To me, music is like the best kind of drug. It elevates me, it excites me. If it is really good music, or the ultimate high - really good live music, I can even feel it flowing through my veins. It is my life blood.
Music is what connects us from our present to our history. Even a few riffs of a familiar song can evoke the most powerful memories. Instantly I am back in that place, smelling those scents, tasting those foods, seeing those sights, thinking of those people, feeling those emotions. All from a couple of beats. This is why I think of life as having a soundtrack and what I draw on, creatively, when I am composing a personalised playlist.
Of course, music can also transport us to places we don't really want or need to visit again. AC/DC's "Rock & Roll Aint Noise Pollution" is forever ruined for me because of the person and situation it conjures up and Powderfinger's "These Days" is so strongly associated with a sad time in my life (where the lyrics were really resonating with me) that I cried buckets of tears when they played it at their recent farewell concert.
And then there's "Lose Yourself" by Eminem which disgustingly reminds me of vomiting due to it playing on repeat over and over in my head during a particulary messy bout of gastro (think it got into my head in the first place because he talks about vomiting his mum's spaghetti). And its got that punchy rhythm to it too so that it mimics the throbbing of your pulse from your fever headache. Aargh. That fucking song would not leave my brain for days and I still get queasy when I hear it on the radio. And bugger, what do you think is singing around in my head at the moment? Damn you Eminem!
Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours" album will always remind me of Mum playing it in the car on the way to school. That one made such an impact that both my brother and I bought the CD when we were older. It got a lot of airplay when I was going through a divorce (in fact, I always think of it as the "divorce album") and one of the songs - "Secondhand News" even got a guernsey on one of my daughter's birthday mixes.
"Shimmer" by Fuel takes me back to the drag racing with my girlfriend with the smell of burning rubber in my nose, "Fergalicious" reminds me of the same friend but this time we are in Thailand and it is the smell of the Thai streets and the taste of their syrupy Red Bull in my mouth.
You Am I's "Berlin Chair" and Buckcherry's "Lit Up" will forever remind me of meeting my man for the first time but then so will Gossip's "Standing in the Way of Control" because I played Ministry of Sound's Sessions Four in the car on the way to our first "date". And to think I actually asked him if he liked doof! Little did I know then that I had stumbled across my perfect musical partner, someone who, like me, needs music wherever he goes.
Oops, I digress. I was caught up in the squishy feelings that remembering that song playing brought up in me. See why I titled this post "Power"? Truly, what else in our life has this effect on us?
But back on track now (admittedly with a stupid smile on my face). I don't just hear the melody. I absorb the lyrics. So a song may make it onto my memory jogger list purely because the lyrics affected me rather than because I particularly liked the song. (This also unfortunately means that I could find myself singing along to something on the radio, word for word only to snap out of my evil song trance by one of the kids piping up with a "didn't think you'd like this song Mum!").
Of course there are some songs that tick both of those boxes - like em and like the lyrics - like Martha Wainwright's "Bloody Motherfucking Asshole". See, now I have the taste of vodka in my mouth and I am with my lovely cousin in a park on her hen's day, dressed in a pink silk dress that would later end up with a very dodgy whipped cream stain on it and third degree questioning from a very mistrusting dry-cleaner ("miss, are you absolutely sure it is cream and not something else? It is much better to be honest now so we know what kind of solvent to use"). "Poetry has no place for a heart that's a whore" WTF does that mean anyway? Who cares? The chorus is brilliant and it gives me a chance to sing in a funny accented kind of voice.
Some songs get high rotation on my Ipod purely because of the emotions, the happiness that they bring me. Because I know that they will deliver the joy hit that I need. Like Sia's "Bring Night" (I know, I know, I keep mentioning this song), 28 Days "Rip It Up" (my Guarana), the aforementioned "Secondhand News", "Everlong" by the almighty Foo Fighters, "Back In Black" by AC/DC, "Dammit" by Blink 182, "Where's Your Head At" by Basement Jaxx, "Lithium" by Nirvana.
"I'm so happy cause today I found my friends, they're in my head"................
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Got it Covered
I am not a fan of imitation flavours. You won't find me buying packet sauces or powders - way too many chemicals and nasties. In this case I much prefer to go back to the original recipe. Healthier, yummier. Winner all round really.
But, I am a fan of imitation songs. Not as in Milli Vanilli lip synching style but as in great modern bands paying homage (wow how often do you get to use that word in a sentence? Just rolls off the tongue.. hommmage) to fellow great bands (or more hilariously really shit bands) by covering one of their well known songs.
