06 May 2012

6 May 2012 - The Darling Buds - It Makes No Difference

A lot of people have asked me how I can like The Darling Buds.  They were really girly.  They were poppy and chipper.

This. This is why. A quiet song that's still bad-ass, this opened their Crawdaddy album, and it is one of the best songs I have ever heard.  I can still listen to it, more than twenty years after its release, and it still gives me chills.

This video was filmed in 1991, but only recently unearthed.  So, sit down and enjoy it.

 

05 May 2012

5 May 2012 - Pat Benatar - Invincible

Everyone remembers that "Video Killed The Radio Star"  by The Buggles was the 1st video played on MTV.  Few people remember the 2nd.

It was "You Better Run" by today's artist, Pat Benatar.   While The Buggles really didn't have hits after their initial blast (which was already two years old at the time), Pat Benatar took advantage of the video revolution and built an excellent career for herself.

This song, from the movie The Legend of Billie Jean (also released under the title Fair Is Fair) was one of her last, and biggest hits.

4 May 2012 (special Guilt-Free edition) - Beastie Boys - She's On It

Cancer stole a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer today in MCA, otherwise known as Adam Yauch.  Before they were a jokey hip hop band, they were a punky four-piece with a female drummer - Kate Schellenbach, who went on to drum for Luscious Jackson (who were signed to the Beastie's Grand Royal Records). The story is that, when the band partnered with Rick Rubin to help infuse hip hop into their sound, creative differences ensued with Kate, and she was not to be a Beastie any more.

Their first post-Kate single was also featured on the soundtrack to the movie Krush Groove.  This was that single.  Although not a big hit at the time - and you can clearly hear a lot more punk than in their later work - it was clearly a harbinger to a brilliant career to come.

I never really became a huge Beastie Boys fan - I liked their more hip-hop infused stuff, but not a lot of their later experimental sound - but I do love this song, to this day.  I hope you enjoy it, a special Guilt-Free Sunday on a Friday.




04 May 2012

4 May 2012 - Kylie Minogue - Can't Get You Outta My Head

Around the world, Kylie Minogue has been a superstar for at least two decades.  In the United States, she was a one hit wonder.  It was an awful cover of "Locomotion" in the Stock Aitken Waterman style.  Rubbish.  Most of what those guys did was rubbish.  Not everything.  Most everything.

Then she started working with the Pet Shop Boys.

Then she released this.  A good seven years before Lady Gaga released anything.  It's smart and sexy and has a terrific hook.  And now, it's going to be stuck in your head.



It's important to note that Kylie was diagnosed with breast cancer a couple of years after this video.  She beat it and continued on with her career, releasing several more Wicked Guilty Pleasures.  We salute her for that!

UPDATE: Kylie rerecorded this song in 2012......as more of dignified, strings-heavy song.  It still worked.

03 May 2012

3 May 2012 - Skid Row - Youth Gone Wild

Hair Metal Thursday...It's just like Hair Metal Friday, only sooner!

Yeah, after seeing this video for the first time in forever, one thing is clear: I MUST repurchase the first Skid Row cd.


02 May 2012

2 May 2012 - Kansas - Everybody's My Friend

I've been a fan of Kansas for many years.  This song, from the era between 1981 and 1984 when Steve Walsh was NOT the lead vocalist - is one of my favorites.  The song deals with the foibles of fame that the new lead vocalist anticipated.  (Of course, outside of Wichita, I don't think he had to worry about walking around incognito, but that's besides the point.)

The concept of the video is, of course, luchadors, or Mexican wrestlers, wearing masks.  That's never a bad idea.   The song itself is simple and somewhat naive, but these elements combine to make a sweet tune.  Enjoy!

01 May 2012

1 May 2012 - Carrie Underwood - Last Name

So as I stood in line at Target this morning with the new Carrie Underwood and Norah Jones cds in my hands, I couldn't help but wonder, when did I become the type of person to stand in line in a Target with the new Carrie Underwood and Norah Jones cds? While I've never seen more than about 5 minutes at a time of an American Idol episode, I was seduced by the Season Four winner when her Play On record came out in 2009. As always, I dug deeper into her catalog (ok, not the hardest thing to do seeing that she only had two other records) and fell for her booming country/pop vocals. So let's celebrate the release of Blown Away by of course looking to the past. This is a fun song and video off of her second record Carnival Ride. By the way, I love how this video serves as a prequel to Before He Cheats.