hey now hey now… don’t dream, it’s over.

Don’t Dream It’s Over – Crowded House

This blog should’ve just been called I love the 80’s.. because this is yet another 80’s song. I never realized how much of my iTunes consisted of 80’s music. This is kind of like My Strange Addiction: I’m Addicted to 80’s Culture.

Usually I have a whole little anecdote about the song or some fun fact about the band… but for this one I’ve really got nothing. I found the song on VH1 Classic, liked it, and bought it. Crowded House was just an Australian one hit wonder. This song reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100…. and that’s really all there is to say about them.

But any whooooo. This is a good song.  l like it at least. (well clearly I like it… it’s on my my iTunes) It’s not a very happy song, though. Kind of depressing, actually. Clearly and blatantly not a very happy song. “hey now, hey now. don’t dream it’s over.” Not exactly uplifting inspirational lyrics. More something you listen to after your boyfriend just dumped you and you’re sitting alone in your room eating a tub of ice cream.

And the music video just keeps on with the melancholy mood. Maybe it’s supposed to be nostalgic, I’m not exactly sure. But the guy starts off in one room, then walks into that room as it was in the 70’s and in the 60’s and in the 50’s… at least that’s what it seems like to me. Either that or he is causally walking back through time, I’m not really sure. It’s kind of hard to explain, you sort of just need to see the video. But then there’s plates breaking which just makes me think of shattered dreams. I’m not really sure what’s going on… I’d say take a look it for yourself. Just your typical weird, off the wall 80’s music video.

here’s the link to music video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9gKyRmic20

and if any of you are gleeks…. glee did a cover, too. – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q562lDy4rns

now I’ve got you in my sights with these HUNGRY EYES.

Hungry Eyes – Eric Carmen (Dirty Dancing soundtrack)

And so another one of the great musical masterpieces of the 80’s – Hungry Eyes. I’m sure you’ll recognize the song… it was used in a M&M’s commercial not too long ago. But I know it from Dirty Dancing. Patrick Swayze starred in Dirty Dancing and is one the great loves of my life. I think I watched Dirty Dancing about 50 times when I found he died; I was devastated. He also played in The Outsiders and Red Dawn (two other fabulous 80’s movies- and a fun fact for ya: Red Dawn was the first movie to receive a PG-13 movie rating).

I’m sorry I had to include a picture… he’s just such a beautiful man.

Just the other day I watched the remake of Red Dawn, and as much as I love Chris Hemsworth, he couldn’t come close to comparing to Patrick Swayze. The original Red Dawn was so much better. But I digress. Back to the music. I have the whole Dirty Dancing soundtrack (yeah, I’m weird like that. I also own the Breakfast Club soundtrack, and tons of popular songs from other 80’s movies like Maniac from Flashdance and of course Footloose.). I think I’ve already professed my love of 80’s music to you guys… multiple times… but I just can’t help but talk about how wonderful and amazing and awesome it is. Another fun fact about the Dirty Dancing soundtrack: Patrick Swayze recorded a song on it. She’s Like the Wind. Patrick Swayze is just a man of many talents. But besides the fact that I love Dirty Dancing because Patrick Swayze stars in it, it also has a great soundtrack. It has a lot of great 60’s music… it’s actually where I first heard (and came to like) the song Hey Baby… which you all should know as Penn Staters (and if you don’t know it… seriously what are ya doing at Penn State!?!). There’s also Love is Strange… to which Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze do a nice little dance to. But of course, the most famous song to come out of Dirty Dancing was I’ve Had the Time of My Life. After Patrick Swayze states that “nobody puts Baby in the corner,” he end of the movie all culminates in the oh-so-famous jump as Jennifer Grey, or Baby, jumps into the air and Patrick Swayze catches her. Instant movie magic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AskeXw74alk (clip from Dirty Dancing with the song :D)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucHCgc48Z1s (M&M commercial with Hungry Eyes)

The Rolling Stones: the band, the myth, the legend.

Sweet Virginia – The Rolling Stones

Sooooo basically if you don’t know who the Rolling Stones are, you live under a rock. But I’m sure you are all familiar with the Stones. Naturally, with my fascination with everything old, I am a fan. Everything from Angie to Wild Horses to Satisfaction, the Rolling Stones are the embodiment of classic rock. There’s nothing particularly specail about this song, but it is my favorite Stones song. It sounds very country. Fun fact: Keith Richards was a fan of country music and drew from country music to influence the Stones music. Based on this song, I think the Stones could’ve pulled off country quite well. But I must say that I’m rather happy that they stuck with rock n roll. They were pioneers in the music industry.

