Respect's not given, it's earned

Michael Jackson: bringing people together since 1966. Friday night a new co-worker and I bonded over Michael Jackson. It began innocently enough with my blasting of some MJ tracks on my iPod, and escalated as co-worker overheard "The Girl is Mine" and remarked that it was his favourite Jackson tune. This lead to us not only discussing our favourite tunes, but albums as well--mine: Dangerous, his: Thriller. Having over five hours of the Gloved One's tunes on the iPod, kept the conversation and sing-a-longs going for most of our shift.

Listening to Dangerous last night brought back some of the best memories of my childhood as I was obsessed with the King of Pop. He was the first musician I took to on my own, without the influence of my siblings or parents. As I've said before, MTV was an everyday staple in our household, and since Michael Jackson was kind of a big deal throughout the late 80's and early 90's, you would have been hard pressed not to have watched at least one Michael Jackson video between the hours of 5am and 8am. He was the King of Pop--and for good reason. Flawless records with slick production, over-the-top music videos, brought together with crazy good dance skills--I mean, it was hard not to give the guy props.

It's been a while since MJ has received any good publicity, and with celebrating the 25th anniversary of Thriller, I think the time for a new album has arrived. According to his Wikipedia page, such a thing is in the works, and even slated to drop this year. With the right producers, and a slightly updated sound (think the last four tracks of Invincible). I mean, what better way to celebrate turning 50, then by releasing a new record and again reigning supreme as the King of Pop? Also? A new album would mean a new tour, and I've been dying to see him live since I was in kindergarten. It's sad to think talent like his has been sitting idle for nearly a decade.

The Jackson 5 -- The Love You Save

The Jackson 5 -- She's Good

The Jackson 5 -- Rockin' Robin

Michael Jackson -- Ben

Michael Jackson -- Everybody's Somebody's Fool

Michael Jackson -- Jam

Michael Jackson -- Gone Too Soon

Michael Jackson -- Dangerous

Michael Jackson -- Whatever Happens

Michael Jackson -- Privacy

Michael Jackson -- Ghosts

Michael Jackson -- Burn This Disco Out

Michael Jackson -- P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)

Michael Jackson -- Ain't No Sunshine

Michael Jackson -- Cinderella Stay Awhile

Michael Jackson -- Someone in the Dark

Michael Jackson -- They Don't Care About Us

Michael Jackson -- Morphine

The Visually Delicious 5

Since 1) I am horribly one-track minded when it comes to things, and 2) because Michael Jackson has made some of the most innovative (as well as interesting) music videos, this edition will be dedicated in its entirety to the King of Pop.

This edition is extended. Snoogins.


Michael Jackson -- Rock With You


Circa 1979, Jackson is is 21, wearing a sequined top and striped pants standing against a black background with pretty lights flashing. It's amazing that a little over 25 after this video was made, he's be shelling out a cool 7 million dollars to make "Scream."

Michael Jackson -- Billie Jean

"...she's just a girl who thinks that I am the one." Sorry, I can not help myself when I hear this song. The beat is great and Jackson's vocals are superb. The split screens are cool (doubling and tripling your pleasure), and I wish the ground lit up when I walked. He was gorgeous back in the day and this video is definitely a testament to that.

Michael Jackson -- Bad

Directed by Martin Scorcese, shot in four days in the Big Apple, and clocking in at nearly twenty minutes, "Bad" is more accurately classified as a short film than a music video. MJ plays Daryl, a City youth who returns home after a term away at a private school. Hooligan-turned-schoolboy Daryl has to prove to his hooligan friends how down he is without having to resort to violence. Naturally, a lot of dancing (coupled with a costume change) ensues to prove just how bad he is.

Michael Jackson -- Dirty Diana

"Dirty Diana" is one of my top five Jackson tracks. His voice paired with thrashing guitar is a gasm and a half to my ears. The video is definitely one of his most minimalist, with just him performing--no story, no interpretive dancing or crazy moves. A few cuts to the silhouette of a curvy woman and that's it.

Michael Jackson -- Smooth Criminal

An awesome song shittily covered by some forgettable alt-rock band with a shitty name of the early 2000's. This is the Moonwalker version, meaning it has the extra lyrics that were omitted in the album version of "Smooth Criminal." Strange interpretive dancing all the way! Also? I would fucking kill to know how to do the fucking lean.

Michael Jackson -- Black or White

Presented here in its full 11 minute glory. When I was little, the mornings in my home were musical, my sister would put MTV on in the living room (the hubub of activity) as everyone bustled about getting ready for school and I remember busting out of my room in nothing but my underwear to sing and dance when "Black or White" came on. The video was unreal and I just could not get enough of the song--much to the chagrin of my Michael-Jackson-loathing brothers. I was six and thought Michael Jackson was the bee's knees--still do.

Michael Jackson -- Leave Me Alone

Definitely Jackson's most playful video, and perhaps his most critically acclaimed. Cartoonish and reminiscent of the early MTV spots. It's hard not to like this video and definitely takes more than one watch to really absorb some of the images.

Michael Jackson -- Who Is It

My favourite track off Dangerous by far. The video has a surrealistic feel to it, directed by the guy who directed Se7en.

Michael Jackson -- Childhood

This video makes me want to pinch his cheeks and give him a hug. Between him sitting in the forest with children flying above him in ships, the video screams Peter Pan. A song that, surprisingly, didn't garner much attention with lyrics like:
People say I'm not okay
'Cause I love such elementary things
It's been my fate to compensate,
for the Childhood
I've never known...
He addresses why his interest in children and other "elementary things" is so grand, and no one notices. Nice.

Michael Jackson -- You Rock My World

The last music video released by Mr. Jackson off his last release, Invincible, co-stars Marlon Brando, Michael Madsen, and Chris Tucker. This video has a longer version HERE which I highly recommend you watch. The man is pushing fifty but moves like he's twenty. Pushing the weird plastic surgery aside--any man who can move like that can rock my world any time. "I don't know man, I think we should just beat it."

