Politics, open government, and safe streets. And the constant incursion of cycling.

Month: June 2011

Friday Morning Music: Oh Boy

Some artists’ work is so ubiquitous it’s almost immediately part of the background, never really appreciated on its own. I suspect that’s the case with Buddy Holly’s music for most of you. We all know the songs as soon as we hear them, though I bet we couldn’t name more than one or two. Like Oh Boy:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIpc2nsYQUs[/youtube]

Fun, kinda mindless, part of the background to so many things, right? Then I found this album of incredible covers – Rave On Buddy Holly. And it has me listening to so much of his work with a completely new ear and appreciation. Here’s She & Him taking on the same:

Oh Boy (She & Him) by concordmusicgroup

Buddy Holly’s original Crying Waiting Hoping:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsjI7ekciZs[/youtube]

And Karen Elson’s cover:

Crying Waiting Hoping (Karen Elson) by concordmusicgroup

Go click around the album. It’s incredible (and coming out next week – I’ll be buying it).

Friday Music: Building the Summer Playlist

Most seasons accumulate a playlist, as do most trips. But it’s usually a gradual process. This track, though? I’m confident that it is Summer 2011:

Cali Swag District vs Led Zeppelin vs Katy Perry – Whole Lotta Extra Dougie (Dj Lobsterdust) by Mixes and Mashups #22

This comes from DJ Lobsterdust, whom you should know.

Sunday Music: Exception Edition

Bollywood is one of mankind’s least achievements. It is overindulgent, dishonest, and empty. And if you corner me in person, I’ll even lodge moral complaints against it. So, uh, yeah, I don’t pass on Bollywood stuff. Except this. Because a friend posted it earlier, and I unexpectedly enjoyed a video from this film.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7lBUU_xm0w[/youtube]

But still, Bollywood delenda est.

So. We Need to Talk.

Remember the last time we got together, you and me? Yeah, I’m a little fuzzy on the details, too. And . . . man, this is an awkward conversation I never really wanted to have. I’ve always been careful, and want to be up front about things. But, well . . .

Look. Someone else I know kind of had a weird experience recently, so I decided to get checked out. Turns out I had a bit of a problem.

Now, there’s no guarantee that you’ve got a problem, too. I was just a carrier, and never suffered any symptoms. But you should probably get yourself checked out.

I’m sorry. I really am.

Now let’s never talk about this again.

~

[I really hope that it’s clear that I’m talking about this site having been compromised by an iframe attack, and that it has resulted – in at least one instance – of a reader getting a virus. So really, make sure you’re all scanned up. And please accept my sincere apologies if this caused a problem for you, too.]

Midweek Makeover: Soft in the Middle Edition

Paul Simon’s You Can Call Me Al will never fail to put a smile on my face.  It’s irreversibly associated with summer streets and long-ago friends and general youthful goofiness.*   Issued in ’86, this is the original that everyone knows:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsEjsIbWq88[/youtube]

Now, I’ve never had an ear for covers of this song, but I ran into one today that had me thinking about them.  This is not it:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMkEXVyqnrI[/youtube]

That was Inspection 12.  Not bad, I think.  And really, I can see how this could be a kickass concert cover.  Alas, YouTube never captures those very well.  But what got me thinking about this?  A very simple cover with a bass line:
Paul Simon – You Can Call Me Al (Cover-dance remix) Dj Rebel and FTW by Mixes and Mashups #22

This has been playing all.day.long.

 

*Of course, 25 years later, the opening lines gain a new appreciation.

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