I’m not a die hard Stones fan, but you simply can’t like classic rock without liking the Stones. I still remember when I saw them perform the half time show at Super Bowl XL. They were actually older than the actual Super Bowl when they did that show. I didn’t even know who they were then. I remember as soon as everyone found out that the Stones were the half time show, I started seeing people wearing the shirt with the band’s logo and just thinking: why is everyone wearing that? It must mean something if everyone has it on…. And here we are almost 10 years later and I find it so amusing that I had no clue who the Rolling Stones were; now I have their poster on my wall in my bedroom at home. It’s crazy to think how long the band has been together: going strong since 1962. The world of music just wouldn’t be the same without them… Britain just really knows how to give the world great music.

IT’S ONLY HALF PAST 12, BUT I DON’T CARE. IT’S 5:00 SOMEWHERE.

It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere – Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffet

So I was scrutinized by my friends whenever I would express my love of country music, so I learned to fairly well hide it. But, I have to admit it; I am a closet country fan. No one else seems to much like it, but I think its damn catchy and so much fun to sing along to. My mom is a huge country, so driving anywhere with her meant listening to the country station on the radio. My favorite country songs are the ones of the late 90’s and early 2000’s that used to be the soundtrack of my car rides.

I’ve known the words to this song for as long as I can remember. The most exciting thing ever to me was when this song would come on and I would notice that it actually was 5:00 – MIND BLOWN. Of course I never really understood when I was younger that the song was about getting totally hammered at noon on a weekday…. but that is besides the point. Its just a fun song, the kind of song that makes me just wanna sing along at the top of my lungs.

This fun filled, drunken sing along is brought to us courtesy of Alan Jackson, who is a fairly well known country artist, and Jimmy Buffet. If you don’t know who Jimmy Buffet is, just do the world a favor and go away. Just kidding. But actually, I’m judging you if you aren’t familiar with Magaritaville. Another one of those songs that just requires a most obnoxious sing along. So many people say that this down home country music sounds like something only hicks could enjoy, but I think that is seriously understating an absolutely amazing genre of music. You’ve got three kinds of country music: the absolutely tasteless stuff that is meant to be played at a bar to crowd of blacked out overweight backwoods guys; the terribly corny (yet at the same time, somehow incredibly romantic) love songs; and, the songs that somehow manage to capture an entire story in the span of a three minute song. I know so many people who are quick to push country to the side, but don’t. It warms your heart and makes you wish you were back on the farm.

Now I feel like making pancakes….

Send Me On My Way – Rusted Root

I don’t know if you guys are familiar with the movie Matilda…. but that’s the reason I know (and love) this song. I used to watch Matilda all the time when I was little, and my mother would always jokingly call me Matilda because she thought I acted so much like her. Whenever I hear this song, it automatically makes me want to make pancakes. My mind goes straight to the scene when her brother goes off to school and her dad goes off to work and her mom goes off to bingo, and they leave Matilda home alone. As her mom is walking out the door she says “soups on the stove.” The second her mother leaves, Matilda makes herself a hearty breakfast of pancakes… but now I am thinking about pancakes and I’m really hungry. (Late Night at Redifer would be a great solution to this problem… right now it’s a serious consideration despite the fact I live in east)

What made me super excited when I got this song is that iTunes recommended it for me. I spend an obnoxious amount of my time browsing through iTunes… and so when iTunes suggests songs I am always game to find a new band or a new song. (I’ve just recently discovered the wonders of Pandora…. I can’t believe I have survived this long without it…. I have found the most AMAZING songs courtesy of Pandora) I didn’t recognize the song title or band when it popped up, but as soon as I clicked play I was superrrrr excited because I immediately recognized the song from Matilda. But it is a nice catchy little tune, and I highly recommend it as an addition to any iTunes library. It has a nice singer/songwriter vibe and is easy listening. I give it two thumbs up: one for being a great little tune and the other for bringing back memories of a childhood classic (the only downfall is that the song makes me think of pancakes…. and now my tummy is grumbling….)

Matilda pancake scene (with the song in the background) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0ab3213sYY (those pancakes look deliciousssss)

 

Darling won’t you ease my worried mindddddd

Layla – Derek and the Dominos (Eric Clapton)

I hope y’all have at least all heard of Eric Clapton. He was big in the late 60’s and early 70’s. He was also in the band Cream, if you’ve ever heard of them. But I love this song. It is an amazing song, but that’s not why I love it. My first dog, Layla, was named after this song. My dad is a big Clapton fan and this song was his inspiration for naming Layla. We got Layla when I was six. I still remember the day my parents brought her home… they didn’t tell me and my brother that we were getting a dog. It was a total surprise. That was the only time in my life I’ve ever stuttered. When my dad walked in with a dog crate, I could barely formulate the word. D-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-og. I was six years old. We unfortunately had to put Layla to sleep in 2009 because she had cancer, but this song always reminds me of her and makes me smile.