I know some of you may be feeling a bit mutinous in my not including "Thriller," but come on, who hasn't seen "Thriller"?


Expect a full-on Michael Jackson post Monday or Tuesday.

Reading is Instrumental! Vol. I

Being a book and music nut, it was only natural that my love of both come together on this blog. (Just when one thinks I can not get any geekier, I do.) Books are a main component in my room--too many for my measly bookshelf to hold, they have weasled themselves onto my shelves. Stack after stack after stack; drama, horror, non-fiction, fantasy, poetry--all sit intertwined on my shelves. Originally this mix was to be a one shot deal, but since I have found 45+ songs with a literary base, I am going to break this up into volumes. Three sounds like a nice round odd number, but we'll see. While some of the musicians I am to offer up pain my ears in the worst of ways, they will still get recognition (as well as madd props) for at least reading one piece of literature and celebrating it with a song. I easily could dedicate an entire volume of this music-meets-literature bit to Tom Waits, but I will refrain...for now. Also? I know Wizard Wrock is an entire "genre" of music dedicated to the Harry Potter series, but I am excluding it from these mixes. I'm one of the biggest Harry Potter dorks you'll find, I just think Wizard Wrock is lame. And if I could find the recordings of Shel Silverstein reading his poetry, you bet it would be on like motherflippin' Donkey Kong.


Fisher -- Mad Girls Love Song ("Mad Girls Love Song" by Sylvia Plath--the lyrics are the poem word for word)

Metallica -- For Whom the Bell Tolls (For Whom The Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway)

The Cure -- Killing an Arab (The Stranger by Albert Camus)

Tom Waits -- A Good Man is Hard to Find ("A Good Man is Hard to Find" by Flannery O'Connor)

Billy Bragg -- A Pict Song ("A Pict Song" by Rudyard Kipling)

MC Lars -- Ahab (Moby Dick by Herman Melville)

Annie Lennox -- Love Song For A Vampire (Dracula by Bram Stoker)

Bruce Springsteen -- The Ghost of Tom Joad (The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck)

The Police -- Don't Stand So Close To Me (Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov)

Leonard Nimoy -- The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins (The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien)

Tom Waits -- We're All Mad Here (Alice in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll)

Nirvana -- Beans (The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac)

Meg & Dia -- Monster (East of Eden by John Steinbeck)

Dream Theater -- Pull Me Under ("Hamlet" by William Shakespeare)

Simon & Garfunkel -- Richard Cory ("Richard Cory" by Edward Arlington Robinson)

Radiohead -- 2+2=5 (1984 by George Orwell)

Tom Waits -- Everything You Can Think (Alice in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll)

Mix: It Was 3am

It was 3AM. Rain was falling. Wind was blowing. I was cold. The blankets, warm with sleep, beckoned. Sleep, they said, Sleep. I dreamed in music notes and and rhymes. In melody. In lyrics. I dreamed in music notes
& rhymes.
In melody.
In lyrics...

Fiona Apple -- Waltz

Billy Bragg -- Days Like These

Diana Ross & The Supremes -- Someday We'll Be Together

Bob Dylan -- It Ain't Me Babe

Imogen Heap -- Goodnight and Go

Regina Spektor -- Après Moi

The Weepies -- All That I Want

Tattle Tale -- Glass Vase Cello Case

LastFm: inaccurately logging music since 2002

I nearly laughed myself off the bad when I went to my Lastfm and saw my top artists for the week. They all begin with the letter 'L' save Chromeo. Why do all my artists this week begin with 'L,' you ask? Well, the ass that I am will turn off my speakers when I get a phone call or a roomie knocks on the door, and the ass I am usually gets distracted afterwards and forgets that her iTunes is on. So, what began as listening to one Le Tigre song, turns into "listening" to 101 Liz Phair songs. Nice.

Here, my friends, is what I've really been listening to.

Chromeo -- Rage!

Chromeo -- She'z N Control

Chromeo -- Woman Friend

Stevie Nicks -- Stop Draggin' My Heart Around

Stevie Nicks -- Edge of Seventeen

Britney Spears -- Radar

Britney Spears -- Get Naked (I Got a Plan)

I Am X -- Song Of Imaginary Beings

I Am X -- This Will Make You Love Again

Hot Chip -- You Ride, We Ride, In My Ride

I'm broke this month didn't pay rent I had to jump town and my money's all spent

Friday, Jun 6 @ 7:00 PM
McCarren Park Pool, Brooklyn


M.I.A. is playing in Brooklyn. I want to go. Fuck it, I need to go. $37.50--a bit steep, but it's going to be fucking worth it. Pardon, I tend to drop the f-bomb when excited. M.I.A. is a hot bitch, and the only thing hotter than her, is her music. Kala was in heavy rotation on my iPod when it dropped this past summer, and it's about to usurp Chromeo as my current audiogasm. I am all over this concert like you can not believe.


M.I.A. -- Fire Fire

M.I.A. -- Galang

M.I.A. -- Mango Pickle Down River

M.I.A. -- XR2

M.I.A. -- Paper Planes (DFA Remix)

Mix: I am (Bat)woman

Things are going to get real personal 'round here, so buckle up, or skip to the music.

I am:
unattached.
unbetrothed.
uncommitted.
un-manned.
In other words: I am single.

People--strangers, friends, co-workers, as well as the good ol' family--have taken an unprecedented interest in my love life as of late. At least twice a week I get the question, "why is a great girl like yourself not scooped up yet?" Sometimes great is interchanged with nice or pretty, and scooped becomes snagged, snatched, or taken. Being asked three times in the space of one hour's time, like last night*, as to why I was not scooped, snagged, snatched, or taken can make a girl a bit edgy and feeling as though she needs to justify her singlehood with some small quip:

I can't help the freckles.
Red's not in this season.
They like their soul too much.

