Tuesday, March 29, 2011: DeVotchKa - The Last Beat Of My Heart

As you may (or may not) have noticed, most of the songs I post here on CSOTD are posted on the video sharing channel YouTube.

One of the great things about YouTube, other that the things I've previously talked about here on CSOTD, are the comments.

The comments posted range from very funny to moving to insightful to phenomenal trash talk. Almost every video has something in the comments section worth reading.

There are a couple of reasons why I do not include the comments from the posted videos. First, I want CSOTD to be about me, my thoughts and my writings. But, on a more practical level, I don't want to get locked in to showing only one posting of a song. If I've learned anything, it's that YouTube videos and come and go pretty fast.

With that said, I thought this comment by kabrina1977 about today's band DeVotchKa was pure genius:

"Strangely--selfishly--I like that Devotchka isn't more popular. It's like I have this amazing little secret, this unbelievable music that's made for me and me alone. And while I'm always happy when a band I love "makes it", I'm always sad that people who will never TRULY appreciate the band and their music will be listening to songs that have struck such a personal chord with me. It's like all the world is reading my diary."

Honestly, if you love music at all, you have felt this at one point in your life.

Now, understand me here, I genuinely dislike people who disown a band as soon as they become successful. Or people who brag that they were the first person who ever liked a certain band, or the first to have the bands first album.

I saw a great t-shirt recently which said, "I Listen to Bands That Don't Even Exist Yet." Brilliant.

But that isn't what the writer is saying here. They are not saying they are going to jump ship as soon as this Denver based four-piece become a hit.  No, they are talking about the emotional weight we put into music we love, and how those feelings get cheapened when people who are not as knowledgeable and passionate as us casually acquire a certain band as their own.

I could never really explain the feelings I had when a band I had followed for a long time made it big. Now, someone has.

Many thanks.

Although, after all that, I sincerely do hope DeVotchKa become more popular.

 God in Heaven, this is a great band.

Monday, March 28, 2011: The Belle Stars - Sign Of The Times

As Charlie Sheen would exclaim, "Winning!"

All the way back in August of last year, I mentioned I wanted to blog this 80's classic, but the embedding feature was disabled for all the decent versions of this song.

Well, guess what I just found.

Happy Monday, y'all, and know that this MUST be a Sign Of The Times

Sunday, March 27, 2011

No blogging on a Sunday.

See you Monday!

Saturday, March 26: Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade Of Pale

In the history of popular music, going all the way back to whoever wrote "After The Ball", there are very few opening notes as evocative and emotive as the beginning organ melody of Whiter Shade Of Pale by Procol Harum.

And, for whatever type of Saturday you are going to have, I can't imagine any better soundtrack.

Sometimes I only blog a cool song for a day, but here is a cool song for the ages.

Have a great weekend.

Friday, March 25, 2011: Ace Of Base - Beautiful Life

I'm a big fan of the "guilty pleasure".

Eating the greasy cheeseburger when you should be having the veggie plate, or choosing to watch the cheesy slasher-horror movie over any Fellini film.

In terms of music, Ace Of Base doesn't get much guiltier.

First of all, it doesn't help that their two biggest hits, The Sign and All That She Wants sound virtually the same.

Sing the chorus of The Sign over the chorus of All That She Wants and tell me I'm wrong.

Then, there is the Swedish problem. If you are a pop music group from Sweden, you will always live the shadow of ABBA.  And, as such, you will always fall short.

Obviously Swedish Death Metal groups don't have that worry.

Then there is the criticism, valid up to a point actually, that this is just manufactured fluffy club music with no real soul.

Here is my point, however.

There is no question Elton John is a genius, and his songs are wonderful, but which would you rather listen to when it's Friday, when you are driving out of your work's parking lot, or putting on a bit of slap getting ready to go out and party?

This song, or Your Song?

Gentle reader, even with everything going on in the world right now, I still maintain that it really is a beautiful life. It's the weekend, get out there and find out for yourself

Thursday, March 24, 2011: Nelly - Dilemma ft. Kelly Rowland

I can't tell you how much I love Wikipedia.

They have articles about every frickin' thing you can imagine.

For instance, how much do you want to know about the song Dilemma from Nelly (ft. Kelly Rowland)?

Well, HERE's the Wikipedia link to the whole page, with information on:

1 Background and writing
2 Release
3 Reception
4 Music video
5 Remixes and sequel
6 Chart performance
7 Track listings
8 Official versions
9 Charts and sales
9.1 Peak positions
9.2 Year-end charts
9.3 Decade-end charts
9.4 Certifications
9.5 Chart procession and succession

Oh, and even a small section dealing with the Papi Sánchez cover version, including its track listings and chart success.

For instance, did you know that "Dilemma" was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and Record of the Year at the Grammy Awards of 2003, winning the former? Or that the music video for "Dilemma" was filmed on Colonial Street, part of Universal Studios backlot, which is the same location is used during filming of Desperate Housewives?

How any of this overload of information helps or hurts a song, I'm not too clear on.

All I know is that, even when I'm with my boo, I'm still crazy about this song.

Kick it, Nelly.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011: The Decemberists - The Bachelor To The Bride

The Decemberists are a Portland, Oregon band who have been making music since the early 2000's.

They are one of those types of bands that can evoke real passion: either from fans who rigorously praise them as the greatest thing while every one else makes utter crap, or are rigorously hated for being a total rip-off of (insert some other barely known indie band here).

For my money, I really like them a lot. They seem to be that rarest of rare creatures in modern music; artists who are following their own vision and to hell with what everyone else wants us to do.

I dig that a lot. I also dig this tune. A lot.

Enjoy.