My dog now that we have, Lucy, was also named for a classic rock song. I named Lucy, and she was named for Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (I already ranted in an earlier post about my love for the Beatles…. so yes, I named my dog for a Beatles song). And my cat (who unfortunately passed away this summer) was named Thumbalina, after the fairytale.  My favorite girl’s name is Elizabeth, after Lizzy from Pride and Prejudice. I have already determined if I have a daughter, she will be named Elizabeth because Pride and Prejudice is my absolute favorite book. I like to look to books and songs to find names, I guess. I just think its cool to have a back story to a name… because my mom picked my name because she thought it sounded nice. Its so much cooler to say I was named for someone from a book or a song by my parents’ favorite band. P.S. here’s pictures of my doggies and kitty 😀 (Layla is on top, and Lucy below)

205805_1022911540762_4797370_nimage_1361768374478611photo

(sorry this post wasn’t actually about music…. but here’s the link to the song which I highly recommend you listen to 😀 it’s a pretty good song… my dad didn’t name our dog after it for nothing – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Th3ycKQV_4k)

last name ever, first name greatest

Forever – Drake

Oh my goodness guys! A SONG FROM THIS CENTURY. This is craziness… not only is it from this century, BUT IT’S A RAP SONG.  I honestly am not a huge fan of rap, but since coming to college rap music has grown on me. There are a few rap songs that I really like… despite the vulgarity, inappropriate language, and just over all awfulness of the genre I can’t help but want to rap along. Rap songs are like a guilty pleasure (not that rock n roll is any better with sexual innuendos… if you’ve ever heard songs like Cherry Pie or Pour Some Sugar on Me you know what I’m talking about). But anyways…. this is like one of my pump up songs. I make CD’s for the car at home because I like to listen to songs I know all the words to while driving. On one of my CD’s, there’s a couple of Beatles songs, You’re the Inspiration by Boston, and I think even the Jo Bros…. and then there’s this song. Forever is smack in the middle of 60’s rock and Disney songs… and the look on people’s faces when they realize I know the words is always priceless. It’s so not a typical song I’d like, let alone jam out to. But hey, I’m full of surprises.

But there are quite a few rap songs that no matter how hard I try, I can’t hate them. I try and I try to dislike them, but I feel nothing but unhindered love for them. Some of my faves are Smack That (yes, the Akon song from like 7th grade… I’m obsessed with it), Lose Yourself, Lighters, Like This, Airplanes, Crank That, Low, Swing, Bottoms Up, Down on Me, Ice Ice Baby (I almost know all the words.. that makes me feel accomplished), to name a few. And Kayne. I’ve grown to like Kayne.. Power and Stronger. Now when it comes to rap music I am not quite as knowledgeable about the who’s and when’s. With my other posts, I could give a pretty solid background of the song and the artist, and I actually knew what I was talking about. My rap music knowledge is limited to what I’ve seen on VH1 Classic’s Rap One Hit Wonders and what my sixteen year old brother tells me. Since coming to college, I’ve been introduced to the wonder that is the Notorious B.I.G. I’m working on learning a little something about the rap industry (but I’m taking it slow… I just found out what Taylor Gang is on Sunday…). But I know what’s hip now… I’m obsessed with Thrift Shop and The Wobble. So basically rap music is like my I-know-I-should’t-but-I-can’t-help-but-listen-to genre…. but how can I resist? It’s just so much fun to dance to.

Ohhhhhh! I Need You Now Tonighttttttttt!

Total Eclipse of the Heart – Bonnie Tyler

My second great music love is 80’s music… too good. This gem from 1983 is just one of those songs that requires over the top gesticulation and a dramatic sing along. It’s a one hit wonder… one of the many amazing one hit wonders to come out of the 80’s. Actually the first time I saw this was on VH1. I saw it on Pop Up Video (which I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of… but it’s a thirty minute show that just plays music videos and during the video has little blurbs with fun facts about the artist, song, or video pop up during the video). Here’s one of the fun facts I remember: the rasp you hear in Tyler’s voice is due to a throat surgery she underwent. After her surgery, the distinctive rasp developed. In her case, she should be thankful she needed to undergo that surgery… because that iconic rasp is now so known as many a person has jammed out to her wonderfully over dramatic wonderous rock ballad.

