10 posts tagged “music”

Justin Timberlake has a good work ethic.

You can just tell by the way he performs. Maybe it's because he grew up in the South and has been performing since he was a child and all those years on the Mickey Mouse Club taught him a little something about putting on a good show. It's that same upbringing that makes him incapable of addressing elders without the requisite "Sir" or "Maam" -- the sort of politeness that he exhibits when he's Punk'd by Ashton Kutcher and still manages to say "please" and "thank you" to the people breaking his stuff.

You know that JT has a good work ethic because even though doors opened at 11:00 pm and he didn't go on until 1:30 am, he arrived at Roseland at 9:30 pm and was dutifully performing the sound check along with the other musicians while we, and hundreds of others, stood outside Roseland. It's that same work ethic and sincerity that renders it impossible to believe that he really doesn't give a fuck whether the crowd at Roseland enjoyed his show or not.

JT wants us to believe he doesn't care. And he wants us to know he's bad and no longer a Mousekateer or *NSYNCer -- that's why he uses the middle fingers (both, actually) now, swills beers between songs and pantomimes smoking pot. He's eager to look bad. And he knows how to do eager well. That eagerness and sincerity is the essence of Justin Timberlake. That eagerness is why we love JT.

But the thing is, you can't fault JT for the fronting -- or frontin' as he might be likely to say. Justin is a born performer and that very same eagerness and general love for what he's doing can also translate as dorkiness. But when he tries to seem bad, it's not like K-Fed trying to seem bad. This partly has to do with one being talented and one being K-Fed. But it's more than that. JT actually seems like a nice guy and someone that is dedicated to make you feel the same way about music that he does. And K-Fed seems like the type of guy who makes his pregnant wife jog next to his golf cart while he drinks a frappuccino and smokes. 

All you have to do is watch the video of his entrance to understand the dilemma that JT faces. Here, standing in general admission and having waited two and three and four hours in line to see him perform are all the girls that made JT's career. Sure, they're older and a little worse for wear than when they listened to No Strings Attached, but they're still there. And they know how to scream.

And then up in the mezzanine you have the celebrities -- many of them familiar with crafting their image to serve a certain role and fill a gap in the music industry. The folks we saw -- Pink, Diddy (who I half-expected to have had someone with him to clap for him), Nick Lachey are there either as fans or friends or both. And Justin as a performer, performs to them as well.

It all reminded of the scene in Grease where Danny is all excited to see Sandy but when his friends catch this excitement he reverts back into "cool" and "aloof" Danny. As a musician, if the audience doesn't like the songs of FutureSex/LoveSounds, he's comfortable issuing the big FU. As a performer with fans, he's got to let us know he loves us.

Even with the frontin' -- actually even because of the frontin' -- Justin Timberlake knows how to give his fans a memorable and, dare I say, amazing performance.  He brings his musical guests up on stage with a sort of grace similar to someone inviting a dear friend into their living room after a long trip. He makes you believe that his job up on stage is not only to entertain the concert goers, but also those who have stopped by to say hello. As Ben said in his own post, this graciousness and comfort in letting others perform their own stuff on his stage makes you realize what confidence is really about. It's certainly not just saying he doesn't care, it's taking the chances and showing he cares through taking risks. It's these risks and talent that make Justin someone you're willing to fly across the country to see perform.

[1] The title refers to the saddest line uttered on Punk'd, maybe MTV for that matter (at around 3:25 in this clip).

Thanks to Krissy for the introduction to Tilly & the Wall. I've been listening to these two albums non-stop for the past day and a half and am loving them absolutely and completely. Krissy first mentioned them but I'm listening to the albums on Harold's iTunes. So thanks to Harold, too!

What are your three favorite album covers of all-time? Any honorable mentions?

Question submitted by Tamara.

New Order's Substance. Such a simple cover, but the sort of cover that made me want to be a designer. How do you make an album cover look good with four words and one line? Yeah, there's the White Album -- but this is art. And, everytime I see the flyer for The End Up's Substance party, I appreciate the nod.

The Beatles (White Album) didn't make it on my list, but Abbey Road did. Abbey Road is like a tree. You just have to look at a tree to know it's a tree. You're so familiar with what a tree is, that you never look at the thing as anything more than "tree." Same thing with Abbey Road -- or maybe even more Sgt. Pepper's. We've seen the cover so many times, that's it boring. But really, this is a great cover with a bunch of details to be noticed -- especially if you're a Paul is Dead sort of believer.