Triple J does it really well with their Like a Version. One of my son's favourite songs is Philadelphia Grand Jury's version of Jay Z's "99 Problems". I love Grinspoon's version of The Divinyls' "Boys in Town". There is just something about hearing an unexpected voice singing familiar lyrics. And there is the added bonus of being able to sing along to a completely daggy song ("Dancing in the Dark") because it is now performed by a totally non-daggy band (Temper Trap).
The most successful versions / covers / tributes are when the covering artist allows their signature style to shine through without completely overwhelming the essence of the original song. Not so good when the covering band (whether by attempting to be more "creative" or more likely by sheer force of their own ego) changes the song so much that it is virtually unrecognisable. I am talking to you The Sleepy Jackson! Your cover of "Better Be Home Soon" off the Finn bros tribute album "He will have his way" is dreadful! No-one wants to go around all day with lyrics tickling the back of their brain with their vague familiarity (why do I know this song??)! We want to know what we are singing along off key to!
If you want to try a new slant on something familiar try these babies on for size:
But, I am a fan of imitation songs. Not as in Milli Vanilli lip synching style but as in great modern bands paying homage (wow how often do you get to use that word in a sentence? Just rolls off the tongue.. hommmage) to fellow great bands (or more hilariously really shit bands) by covering one of their well known songs.
Triple J does it really well with their Like a Version. One of my son's favourite songs is Philadelphia Grand Jury's version of Jay Z's "99 Problems". I love Grinspoon's version of The Divinyls' "Boys in Town". There is just something about hearing an unexpected voice singing familiar lyrics. And there is the added bonus of being able to sing along to a completely daggy song ("Dancing in the Dark") because it is now performed by a totally non-daggy band (Temper Trap).
The most successful versions / covers / tributes are when the covering artist allows their signature style to shine through without completely overwhelming the essence of the original song. Not so good when the covering band (whether by attempting to be more "creative" or more likely by sheer force of their own ego) changes the song so much that it is virtually unrecognisable. I am talking to you The Sleepy Jackson! Your cover of "Better Be Home Soon" off the Finn bros tribute album "He will have his way" is dreadful! No-one wants to go around all day with lyrics tickling the back of their brain with their vague familiarity (why do I know this song??)! We want to know what we are singing along off key to!
If you want to try a new slant on something familiar try these babies on for size:
| Covering Artist | Song | Original Artist | Album if applicable |
| Faith No More | Glory Box | Portishead | |
| Powderfinger | Glory Box | Portishead | No Man's Woman |
| Grinspoon | Boys in Town | Divinyls | No Man's Woman |
| Boy & Bear | Fall at your Feet | Crowded House | He Will Have His Way |
| Art vs Science | I See Red | Split Enz | He Will Have His Way |
| Temper Trap | Dancing in the Dark | Bruce Springsteen | Like a Version Vol 6 |
| Limp Bizkit | Faith | George Michael | Rock Ya Covers Off |
| Paint It Black | The Tea Party | Rolling Stones | Rock Ya Covers Off |
| Bertie Blackman | In The Air Tonight | Phil Collins | Like a Version Vol 5 |
| Holly Throsby | Berlin Chair | You Am I | Like a Version Vol 5 |
| Tiki Taane | Use Somebody | Kings of Leon | Like a Version Vol 5 |
| Angus Stone | River | Sarah McLachlan | No Man's Woman |
| Whitley | Hyperballad | Bjork | No Man's Woman |
| Gyroscope | Cannonball | Breeders | No Man's Woman |
| Little Birdy | Six Months in a Leaky Boat | Split Enz | She Will Have Her Way |
Booty Shakin
I love to dance.
Preferably on a dance floor in the middle of a sweaty club with my girls or at a party but really, given half a chance, I will dance anywhere.
For a long time now my daughter (and my son) and I have danced in our lounge room. Sometimes it is to whatever rubbish is playing on Rage / Video Hits at the time. Mostly though, it is to our special go-to booty shaker songs. Great workout. Fantastic fun. And definitely a qualifier for "dance like no-one is watching" because, hey, they are my babies, they don't care (yet) how much of an idiot their Mum looks, they are just happy that I am willing to look like an idiot purely for their enjoyment!
So, without further ado, I present our booty-shakin mix: (oh, it must be noted that I tend to lean rather heavily towards hip-hop / R & B for our dance sessions; mainly because that is the only style of dance (with the exception of belly) that I can do)
Now, before you start your judging, note - these songs are not generally found on my everyday Ipod. They exist in my collection purely to fuel these dance sessions.
So go on - get shaking and don't forget to smile!
Preferably on a dance floor in the middle of a sweaty club with my girls or at a party but really, given half a chance, I will dance anywhere.
