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d-criss-news · 3 years

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20 Questions With Darren Criss: How Acting Has Helped Him Make New Music

While Darren Criss has graced our TV screens with a range of characters, from high schooler Blaine Anderson on Glee to serial killer Andrew Cunanan on The Assassination of Gianni Versace, he was last spotted just being himself, on our For You Page on TikTok. “I’m walking to rehearsal with a guitar on my back with a Trader Joe’s bag ... I did not bring an umbrella because I forgot that it was raining. I’m rocking that NYC musician life,” the Glee alum explained in the hilarious clip posted three days ago.

While Criss’ acting work has earned him acclaim and stardom, he leaned into making music during the pandemic. On Aug. 20, he dropped a new EP, Masquerade, featuring five new tracks that Criss says were inspired by the different characters Criss has embraced throughout his career. After Criss wrote songs for his musical comedy web series Royalties and Apple TV+’s animated sitcom Central Park before the pandemic struck the United States, he then used those experiences as a precursor to his new EP. As Criss continues to promote his new music, he answered 20 of Billboard's questions – giving us a peek into how his new EP came together, and how growing up in San Fransisco shaped him as an actor, singer and all-around artist.

1. What inspired your latest project, Masquerade?

Although I would have preferred that it come at a far less grim cost, I finally had the time. Before the pandemic, I had written 10 new songs for my show Royalties -- along with an original song for Disney and another for Apple’s Central Park. These were all assignments in which I was writing for a certain scenario and character. Go figure. It was the most music I had ever written in a calendar year. This really emboldened me to rethink how I made my own music— to start putting a focus on “character creation” in my songs, rather than personal reflection. The latter was not proving to be as productive. The alchemy of having this time and having set a new intention with my own songwriting and producing made me put on a few of my favorite masques and throw myself a Masquerade.

2. How do you think your background as an actor complements your music?

They are one and the same to me. I treat acting roles like musical pieces— dialogue is like scoring a melody; there’s pace, dynamics, cadence, tone. Physical characterization is like producing -- zeroing in on the bass line, deciding on the kick pattern. Vocal characterization is like choosing the right sonic experience, choosing the most effective snare sound, and mixing the high end or low end. It goes without saying that it works in the complete opposite direction. Making each song is taking on a different role literally and employing the use of different masques to maximize the effectiveness of the particular story being told.

3. On Instagram you wrote that “Masquerade is a small collection of the variety of musical masques that have always inspired me.” Which track do you identify with most in your real life?

Everybody absorbs songs differently. Some key into the lyrics, some into the melody, some the production, some into vocal performance. When I listen to songs, I consider all of their value on totally different scales. So it’s hard to say if there’s any track I “identify” with more than any others, since I -- by nature -- identify with all of them. I think I just identify with certain aspects more than others. If it helps for a more interesting answer, I will say I enjoy the slightly more classical, playful -- dare I say -- more Broadway-leaning wordplay of “Walk of Shame,” but that’s just talking about lyricism. I enjoy the attitude of “F*kn Around,” the batsh--t musicality of “I Can’t Dance,” the relentless grooves of “Let’s” and “For A Night Like This.” All have different ingredients I really enjoy having an excuse to dive into.

4. What’s the first piece of music that you bought for yourself, and what was the medium?

Beatles audio cassettes: “Help” and “Hard Day’s Night.” I just listened on repeat on a tape-playing Walkman until my brother and I got a stereo for our room with a CD player in it, which was when I just bought the same two albums again, but this time as compact discs.

5. What was the first concert you saw?It’s hard to say, because my parents took us to a lot of classical concerts when we were small. But I guess this question usually refers to what was the first concert you went to on your own volition, and that my friend, was definitely Warped Tour ’01. My brother and I went on our own— two teenagers going to their first music festival, in the golden age of that particular genre and culture. It was f--king incredible.

6. What did your parents do for a living when you were a kid?

My dad was in private banking and advised really, really wealthy people on how to handle their money. My mom was, by choice, a stay-at-home mom, but in reality, she was my dad’s consigliere. They discussed absolutely everything together. They were a real team, and I saw that every single day in the house. They both had a background in finance (That’s how they met in the first place.) and were incredibly skilled at all the hardcore adulting things that I absolutely suck at. They were total finance wizards together. So of course, instead of becoming an accountant, I picked up playing the guitar and ran as far I could with it. Luckily, they were all about it.

7. What was your favorite homecooked meal growing up?

My dad was an incredible chef. For special occasions, I’d request his crab cakes. They were unreal. I’ve never had a crab cake anywhere in the world that was good as my dad’s.

8. Who made you realize you could be an artist full-time?

I don’t know if I’ve actually realized that yet.

9. What’s at the top of your professional bucket list?

The specifics change every day, but the core idea at the top is to continue being consistently inconsistent with my choices, and to keep getting audiences to constantly reconsider their consideration of me. But I mean, sure, what performer doesn’t want to play Coachella? What songwriter doesn’t want to have Adele sing one of their songs? What actor doesn’t want to be in a Wes Anderson film?

10. How did your hometown/city shape who you are?

San Francisco. I mean, come on. I was really lucky. The older I get, the more grateful I am for just being born and raised there. It’s an incredibly diverse, culturally rich, colorful, inclusive, vibrant city. By the time I was born, it had served as a beacon for millions of creative, out-of-the-box thinkers to gather and thrive. I grew up around that. The combination of that with having parents, who were unbelievably supportive of the arts themselves, laid an incredibly fortunate foundation to consider the life of an artist as a legitimately viable option. It’s a foundation that I am supremely aware is not the case for millions of young artists around the world. I was absurdly lucky.