For a long time, this singlehood was something I actively chose. (Takes one bad relationship to ruin the bunch, yeah?) Asked out on dates I'd say "thanks, but no." Only within the last year have I actively put myself back on the market--began saying, "yes." A few great guys, a few nice dates--but nothing solid. The potential was there, yes, but for one reason or another things didn't takeoff. That's how the game works, you keep swinging until you get a hit.

I would take a shared bed in lieu of a lonely one any night of the week. And the rush you get right before kissing someone? I honestly do not think there is a better feeling in the entire Universe. The tingles and butterflies--the intimacy of being with another human being in a capacity not shared between friends. The kind of intimacy and closeness that leaves their scent on you, hours after they've gone.Yes, I'm romanticizing a bit, but it is in my nature, and with spring sprung? Spring Fever is going to be setting in and making this girl giddier than usual (Hell, I've already bought a dress).

This is poorly written, I know, and not at all where I wanted to go with this, but hey, at least you're getting some tunes as a consolation prize!


Alicia Keys -- The Thing About Love

Cyndi Lauper -- Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Stevie Nicks -- Sweet Girl

David Bowie -- The Prettiest Star

Lenny Kravitz -- Are You Gonna Go My Way?

Madonna -- Future Lover

Gnarls Barkley -- On Line

Destiny's Child -- Independent Women, Pt. 2

David Bowie -- Fill Your Heart

M.I.A. -- Boyz

Al Green -- Tired of Being Alone

Samantha James -- Send It Out to the Universe

Das Pop -- Fool For Love (Sebastian Remix)

Kylie Minogue -- Heart beat Rock

Le Tigre -- Let's Run

Earth, Wind, & Fire -- Sing a Song

Mariah Carey -- Shake It Off

Stevie Nicks -- I Sing For Things

Lisa Loeb -- Fools Like Me

David Bowie -- John, I'm Only Dancing

Alicia Keys -- Superwoman



Bonus!Video!Jam!
Destiny's Child -- Bootylicious


*This post has been a week in the making, oops.

And maybe it is time to live...

Music is the poetry of the air.
-Richter


Röyksopp -- Remind Me
We stayed outside til two,
Waiting for the light to come back,
But hid in talk I knew,
Until you asked what I was thinking.
Brave men tell the truth,
A wise man's tools are analogies and puzzles,
A woman holds her tongue,
Knowing silence will speak for her...


Joan Osborne -- Let's Get Naked
Let's just get naked
It's a trip and a half...
A trip and a half
We've been together so long
I hope it wasn't just the drugs
What happened to the energy we had
The morning glories and the rodeo hugs
And I know you like the back of my hand
With a stamp that says I paid to get in
And yes I am your television show
And you're the nicest place I've ever been
Let's just get naked
Just for a laugh...


Dar Williams -- As Cool As I Am
So now were at a club, you watch the woman dancing, she is drunk,
She is smiling and shes falling in a slow, descending funk,
And the whole bar is loud and proud and everybody's trying, yeah.
You play the artist, saying, is it how she moves, or how she looks?
I say, its loneliness suspended to our own like grappling hooks,
And as long as she's got noise, shes fine.
But I could teach her how I learned to dance when the music's ended...


Eels -- P.S. You Rock My World
I was at a funeral the day I realised
I wanted to spend my life with you
sitting down on the steps at the old post office
the flag was flying at half mast
and I was thinkin' 'bout how everyone was dying
and maybe it is time to live...


Savage Garden -- Carry On Dancing
And the groove tonight
Is something more than you've ever seen
The stars and planets taking shape
A stolen kiss has come too late
In the moonlight
Carry on, keep romancing,
Carry on, carry on dancing
In the moonlight
Carry on, keep romancing,
Carry on, carry on dancing
You're never safe 'till you see the dawn
And if the clock strikes past midnight
The hope is gone
To move under...

Mix: Harvey Dent is no Two-faced Politician!

Fellow citizens of Gotham, do you want a Gotham free from the grip of criminals and the corrupt? Are you fed up with living in fear? Then Harvey Dent is your man for Gotham's next District Attorney. Don't let Mr. Dent's boyish good looks fool you, he is a serious candidate ready to fight for Gotham. If elected, he will do "what needs to be done" to rid Gotham's government and law enforcement of the corruption that has infiltrated it. Harvey Dent wants to take back Gotham, but he can not do it without your support. Some believe Gotham unsaveable, a once great city that has fallen into the hands of criminals--never again to be resurrected to its former glory. Harvey Dent believes otherwise. Harvey Dent believes in Gotham and its citizens, and believes both are ready for change. If you want change, if you want Gotham to be a city of peace once again, vote Harvey Dent for District Attorney.

For more information on how you too can show your support, please visit IBelieveinHarveyDent.com


Harvey Dent's Personal Call To Action

R. Kelly -- Gotham City

Fleetwood Mac -- Don't Stop

Bruce Springsteen feat. Eddie Vedder -- No Surrender

U2 -- Beautiful Day

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers -- I Won't Back Down

Sly and the Family Stone -- Everyday People

Bachman-Turner Overdrive -- You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet

Creedence Clearwater Revival -- Who'll Stop the Rain (Harvey Dent of course!)

Jesus Jones -- Right Here, Right Now

Neil Young -- Heart of Gold

Nick Cave -- There is a Light



Between this mix & the passing out buttons this past weekend, this blogger has done her part in the good fight to take back Gotham. H.D. for D.A.!

Mix: Surely, You Dress!

Surely, I do not. I have not worn, let alone purchased a dress in nearly five years. I have not been a dress kind of gal since I hit age fourteen, and I can barely walk with both feet on the ground let alone three inches up. Yesterday, that changed. I bought not only a dress, but a pair of heels too. It's one of the ten signs of the Apocalypse, so I'd watch it if I were you. All that's missing? A hot date to step out with wearing the dress. Thank goodness it's getting warmer out... In usual R.M. fashion, we're celebrating this little victory with a mix.