For a long time now my daughter (and my son) and I have danced in our lounge room. Sometimes it is to whatever rubbish is playing on Rage / Video Hits at the time. Mostly though, it is to our special go-to booty shaker songs. Great workout. Fantastic fun. And definitely a qualifier for "dance like no-one is watching" because, hey, they are my babies, they don't care (yet) how much of an idiot their Mum looks, they are just happy that I am willing to look like an idiot purely for their enjoyment!
So, without further ado, I present our booty-shakin mix: (oh, it must be noted that I tend to lean rather heavily towards hip-hop / R & B for our dance sessions; mainly because that is the only style of dance (with the exception of belly) that I can do)
| Song | Artist |
| Crazy In Love | Beyonce |
| Temperature | Sean Paul |
| I Like the Way You Move | Body Rockers |
| Pump It | Black Eyed Peas |
| In Da Club | 50 Cent |
| Shook Me All Night Long | AC/DC |
| Please Dont Stop The Music | Rihanna |
| I Love Rock N Roll | Joan Jett |
| Paradise City | Slash feat Cypress Hill/Fergie |
| Love Stoned | Justin Timberlake |
| My Love | Justin Timberlake |
| You Can Do It | Ice Cube (I just love that opening jangle) |
| Bounce That | Girl Talk |
Now, before you start your judging, note - these songs are not generally found on my everyday Ipod. They exist in my collection purely to fuel these dance sessions.
So go on - get shaking and don't forget to smile!
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Daughters
So.. this is what 12 year old girls are listening to these days...
Hang on, let me back-track for a sec. About 4 years ago I started a little tradition with my daughter. I secretly made up a mix of songs and burnt them to a CD for her birthday. I designed artwork for the cover and labelled it the R-G (not her full name obvs) Birthday Mix 2007, Volume 1 and 2. On the CDs were songs she sang along to on the radio or my Ipod, songs by artists I thought she would like and some extras just to mix it up a bit.
What can I say, the CDs were a huge hit. And the next year when I did it again and she realised this was going to be an ongoing event, the hit became huger (or whatever word you wanna put there. Needless to say, it was big, people). Soon my daughter was putting in requests for particular songs and I was walking around with a mix of smugness over choosing the ultimate (yet dirt cheap) personalised present and joy at the excitement the whole shebang gave her.
Somewhere along the line I decided that age 8 was the perfect start time for this tradition so in December this year my son will get his first Birthday Mix. My daughter, bless her, has been geeing him up for the significance of this event. She has been explaining, to much excitement from her brother, the process "Mum will be listening to you sing in the car and she may ask you if you like that song and then she will find some brand new songs that she just knows you will love and then she chucks in some surprises and you can also ask for certain songs to go on there but she may or may not put them on". (I particularly love the last bit because with the exception of songs that either I a) deem to have just that bit too much swearing or b) can't bear to listen to on high rotation until the novelty wears off, the main reason I "may or may not put them on there" is usually because I plain forgot that she asked for them!)
My kids have been raised in a very eclectic musical environment so some of their choices may surprise you. So far my son has requested AC/DC, (In fact he requested "all the songs I like on that CD of theirs Mum, you know, Black Ice?" To which I thought, what, you want their actual CD, isnt that missing the point of a mix CD you frustrating bugger and simultaneously thought, what that totally crap CD? but actually just murmured an "mm hmm" reply and resolved to "may not put that one on") plus Jamie T and Puddle of Mud. Annoyingly, he also requested that "Billionaire" song. Dammit!
I will post my son's mix later in the year but for now, here is my daughter's. Happy Birthday Ri Ri xx
So, there you go. What 12 year old girls are listening to these days. (just be grateful I didn't post the tragic 2008 mix which consisted of Chris Brown, Rihanna, Pussycat Dolls and that Gaga woman!)
Hang on, let me back-track for a sec. About 4 years ago I started a little tradition with my daughter. I secretly made up a mix of songs and burnt them to a CD for her birthday. I designed artwork for the cover and labelled it the R-G (not her full name obvs) Birthday Mix 2007, Volume 1 and 2. On the CDs were songs she sang along to on the radio or my Ipod, songs by artists I thought she would like and some extras just to mix it up a bit.
What can I say, the CDs were a huge hit. And the next year when I did it again and she realised this was going to be an ongoing event, the hit became huger (or whatever word you wanna put there. Needless to say, it was big, people). Soon my daughter was putting in requests for particular songs and I was walking around with a mix of smugness over choosing the ultimate (yet dirt cheap) personalised present and joy at the excitement the whole shebang gave her.