11. What’s the last song you listened to?

I mean probably one of mine, but not by choice. I know, lame. But I’m promoting a new EP, what’d you expect? But if you wanna know what I’ve been listening to, as far as new s--t is concerned: a lot of Lizzy McAlpine, Remi Wolf, and Charlie Burg.

12. If you could see any artist in concert, dead or alive, who would it be?

The Beatles is an obvious "yeah, duh." Sammy Davis, Mel Tormé, or of course, Nat King Cole. I would’ve loved to see Howard Ashman give a lecture on his creative process and his body of work.

13. What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen happen in the crowd of one of your sets?

I feel like just having a crowd at all, at any one of my sets, is pretty wild enough.

14. What’s your karaoke go-to?

The real answer to this I’ll write into a book one day, because I have a lot to say about karaoke etiquette. I have two options here: I can either name a song that I like to sing for me, for fun, or I can name a song that really gets the group going. The answer depends on what kind of karaoke night we’re dealing with here. So I will say, after I’ve selected a ton of songs that services a decent enough party vibe for everyone else, then I would do one for me, and that would be the Beatles’ “Oh! Darling.”

15. What’s one thing your most devoted fans don’t know about you?

What I have up my sleeve.

16. What TV show did you binge-watch over the past year?

Dave is a stroke of genius. There are episodes that I believe are bona fide masterpieces. Also, My Brilliant Friend is a masterclass in cinematic television.

17. What movie, or song, always makes you cry?

It’s A Wonderful Life.

18. What’s one piece of advice you would give to your younger self?

Get used to sharing everything about yourself and your life now, or more astutely, to the idea that you don’t necessarily get to control how your life is shared. I know it’s not really your thing, but you’re gonna have to get used to it, so start building up those calluses now. And don’t worry, all the stuff you love now will be cool again in your mid-thirties, so keep some of those clothes because you’ll be a full-blown fashion icon if you just keep wearing exactly what you’re wearing. Oh nd also, put money into Apple and Facebook.

19. What new hobby did you take on in the last year?

I’ve always been a linguaphile. My idea of leisure time is getting to study or review other languages. This past year, I took the time to finally dive into learning how to read, write, and speak Japanese. Other than making music, it was one of the biggest components of my 2020-2021.

20. What do you hope to accomplish or experience by the end of 2021?

I hope I get to play live shows again.

#darren criss #billboard #masquerade ep #press #sept 2021

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sienablackwood · 3 years

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Well I gotta deliver at one point or another. Needed a bit to think about those (and about my uni essay). So thank you for tagging me @drippinlou

I tend to take my music taste too serious 🤣 so sorry beforehand. This might as well be hilarious.

1. What’s the first song you remember hearing?

Dragostea din tei - O-Zone

It was the year 2003 and this was played over and over again on the radio. So my kindergarten teacher let our group create a choreography to present at the annual summer get-together in front of our parents.

2. What’s the first band you got into?

Probably I should say Led Zeppelin or Metallica. My dad was a big fan and when he drove me somewhere we would headbang in the car and he told me all about the concerts he's been to and who was playing which instrument and from which drug addiction they where suffering.

My first band Obsession was 5 Seconds of summer. I wasn't a Directioner, I was one of the cool edgy kids I listened to 'punk rock'. No, I seriously felt like I'm definitely not like other girls.

3. Do you collect physical music?

No, usually I don't. I own a few albums only because I like the cover artwork but my CD-Player broke a few years ago. I try to manage my possessions digitally as much as possible.

4. What is your favorite piece of music memorabilia?

A Rock am Ring 1994 Festival memorial shirt. I of course was born 1999. It was my dad's shirt he gifted it to me when it didn't fit him anymore. My parents met at this festival so it's quite precious to me. My dad missed 'apparently' missed Rammstein because of her (I checked, Rammstein didn't play that year)

5. What’s your favorite concert that you’ve been to?

It's quite embarrassing but I've never been to a concert yet. When I discovered my genre of music the pandemic hit and before that I was never so much into a artist that I considered going to a concert.

6. If you could see any artist that’s no longer alive in concert, who would it be?

I mean of course the Beatles, who wouldn't like to see the beatles. But technically some of those bands are still touring but I would have liked to see AC/DC, Deep Purple and the Rolling Stones in the original lineup. I mean the seeing Michael Jackson or Amy Whinehouse would have been nice too. But most of the artists that I actively listen too are still in the business.

7. Have you met any musicians?

No. And I don't really aspire too. I saw a German Pop-Singer once in a restaurant, and even through I did listen to his music at the time I would never go up to them because of privacy reasons. I can fangirl online I don't have to bring that up to them.

8. What’s your go-to album when you’re feeling sad?

The 'Recovery'-Album from Eminem. It throws me back into my teenage self who had - compared to me now - very different problems and I've overcome them and that kinda means I will overcome the recent ones too. And I hate being sad, so getting into an angy mood sometimes is better than crying in the corner.

9. What’s your go-to album when you’re feeling happy?

I don't have an album but I've got a "sing along in the car"-Playlist with cringe euro dance stuff. Or my "Barbecue with Daddy"-Playlist with classic rock and old school metal.

10. What is one music documentary that you love?

Does "The Dirt" the Mötley Crüe Biopic count? I'm not overly into documentarys. I did like 'Rocketman' too and the festival documentaries of the Wacken Open Air.

