Friday music time! Since I’m too lazy/busy/insert-explanatory-adjective here to write anything heartfelt or insightful today, instead I give you some cheesy songs to listen to. And when I say cheesy, I really mean it. I have a whole Pandora station called “Cheesy Dance Party.” I listen to it almost every day.
I’ve never quite figured out how to describe my taste in music, which is fine by me but confounding to others. You already have my favorite torch songs, this week I give you a litany of cheeseball ditties. They’re kind of in-theme, but as per usual I don’t really know what to call the theme. Ten points go to the first person to correctly identify the overarching sentiment:
I put the ol’ iTunes on shuffle the other week and lo and behold this song came on. I think it came from a mix CD a friend made me in college, but it really sounds like something I would have listened to in the 80s had I not been busy learning to walk and tie my shoes. I have no idea why the music video accompanying it is Party Monster- themed, although it really makes me want to watch that movie. Also, it reminds me that I think my little brother looks like Macaulay Caulkin. He’s not a drag queen, though. Although one time I did dress him up like a girl and completely pulled the wool over my grandpa’s eyes. Good times, good times.
I love Prince so, so much. I don’t care what anyone says, he is a supremely beautiful man. And how can you not love his little boatneck shirt in this? 80s fashion was so underrated, until it was overrated.
Freakishly, I didn’t really start listening to Prince until the summer of 2005, when I spent a lot of time commuting with a Prince mixtape. I am pretty sure I first saw the above video, though, while my big sister was babysitting my little brother and me while watching VH1. I was definitely way too young to be watching this pure filth, but it must’ve sunk in because I have a fondness for Prince that’s out of proportion for someone who didn’t grow up with Princely goodness. Also? I think a love of Prince must run in the family – my sister and my aunt both love Prince too.
I have no explanation/excuse for this. I will say that it looks like the perfect candidate for a literal video interpretation.
Everyone loves PJ Harvey. This one’s from a mix CD my Brooklyn friend mailed me one sweltering summer in BFE, Oregon. I listened to it while drinking wine and making collages in my trashy apartment and taking unnatural measures of pleasure out of picking out my own movies to watch before falling asleep on the living room floor.
This one might actually fit in better with the torch songs. But you could also do an interpretive dance to it if you wanted to. Heh. Anyway, I got this from Ms. Deena, who put it on a mix CD called “dancey music” which is most excellent in every which way.
Since it’s Friday, that also means it’s weekend open thread time. I don’t have any topics in mind, so talk amongst yourselves about whatever pleases you! Just so long as the things that please you are mostly legal and thoroughly nonviolent, ‘course.
Who even still makes mix CD's nowadays?!
Awesome people, of course!
Awesome! I hadn't heard some of these before; looking forward to checking them out.Efffff yes, I **love** PJ Harvey, especially that album and that song. It reminds me of when I lived in Michigan and would drive on an interstate highway to see a friend of mine (coincidentally named Sarah). At the time, she lived 45 minutes west of me, which was the perfect length of time for blasting that CD and singing along at 70 mph.Yay, glad you like that last song; thanks for the sweet shout-out!! Some of my favorite songs to sing along to:Neko Case, "Hold On, Hold On"Mike Doughty, "I Hear the Bells"Martha Wainwright, "Bloody Motherfucking Asshole"Ani DiFranco, "Both Hands" (or a lot of other songs by her)Billy Bragg, "New England"Teddy Thompson, "Tonight Will Be Fine" (Leonard Cohen cover and, imho, better than the original)Happy Friday!
My mother absolutely LOVED Bette Davis eyes! How about that!
Every time I watch Prince I'm torn between giggling at the visuals–the lighting, the wardrobe, Prince himself–and being impressed by the music. Miles Davis, who besides being a huge talent (and a mega-asshole) was also very sharp at spotting musical talent in others, admired Prince's music and as long as I'm not actually looking at the screen, so do I.
Deeena! That Neko Case song is fantastic, and also there is a fab cover of it by Marianne Faithfull. Ani’s “Both Hands” is the first song I would learn if I were learning to play the guitar, that way I could slay hearts with a single strum. Muah ha ha! I can’t believe I’d never heard that New England song before; I would very much like to sing it for karaoke, except of course I can’t sing. Coincidentally, you’ve won the “ten points” by guessing that these are all songs that I’ve blasted while driving along the highway at 70 mph and singing along at the top of my lungs.Hattie: Your mom and I are just a couple o’ cheeseballs, it would seem.John – Samesies. I recently watched Purple Rain for the first time and it was absolutely excruciating. I should have watched it ten years ago, I probably would’ve felt differently. Anyway, I mostly watched it on double-speed to get to the music parts.
John – Samesies. I recently watched Purple Rain for the first time and it was absolutely excruciating. I agree completely. And do not under any circumstances watch "Under the Cherry Moon."
I want a mix-cd!! *pouts*
Your wish is my command! I shall Facebook you, and then hold your CD hostage til December…
Oh gosh, the Marianne Faithfull cover of "Hold On, Hold On" gives me the chills every time I listen to it. Her voice is amazing.Re: "Both Hands" by Ani–when I moved to Washington, DC, I surprised a friend by showing up to her monthly guitar gig at a local bookstore. She sang me a very sweet cover of "Both Hands" and it was such a lovely welcome to the city. (A feminist friend that I met at the March for Women's Lives back in 2004, no less!)Don't worry, I can't sing either–I'm tonedeaf. I sing anyway.
Your "I sing anyway" reminded me of A Softer World, which I heart.'Course, I sing mostly in my car, when no one else is around, and I can't hear myself over the loudness of whatever song is playing. And let's not forget the impromptu kitchen dance parties!