AC/DC -- There's Gonna Be Some Rockin'

Fancy -- Dressed to Kill

Mike Doughty -- I Just Want the Girl in the Blue Dress To Keep On Dancin'

Donna Summer -- Hot Stuff

The Staple Singers -- I'll Take You There

Daft Punk -- Make Love

Mr. Mister -- Broken Wings

Earth, Wind, & Fire -- Let's Groove

Basement Jaxx -- Take Me Back To Your House

Michael Jackson -- She Drives Me Wild

The Lovemakers -- Fashion

Madonna -- Beautiful Stranger

Donna Summer -- Last Dance

I Wanna Jam With You

Concerts. Back in the day (when I was 16 & 17) I used to go to concerts all the time. Primarily rock concerts. Primarily at The Chance (don't let the metal bands on their schedule fool you, they used to book some solid acts). Concerts, in my honest opinion, are the best way to experience music. Nothing ever sounds as good or as sincere as it does when the musician is right in front of you (or in some cases, off to your far left or right). It's an entire experience with the music cranked so loud so as it pulsates throughout the crowd. You feeding off the musician who is in turn feeding off you. Then, when you add fancy light shows and the company of like-minded individuals, a concert becomes just an all-around phenomengasm. Based on the sheer fact that concerts are generally kick ass, I will see anyone live, even if I've never heard of them.

Why am In going on about this? Because this little box on the side of my blog is empty, and I don't want it to be. As of late, I've collected a list of concerts that I want to attend--money and location aside. Since these most of these concerts are post-move, the odds of me attending any of them will be slim to none. But a girl can hope, can't she?

Mos Def Sun. 03/30/2008 Nokia Theater Times Square
Mos Def -- Sex, Love, & Money

Deer Tick Mon. 03/31/2008 Death By Audio Brooklyn
Deer Tick -- Standing At The Threshold

*Paul Simon April 2008 Brooklyn Academy of Music
Paul Simon -- Love

Hot Chip Tues. 04/08/2008 Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn
Hot Chip -- Boys From School

Etta James Mon. 04/14/2008 B.B. King's
Etta James -- At Last

The Wu Tang Clan Wed. 04/16/2008 The Fillmore
Wu-Tang Clan -- Da Mystery of Chessboxin'

**Mike Ness Tues. 05/13/2008 The Filmore
Mike Ness -- Dope Fiend Blues

**Kanye West Tues. 05/13/2008 Madison Square Garden
Kanye West -- Through The Wire

Ladytron Wed. 06/25/2008 Terminal 5
Ladytron -- Playgirl

Billy Joel Fri. 07/18/2008 Shea Stadium
Billy Joel -- Big Shot

All Points West Music & Arts Festival feat. The New Pornographers, Girl Talk, Underworld, Juana Molina, Andrew Bird, Spearhead, Little Brother, Forro In The Dark, Radiohead, The Go! Team, Mates of State, CSS, Duffy Radiohead, Kings Of Leon, Animal Collective, Metric, Chromeo, The Roots, The Black Angels, The Virgins, The Felice Brothers, Alberta Cross, Sia, K'Naan, Nicole Atkins, Your Vegas, Jack Johnson, Cat Power, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Miriam, Amadou, Youssou N'dour, The Secret Machines, Black Kids, Jason Isbell, De Novo Dahl, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Earl Greyhound, Rogue Wave, Neil Halstead Fri., Sat., & Sun. 08/08, 09, 10 Liberty State Park, NJ
Girl Talk -- Bounce That
Mates of State -- Think Long



*He has an entire thing going on at the B.A.M. that month. I had tried to buy tickets to all the different events, but failed.

*Conflict! I know I've been jabbering on about the Kanye concert for months now, but it's Mike Ness! Mike Ness--for the uninformed--is the front man of Social Distortion. Talk about a man passionate about what he does. I had the privilege of seeing Social D in concert (at The Chance of all places) when I was 17. That concert is number three in my list of top three concerts I have ever been to. The crowd. The energy. The way Mike Ness handled his fucking guitar--it was fucking brilliance. Kanye is new to my music lovin' heart, and also? Ness's tickets are cheaper.


I had George Clinton on here because he was apparently playing in Jersey in May. Googling the fuck out of the little bit of information I wrote down form the local paper, I can not find anything about that show.

Cover Me This, Cover Me That, Vol. V

Bossanova -- Love Hangover (Diana Ross)

Ryan Adams -- Rocketman (Elton John)

Me First & The Gimme Gimmes -- Country Roads (John Denver)

Willie Nelson -- Time After Time (Cyndi Lauper)

The Vindictives -- How Much More? (The Go-Go's)

Sufjan Stevens -- The One I Love (R.E.M.)

Jack Johnson -- Holiday (Madonna)

Ledisi -- Devotion (Earth, Wind, & Fire)

Twisted Sister -- The Leader of the Pack (Shangri-Las)

M. Ward & Zooey Deschanel -- Bring It On Home to Me (Sam Cooke) [I adore her voice]

The Cardigans -- The Boys Are Back in Town (Thin Lizzy)

Mashing: not just for Potatoes, Vol. 5

Again, the end of the week has snuck up on me! Last week was a bit hectic, so excuse the lateness. 16 mashed tracks for your listening pleasure.

GHP -- Backstab Me One More Time (Britney Spears vs The O'Jays)

Drunken Donut -- I Want Ur Fat Beat Back (Jackson 5 vs Wu-Tang Clan)

Mr. Fab -- Comptons 'N' Tha Dingle (Chieftains vs NWA)

Team 9 -- We're All Horny (BRMC vs Mousse T)

Tim G -- Cure Killers (Cure vs The Killers)

Ryan Durkin -- Daft Punk is Playing at my House (Daft Punk vs LCD Soundsystem)

DJ BC -- Faith in Love (George Michael vs Talib Kweli)

All Apologies -- Drop It Like It's Been Slimed (Snoop Dogg vs Ray Parker Jr.)*

Dunproofin' -- Lap Dance Welcome (N.E.R.D. vs Timo Maas)

Team 9 -- Richard Nixon Loves Your Body (Manic Street Preachers vs Nina Sky)

Lowman -- Abradafunk (Steve Miller Band vs Daft Punk)

DJ Cal -- Everybody's Heartache (Tina Turner vs Evanesence)**

Johmbolaya -- Come Saturday Morning (Wayne Newton vs DJ Shadow)

Bangers & Mash -- Mistaken Teeth (Obie Trice vs Split Enz)

DJ Tripp -- Gangsta's Pastime Love (Maroon 5 vs Coolio)

*personal favourite
**Tina Turner with some nü metal backings? I DIG IT.