11. What is one concert DVD that you love?

I dont own a single one. If I watch something on TV I'm gonna go for a movie.

12. Do you prefer listening to playlists or albums?

Definitely Playlists. The music needs to fit my mood. If it changes theme suddenly I get aggravated.

13. Do you listen to albums in order or on shuffle?

If I do listen to albums I don't care about the order - usually. Except if it's like one of those concept albums where the order really matters to tie together some story (like Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones by BVB - I love this album. Its teenage wanna-be-emo Toni in a nutshell) but I at least listen to any album in order once to determine if I should keep it that way.

14. What is your favorite deep cut song by your favorite artist?

I change favorite artists so often... and favorite songs too. But my all time go-to is probably "Breath of Life" by Florence and the Machine. I love this song. I can dance my heart out to it or cry in my bed.

Tags are open, y'all!

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stuonsongs · 3 years

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My Top 10 Favorite Songs of All Time - 2006 Edition

2021 Editor’s Note: I was looking through some old files and found this thing that I wrote sometime in the summer of 2006 at age 22. For all I know, it could’ve been 15 years to the day! Looking back, I’m not sure how many of these songs would still make my top 10. Don’t get me wrong, I still love all of these tunes, but I’m sure you know how it goes - You get older, you get exposed to more things, and your idea of good music expands. Anyway, I thought it might be nice to share with anyone who still uses this site. I present it in its original format without edits to my writing. I ended up writing full posts in this blog about some of these songs if you go through the archive.

Stu’s Top 10 Favorite Songs…Ever

Let’s start with some honorable mentions. These were so close, and I thought about it for so long, but they had to be left off.

Honorable Mentions

All Summer Long – The Beach Boys

All Summer Long. 1964. Capitol

This song has been described so many times as being “the perfect summer song.” When you listen to it, you can’t help but smile from the opening marimba intro, all the way through. It just screams “summer” and it hurt me to leave The Beach Boys off my top 10.

Bleed American – Jimmy Eat World

Bleed American. 2001. Grand Royal

So full of energy, so rocking, and so what would’ve been the most recent song on my list. I wanted to keep it in the top 10 just so I could have a song from the ‘00s, but it wasn’t meant to be. When the chorus kicks in, I can’t help but headbang.

Marie – Randy Newman

Good Old Boys. 1974. Reprise

Randy has said that a lot of young composers pick “Marie” as their favorite Newman song, and I can see why. The idea of a guy having to be drunk to tell his wife that he loves her is pretty funny, and throughout the whole song it’s just the beautiful melody with tons of strings, all to a tune about a guy ripping on himself as he comes home drunk to his wife.

Does He Love You? – Rilo Kiley

More Adventurous. 2004. Brute/Beaute

I guess this is newer than Bleed American, so it would’ve worked too. This is another more recent song that it killed me to leave off the list. The outro is an arrangement of the main tune with a different chord progression performed by a string quartet. Very beautiful. Also when Jenny Lewis screams “Your husband will never leave you, he will never leave you for me,” I get chills every time.

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So here it is. After a long day’s work, I’m finally finished. It actually turned out much different than I was thinking when I first started. The number one wasn’t really even in my top five when I started, but I slowly realized I loved it so much. I also left Ben Folds (Five) off this list completely, and I don’t know, I just feel the whole catalogue of Ben is so solid, none of the songs stick out to me that much. But anyways, here it is! After the break of course…

Stu’s Top 10

10.

(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave – Martha and the Vandellas

Heat Wave. 1963. Motown.

This one beat out “Bleed American” just barely. The reason being that somehow, despite being nearly 40 years older than Bleed American, it still has so much energy that it kills. Dan Bukvich once told our Jazz Arranging class that you can boil all the oldies you hear on the radio down to three categories: 1) Great Song. 2) Great Performance. 3) Great Arrangement. This song is one of the great performances. The handclaps throughout, combined with the driving baritone sax behind everything and constant snare drum action will keep anybody with blood running through their veins dancing all night long.

Bodhisattva – Steely Dan

Countdown to Ecstasy. 1973. MCA

This song is my Freebird. It’s just a basic blues progression song at its core with some minor changes at the end of the form. The real kicker that drives this song home is the three minute guitar solo in the middle that isn’t nearly as rocking as Freebird, but it is highly proficient and takes me to places that just make me want to play the song over and over again. I have no idea what this song is about, probably Buddhism, but hey, this once again proves that lyrics rarely matter and the music itself is the core.

Zanzibar – Billy Joel

52nd Street. 1978. Columbia

This song reminds me of long car rides on vacations down the west coast with my parents growing up. They used to play a tape of 52nd Street, or at least their favorite selections, constantly on these trips. I didn’t hear this song again until early in my senior year in college and remembered why I loved it so much. The song has a heavy jazz influence, displayed in the breakdown where Jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbard does a solo. The best part of this song though is at the end of the 4th line of each verse, Billy does this “Woah oh oh!” thing that just makes me want to sing every time. It was between this and “Miami 2017 (Lights Go Out On Broadway)” which is also a great song, but the “Woah oh oh!” is too much for ol’ Stu boy.

Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) – Bruce Springsteen

The Wild, the Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle. 1973. Columbia

Early Bruce Springsteen records have something that very few other artists can ever pull off without sounding cheesy or forced. It has this undeniable sense of urgency, like the world will fall apart and life will crumble through your fingers if this one moment in time doesn’t work out the way Bruce describes it. There are so many early Springsteen songs that just set a scene of “We have to get out of this town right now girl before it kills us, no matter what any of our parents, friends, anybody has to say.” There’s a line that kinda sums it up: “Well hold on tight, stay up all night ‘cause Rosie I’m comin’ on strong. By the time we meet the morning light, I will hold you in my arms. I know a pretty little place in southern California down San Diego way. There’s a little café where they play guitars all night and all day. You can hear ‘em in the back room strummin’, so hold tight baby ‘cause don’t you know daddy’s comin’.”