 

I can't do any list without Melody Nelson. This is the example of the perfect package -- amazing album and the exact right cover. Jane Birkin's on the cover, dressed as Melody and it's so wrong and so right.

Some honorable mentions:

Albums that stand out for what they do great -- representing eras (Judy in Love), musical genres (Jazz and Blue Noteish art with Time Out) and the art of special packaging (Very).

What song was number one on the charts the day you were born? How about the day you turned 21? What do you think about the result?

 

I did the search for my birthday and found out the result was "Best of My Love" by The Emotions. Hmm... that song didn't sound familiar, so I decided to listen to it at the iTunes music store.

Oh shit. It's the official anthem to easy-listening radio station commercials.

Play the song and imagine these lines being said over the song:

"When I'm at work, I love listening to music. And with The Mixx (or some other lame name for a channel), I can enjoy fifteen songs in a row with absolutely no interruption. The Mixx gets me through my work day."

I really don't like that song.

But oh, wait. The song when I turned 21 is much worse! "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith. Oh no, it's the song from Armageddon.

Dismayed, I checked out the number ones from the British charts. On my birthday, "Way Down" by Elvis Presley. Well, Elvis died exactly a month before I was born, but this song sort of sucks. Maybe that's why. How about the British charts when I turned 21.

Oh snap, it's "Millenium" by Robbie Williams. I can get behind that song.

1. Randomly pick a song from your music library.
2. Find the lyrics for the first four verses/chorus
3. Go to Google translation and translate the lyrics from English into German.
4. Take the new German lyrics and translate them into French.
5. Take the new French lyrics and translate them into English.
6. Post the NEW English lyrics and have people guess the original song
   

Here's Mine:

Recent I it strange feeling
without clear reason, to find here
but it thought of losing yous to hang to the entour
my broad understanding

Frequent you're to carry matter
you no special places statement, to go around however,
if I to require, become you soon you to know not,
to never know to turn over

Well in wishing a man to mean
much premonition loss to hope
but that I true to feel, that my eye not causes me to dissimulate to leave,
to start they always to cry this time to
cause to be able to mean over re-examining

Recent Ive, which in much slow mirror anstarrt me,
with share to choose tentative,
itself to explain me no reason
with your heart

We've moved a lot in the past couple years and over the course of these moves I've gotten rid of the CDs that truly embarrass me. I'm certain, though, that there is probably a Mint Car single that I've forgotten to toss. Any Cure single from Wild Mood Swings would probably make the list.

But if you're asking me what the most embarrassing CD in Ben and my collective collection, I'll easily point to Aja[1] by Steely Dan. Which, was not only bought by Ben in the past month, but is also in play in our car. I've told him I won't listen to that shit and he has to listen to it when he's driving alone. I'm not quite sure why he likes that album or Steely Dan for that matter. I've likened it to bad 80s television intros. But he won't listen.

[1] I wish we had the exclude feature for assets in place already so Aja wouldn't go into my stream.

Courtesy of Ben who got it from Krissy , this insanely thorough music meme:

Name your top 10 most played bands on iTunes (Or Last.FM):

1. Jane Birkin
2. Serge Gainsbourg
3. The White Stripes
4. The Fiery Furnaces
5. Gwen Stefani
6. Willie Nelson
7. The Kleptones
8. Air
9. Françoise Hardy
10. Frank Black

What was the first song you ever heard by 6 (Willie Nelson)?
I first remember hearing "On the Road Again" as a child, but since Stardust came out earlier than that and my family played the record a lot, I would probably say "Stardust."

What is your favorite album of 2 (Serge Gainsbourg)?
Probably Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin.

What is your favorite lyric that 5 (Gwen Stefani) has sung?
"Let me hear you say, this shit is bananas / B-A-N-A-N-A-S"

How many times have you seen 4 (The Fiery Furnances) live?
Only once. I wasn't so keen on them live since it was a bit too experimental in delivery. And, my contacts fell out and I couldn't see.

What is your favorite song by 7 (The Kleptones)?
"Plan," off of A Night at the Hip Hopera.

What is a good memory you have involving the music of 10 (Frank Black)?
When I listen to Frank Black, I'm often reminded Teenager of the Year poster that Ben had in his room in high school. One of our friends was named "Teenager of the Year" when we were seniors and I photoshopped our friend's face in that picture.

Is there a song of 3 (The White Stripes) that makes you sad?
"We Are Going to Be Friends" off of White Blood Cells. That McCartney-like happy sadness. I could easily imagine the next couple of verses where they get old, fall in love and then die.

