Posts tagged songs
sebastian pigott – a music post
Mar 31st
Unless you are Canadian you probably have no clue who Sebastian Pigott is. 
And I wouldn’t have known who the hell he was if I hadn’t flipped over to a Being Erica rerun on Sunday morning while drinking my coffee (and already watched Sportscenter two times). He plays a character called Kai (I think) in the show Being Erica. The show doesn’t have particularly good music (just great quotes) but he makes an appearance as a singer songwriter. He first made an appearance and became a youtube star with a song called Alien Like You. in fact he gained popularity because people lieked the version he played on the show better then the one he played on his cd (which I think he is in a band with his brother but I cannot remember the name of the duo).
Here is the Being Erica version of “alien like you”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sxvjwYDgzY&NR=1
But the main reason I wrote this post is because of the song I just heard on the show. Two worlds Divide. I imagine it should be a hit like Alien like You. in addition I imagine the tv show version will be significantly better than the cd version.
The show is quirky. The main character (Erica) even quirkier. Strange in fact. I say that to preface the song and a pull from the show:
KAI: “I wanna start off with a song… with a song I wrote for a strange girl.”
This moment
Will be stolen
When our two worlds collide
Here is Two Worlds Divide: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDUx8c1no9U
Enjoy.
celebrating oneness
Aug 28th
I love the 30 Seconds to Mars song Kings and Queens. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx364Lm53Aw&feature=related
Oh.
But.
This song is no different then everything else they have done. Their sound is big. Anthemic. Theatrical.
As a side note, their video to A Beautiful Lie should open every global warming or environmentalist conference (big sound. big concept video. beautifully done. they should get credit for using song and video perfectly to make a statement and communicate a strong message).
Here is A Beautiful Lie video (i think this is the short version and the long version has an awesome message beginning): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EcX4OtLWVs&feature=related
So. You get it.
Everything they do is big. And to top it all off?
All the songs sound exactly the same. Every song. And, I admit, I love it.
So hearing this song made me start thinking about good bands (ok. music I like to listen to) whose songs all sound the same.
Situations where I believe the band’s portfolio is made up of one big song just with different lyrics.
30 Seconds makes the list because they inspired this writing.
And the grandmaster of oneness? Bob Marley.
The songs are infectious. Easy to listen to. And make me want to grab a Red Stripe (which is a bonus). But if you don’t throw a live version into the mix it is just one big song. I guess that is the cool thing about raggae. Its not just one big party it is one big song sung by different reggae singers.
And then there is Coldplay.
Love their stuff. And that big hit of theirs.
yellowclocksfixmedontpanicvivaspeedofsound.
Coldplay Clocks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KkWGy7W3_o&feature=avmsc2
Unfortunately another favorite band of mine is slowly shifting into oneness. U2.
The first several albums? Nope. While always big in their sound each song was message driven and raw.
Then came their “beautiful messaging strategy”.
Beautiful Day (with a commercial in front): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co6WMzDOh1o&feature=avmsc2
Now. While I am not opposed to positive song writing (and it does sound good coming from them) No Line on the Horizon, All that you Can’t Leave Behind and the Dismantling the Bomb stuff is all one big rambling multi refrained riff driven Bono soaring song.
Once again. Side note. I do find some humor in that one of their best songs is actually called One (and if you haven’t heard the version of that song with Mary J Blige … see celebrating Oneness part 2 for this song).
So let us hope they continue to celebrate their oneness because it makes for good music.
Oh.
I had no lack of bands and singers I could have snuck onto this list. But these seemed the biggest positive ‘one’ offenders. I avoided country because it was too easy. Rap? Surprisingly it may be more difficult than you would think. Classical? hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. And jazz? Well. Not being a jazz aficionado I admit the entire genre could be called out for ‘oneness’ to me.
Okay. On to Oneness 2.
Addictive song: Animal by Neon Trees
Mar 29th
Neon Trees. They are kind of like a hyped up techno Keane. They are one of The Killers favorite bands. “Animal” (of which you will have no idea why it is called Animal when you listen to it) is a great first release for an unknown band.
Neon Trees are a combination of slick pop hooks and a sturdy melodic hard hitting rock energy with songs that would sound good in an arena as well as a dance floor. Songs are shameless anthems of adolescent angst delivered with the kind of heart-on-the-sleeve passion.
The first single, “Animal,” takes off from a round of weaving, angular guitars moving into a hook happy new wave with an odd techno charisma. Whatever words I may use it is fun to listen to and interesting. As they are so young they do have a rawer feel and you hope it only get better with each cd. Their first cd, Habits, was released late this month.
20 Cover Songs You May Want To Listen To
Jan 22nd
There have been a lot of great covers over time. This is my list of the ones I enjoy hearing and believe are interesting versions of the original (and in some cases better than the original). I have listed the cover artist, the song and the original artist.
1. Sun Kil Moon “Kentucky Woman” (Neil Diamond)
2. The Sundays “Wild Horses” (Rolling Stones)
3. Aerosmith “Train kept a’Rollin” (Tiny Bradshaw..Cream covered it too)
4. Stevie Ray Vaughan “Superstition” (Stevie Wonder)
Note: Also check out this MTV video from 1989 with both Stevies doing Superstition together.
5. The Bangles “Hazy Shade of Winter” (Simon & Garfunkel)
6. Kristin Hersh “Trouble” (Cat Stevens)
7. Ryan Adams “Wonderwall” (Oasis)
8. Evan Dando:
- with his girlfriend Julianna Hatfield & the Blake Babies “Temptation Eyes” (The Grass Roots)
9. Alison Krauss “Can’t Find my Way back Home” (Blind Faith)
10. 10,000 Maniacs “Peace Train” (Cat Stevens)
although their cover of “To Sir with Love” (Lulu) featuring Michael Stipe is a close second for them
11. Nonpoint “In the Air Tonight” (Phil Collins)
12. Quietdrive “Time after Time” (Cyndi Lauper)
13. Aimee Mann “Baby Blue” (Badfinger)
14. Foo Fighters “Baker Street” (Gerry Rafferty)
15. The Atari’s “Boys of Summer” (Don Henley)
16. Lenny Kravitz “American Woman” (Guess Who)
17. The Fugees “Killing me Softly” (Roberta Flack)
18. Scissor Sisters “Comfortably Numb” (Pink Floyd)
19. Disturbed “Land of Confusion” (Genesis)
5 Honorable mentions:
Robert Downey doing Joni Mitchell’s “River” on Ally McBeal
Red Hot Chili Peppers doing Ohio Players “Love Rollercoaster”
Mindy Smith singing a 1940’s British song “Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square”
Sarah McLachlan doing XTC’s “Dear God”
Alanis Morissette’s kickin’ version of Seal’s “Crazy.”
Cover I would like to hear done:
“Under the Milkyway” The Church