I’ve Got You Under My Skin – Frank Sinatra

Songs For Swingin’ Lovers! 1956. Capitol

This song falls into the category of great arrangement. This Cole Porter classic tune was arranged for Sinatra by Nelson Riddle. The story goes that he was still copying down parts for the players while riding in the cab to the recording studio on the day of recording. After the players ran through it once with Frank, they stood up and applauded. The Baritone sax takes control here, outlining a Db6/9 chord throughout the intro. Of course, Frank’s vocal delivery is spot on and goes up and down in all the right places for the biggest emotion impact. It’s amazing how a song with no real chorus can be so good.

A Change Is Gonna Come – Sam Cooke

Ain’t That Good News. 1964. RCA Victor

This song was not even going to be on this list, but then I ran across it while scouring my collection of music and remembered how good it was. Then I listened to it and was blown away by the level of detail that went into this arrangement. Sam’s vocals soar above the mind blowingly beautiful arrangement. The lyrics to this one actually add to the tune itself, speaking of wrongdoings in the world around him, and how social change is on its way in the form of the civil rights movement. The song flows with such ease out of Cooke that one might forget the weightiness of the content, but the song’s content is just so heavy that it’s impossible to deny it.

Whatever – Oasis

Whatever EP. 1994. Creation

This song was released as a Christmas present to the U.K. from the Gallagher brothers and company. It never appeared on any full album, only being released as a single, and amazingly, it blows away anything else they’ve ever done. Think “All You Need Is Love,” but with tons of rocking energy and a snide, nonchalant attitude. The chorus speaks, “I’m free to be whatever I, whatever I choose and I’ll sing the blues if I want. I’m free to be whatever I, whatever I like, if it’s wrong or right, it’s alright.” Not exactly poetry, and the song isn’t exactly breaking any new ground either, but the song is absolutely perfect in every way, and it was going to be my #1, but perhaps the only reason it’s not at number one is because I’ve played this song so many times that at the moment, these next three are beating it, but who knows how I’ll feel in a few months. This song also pulls the same “outro performed by a string quartet” thing as “Does He Love You?” but even better. It’s so simple, but I can’t get enough of it.

Mr. Blue Sky – Electric Light Orchestra

Out of the Blue. 1977. Jet

This is obviously the best Beatles song that the Beatles never wrote. The staccato guitar during the verse combined with the strings present in just about every ELO song combine to make a force that is undeniably catchy and musically challenging at the same time. This is really what makes ELO so good. I didn’t discover this song till probably Nov. 2005, and it was one of the best days of my life. I didn’t want to include two songs by the same artist in my top 10, but if I did, I probably would’ve added “Turn To Stone” on this list too because it is almost as awesome as this one. It’s a shame that just like Billy Joel, most critics at the time hated ELO for being overly creative musically (they called it pretentiousness). These days we have acts that really are pretentious (see Radiohead), but everyone loves them, even critics. I’m not knocking all Radiohead, just most everything post OK Computer. Sorry, got a little sidetracked there.

Only In Dreams – Weezer

Weezer. 1994. Geffen

This has been my favorite Weezer song since about a month into me picking up Weezer’s debut album back around early 2000. It has this ostinato (a repeated motif over and over again) in the bass throughout most of the whole song, never even really resolving to the Gb major chord (excluding chorus, which never really resolves) that it wants to until the end of a 3 minute contrapuntal guitar duet when everything dies out except the bass which just retards on its own until it finally plays the single Gb we’ve all been waiting for. The song on the whole up until the guitar duet is pretty tame, but once those contrapuntal guitar lines start intertwining, my ears perk up every time. I can sing both lines at separate times upon request and when the drums finally kick back in fully at the climax of the song, I let out a sigh of relief or bang on my car wheel in exultant joy, whichever is more of an option at the time.

All Is Forgiven – Jellyfish

Spilt Milk. 1993. Charisma

I always loved this song from the first time I heard it, but I didn’t realize how much I loved it until maybe April 2006. I found out about Jellyfish first semester of college in the Fall of ’02 and heard this song, and knew it was great. The constant tom-tom driven drums, the fuzzy, almost white noise distorted guitar, and the half time bass throughout. It was great. Then in April I put it on my mp3 player for the walk to school, and then I listened to it for about two weeks straight. Seriously. It runs into the next song entitled “Russian Hill” which is almost as good, but because it’s a separate song, I couldn’t include it on the list, but in my mind, they always run together and are basically one long 9 minute song. The ending just gets more and more white noise filled until you can barely take it anymore and then it just cuts off completely into the slow acoustic intro for Russian Hill. It’s perfect in every way. I think this would fall into the category of great song. And the way the song builds up right to the middle of the song and then cuts out completely except for some very VERY faint xylophone noodling, and then busts back in with some feedback directly into guitar solo. Man I love this song.

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renthebarbarian · 4 years

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Positive 20 Questions Game

Tagged by @scamp-00 (thanks, hun!)

1.) Name 4 fictional characters who showcase your personality the best, with explanations if you want.

Dean Winchester (Supernatural): The three Bs: booze, burgers, bisexual. Also classic rock diehard.