Somewhere along the line I decided that age 8 was the perfect start time for this tradition so in December this year my son will get his first Birthday Mix. My daughter, bless her, has been geeing him up for the significance of this event. She has been explaining, to much excitement from her brother, the process "Mum will be listening to you sing in the car and she may ask you if you like that song and then she will find some brand new songs that she just knows you will love and then she chucks in some surprises and you can also ask for certain songs to go on there but she may or may not put them on". (I particularly love the last bit because with the exception of songs that either I a) deem to have just that bit too much swearing or b) can't bear to listen to on high rotation until the novelty wears off, the main reason I "may or may not put them on there" is usually because I plain forgot that she asked for them!)
My kids have been raised in a very eclectic musical environment so some of their choices may surprise you. So far my son has requested AC/DC, (In fact he requested "all the songs I like on that CD of theirs Mum, you know, Black Ice?" To which I thought, what, you want their actual CD, isnt that missing the point of a mix CD you frustrating bugger and simultaneously thought, what that totally crap CD? but actually just murmured an "mm hmm" reply and resolved to "may not put that one on") plus Jamie T and Puddle of Mud. Annoyingly, he also requested that "Billionaire" song. Dammit!
I will post my son's mix later in the year but for now, here is my daughter's. Happy Birthday Ri Ri xx
| Song | Artist |
| 1. Bring Night | Sia |
| 2. Beautiful Dangerous | Slash feat Fergie |
| 3. Mr Mysterious | Vanessa Amarosi (the only song she actually requested) |
| 4. Love the Way you Lie | Eminem/Rihanna (I was a little bit uneasy about including this one due to the theme) |
| 5. Baby I'm Getting Better | Gyroscope |
| 6. I Wish I Knew Natalie Portman | K-OS (a song which has nothing to do with Natalie Portman) |
| 7. You've Changed | Sia (are you getting that I'm on a Sia kick, that girl rocks!) |
| 8. Airplanes | BoB (stupidest name ever but my girl loves this one) |
| 9. Bang Bang Bang | Mark Ronson |
| 10. Shot Caller | Ian Carey |
| 11. You Got the Love | Florence & The Machine |
| 12. Dance the Way I Feel | Ou Est Le Swimming Pool |
| 13. Sunday Best | Washington |
| 14. Cousins | Vampire Weekend |
| 15. Dominos | The Big Pink |
| 16. Truth | Chiddy Bang |
| 17. Symphonies | Dan Black feat Kid Cudi |
| 18. I Alone (Live at the Paradiso) | Live |
| 19. All is Love | Karen O and The Kids |
| 20. Only Girl in the World | Rihanna (the first song of hers I have liked since "Please don't Stop the Music, a song which always reminds me of my man dancing at his cousin's wedding) |
| 21. Dog Days | Florence & The Machine |
| 22. Check It Out (Radio Mix) | will.i.am (slaughtering the Video Killed the Radio Star sample and one of the most annoying songs on radio. I threw this one in just to feel like a good Mum, giving her daughter something she liked and I hated) |
| 23. Clap Your Hands | (yep, you guessed it) Sia |
| 24. Fast Girl | Gyroscope |
| 25. DJ Got us Falling In Love | Usher (refer my comments for Check it Out) |
| 26. Magic | BoB and Rivers Cuomo (what, are Weezer not paying enough Rivers?) |
| 27. Paradise City | Slash/Fergie/Cypress Hill (love this version) |
| 28. Billionaire | (that dude who used to harmonise with Katy Perry) Travie McCoy |
| 29. Rock It | Little Red |
| 30. Raise Your Glass | P!nk (continuing her whoa lets party theme) |
| 31. The Bike Song | Mark Ronson |
| 32. Freefallin | Zoe Badwi (try getting this song out of your head) |
| 33. Coin Laundry | Lisa Mitchell |
| 34. For the First Time | The Script (a song and a band I absolutely loathe) |
| 35. More than a Feeling | Boston (the doofed up version) |
So, there you go. What 12 year old girls are listening to these days. (just be grateful I didn't post the tragic 2008 mix which consisted of Chris Brown, Rihanna, Pussycat Dolls and that Gaga woman!)
Monday, November 15, 2010
Guarana
You know those mornings....Where you are dragging your feet getting out of bed because you stupidly spent the weekend camping in the freezing cold on a deflated air mattress? Where you over-compensated for the bone-chilling ache in your body from said sleeping conditions by heavily lubricating your inner self with alternating boosts of Jager, vodka tonic and Asahi? No? Really?? Too specific?? Well let me re-try...
You know those mornings... Where its MONDAY??
Those mornings need a shot of Guarana.