Mix: 'Cause EV'RYONE'S IRISH On St. Patty's Day

Here's to women's kisses,
and to whiskey, amber clear;
Not as sweet as a woman's kiss,
but a darn sight more sincere!


Celebrating St. Patty's this past Saturday in Woodlawn, I got myself into some proper mischief. A word to the wise: never dare an Irish--especially after a few shots and a pint. Being the proud Irish that I am, I will celebrate dear ol' St. Patty's Day with a superb mix. Su-fecking-perb, I say. Some will be classics, others will be thrown in purely for fun and entertainment.


Black 47 -- Funky Céilí (Bridie's Song)

Flogging Molly -- (No More) Paddy's Lament

The Clancy Brothers -- Whiskey, You're the Divil

Gaelic Storm -- Drink the Night Away

The Pogues -- Streams of Whiskey

Flogging Molly -- Screaming at the Wailing Wall

The Dubliners -- Whiskey in the Jar

Judy Garland -- It's a Great Day for the Irish

The Pogues -- A Pair of Brown Eyes

The Clancy Brothers -- The Moonshiner

The Pogues -- The Band Played the Waltzing Matilda

The Clancy Brothers -- Four Green Fields

The Dubliners -- The Patriot Game

The Clancy Brothers -- A Nation Once Again

The Dubliners -- Song For Ireland

The Irish Rovers -- Waltzing Matilda

Dropkick Murphys -- Kiss Me, I'm Shitfaced

Billy Bragg -- Northern Industrial Town

Van Morrison -- Irish Heartbeat

Black 47 -- Bobby Kennedy

Becky Bishop -- The Parting Glass

Cherish the Ladies -- Erin Grá Mo Chrói (Ireland of My Heart)

Dropkick Murphys -- The Dirty Glass

The Dubliners -- Seven Drunken Nights

The Irish Rovers -- The Orange and the Green

Black 47 -- I Got Laid on James Joyce's Grave

Flogging Molly -- What's Left of the Flag

Black 47 -- History of Ireland, Part 1

Bonus!Jams!
B*Witched -- C'est La Vie

B*Witched -- To You I Belong

Visually Delicious, The IV Installment

Fleetwood Mac -- Gypsy

I just can not help myself. I'm sorry. My Mac addiction is at an all-time high and you guys are getting the brunt of it. One good thing about the Mac? Their videos are always an artsy acid trip. From Seven Wonders to Everywhere (can't get away from that song) to Hold Me--all cinematatic endeavours reminding you of just how hip and non-conformist the Mac are.


Britney Spears -- Break The Ice

Britney in anime--surely you jest? No. I can’t. It happened and here’s the proof. “Break the Ice” the new single off Blackout, provides the background noise in this interesting mini animated feature. I am a bit speechless actually. Maybe it’s because I’m over-tired and my brain is still trying to process that nonsense. The end leaves us with a cliffhanger--to be contined...


Backstreet Boys -- Incomplete

We are not boys. We are men. To prove it, we’ll ditch the our roles and our tunnel of love and sing about heartbreak in the desert. Because then? Then we can fall on our knees in the sand repeatedly, because THAT’s how men do it.They just fall--BAM! just like that. No bubble guns, so silly finger wagging, no classic ’90s hairstyles. We grown, yo.


98 Degrees -- It’s the Hardest Thing

Speaking of grown men singing in boy bands attempting to produce artsy themed music videos...I actually had to dig out my way old cd for this song, as I could not find it on the internet. I remember when the video came out and they were on TRL and when Carson Daly asked what the video was about, they tried to assign it some deep meaning. The girl was crying because love hurts as does getting hit in the face and love and a person’s face are things that don’t need to get bruised.


B*Witched -- Blame it on the Weatherman

I was addicted to these ladies like you wouldn't believe. While I did love me some Spice Girls, I just never got into them as much as I got into B*Witched. Maybe it was because they were Irish, maybe because their songs were addicting, or maybe because the cover of their first album was orange--who knows. When I broke my cassette from overusing it, I immediately set out and bought it on CD. I bought all of their singles--hell, I even had a t-shirt.



I like how instead of me discussing the music videos, this has just evolved into me rambling on about the song or the artist. Nice. Also? This was totally started on Saturday. Totally.

The way you move is a mystery

The night went smashingly! While the WaMu Theater is a cozy venue in which all seats have a fair viewing of the stage, date and I thought otherwise, and went from this, to this, to finally, this. Sick, right? It's amazing what a simple skip and a hop can do.

Fancy was absent from the lineup, but M.I.A. made a quick onstage appearance when Mehdi and Busy P did a mix of her song, "Boyz." Well, it was more like Busy P dragging her onstage. F.Y.I., she's boning Diplo, so naturally she had come to watch him perform. Chromeo was fanfuckingtastic. Seriously. They sound just as amazing live. Also? Much love for reaching back to their first record for a few tunes. Needy Girl? Needy More Love after performing that gem!

Justice was a mindblow as well. We had left to get drinks during the mini break after Chromeo's set and when we walked back in, Justice was onstage with at least fifty amps and their trademark cross dead center on the stage. It was a sight to behold, and made the music appreciating nut I am, mist up a bit. They didn't open with their biggie, "D.A.N.C.E.", but with "One Minute to Midnight"--if I remember correctly, and I think I do. They teased us with "D.A.N.C.E." Teased us big time. They first dropped a wee bit of the beginning of "D.A.N.C.E." in the middle of another song. Then waited just long enough where you thought you were hearing things before they did it again. This went on for about ten minutes. And when they did play "D.A.N.C.E." they proceeded to tease us further by slowing down the tempo.