Dr. Leonard H. “Bones” McCoy (Star Trek): Both from the south, both grumpy and tired and unappreciated as hell. And again, booze. (Plus gorgeous blue eyes XD)

Missy (Doctor Who): Chaotic af, extra af, horny af.

Hyde (That ‘70s Show): Perfectly happy to spend the rest of my days smoking weed and protesting against the capitalist machine.

2.) Aesthetic?

I’m just gonna copy/paste an answer I already said before on another post: leather jackets and combat boots, mugs of coffee, tubes of dark red lipstick, electric guitars and antique amps, supernovas.

3.) Favorite musical/play?

I can’t believe I’m saying this...but I think it might be Mamma Mia. I know, it’s trash, but it’s my trash.

4.) What is the best compliment you’ve ever received?

My favorite uncle once saw me in a play and said I was “fucking phenomenal”. This man NEVER swears.

5.) How many times have you been in love?

I guess three times. Or maybe just two depending on how you count it.

6.) Embarrassing story or fact about yourself that makes you laugh now?

When I was younger (not that young, like 14), I used to think it was funny to scream and run across the street from the school to my mom’s car when she was picking me up from school like I was running for my life. I was a very cringe child...

7.) Favorite Disney/Pixar movie?

Moana!

8.) Favorite flower or plant?

Is it basic if I say red roses?

9.) What’s your favorite holiday?

Halloween, a.k.a. Gay Christmas.

10.) Name three things that made you laugh or smile this past week.

Being near the ocean

Reading a book to my mom

Making my D&D character say something SUPER horny during our session this week and making the whole gang crack up.

11.) What song would you play to introduce yourself to someone?

“oh hi thanks for checking in i’m still a piece of garbage” Probably something by AC/DC, like “Shoot to Thrill”. Again, I am extra AF. Oh my god, have I been Tony Stark this whole goddamn time???

12.) Name something that truly makes you feel peaceful even at your most stressed moments.

Standing on the deck of the my great aunt’s beach house, staring out at the Gulf of Mexico, letting the sea breeze blow through my hair. It’s my happy place.

13.) What do you, did you, or would you study at college?

I am finishing up my film degree this summer at Sam Houston State University :D

14.) This is kind of a weird one, but which outfit of yours makes you feel most like yourself?

My black leather jacket, red blouse, skinny jeans and tall black boots. I call that “cosplaying as myself”.

15.) What is a quote you live by?

Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had. --F. Scott Fitzgerald

16.) Name the funniest playlist name you have.

I have one called “depression is a hobby” and the only song on it is “Help!” by the Beatles.

17.) Make a reference to an inside joke you have with someone you love with zero context.

Bigger Kleenex ( @flamingbluepanda XD)

18.) What is a message you would give your younger self if given the chance?

“Broccoli is actually great, you just don’t like it soft like your parents make it.”

19.) Who is your favorite family member? (If you have no good blood family members, feel free to mention someone in your found family)

My nephew Taylor. He is the cutest kid and it kills me that he’s gonna grow up and become a goddamn Republican.

20.) What’s a secret dream of yours?

(I still want to be a superhero.)

Tagging whoever is interested.

#about me

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crystalnet · 4 years

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Pop Music in Ghibli

If you mention Ghibli and soundtracks in the same breath to most people, the first thing they will likely think of is Joe Hisaishi-senpai’s prodigious and immaculate compositions, BUT it occurred to me recently that there’s actually a great amount of pop music showing up in a handful of some of my very favorite Ghibli films. They’re more rare compared to the instrumental tracks, sure, but in that way it might be even be more impactful-- especially for plebeians without an ear for vocal-less music-- when they do show up. Click through as I explore pop music in 5 Ghibli classics.

#1- The Wind Rises: ‘ "Hikōki-gumo" (ひこうき雲) by Yumi Matsutoya

Okay so hearing this song on a recent viewing of this film was the whole impetus for writing this. By hugely influential and popular song-writer Yumi Matsutoya, this closing-credits track drops just in time for a full fatality against the viewers’ emotional fortitude- if it remains in tact at all by that point. Between the bittersweet lyrics-- which corresponds beautifully with a plot point from the end of the film-- a righteous hammond organ part and this heart-breaking melody, it all just becomes a bit too much, in a great way.

Mrs. Matsutoya here is outright indecent towards our emotions here. And I love it. In addition to that, the track counts as only one of a few instances of a pop song in a Ghibli joint serving as the closing track. So uh yeah, go down a rabbit hole of Matsutoya’s music if you wanna explore the wonderful world of vintage J-pop/city pop etc., and you will not be disappoint. Also, this isn’t even the first time one of her songs was used... her debut in Ghibli occured 2 decades earlier in....

#2- Kiki’s Delivery Service: ‘I’m Gonna Fly”- Sydney Forester

Okay, so this is not another Matsutoya song. But in the original Disney release of Kiki, this song stood in for what was in the Japanese release a rather different, rockabilly-pop song from one of Matsutoya’s early albums ‘Rouge no Dengon‘, and this has since been corrected on subsequent releases. Tonally they are pretty different, but they both share a level of charm. This English replacement is way cornier though, but I imagine whichever one you grow up with will be the superior and preferable dose of nostalgia. I’m tainted by living with the original 90s English version for so long, that I get really thrown off in the first 20 minutes if, mid-maiden voyage, Kiki turns on her radio to Matsutoya instead of this funny little stand-in.

