“Hello Goodbye”
by Suzanna Choffel & Alejandro Escovedo
from the album All ATX (Volume 1)
2013
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I guess I’m not big on duets, or I just can’t remember any that stand out in an obvious way. I dig on harmonies, but does that count as duets (e.g. most Alice In Chains songs from the Dirt era)? However, this track has been making the rounds in my playlist lately. It’s a modern track (gasp!). Continue reading April Duets: “Hello Goodbye”
“Easy”
by Faith No More (originally by The Commodores)
from the “I’m Easy/Be Aggressive” double A-side
1992 Slash Records
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Again, this one of those covers that I stumbled across before I had ever heard the original. Thus – in my mind – it’s the superior version. This track kind of fits into the karaoke theme as well… I’m constantly on the hunt for the Mike Patton-pitched version.
The car started overheating at some point while cruising the streets of downtown Nashville, looking for a dive called 328 Performance Hall. We shouldn’t have been surprised – it was summertime in Tennessee and it was as hot as fuck, the AC was cranked and we were stuck in traffic. I started to panic so we shut off the AC, switched on the heater, opened the windows and tried to bleed off some of the heat that was suffocating the engine. The car kept running, but by the time we finally found the place, we were drenched in sweat. Just two, completely filthy, miserable assholes who wanted to see a show. Continue reading First Concert
“Train in Vain”
by The Clash
from the album London Calling
1979 CBS
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This is one of those karaoke songs I sing just for myself. No one else has ever come up and been like “YEAH!” In fact I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say anything after this goes down. It just goes quietly into the night and that’s totally fine.
The first time I heard “Train in Vain” was in my friend Seedless’ car. Continue reading Karaoke Tuesday: “Train In Vain”
“Never Let Me Down Again”
by The Smashing Pumpkins (originally by Depeche Mode)
from the album Siamese Dream [Deluxe Edition]
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All week long I had been planning on a Pumpkins selection for #CoverFriday and then Chris up and did the same thing. And while I absolutely adore “Landslide” — I’d even go so far as to call it superior to the original — I had a different track in mind. Continue reading Cover Friday: “Never Let Me Down Again”
“From a Million Miles”
by Single Gun Theory
from the album Millions, Like Stars In My Hands, Daggers In My Heart, Wage War
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I remember the very first time I heard “From A Million Miles.” I was sitting in my bedroom and a slight breeze was coming through window. It was after midnight on a Sunday so it was dead quiet in the neighborhood and the only light was the glow from the TV. As soon as the video began to play, I was instantly transported someplace completely different. There was something so exotic about the sounds and imagery.
“Cult of Personality”
by Living Colour
from the album Vivid
1988
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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”
“Hungry Like The Wolf”
by Reel Big Fish (originally by Duran Duran)
from the album The Duran Duran Tribute Album
1997 Koch Records
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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.
“Alienated”
by Urban Dance Squad
from the album Persona Non Grata
1994 Ariola
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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.
“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.