Monthly Archives: April 2014

Karaoke Tuesday: “Cult of Personality”

April 15, 2014Music#KaraokeTuesday, alternative, karaoke, living colour, metal, music videos, songsLance

“Cult of Personality”
by Living Colour
from the album Vivid
1988
Buy the album on Amazon

When I started regularly hitting up karaoke, I was having a hard time figuring out what songs to sing. As previously mentioned, my tastes tend to run 80s/90s alternative and there just wasn’t much to choose from that seemed karaokey. So I ended up stuck with 80s ballads or pop songs.

One night after some failed attempts at winging new songs, I was dejectedly flipping through the Karaoke Champ book and I stumbled across the Ls. And then I saw it, right in the middle of the second page… Continue reading Karaoke Tuesday: “Cult of Personality” →

Cover Friday: “Hungry Like The Wolf”

April 11, 2014Music#CoverFriday, 80s, 90s, alternative, covers, duran duran, pop, ska, songsLance

“Hungry Like The Wolf”
by Reel Big Fish (originally by Duran Duran)
from the album The Duran Duran Tribute Album
1997 Koch Records
Buy the album on Amazon.

I’ve had a few drinks and some Mexican queso fries so I’m feeling a bit silly. This is a totally fun ska cover of a Duran Duran classic (and Lance karaoke staple). It takes a song that should be fun to begin with and makes it a total riot.

Continue reading Cover Friday: “Hungry Like The Wolf” →

April Duets: “I’ve Seen It All”

April 11, 2014Music#aprilduets, alternative, bjork, duets, radiohead, songs, soundtracks, thom yorkeChris

“I’ve Seen It All”
by Björk ft. Thom Yorke
from Selmasongs
2000
Buy the album on Amazon.

I keep thinking of more and more choices for the monthly theme – #AprilDuets. And a warning, this may start a string of duet postings featuring Thom Yorke. This one’s got two of my favorite singers, especially around the time that this soundtrack came out.

Continue reading April Duets: “I’ve Seen It All” →

Nirvana Show in Greenpoint

April 11, 2014Music90s, alternative, dave grohl, dinosaur jr., joan jett, kim gordon, nirvana, nycChris

I don’t usually feel any pangs of regret when I hear of some secret show I missed or whatever. I’ve seen my fair share of shows and don’t feel deprived. But man, I can’t deny wishing I could have been at the show last night watching Krist and Dave and J and Joan and Kim and all the rest.

http://gothamist.com/2014/04/11/videos_nirvana_friends_played_a_sec.php

Cover Friday: “All Apologies”

April 11, 2014Music#CoverFriday, ben gibbard, covers, live, nirvana, songsChris

I know I’m a week late, but felt like there should be a little bit of tribute for #CoverFriday.

“All Apologies”
by Ben Gibbard (originally by Nirvana)
2007
Download the full show at archive.org

Not a lot to say on this. I like the original song. I like Ben Gibbard’s voice. I’m nearly always a fan of crowd sing-alongs.

April Duets: “How I Could Just Kill a Man”

April 10, 2014Music#aprilduets, covers, duets, live, music videos, ratm, songsChris

“How I Could Just Kill a Man”
by Rage Against the Machine w/Cypress Hill
from the album Renegades
2000
Buy the album on Amazon.

I was never a Cypress Hill fan, and listening to the original of this doesn’t change that. But there are definitely times I love me some RATM. The regular cover of this (sans Cypress Hill) is just as good. I go back and forth between which version I like better, but ’tis the month for duets.

Continue reading April Duets: “How I Could Just Kill a Man” →

Big Audio Dynamite II – “The Globe”

April 9, 2014Music90s, alternative, big audio dynamite, high school, music videos, songsChris

“Rush”
by Big Audio Dynamite II
from the album The Globe
1991
Buy the album on Amazon.

So very many choices. Where to start? I don’t remember why I first bought this album. I just remember it was in one of the first batches of BMG or Columbia House cds (of which I partook many many times, for better or worse) I received. I remember my high school friend Joel and I were so into this album, and he would have me play it whenever he was over. This song is incredibly catchy, and like many songs, takes on a special rockingness when played as loud as possible, vs. the more mellow feel it communicates on lower volumes.

Continue reading Big Audio Dynamite II – “The Globe” →

Urban Dance Squad -“Alienated”

April 9, 2014Music90s, alternative, lyrics, mood music, songs, urban dance squadLance

“Alienated”
by Urban Dance Squad
from the album Persona Non Grata
1994 Ariola
Buy the album on Amazon.

Sometimes I get in a mood. It’s like you’re in a funk you’re trying to get out of. You’re pretty sure you set the light, but it’s a ways off. This track will get you through. Listen up.

Continue reading Urban Dance Squad -“Alienated” →

April Duets: “Good Times”

April 9, 2014Music#aprilduets, 80s, inxs, music videos, pop, songs, soundtracksLance

“Good Times”
by INXS w/Jimmy Barnes
from the soundtrack to The Lost Boys
1987
Buy the album on Amazon.

I was really worried about this month’s theme when Chris suggested it, but I’ve adopted a new policy of not questioning a creative group decision – just go with it. Of course it helped when this track came up on shuffle. Plus, Chris will love the irony. For my first #AprilDuets section, I’ve chosen “Good Times” featuring the vocal stylings of Michael Hutchence from INXS and a dishwasher* named Jimmy Barnes.

Continue reading April Duets: “Good Times” →

Karaoke Tuesday: “Mediate”

April 8, 2014Music#KaraokeTuesday, 80s, inxs, karaoke, lyrics, music videos, pop, songsChris

At 98, we all rotate.

“Mediate”
by INXS
from the album Kick
1987
Buy the album on Amazon.

I had a different song in mind for our first #KaraokeTuesday, but then the background writing in Lance’s choice triggered this one for me (coincidentally released the same year as his Love and Rockets choice).

Continue reading Karaoke Tuesday: “Mediate” →