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Speaking of Kiki’s radio, this is one of only TWO instances I’m aware of in which the pop song is diegetic within the film-- meaning it actually comes from a source within the actual world of the movie-- at least sort of (it’s that kinda pseudo-diegesis where the volume of the song makes it clear that it can’t actually be coming from her little radio). This song just really has a kind of saccharine horse-girl charm which I love and I feel like it matches the movie’s atmosphere pretty well despite being modern sounding, whereas Kiki’s world seems to be vaguely set in a version of the.... 50′s where dirigibles never went away? Never really thought about it actually.

But yeah, these weird contract-based one-off recording artist concoctions are always kinda fun. They remind me of weird tracks from the Detective Conan opening themes where you just wonder about how and why they come about. Ultimately though, Disney probably made a good choice. The song occurs early enough in the film that it might do some work towards dissuading any reservations younger viewer-- or their parents-- might have after wading into such a then-exotic animated film such as this. It gently reassures one that despite appearances, this film CAN be a movie for English-speaking Americans. Plus I mean this lady’s voice actually rocks. I feel like it helped sell the movie to my older Jewel-listening sisters when we were kids and for that I’m grateful~

#3- Only Yesterday: “Omoide No Nagisa”- The Wild Ones (and much much more)

Okay so Only Yesterday is stuffed to the brim with tons of pop music and other cultural ephemera, far too much for me to parse through now (maybe deserving of its own deep-dive post) but I’ll focus on one that shows up early in the movie.

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(This isn’t full track, for some reason the only full version on youtube will not embed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRlKvOiXgjo

This track plays during one of the early memoir-esque narration-heavy flashback scenes. It’s before we are fully thrust into those more washed-out, impressionistic coming-of-age sequences, and are being lead gently into that world by way of recollection from the now adult protagonist. She is remembering the craze in 1966 around “group-sounds”, a genre in Japan that was clearly partly indebted to the British Invasion happening on the other side of the world.

I like the song a lot because I can hear the Beatles, Kinks and Monkeys etc., but it has it’s own really unique flair on top of that influence. I hear smokey curry and coffee shops. Fuzzy bunny-eared television signals. I think of young fresh-faced Japanese Boomers experiencing a newly technicolor world of pop-culture. The echo on the mic pick-ups whirs in my mind pulling me back toward a “simpler time”.

The appearance of this song early on is a tip-off to the unfurling of a particularly globally-minded and varied soundtrack in this film which continues to surprise throughout the runtime-- it is my second favorite Ghibli soundtrack after ‘Totoro’ by far and that usually has to do with the incredible Bulgarian choir music that appears, but stuff like this Wild Ones track is just great too. Whether the male-lead/love-interest is playing that Bulgarian “peasant music” via his Toyota’s cassette player or we are getting a history lesson in early J-pop/rock, it’s all particularly tasty. There’s even a couple appearances from music from Japanese children’s television.

A lot of the referencing is nigh impossible for this westerner to parse, but all of it--save for one track-- is pretty ace. That one let-down for me is yet another pop song in the form of the ending credit-sequence track, a Japanese cover of ‘The Rose’. I think Bette Midler is just not a tasty association for an American of my ilk and so even if the rendition is tasteful, and the ending scene is beautiful, it remains the only time I’m let down sonically in the movie.

Before I move on, it’s worth mentioning that the movie itself may be named after an American film OR a song by the Carpenters. I can’t be sure, but I kinda wish they actually used this Carpenters track to close the film instead of ‘The Rose’ but maybe it was a licensing issue. Anyhow. Perfect movie.

#4- Whisper of the Hear: “Take Me Home, Country Roads”- John Denver/Olivia Newton John/Various

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Okay so the way this song factors into the movie is way different than anything else we’ve discussed so far. I’ll embed the Olivia Newton-John rendition that the film opens with as opposed to the Japanese version that plays in the ending, because uh, as cute as it is, the vocalist (who I think is just the main-character’s voice actress?) is pitchy as hell (maybe in a twee, intentional way?)

But so yeah, this song is a big part of an initial and reoccurring plot-point in the film which has the young protag. translating the American song into Japanese with her school friends. It’s a slightly illegible plot-point if you watch the English dub, but it basically comes across. According to Wiki, the producer of the film’s daughter actually supplied her lyrics which Mr. Hayao himself supplemented, which is just too cute. In the film, her version is called ‘Concrete Roads’ which has some nice thematic resonance with a lot of the angst that shows up in ‘Pom Poko’ regarding the suburban developments which sprawled out from Tokyo and other major Japanese cities throughout the 20th cent., encroaching on that same beautiful countryside that John Denver was initially sending up.

In a climactic scene, the protag. nervously but triumphantly sings the song along with her magic-boy boyfriend and his grampa’s grampa-friends, and uh yeah it’s cute as heck.

The film is based on a manga, and though I’m too lazy to research this much, I assume the manga was the first to introduce the concept of centering so much of the story around a relatively benign country-pop tune such as this. But I mean, the choral arrangement in the intro of Newton-John’s is kinda emotional as hell. Mountain-momma indeed.

#5- My Neighbor Totoro: Ending Theme- I don’t know...

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Alright we’ll end with a sampling from the best of the best. I’m not gonna force too much “research” for this ‘cause like, I don’t know man, I just don’t wanna do anything that would remotely threaten to extinguish the magic. And I refuse to ever listen to the abomination that is the Disney re-dub. But I understand they re-recorded these tracks for that. Which, like, why? I’m also assuming the songs were pretty faithful translations of original Japanese tracks, because they’re just too good to have just been created for the western release. Like Hisaishi has to be behind those kalimbas and synth-lines. The lady’s voice basically sounds like my mom to me(?) and the dusty patina on her vocal-track alone kinda makes me wanna weep.