Now if you don’t like 80’s music… I can’t like you. Just kidding! But actually I’m obsessed with 80’s music. I have a collection of cassettes at home, everything from Squeeze to Cyndi Lauper to Led Zeppelin (and I’m impatiently awaiting a cassette player so I can play all my cassettes…). I went through a little phase in like ninth grade during which I decided I was meant to grow up in the 80’s. I only listened to 80’s music, only watched 80’s movies, buffed up on my 80’s history (I have Scene It 80’s at home… and I am currently the reigning champ. My parent’s can’t beat me at it. It’s kind of sad on my part that I actually know that much about 80’s culture.). And the 80’s was the dawning of the music video… so many great videos!!!! My absolute favorite music video is the video for Take On Me (A-Ha). I’ve always thought the concept of going from paper to real life was so cool, and they did it without looking cheesy. Some other great 80’s one hit wonders I highly recommend to you include: Tempted (Squeeze), Tainted Love (Soft Cell), Come On Eileen (Dixy’s Midnight Runners), Everybody Wants to Rule the World (Tears for Fears) and Dead Man’s Party (Oingo Boingo). I could literally go on for another ten pages just talking about all the different 80’s music… I just love it all, from Madonna to Wham! to Duran Duran…. so I’m gonna cut myself off now before I ramble on and bore you guys to death, haha.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpC81-SJcvo (this is the original music video. be prepared for cheesiness to the max…. I LOVE IT. Strangely dressed acrobats… the hair being blown in the wind… dramatic run down a foggy corridor… this could only be a product of the 80’s.)

Another trip back to the 60’s

Unchained Melody – The Righteous Brothers

I apologize for my rather old fashioned taste in music… a significant portion of my music is from the 80’s or earlier. But I really love this song. Originally recorded in the 50’s, the version I have is a cover by the Righteous Brothers from 1965. There’s fond memories attached to it, as my dad used to sing it all the time. I knew all the words to it before I’d ever actually heard the song because he sang it so much. Unchained Melody, along with Put Your Head on My Shoulder (Paul Anka) and Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (The Platters), could be heard at virtually any time in my house. My dad was always singing. And just like Unchained Melody, I knew all the words to both Put Your Head on My Shoulder and Smoke Gets in Your Eyes before ever actually hearing a recorded version of the song. So I guess my father is to blame for my infatuation with older music… because it’s courtesy of driving around with him when I was younger that I grew to like Frankie Valley and the Four Seasons and the Mamas and the Papas and everything else they played on the oldies and classic rock station.

But I really do love these sappy old love songs. There’s an innocence and sincerity about them that you just really don’t see in music anymore. Not to mention that some of the more upbeat ones are insanely catchy and will get stuck in your head (if you can listen to Run Around Sue, Be My Baby, or Please Mr. Postman without humming it all day, I want to know your secret).

This song is also famous for it’s use in the movie Ghost, with Demi Moore and one of the great loves of my life, Patrick Swayze (when I found out he died… I watched Dirty Dancing too many times to even count). So if you’re familiar with the movie, Unchained Melody got a nice revival during the 90’s courtesy of the movie (which I highly recommend if you haven’t seen it… I give it a thumbs up).

I doubt that you have ever heard of any of the songs I’ve mentioned in this… but it’s okay… I’m well aware I don’t have the typical 19 year old’s taste in music.

(here’s the song… and with clips from Ghost :D): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvyCMgAajqk

 

 

Beatlemania

song: Anna (Go To Him) – The Beatles

I am a die hard Beatles fan. Oh. My. Goodness. In my honest opinion, the Beatles created popular music. There’s not another band that can even come close to matching the success… the mop tops simply took the world by storm. It’s not even that I think that they were extremely vocally talented or the best ever at their instruments. The McCartney-Lennon duo simply was superior in musical and lyrical composition. There isn’t a single artist who can touch the lyrical genius of those two, period. Creative and innovative doesn’t even begin to describe their abilities… and every song they made was pure magic. From the composition to the lyrics to just, well, everything.  And as much as I love Paul and John, I must also mention George Harrison. Talented in his own right, he unfortunately couldn’t compete when put next the dynamic duo of Lennon-McCartney. But George should not be forgotten. His better known band mates may have outshone him, but that does not mean he was not talented. He didn’t write many songs… as the Paul and John pretty much dominated in that department… but he was the master behind the magic of Something (one of my FAVORITE Beatles, which I think is ridiculously underrated). There were a couple other Beatles songs he can claim responsibility for, but I think Something was his crowning jewel. He also was a pretty decent guitarist, as he was ranked 11th in Rolling Stone’s 100 greatest guitarists. (And I have no great praises to speak of Ringo… he was in the band, but he was just kinda there, to me at least) I know I have failed to actually talk about the song and I’ve just ranted on about the Beatles… but I just can’t talk enough about them. You might call it a slight obsession… I have a ridiculous amount of Beatles stuff.. from pins to posters to blankets. I also very much enjoy conversing about them with my father (who is also quite a fan). He even gave me all his old Beatles records… and I am impatiently waiting to get a record player to play them on. I hate to say it, but I’m stuck in the 60’s, rockin out to Sgt. Peppers and the White Album (and I’m oddly okay with that…).

Anna (Go To Him) – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVJwwLcV3KY

And since I talked up something as being amazing…. here’s the link to it. It’s considerably better than Anna…. Anna is definitely more 50’s-ish music, cliche and catchy, because it’s their earlier music. But Something is pure gold – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSYl9cQDLqw