Kajagoogoo- Hang on Now

Betamax, oh yes I said it. My dad had a bet video of Kajagoogoo hit songs, I swear there were only like three or four songs on the thing but I knew this, Hang on Now, was the one I liked the most. It has a sweet innocence to it and, as a child, I could relate to that, but the way it made you also think of romance and the opportunity of such a thing, well I was more than entertained with this theory. I used to watch this and when it ended, just rewind it and give it another go for good measure, although children tend to do that with anything and everything they enjoy anyhow. I intend to research why that is now.

That's Not Just Friendship That's Romance Too

Sometimes you hear a song and it is like they wrote it about you or your life. When I heard The Strokes I'll Try Anything Once, its' like they took my life and my relationship and wrote a song about it. I mean I was at the point in my life where I was reflecting on things from my past, mistakes, things I learned, when I met him and now we have this amazing friendship and love, I know, how cheesy. When a song makes you feel something and makes you think of a certain person or time, it's a powerful song, even if it's weak or you hate it. I know I hate that hippy redneck song about squeezeboxes or whatever because it was the song that my friends trashy parents used to play when they were "in the mood", I almost throw up when it comes on somewhere. Seriously though, I think that songs are really a lot like fortunes or astrology. I mean, it's stars telling you some vague thing and it can apply to you in a million broad ways or you can really read into it and make it so personal. Maybe that's what happened here, I don't know. I only know that this song is beautiful and means a lot to me.

 I'll Try Anything Once

Ten decisions shape your life,
you'll be aware of 5 about,
7 ways to go through school,
either you're noticed or left out,
7 ways to get ahead,
7 reasons to drop out,
when i said ' I can see me in your eyes',
you said 'I can see you in my bed',
that's not just friendship that's romance too,
you like music we can dance to,

Sit me down,
Shut me up,
i'll calm down,
and i'll get along with you,

There is a time when we all fail,
some people take it pretty well,
some take it all out on themselves,
some they just take it out on friends,
oh everybody plays the game,
and if you don't you're called insane,

Don't don't don't don't it's not safe no more,
i've got to see you one more time,
soon you were born,
in 1984,

Sit me down,
shut me up,
i'll calm down,
and i'll get along with you,

Everybody was well dressed,
and everybody was a mess,
6 things without fail you must do,
so that your woman loves just you,
oh all the girls played mental games,
and all the guys were dressed the same,

Why not try it all,
if you only remember it once,
oooh ooooooh,

Sit me down,
shut me up,
i'll calm down,
and i'll get along with you,

(okay one more time)

Weirdo

Charlatans are amazing and Tim Burgess may be a superhero in the music world. I have many fave songs by Charlatans UK  but this, Weirdo, is one that means the most to me. My dad's a bit of a wacko, but he loves all music too, and he used to say this song was about me. I was just entering the teen years and this was a cool song to play in the background of my daily life. I remember having it on tape and being excited to have it come out on CD so I could play this song to death. The Weirdo song itself is insane, music, lyrics, the sound of his voice... But then there's the video, the dancing the strange images and candid seeming band footage, it blows my mind.

Weirdo

most of the time you are happy you're

a weirdo and before the introduction
ends there is someone feeling sorry
for themselves

look at your ugly shame what are you
talking for look at your ugly shame

most of the time you are demanding
what am I doing here and I don't want to
be and the hurt in which you bare you
could say goodbye to this earth

look at your ugly shame what are you
talking for look at your ugly shame
there's too much for me to know about

most of the time you are happy you're a
weirdo and your nerve is my device and
makes me sad

look at your ugly shame what are you
talking for look at your ugly shame
there's too much for me to know about

From: http://www.musicbabylon.com

Are You That Somebody?

RIP Aaliyah. 

Just have to throw that out first. As a tall, skinny, little girl, I was often just the one that bopped to the beat at dances and parties. I had been in several dance classes, many with performances, but never felt as self conscious dancing then as I did surrounded by people my own age. Aaliyah and the choreographed dances in her videos were the inspiration I needed to start shaking my booty. Seeing her videos made me realize that I could toss on some baggy pants and dance to my hearts content with out feeling self conscious. I spent many days in front of my t.v. following along with the moves and feeling pretty fantastic. Did I go to the dance and bust a move in the middle of a crowd like they did in the movies? Heck no. But I could have if I needed to. When this song in particular, Are You That Somebody, came out, I was really into hip hop and dance music. There was a lame dance club in AZ that was all ages and this song was on the first time I went there, I danced to it with my friend and we threw in some flamenco moves from the video. Some older guys said that we were sexy and we ran away from them laughing and saying "gross". This song reminds me that older guys trying to hook up with little girls at all ages dance clubs are not that somebody.

King of the Road, yes Roger Miller does it right

Have you ever heard a song and it just sticks to you? I was a child and this song, King of the Road, was on during a barbecue and at my grandmother's house in Arizona. This song actually made me stop what I was doing and want to listen to it. I HATE cigarettes, always have, and I was far from being able to drive or having to work for a living. How does this song, a classic at this time, appeal to an elementary student with pigtails and parachute pants? Roger Miller, a guy whose memorable performances include Hee Haw, made me forget about Cindy Lauper for a second and get down to some Honky Tonk. I hadn't seen this video for it until recently so it was not that, although that would likely appeal to a child. Whatever it is, this song always makes me think back to those "simpler times" with slip and slides and sprinklers and corn on the cob. I could really use that feeling right now on this blustery Boston day.

Jawbox- Static

1992, I was just starting my high school life. My musical tastes were all over the place, and I would buy random music to "try it out". During a trip to our local record store, I saw this odd cover with a distorted face staring out at me from the employee pick shelf. The album was called Novelty, and the band, Jawbox. I had not heard of them and when I went to buy it, the clerk said, "cool, dude from Government Issue is in this band". I had no idea who Government Issue was then so I just smiled and nodded. I listened to it one time and loved it.  One song demanded more plays however, Static. It has this raw sound to it but there are also little melodic and romantic undertones as well. The intro and exit lyrics of this song are my favorite parts. To this day, when I hear it, I can remember laying on my bed listening to it and reading some goofy R.L. Stine novel. The whole album is amazing and really edgy, what was then known as "alternative rock" or "indie rock". Jawbox is a pretty rad band and I heard a rumor that their music is on itunes now so, if you like it, check there.

Jawbox-Static Lyrics

I sunk my eyes in static
You taught me how to see it
Now there's no sign of you at hand
So i stop looking at it
My head is splitting trying
To read the name that you abandoned
Congratulations sister
You put yourself right over
Though you don't think i understand
This sudden awkward rupture
This stuck-unhealing fissure
No love could possibly withstand
And i'd never say
It doesn't mean that much to me
Glad anyway
To see you struggle free
Pinned down but unexamined
Though you kept right on looking
At static there behind my eyes
Keep pushing one-way vision
I guess at least it's something
Since everything is so compromised

I sunk my eyes in static
You taught me how to see it
Now there's no sign of you at hand
So i stop looking at it
My head is splitting trying
To read the name that you abandoned