“Learning to Fly”
by Pink Floyd
from the album A Momentary Lapse of Reason
1987 Buy the album on Amazon
I’m not really a huge Pink Floyd fan. I don’t dislike the Floyd I just never had much exposure. They’ll probably end up being another Zeppelin for me – a few years from now I’ll be way, way into them. I didn’t get around to Zeppelin until maybe ten years ago, but now I totally get it. So don’t give up on me Pink Floyd fans; I might come around. This particular song though, I absolutely loved from the moment I saw the music video back in ’87 or ’88. Probably watching Dial MTV…
“Brick”
by Ben Folds Five
from the album Whatever and Ever Amen
1997
Buy the album on Amazon
This isn’t exactly a karaoke upper. For people who don’t know it, it’s a bit of a downer in sped, but if you do know what the song is about, it’s downright depressing. Which of course hasn’t stopped me from doing it a time or two. Continue reading Karaoke Tuesday: “Brick”→
“Summer of ’69”
by Bryan Adams
from the album Sparkle and Fade
1984 Buy the album on Amazon
I can’t believe I didn’t think of this sooner. It wasn’t even in my mind until Lance did 1979, and we were discussing how timeless the song was even if 1979 wasn’t your summer. This song is the same.
It’s not about being there in the summer of 1969 – it’s about having all the time in the world on your hands, starting a band with your friends, and having it eventually fall apart because everyone grows up and apart. Any of those relevant and timeless? Check, check, and check.
Oh, when I look back now
That summer seemed to last forever
And if I had the choice
Yeah, I’d always wanna be there
Those were the best days of my life
I used to associate this song with my childhood and watching it on MTV, but now there’s a different association. It must be stated that this is the song that Lance and I start every single karaoke night with. It makes a great duet, it warms the voice up, and traditions are important. And damn if this isn’t incredibly fun to sing. This deserves to be sung with your pal, sharing the mic, thinking of days gone by, even if it is just in some tiny, dark karaoke room.
“Head On”
by the Pixies (originally by The Jesus and Mary Chain)
from the album Trompe Le Monde
1991 4AD Buy the album on Amazon
Confession time: I got into the Pixies really late in the game. I was familiar with them from watching 120 Minutes but for some reason nothing really stuck with me at the time. I now consider them one of my all-time favorite bands, but I can’t cop to being there at the beginning like most of my other friends. Why did I take so long for me to catch on? I’m not sure, but when it did, it stuck. Hard.
“Hey Jealousy”
by Gin Blossoms
from the album New Miserable Experience
1992
Buy the album on Amazon
I wasn’t too sure what to post this week. Nothing was really calling out to me, but was just looking at my karaoke playlist and this jumped out. Probably because it’s so much of the same time as Lance’s pick. I never really got into the Gin Blossoms. I think I had this album at one point but got rid of it, but man, this song is great.
“Kill Your Television”
by Ned’s Atomic Dustbin
from the album God Fodder
1991
Buy the album on Amazon
I had fully intended on picking a song I regularly sing at karaoke because I’m trying to make it a week without being whiney. I didn’t wanna get sucked into the black hole that is “Man, I wish they had ____.” But fuck man, I wish karaoke joints had some Ned’s Atomic Dustbin jams.
“Oh Sherrie”
by Steve Perry
from the album Street Talk 1984 Buy the album on Amazon
This was inspired by Lance’s selection for the day, in that it also falls firmly in the category of “I randomly heard or thought of this song one day and remembered how awesome it is and holy crap I can totally hear myself singing this and I’m going to bust this out at karaoke next time!”
“Your Love”
by The Outfield
from the album Play Deep
1985 Sony Buy the album on Amazon
I tried to sing this song a couple of times at karaoke and completely botched it. The song has such a high register, even for me. I had given up all hope until I heard a buddy sing it a couple of octaves lower. It took on a completely different vibe – almost sinister. I’m still trying to master it, but it’s so fun giving it a shot.
“Judy Staring at the Sun”
by Catherine Wheel w/ Tanya Donelly
from Happy Days 1995 Buy the album on Amazon
Lance posted a Catherine Wheel song, and it made me realize that though we know much (far, far too much) about each other, there are still things to be learned. Like the fact that we’re both big Catherine Wheel fans, which has never once come up in conversation.
