but it isn't quite

Could make you want to stay awake at night

You seem to me

Like a man

0n the verge of burning

99.9 Fahrenheit degrees

Pale as a candle

And your face is hot

And if I touch you

I might get what you've got

You seem to me

Like a man

On the verge of running

99.9 Fahrenheit degrees

Something cool

Against the skin

Is what you could be

Something cool

Against the skin

Is what you

Could be needing

99.9 Fahrenheit degrees

You seem to me

Like a man

On the verge of burning

99.9 Fahrenheit degrees

Something cool

Against the skin

Is what you could be

Something cool

Against your skin

Is what you

Could be needing

99.9 Fahrenheit degrees [X2]

Week One Hundred and Fifty-Three: Edie Brickell & New Bohemians - "Circle" - Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars

Edie Brickell & New Bohemians are definitely homegrown talent, as the members got their starts at various locales around the Dallas metroplex. I was introduced to Edie Brickell & New Bohemians on my 11th birthday, when my best friend at the time, Leslie, gave me the cassette, Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars. Leslie loved their hit, "What I Am", and thought that everyone should love it as much as she did! I was much more moved by today's song, "Circle".

Believe it or not, I had not give much thought to Edie Brickell & New Bohemians until they appeared recently on my Pandora station for The Sundays. As I heard Edie begin to sing "Circle", I was moved yet again in the very same way as the first time I heard it. I was also reminded that "being alone is the best way to be..."

I know that most people don't agree with me, and that's perfectly okay. We can just agree to disagree! However, I did have to smile to myself last night when I thought about how lovely it was that I did not have to explain to anyone why I was craving dressing (as in turkey & dressing) and made it as a side dish to my shrimp scampi and parmesan noodles. It's also nice to know that the three (3) Easter petit fours that I acquired from Casa Linda Bakery (pictured below) will remain resting in their pastry box until I decide to consume them. I assure you that there are many more perks that come along with single life that are not food-related, but only those who choose the single life and who are truly single at heart would understand and/or believe me. Besides, it's not my job to convert, only to enjoy my chosen lifestyle!

Me, I'm a part of your circle of friends

And we notice you don't come around

Me, I think it all depends on you

Touching ground with us but

I quit, I give up, nothing's good enough for anybody else

It seems

And I quit, I give up, nothing's good enough for anybody else

It seems

And being alone is the best way to be

When I'm by myself it's the best way to be

When I'm all alone it's the best way to be

When I'm by myself, nobody else can say goodbye

Everything is temporary anyway

When the streets are wet, the colors slip into the sky

But I don't why that means you and I are, that means you and I

I quit, I give up, nothing's good enough for anybody else

It seems

And I quit I give up, nothing's good enough for anybody else

It seems

And being alone is the best way to be

When I'm by myself, it's the best way to be

When I'm all alone, it's the best way to be

When I'm by myself, nobody can say

Me, I'm a part of your circle of friends

And we notice you don't come around