Of course I didn't come home without a little somethin' somethin' for you guys. My crappy and ancient digital camera has video capabilities. I managed to knock off a few clips of Justice's set before my memory card ran out. The image quality (as well as sound on some)is poor, but hey, I was there and you weren't, so you'll just have to shut up and deal, won't you? I kid, I kid--but seriously. You really do just need to deal with poor quality or at least have the decency to buy me a new camera if you're going to whine. I make a brief cameo in Clip 6. I'm only posting the best clip here, you can go to my video page for the rest.




And so this post has some proper substance, mp3s!

Justice -- D.A.N.C.E. (MSTRKRFT Remix)

Chromeo -- Bonafide Lovin' (Hatchmatick Remix feat. Teki Latex

JUSTICE -- DVNO (Surkin Remix)

Chromeo -- Call Me Up (Kill The Noise Remix)

Justice -- Phantom, Pt. II (Boys Noize Remix)

Chromeo -- Needy Girl (Lifelike Remix)

Justice -- The Party (LA Riots Remix)

Last post before I go, I swear

Ok, ok. By nature I am a bit of a nervous person. So now, with one, meeting a complete stranger tonight, and two, going to view a an apartment (more strangers), I am a bit of a wreck. Lacking a sense of direction, I am more nervous about the latter rather than the former. Let's hope I don't get lost, folks! Also? Let's hope the apartment is cute and I snag it, ok? OK! I apologize for the rambles, I just needed to get rid of some of the nervousness.

Aqua -- In The Heat of Night

Hot Chip -- One on One

Daft Punk -- Robot Rock

M.I.A. feat. Afrikan Boy-- Hussel

I'm tingling right from my head to my toes

Music is the poetry of the air.
-Richter

This week's edition is dedicated to The Mac, just because it can be.

Fleetwood Mac -- Thrown Down
You've shaken your faith in me, no
You've shaken my faith in everything else
A decision no one makes, and now you're going home
Faith is a hard thing to hold on to
Something inside you says I don't have to
You're not like other people, you do what you want to
You're not like other people, you do what you want to...


Fleetwood Mac -- You & I, Part II
I wake up
With my eyes shut tight
Hoping tomorrow will never come
For you and I
Oh the phantoms
Crawl out of the night
Hoping the daylight will never come
For you and I
Keep your heart open and your eyes shut tight
What will be, will be
Keep your heart open and your eyes shut tight
But don't forget about me...


Fleetwood Mac -- Behind the Mask
I don't know if I want you back
You're the cool nights of the desert
And the hot kisses of the sun
Why is it that I don't believe you
When you say I'm the only one
I know I'm the lonely one...


Fleetwood Mac -- Storms
So I try to say
Goodbye my friend
I'd like to leave you with something warm
But never have I been a blue calm sea
I have always been a storm...



Fleetwood Mac -- Say You Love Me
Have mercy, baby on a poor girl like me,
You know I'm falling, falling, falling at your feet,
I'm tingling right from my head to my toes,
So help me, help me, help me make the feeling go.
'Cause when the loving starts, and the lights go down,
And there's not another living soul around,
Then you woo me until the sun comes up,
And you say that you love me...

Fo' sho if I tell you how to do my dance, maybe then you'll let me get in those pants

Having found a proper date for tonight, the anxiety is gone and the excitement is on--on like Donkey Kong, baby! Okay, so to say the least: I am excited. And honestly, if I may say so, I am more excited about seeing Chromeo tonight then Justice. Blasphemous, a bit, I know. But over the last few weeks, I've become addicted to Fancy Footwork. I don't what it is with that album, but I keep going back to it. It's like dirty 80's synth pop that learned how to shower--I don't know how else to describe it. Justice is going to phenomenawesome fo' sho, but I think Chromeo are going to be the ones to start tearing things up. Also, I can't help but love an album whose beats remind me of Ghostbusters and Batman. Listen to the album and you'll know what I mean.

Anyways, as I was saying, the concert tonight is going to be wicked (how Bostonian of me). It's going to feel amazing to just let fucking loose. Months of frustration to be danced away in just a few short hours. Ugh, it's going to be better than...well, lets just say lots of things. Since New York is the only date all the acts are scheduled to play (hooray!), let's celebrate! It's all about the little victories, folks.

Justice -- Stress

Chromeo -- Bonafide Lovin'

Diplo -- Must Be A Devil

Busy P -- 49ers

DJ Mehdi -- Stick It

Fancy -- To Stir Someone Like You

Justice -- The Party

Diplo feat. Rye Rye-- Wassupwassup

Busy P -- Rainbow Man

Chromeo -- Call Me Up

DJ Mehdi -- Lucky Girl

Fancy -- Morning

Mix: It was 2pm on an idle Sunday...

...when boxes were packed, then unpacked, then re-packed. Possessions sorted into piles--what to keep, what to throw away, what to sell. Possessions packed into boxes. Possessions no longer possessions so much as they were objects in boxes. In boxes, ready to move. Ready to move...

The Chemical Brothers -- Saturate

Chromeo -- 100%

Alkaline Trio -- Goodbye Forever

Flogging Molly -- Man With No Country

Bob Dylan -- One More Cup Of Coffee

Pete Townshend -- The Sea Refuses No River

Coconut Records -- Summer Day

George Harrison -- What Is Life

The Grass Roots -- Let's Live For Today

The Chemical Brothers -- No Path To Follow

40k Hoo-ray!

40,000th track scrobbled on my LastFM today. If LastFM worked properly, I probably would have broke that mark a week ago, but no biggie. To celebrate? Two tracks each from my top five listened to artists according to LastFM.