What is your favorite lyric that 2 (Serge Gainsbourg) has sung?
From "Les Sucettes": "Annie aime les sucettes / Les sucettes à l’anis / Les sucettes à l’anis / D’Annie / Donnent à ses baisers / Un goût ani- / sé lorsque le sucre d’orge / Parfumé à l’anis / Coule dans la gorge d’Annie / Elle est au paradis"

How did you get into 3 (The White Stripes)?
I resisted liking or listening to The White Stripes for the longest time. Therefore, it was when Ben purchased Elephant that I even considered listening to them.

What was the first song you heard by 1 (Jane Birkin)?
"Je T'aime...Moi Non Plus." I'm pretty certain I heard the Jane Birkin version before the Bardot version.

What is your favorite song by 4 (The Fiery Furnaces)?
Narrowing down to one song was actually a lot harder than I thought. I would probably say "Mason City" off of Blueberry Boat.

How many times have you seen 9 (Françoise Hardy) live?
Never.

What is a good memory you have involving 2 (Serge Gainsbourg)?
Nothing in particular -- just the general association I have with him. Basically, these last seven years of my life.

Is there a song of 8 (Air) that makes you sad?
"The Way You Look Tonight" from 10,000 Hz Legend (Japanese Import).

What is your favorite album of 5 (Gwen Stefani)?
That one's easy. One album, one favorite: Love. Angel. Music. Baby.

What is your favorite lyric that 3 (The White Stripes) has sung?
From "Take, Take, Take": "She turned and said to me, "I need to go to sleep," / And it seemed so mean / It's almost as if she could not appreciate how cool I was being"

What is your favorite song of 1 (Jane Birkin)?
So, so hard. "Fuir le bonheur de peur qu'il ne se sauve" or "Jane B."

What is your favorite song of 10 (Frank Black)?
"Everything is New" from Show Me Your Tears.

How many times have you seen 8 (Air) live?
Once.

What is your favorite album of 1 (Jane Birkin)?
Arabesque. It can relax me like no other album.

What is a great memory you have considering 9 (Francoise Hardy)?
The first time I heard Francoise Hardy was actually on "To the End" by Blur. Brit Pop always makes me feel younger, which is always the sort of good memory to have.

What was the first song you heard by 8 (Air)?
"Sexy Boy".

What is your favorite cover by 2 (Gainsbourg)?
"Jane B." is more an adaptation of Chopin's Prelude No. 4 in E minor, but that's the one. If we're talking about covers of Gainsbourg, I'd say Mick Harvey's "The Ticket Puncher" from Pink Elephants -- it's a cover of "Le poinçonneur des lilas."

My first concert, BFD was a Live 105's all-day festival in 1995. Musically, not very memorable. I can't even remember the bands other than Frente and the Violent Femmes. But what freedom! Because my friend Beth and I had to lie and say we were sleeping-over at each other's houses, and because we never considered where we would actually stay after the show was over, we ended up sleeping in my car in a library parking lot.

Though this concert was the first one I attended, I consider my second concert to far superior -- Violent Femmes at the Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa in 1995. This concert was one of my top five.

Alaina posted the most insanely cute video. Seriously, I want to squeeze that little kitten's face! She's so cute.

In response I want to share one of Alaina and my favorite videos of the human sort. Enjoy.

At first glance the answer to this question seemed to be a no-brainer. I've been a Paul lover for as long as I have liked the Beatles. Paul's the cute one and I like the cute one. The way he bobs his head, his big eyes, the way he holds his bass in the wrong hand. Everything is there to make him my favorite Beatle.

And he was.

My room, as a teenager, was decorated as a shine to the Beatles and for every one picture of them as a group, there were two of Paul. Instead of studying Algebra (so I wouldn't have to take it yet another year), I filled the free space of my mind with stupid trivia about Paul such as "what's Paul's middle name? [1]"

Then there are the Paul songs that drive me crazy and make me not want to like Paul at all. Or, worse yet, bump him below Ringo in rank. Is Let It Be enough reason to drop him? What about The Long and Winding Road ? [2]

Over the years, I've realized that two of my favorite Beatles songs happen to be George songs -- I Me Mine and While My Guitar Gently Weeps . Whether or not that maks George my favorite Beatle is debatable. But, he's certainly giving Paul a run for his money.

[1] Paul's middle name is Paul. His first name is James. Good thing I remember that after all these years.

[2] The album Let it Be...Naked was supposed to redeem The Long and Winding Road . The much simpler, less produced, Phil Spectorless version was supposed to be good. I wanted to like it. But it's still the motherfucking Long and Winding Road.