And I kinda hate when people just joylessly parrot internet meme terms, but this song is what I would be unable to not describe as a “bop”. I mean the drums alone rip.

This song has a sister-track in the form of an introductory credit-sequence song which accompanies a ridiculously cute visualizer, and they’re both just perfect matches for the joyful, innocent and exuberant nature of the film itself. Elsewhere on the OST, this is basically the last time that I’m aware of Hisaishi using synthesizers and it’s just glorious. Get this man on drum-machines and synths again! So uh yeah, I mean it’s all just great. What else could I say? Best soundtrack of all time period. Full stop. The end.

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Ok that’s that. Keep in mind, there’s like a small hanful of Ghibli I still haven’t seen so there could be some major instance I’m missing but uh, maybe I’ll update if one day I find out there’s a straight up Utada Hikaru song in ‘Princess Kaguya’. Oh and uh yeah there’s this one in ‘When Marnie Was There’ by one Priscilla Ahn . It’s like a b-side of the Kiki song but not as good as that makes it sound like it’d be. But it’s horse-girl-core as hell. So uh yeah.

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see ya space cowboy~

#ghibli #soundtrack #pop music #vocals #instrumentals #yumi mastutoya #omoide no nagisa #whisper of the heart #john denver #olivia newton-john #when marnie was there #country roads #kiki's deliver service #only yesterday #the carpenters #priscilla ahn

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covenden7 · 4 years

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30 Day Song Challenge(In Isolation)

So, during lockdown I have seen a number of people posting on Instagram their 30 day song challenge. What a great idea, I adore music and it is a huge part of my life. As I wanted to get involved without the commitment of posting daily, whilst working from home, I have decided to post my 30 days in one go, as a blog. This give me the chance to talk about my reasons behind why these songs are personal to me and what memories come flooding back, be it, good or bad. I am not even sure if I will share this so if I have, I hope you enjoy it, would love to hear anyone’s thoughts on either a song choice or this as a whole.

Day 1: A song you with a colour in the title. - This is an easy one for me, the first song choice is Prince - Purple Rain. Prince was the first artist I fell in love with once i’d seen him live. I was privileged enough to see Prince back in 2007, as a long blonde haired, skinny 19 year old. I had been to gigs or concerts before but only to go out with friends really. Before going I wouldn’t say I was a huge fan of Prince, or music in general really. This gig changed everything, I was blown away by this 5″5 purple God performing on stage. His version on Purple Rain that day will stay with me forever. Breathtaking.

Day 2: A song you like with a number in the title. - One of my favourite songs, by another of my favourite artists. Arctic Monkeys - 505. There is a few different layers to this song, which I really like, the slow build up, telling of a love story. Leading into the rockier 2nd half of the song. Terrifically written, never a song that gets skipped when it pops up on shuffle. Excellent to hear live too.

Day 3: A song that reminds you of summertime. - Little bit of an obvious summer choice, this one but it’s Cliff Richard - Summer Holiday. One of many fond memories I have of my childhood, is whenever we would go on a family holiday, usually to a Haven park, or similar. As we got nearer to the destination my Dad would put this song on for our yearly family holiday sing-a-long.

Day 4: A song that reminds you of someone you’d rather forget. - I could have used this for a song that makes me sad but I’ve got something else in mind for that. My choice for this song is Akon - Lonely. My mum and dad separated in 2005, hardest time on my life. This is the song I was listening to when I found out. This song is not about wanting to forget either of my parents, I love them both dearly. The person that was the reason behind their separation, that is the only person I’d ever want to forget.

Day 5: A song that needs to be played loud. - Guns n’ Roses - Sweet Child O’ Mine. This song used to be a bit of a party song for me, all too often the air guitar would come out and I would be rocking away on the sofa at my Dad’s sometimes with Verity drumming in the background using a knife and fork. This song has to be played loud. It’s a little out dated and in a way, a bit cheesy but I’m sure when Axl Rose was writing this the intention was for it to be played loud. Always.

Day 6: A song that makes you want to dance. - Easy one this one, and will not come as a surprise to many. Taylor Swift - Shake It Off I have spent many-a-night, slightly intoxicated in the wonderful Boomers in Hamble, dancing in my very camp style, to this song. Everyone has a guilty pleasure and Tay Tay is mine. I love her music, genuinely.

Day 7: A song to drive to. - This is probably the most random one on the list. Del Amitri - Roll To Me, Always reminds me of my best mate, Dan Champion, when we first moved into Hamble, we would play this cheesy nonsense record a lot, typically in the car, very loud, driving to get things for the flat. First time I moved out, reminds me of being in the car to kit out my first ever flat. Very happy times, even if the song is pretty crap.

Day 8: A song about drugs or alcohol. - As you may have noticed I do have a varied music taste, one genre I do love is Country. My choice for this day is Chris Stapleton - Tennessee Whisky. In my opinion, this guy just about has the best voice in the world at the moment. There is a country core to his music but the guitar work and his voice, go across genres. I don’t have anything overly personal that I have to say about this song, it was the first one oh his i heard and think he’s fantastic.

Day 9: A song that makes you happy. - In a word “lots” lots of songs make me happy. This one I’ll dedicate to my old man. Dean Martin - Little ‘Old Wine Drinker Me. I have lost count how many times we have been told off by Barb or Verity because after one or two too many beers we decide that we are The Rat Pack and pop on the Dean Martin CD. Usually a sign of a good night in our house if there is a big pile of CD’s left on the side, well before streaming. This song will always make me smile and immediately make me think of my Dad. My hero.