The Who -- I'm a Boy

The Who -- A Legal Matter

Bob Dylan -- If You Gotta Go, Go Now (Or Else you Gotta Stay All Night)

Bob Dylan -- Mama, You've Been On My Mind

Patrick Wolf -- Gypsy King

Patrick Wolf -- To the Lighthouse

Simon & Garfunkel -- Bookends

Simon & Garfunkel -- Richard Cory

Morrissey -- The Father Who Must Be Killed

Morrissey -- The Last of the Famous International Playboys

Cover Me This, Cover Me That!, Installment Four

This installment will be a tad longer as to cover not only last week but this week. Shut it, this is blogtatorship, not a blogocracy.


Glen Hansard & Colm MacConlomaire -- "Every Time" (Britney Spears)

Bree Sharp -- We're Going to be Friends (White Stripes)

Chris Cornell -- Billie Jean (Michael Jackson)

Cat Power -- New York, New York (Frank Sinatra)

Johnny Cash feat.Fiona Apple -- Bridge Over Troubled Water (Simon & Garfunkel)

David Bowie -- Across the Universe (The Beatles)

Kathryn Williams -- All Apologies (Nirvana)

Ben Gibbard -- Thrillrer (Michael Jackson)

Boyce Avenue -- Umbrella (Rihanna)

D -- Irreplaceable (Beyonce)

Dawn Landes -- Young Folks (Peter, Bjorn, & John )

Ben Gibbard, Ted Leo, Tom Scharpling, Patton Oswalt -- Take a Chance On Me

Rogue Wave -- On A Plain (Nirvana)

KT Tunstall -- I Want You Back (Jackson 5)

Tragically Hip -- Queen Bitch (David Bowie)

Radiohead -- Sunday Bloody Sunday (U2)

Would You Stay if She Promised You Heaven?

Fleetwood Mac--a band that truly has my heart. If ever I marry, I think one of my requirements in a spouse would be that he loves Fleetwood Mac. Because one, if he could sing me any of the mushy love songs they've put out over the years, I could never be mad at him, two, he's obviously good people, and three, when listening to The Mac, all I want to do is makeout and be gushy with someone--especially when listening to their album, Tango in the Night. Between "Big Love," "Family Man," and my personal favourite Mac tune, "Everywhere"--this girl's heart can't help but get all a-flutter. You want to know why else Fleetwood Mac is amazing? They can do angst and heartbreak just as well as they can do lovey-dovey--and they can do it smiling whilst giving their ex the lyrics they inspired and then ask them to not only sing them, but record them as well. Isn't falling in love with a colleague a bitch--especially when you're in a band? While I am a Stevie Nicks girl myself (short chicks need to stick together), if the only Fleetwood Mac songs you know are Stevie driven, you need go out and buy Fleetwood Mac & Tango in the Night, stat. Oh, and when you buy Fleetwood Mac make sure you listen to the entire album, and not just the tracks you know. There will be a quiz, so make sure you study.


Fleetwood Mac -- You Make Loving Fun

Fleetwood Mac -- The Chain

Fleetwood Mac -- What Makes You Think You're The One

Fleetwood Mac -- Family Man

Fleetwood Mac -- Caroline

Fleetwood Mac -- Big Love

Fleetwood Mac -- Brown Eyes

Fleetwood Mac -- When I See You Again

Fleetwood Mac -- Sentimental Lady

Fleetwood Mac -- Love That Woman

Fleetwood Mac -- Looking For Somebody

Fleetwood Mac -- Dissatisfied

Fleetwood Mac -- Mystery Boogie

Fleetwood Mac -- Love That Burns

Fleetwood Mac -- Heroes Are Hard to Find

Fleetwood Mac -- Hypnotised

Fleetwood Mac -- Landslide

Fleetwood Mac -- Over My Head

Fleetwood Mac -- Spare Me A Little Of Your Love

Fleetwood Mac -- Sometimes

Mashing: not just for Potatoes, Part IV

I'm about two days behind, so pardon. Between work, work, packing, apartment hunting, and just general living, this female didn't realise the week was through.

Aber N Stein -- Disco Inferno (50 Cent vs The Tramps)

Lenlow -- ABC+OPP (Allman Brothers vs Naughty By Nature vs Jackson 5)

DJ C Boast -- Pure Body Movin' (Beastie Boys vs All Saints)

Digital Punkz -- Starman's Next Episode (David Bowie vs Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre)

Brat -- Big Shot Pimpin' (Billy Joel vs Jay-Z)

Cry on my Console -- This Is One 2 Work Ur Bodygaurd (Paul Simon vs Ciara)

Flump -- Unpretty Bop (TLC vs Hanson)

Manriki -- Smoo Talking (Soulwax vs Michael Jackson)

Visually Delicious, Part III

Gnarls Barkley -- Run

The single dropped last month, this month we have a video. Guest-starring J. Timb as the City Vibin' host, the video has the Gnarls duo as performers on a music show--think American Bandstand in the '80s. At the 2:20 mark, the acid you forgot to drop kicks in as the visual effects pick up. Good watch, making me all the more anxious for their sophmore release, The Odd Couple, to drop next month.


Erykah Badu -- Honey

Speaking of waiting for new releases, Erykah Badu dropped Part One of her New Emerykah releases, New Amerykah Part One (4th World War) on February 26th. "Honey" is the first single offf the album. The video is brilliant in my opinion. Having Ms. Badu recreate the covers of several classic albums, as well as the Yoko One and John Lennon Rolling Stones cover. Unique, fresh--one would expect nothing less from her.


OutKast -- Ghettomusick

To keep the videos connected, I'm throwing up one from Badu's babydaddy, Andre 3000. The tune is Big Boi based, so 3000 doesn't even appear in the video, but can be heard throughout the chorus.


Since homegirl is tired and still has to go to work, this week's installment is going to fall two videos (as well as tracks) short. Don't worry though, I'll catch you on the flipside.

