Sunday, January 1, 2012: Happy New Year

Here's hoping that you've had a great New Year's celebration, gentle reader, and we'll see you on Wednesday, January 4th, as we set CSOTD rocketing into the abyss that is 2012.

I can't wait.

Stay safe, stay classy, y'all.

Friday, December 30, 2011: The Byrds - Turn, Turn, Turn

2012. The year the world ends.

Or not. We'll see.

What I'm sure of is this - we will all leave 2012 changed. There really is something in the air, something that says this time, change is well and truly gonna come.

But, isn't that how it's always been?

Yes, yes it is.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, King James Version

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:


A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;


A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;


A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;


A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;


A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;


A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;


A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Thursday, December 29, 2011: FOURfer Thursday - The "New Years Eve" Edition

Ok, here's the deal. Me and Mrs CSOTD will be away for New Years Eve and New Years Day as we both tune in, turn on and drop out of the rat race for a few days and nights of well needed rest and relaxation. So, since I will not be blogging for the New Year's Celebrations, we will need to treat today like it's New Years Eve and tomorrow like it's New Year's Day. Dig it? Cool.

So, here's a super set of groovy old-school dance music to help you boogie your way into a happening new year. Again, can you dig it? I knew that you could.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011: Lady Gaga - You and I

Can I go on public record and declare that I'm a fan of Lady Gaga?

Not a monster fan, if I'm honest, but I do think she had that unique mix of talent, drive and watchability. Also, she has managed to make pop music interesting again, something it hasn't been for a long time. But, probably most important, she has that rarest of knacks to not only take things out there, but to be out there and still encourage people to come along for the ride.

There are plenty of artists who can get "out there", however most of them seem to leave their audiences way behind. Yes, I'm looking at you, Christina Aguilera.

So, while most of the talk about LG is about her "out there" schtick, I think it's most interesting that the song that I like most from her isn't really out there at all. In fact, it's probably one of the most familiar songs around.

Because LG has taken elements of many familiar pop songs and crafted them into You and I.

I mean honestly, can't you just hear What's Up by 4 Non-Blonds, Man, I Feel Like A Woman by Shania Twain, Breathe (2 AM) by Anna Nalick and especially We Will Rock You by Queen when you hear this song?  I'm sure any more knowledgable tunesmith would be able to come up with at least half dozen other potential sources.

Now, the question becomes, did she deliberately rip off other sources for this song.

That's a harder thing to prove.

In the end, though, the last question, the most important question is, does it matter?  In this case, I will side with No, It Doesn't Matter.

Because art always feeds on itself to grow.   Painters paint past masters in the quest to find their own style.  Poets and songwriters do the same.

So, let LG be known for the outrageous costumes, unfathomable videos and over the top concerts - because then those of us who are nonplussed by those external trappings can really on focus on her growth as a musician and a songwriter.

And I think she has a lot to offer.  So here's to going Gaga in 2012.   I think this will be the year when serious people really start taking her seriously.

Merry Christmas

The staff at CSOTD wants to wish all of our gentle readers a truly Merry Christmas.

We will be taking these next few days off, and will be back on 

Wednesday, December 28, to try to give 2011 the proper send off it deserves.

As always, many thanks to you for supporting this humble blog.

It's an honour and a pleasure to bring you Cool Songs Every Day

See you in a couple of days.

Peace

Saturday, December 24, 2011: Quincy Jones featuring the All Star Chorus - Handel's Hallelujah! Chorus

And when Quincy Jones says "All Star", you know he don't get anything but the brightest of the bright stars:

Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Patti Austin, Bernie K., Daryl Coley, Commissioned, Andrae Crouch, Sandra Crouch, Clifton Davis, Charles S. Dutton, Kim Fields, Larnelle Harris, Edwin Hawkins, Tramaine Hawkins, Linda Hopkins, Al Jarreau, Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, Lizz Lee, Dawnn Lewis, Babbie Mason, Johnny Mathis, Marilyn McCoo, Mike E., Stephanie Mills, Jeffrey Osborne, David Pack, Phylicia Rashād, Joe Sample, Richard Smallwood, Sounds of Blackness, Take 6, Darryl Tookes, Mervyn Warren, Thomas Whitfield, Vanessa Williams and Chris Willis. Arranged and conducted by Quincy Jones.

Off of Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration, may this coolest of cool tracks take you into a most joyous Christmas day.

Have yourself a very Merry Christmas, gentle reader.

And God bless us, every one.

Friday, December 23, 2011: The Brian Setzer Orchestra - Sleigh Ride

I know this is Cool Song Of The Day, but this cool track is so hot that I think it might actually melt the snow settling around the tree.

Good luck to Santa trying to land his sleigh after Brian Setzer and his gang have torn the roof off the place.