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.