Six Degrees: Round One

Six Degrees of Musical Separation--standard Kevin Bacon rules apply, sans the Kevin Bacon (at least until I work in the Bacon Brothers). Producers, offspring, lovers, mentors, fellow musicians, etc., are all fair game. Since this is going to become a regular feature, challenges are not only welcomed, but encouraged and should be e-mailed to me or left in a comment.



Bob Dylan made several babies with his first wife, Sara Lownds, the youngest being Jakob. George Harrison of Beatles, also made some babies, one being Dhani Harrison. Dhani and Jakob would later grow up to become musicians like their papas. This would ultimately lead to them collaborating on a cover of John Lennon's "Gimme Some Truth." Dhani appeared on the Wu-Tang's latest group effort, 8 Diagrams, on the track, "The Heart Gently Weeps"--a re-working of The Beatles's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." Huzzah!

4 Degrees: Bob Dylan -> Jakob Dylan -> Dhani Harrison -> Wu-Tang Clan

Bob Dylan -- Summer Days

Jakob Dylan & Dhani Harrison -- Gimme Some Truth

Wu-Tang Clan feat. Dhani Harrison & Erykah Badu -- The Heart Gently Weeps

My life has become a boring pop song, and eveyone's singing along

Music is the poetry of the air.
-Richter


Simon & Garfunkel -- Flowers Never Bend With The Rainfall
It's no matter if youre born
To play the king or pawn
For the line is thinly drawn tween joy and sorrow,
So my fantasy
Becomes reality,
And I must be what I must be and face tomorrow.
So Ill continue to continue to pretend
My life will never end,
And flowers never bend
With the rainfall...

The Pogues -- Misty Morning, Albert Bridge
I dreamt we were standing
By the banks of the Thames
Where the cold grey waters ripple
In the misty morning light
Held a match to your cigarette
Watched the smoke curl in the mist
Your eyes, blue as the ocean between us
Smiling at me
I awoke alone and lonely
In a faraway place
The sun fell cold upon my face
The cracks in the ceiling spelt hell
Turned to the wall
Pulled the sheets around my head
Tried to sleep, and dream my way
Back to you again...


Jack's Mannequin -- I'm Ready
(I wake up to find it's another
Four aspirin morning, and I dive in
I put on the same clothes I wore yesterday.
When did society decide that we had to change
And wash a tee shirt after every individual use:
If it's not dirty, I'm gonna wear it.
I take the stairs to the car
And there's fog on the windows.
(And I'm Fighting the words...)
I need caffeine in my blood stream,
I take caffeine in the blood stream.
I grip the wheel and all at once I realize:
(And you're getting away...)
My life has become a boring pop song
And everyone's singing along...)


Aesop Rock -- Basic Cable
Television; all hail grand pixelated god of
fantasy, murder-scape, and bent perspective.
Fuck a sore channel changed digit,
I sit with a nasty network intravenous plan,
with a stable diet of my cable pirate.
Yo, the doctor is in, the doctor is on,
born the bastard son of static radiance cloned to welcome in every home.
Let a blue screen, bruised dream canopy
victim of the cursed nursed Technicolor drunk support team.
Ooh, I love all advertisements
though accused by robot news casters who capture and pollute
spoon-fed hazardous fog to joy luck catholic squad.
Please take me, please calm me, please make me a zombie
please I want to donate my brain to the monstrous Panasonic profit...


Antony and the Johnsons -- Hope There's Someone
Hope there's someone
Who'll set my heart free
Nice to hold when I'm tired
There's a ghost on the horizon
When I go to bed
How can I fall asleep at night
How will I rest my head
Oh I'm scared of the middle place
Between light and nowhere
I don't want to be the one
Left in there, left in there...

Mix: Then they arrested everybody.

"I came back to save rock 'n' roll..."

Tom Stoppard & New York City--how can one's day get any better? Phenomenal play coupled with phenomenal music in good ol' New York Town. I had never read, let alone seen a play incorporate music as Rock 'N' Roll did. Stoppard is pretty specific throughout his masterpiece as to what songs should be used during blackouts. Each song emphasizing the scene that preceded it. I was going to scour through the play for a playlist of songs, but the playbill from the show saved me the trouble. There are a few differences, but they're minor. Now without further delay...

Syd Barrett -- Golden Hair

Bob Dylan -- I'll Be Your Baby Tonight

The Rolling Stones -- The Last Time

The Rolling Stones -- It's All Over Now

The Plastic People of the Universe -- The Universe Symphony and Melody

The Velvet Underground -- Venus in Furs

The Doors -- Break On Through (To the Other Side)

The Velvet Underground -- I'm Waiting For the Man

Pink Floyd -- Astronomy Domine

Syd Barrett -- Terrapin

Pink Floyd -- Jugband Blues

The Rolling Stones -- It's Only Rock 'n' Roll

The Grateful Dead -- Chinatown Shuffle

Pink Floyd -- Welcome to the Machine

The Beach Boys -- Wouldn't It Be Nice

U2 -- I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

Pink Floyd -- Wish You Were Here

John Lennon -- Give Peace a Chance

John Lennon -- Bring It On Home to Me

The Cure -- Boys Don't Cry

Pink Floyd -- Vera

The Rolling Stones -- You Got Me Rockin'

Mix: Dig, Dug, Dun, duh!

Favourite tracks of the moment, in no particular order, y'all! A hip swingin', rump shakin' mix with a couple chill-out tracks for good measure.

Aesop Rock -- N.Y. Electric

Backstreet Boys -- Everything But Mine

GZA -- Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth

DJ Krush feat. Aesop Rock -- Kill Switch (Beep Mix)

Jay-Z feat. Lil Wayne -- Hello Brooklyn 2.0

Beastie Boys -- Shake Your Rump

Rihanna -- Push Up On Me

Pharrell -- Baby

Fleetwood Mac -- Everywhere

Nina Simone -- Marriage is for Old Folks

Tender Forever -- Rad

The Shins -- A Comet Appears