Day 114 - Tracy Chapman - Smoke And Ashes
I only knew those first two hits by Tracy Chapman, of which I always thought as being the same song played different. But a few years ago I bought the album Collection, a best of. I was surprised by all the different styles she plays, it’s far from playing the same tune over and over again.
Day 108 - The Cardigans - Do You Believe
I never knew The Cardigans. I always thought they were the same band as The Corrs or The Cranberries. Only spelled different. But lately I read the novel Buzz Aldrin, hvor ble det av deg i alt mylderet? (thats the original title, I read it in Dutch), writen by the Norwegian author Johan Harstad, and The Cardigans and their music are all over the book. So I started listening, and I realy like what I hear.
Day 106 - Eric Clapton - Layla (Unplugged)
Part 6 of the “songs that suck” theme week.
Without no doubt Eric Calpton can play guitar. And write some nice tunes. The problem here is called “unplugged”. Instead of a good rock song with a classic guitar riff, Clapton plays it like its a dull ballad, bending his wooden guitar with nylon strings. That realy sucks!
YouTube: Layla, how its supposed to be
YouTube: Layla, when it realy sucks
Day 102 - R.E.M. - Shiny Happy People
I’m doing a “songs that suck” theme week, this is day two.
If you ask me, R.E.M. never made any good record after Document. With Green came their breakthrough. Clubs became stadiums and Michael Stipe was no longer a eccentric guy but turned into a more normal rock star. Then came Losing My Religion, and suddenly everybody was singing and whisteling R.E.M.
The whole album Out of Time was brave, but what realy sucked was that song with her from the B-52’s. Wikipedia discribes this album, and even this song, as Alternative Rock. It ain’t. It’s music for the masses from a “used to be” alternative band.
Day 96 - Ben Harper - Mama’s Got a Girlfriend Now
A funny story: some years ago people told me “have you heard Jeff Buckley?” I hadn’t. So I went to the recordstore and bought Welcome to the Cruel World. Jeff Buckley, Ben Harper, the names sound alike. Well ,at least in my ears. Coming home I put the disc in my cd player and discovered the mistake. Fortunately I liked it anyway.
YouTube: Mama’s Got a Girlfriend Now, original recording with photo slideshow
Day 95 - Ash - Girl From Mars
I always forget about Ash, but when I listen to 1977 I realy like it and am surprised that I only got their debut album and nothing more.
Day 94 - Marilyn Manson - The Dope Show
Riccardo Riccò is taken out of the Tour de France. Once again this cycling event is not to be taken seriously. For the first time in years I didn’t watch the event. I’m glad I made that decision.
Day 91 - Pixies - Motorway to Roswell
Sort of vacation song. Alien visits earth for a holiday but ends up dead in a crate with photographs of it in files. X-files that will be. How could this so great, turn so shit?
Day 90 - Sigur Rós - Svefn-g-englar
Beautiful video featuring the Icelandic Perlan Theatre Group.
YouTube: Svefn-g-englar, videoclip
Quicktime video: Svefn-g-englar, making of (check attachement)
YouTube: Svefn-g-englar, live 2001
Day 84 - Manic Street Preachers - You Love Us
There’s two versions of You Love Us. The first version, the Heavenly version, is from 1991 and was their last single for Heavenly Records. This version of the song ends with a coda which includes a drum sample from Iggy Pop’s “Lust For Life”.
The other version is a rerecording for their Sony record debut album Generation Terrorists, this version is much heavier. The album version got a minute long guitar solo ending.
YouTube: You Love Us, Heavenly version promo video
YouTube: You Love Us, Sony version video clip
About this/me
About this:
Inspired by Tuuur, who was inspired by Glenn Case, I will be posting some song of the day posts over here. This blog is written in (poor) English, but since I’m from the Netherlands there will be some Dutch songs and/or lyrics passing by.
About me:
I live in Alkmaar, the Netherlands, a short train ride from Amsterdam. I like open source software, open-minded people and bars open all night.