But, if like me, you stupidly decided to combine the mere horror of it being Monday with a 3am pledge to give up caffeine (might be why I was awake making stupid decisions at such a god-awful time), alcohol (I think that was after the 4th Jager shot) and sugar (hell, why not, I have already removed any reason for living) then you can't just head to the fridge for one of those skinny cans (not gonna mention any names unless they throw money at me and even then I will have to refuse - see beginning of paragraph).
This situation calls for a shot of Guarana tunes. Music that will speed the pulse, send energy through your veins. Basically, music that will give you that pep-up that only the goodness of guarana and caffeine can do (but without the nasty 4pm crash).
Now, don't be silly. Ease into it gently. I mean, wasn't it just you that caught yourself singing along to Paramore's "The Only Exception"? on commercial radio (see the effects caffeine withdrawal can have on the system? Scary!). So maybe start off with a bit of "Unspoken" by Weezer. This gives you the perfect combo of singalong easy lyrics with a bang at the end to perfectly transition into "Brad Logan" by Rancid. Now capitalise on the increase of your heartbeat with a bit of "Rip it Up" by 28 Days and you are off to a flying start.
Mix in some drum and base via Pendulum (eg "Propane Nightmare" or "Watercolour"). Sprinkle in some Billy Talent ("Red Flag", "Fallen Leaves", "Rusted from the Rain"), some Bad Religion ("Meeting of the Minds"). Maybe some Grinspoon ("Tonight", "Lost Control") or even some Jamie T ("Sticks N Stones") and some more Rancid ("You Want It, You Got It"). And just for good measure, chuck on "Buy Me a Pony" by Spiderbait (which has the added bonus of only being 1.45 mins long so if you ain't digging it, at least it will be over soon)
No doof this time - much as I love my doof, it tends to have a more erratic beat. We are seeking consistent, regular stimulant here. Just don't hit the Jay Z/Linkin Park "Points of Authority/99 Problems" button - we don't want you arriving at work ready to punch your boss. If that does accidentally happen, immediately hit play on "Bring Night" by Sia - it is impossible to feel anything but bubbles of joy when listening to that song and you are guaranteed to arrive at work floating on a contentedness cloud, albeit while shaking from caffeine, sugar and grog withdrawal...
Now, off to bloody make some more green tea...
You know those mornings... Where its MONDAY??
Those mornings need a shot of Guarana.
But, if like me, you stupidly decided to combine the mere horror of it being Monday with a 3am pledge to give up caffeine (might be why I was awake making stupid decisions at such a god-awful time), alcohol (I think that was after the 4th Jager shot) and sugar (hell, why not, I have already removed any reason for living) then you can't just head to the fridge for one of those skinny cans (not gonna mention any names unless they throw money at me and even then I will have to refuse - see beginning of paragraph).
This situation calls for a shot of Guarana tunes. Music that will speed the pulse, send energy through your veins. Basically, music that will give you that pep-up that only the goodness of guarana and caffeine can do (but without the nasty 4pm crash).
Now, don't be silly. Ease into it gently. I mean, wasn't it just you that caught yourself singing along to Paramore's "The Only Exception"? on commercial radio (see the effects caffeine withdrawal can have on the system? Scary!). So maybe start off with a bit of "Unspoken" by Weezer. This gives you the perfect combo of singalong easy lyrics with a bang at the end to perfectly transition into "Brad Logan" by Rancid. Now capitalise on the increase of your heartbeat with a bit of "Rip it Up" by 28 Days and you are off to a flying start.
Mix in some drum and base via Pendulum (eg "Propane Nightmare" or "Watercolour"). Sprinkle in some Billy Talent ("Red Flag", "Fallen Leaves", "Rusted from the Rain"), some Bad Religion ("Meeting of the Minds"). Maybe some Grinspoon ("Tonight", "Lost Control") or even some Jamie T ("Sticks N Stones") and some more Rancid ("You Want It, You Got It"). And just for good measure, chuck on "Buy Me a Pony" by Spiderbait (which has the added bonus of only being 1.45 mins long so if you ain't digging it, at least it will be over soon)
No doof this time - much as I love my doof, it tends to have a more erratic beat. We are seeking consistent, regular stimulant here. Just don't hit the Jay Z/Linkin Park "Points of Authority/99 Problems" button - we don't want you arriving at work ready to punch your boss. If that does accidentally happen, immediately hit play on "Bring Night" by Sia - it is impossible to feel anything but bubbles of joy when listening to that song and you are guaranteed to arrive at work floating on a contentedness cloud, albeit while shaking from caffeine, sugar and grog withdrawal...
Now, off to bloody make some more green tea...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)