Day 10: A song that makes you sad. - I am quite lucky in a way that in my life I have not lost that many loved ones, I lost my Grandad when I was four so unfortunately have very few memories of him. The next person that I lost was my Nana in 2012, the final song at her funeral was Nat King Cole - Smile. A beautiful song, that will always make me well up. My Nana was incredible for my Sister and I growing up, always showing us love, affection and often giving us a lot of food our Mum wouldn’t have approved of. This one is for her.

Day 11: A song that you never get tired of. - There’s a number of songs that can fit into a number of categories. This being one of them. When I started creating this list there were some artists that I knew had to be on here, I am therefore picking, David Bowie - Rock and Roll Suicide. David Bowie is one of my favourites, the man is an absolute genius. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust is one of the best albums of all time, and its closing track Rock and Roll Suicide is, in my opinion, the best song on the album, maybe Bowie’s best. I could listen to it over and over, the album and the song.

Day 12: A song from your pre-teen years. - I guess in terms of pre-teen, you’re talking 10-12. I’ve gone for a early teenage, pre-adult years song. Usher - Yeah. In my latter years at school, when I first started partying and drinking, this song was the theme tune. Any house party we would go to as 15/16 year olds. This song would be on, all night, on repeat. Definitely mine, and a lot of my friends at the time, first song we had to get drunk to.

Day 13:A song you like from the 70s. - Slightly random one here, I am going for Neil Young - Old Man. I would say I’ve only really listened to Neil Young in the last few years, Barb, unsurprisingly got me into him - more of that to come. I love Harvest, terrific album. This is a great song, but I the thing i love most is the story that accompanies this song. Young famously tells a story about buying a ranch and the condition was that the old farm hand will remain on the property and take care of maintenance. Neil Young and the old man grew to become great friends, up until his passing. They learnt they have very different backgrounds and experiences but ultimately connect very well. In a way, I wish more often people would go back to connecting rather than sitting on phones or social media. I realise the irony that I am in fact posting this from a social media platform whilst using a laptop and ignoring my flatmate!

Day 14: A song you want to be played at your wedding. - I have tried to avoid repeating artists during this, but this could be the only artist that appear twice. When I do get married the song that I share with my future wife will be one that is special to us. This song I have picked is more because of the opening lyrics and love for the band. Courteeners - Take Over The World. “I looked into her eyes and I swore, I’ve never written a cliche before, and I’ll probably never do so, she was beautiful, though. I think it’s time for you and me to take over the world”. That pretty much explains itself there.

Day 15: A song you like that is a cover by another artist. - I have gone for Johnny Cash - Hurt. Originally recorded by Nine Inch Nails in 1995, this is the final song Johnny Cash released before his death. A beautiful song, and Cash’s raspy voice makes it feel even more emotional. Another one that sits in the country category. I have always been fond of Johnny Cash but when one of my favourite actors, Joaquin Phoenix played him in Walk the Line, my love for both went through the roof. There was always going to be a bit of Cash on this list.

Day 16: A song that is a classic favourite. - Similar to David Bowie, I couldn’t do this list without The Beatles, I always say, if someone doesn’t like, or at least appreciate The Beatles, you can’t trust them. My choice is The Beatles - In My Life. My favourite Beatles song, the lyrics are superb, unsurprisingly and it takes you on a lovely little journey.

Day 17: A song that you would duet with someone else. - I do have a Karaoke duet song that I often sing with one of my oldest friends, Matt O’Dwyer, so this is an easy one for me Robbie Williams and Jonathan Wilkes - Me and My Shadow. He’s Jonny, I’m Robbie, we sing this song, often. We will continue singing it until the day we die. Missing every single note, without fail, yet still making our audience laugh. Pretty much sums us up as people too. Silly song, silly people. Can not wait to be stood next to Matt in Three Lions Bar, Magaluf belting this one out in the hopefully, not too distant future.

Day 18: A song from the year you were born. - For a number of years I was under the impression that the number 1 song when I was born was Fairground Attraction - Perfect. As you can now look at the internet for what was the song was number 1 when you were born. Mine was actually, Bros - I owe you nothing. Perfect is a much better song, that why this is my choice.

Day 19: A song that makes you think about life. - Luke Bryan - Drink A Beer. Another country entry here on the list. Whilst a lot of songs are about heart break or getting drunk. This one is about both, in a very different way. Luke Bryan lost both his brother and sister in their early 20s or late teens. This song tells the story of how he found out. The chorus goes “I’m gonna sit right here, on the edge of this pier, and drink a beer” I imagine if, god forbid, any tragedy happens in my life, I’d do something similar. Find a quiet place to myself, and drink a beer to any memories or thoughts I have on what has happened. I also makes you realise that life is short and precious, a cliche I know but it’s true, now more than ever. Tell people you love them. There’s nothing wrong with that.

Day 20: A song that has many meanings to you. - This song was always going to be in this list. Gerry and The Pacemakers - You’ll Never Walk Alone. I love football, this song will always remind me of my club, Liverpool, for obvious reasons. Whether that is when we’re 3-0 in a Champions League final and need a little extra boost from the fans. Or if we are 4-0 up at home to Bournemouth singing this song for the last few minutes. I can listen to this song in any emotion and it fits, happy, sad, angry etc. This song fits. It’s perfect, it’s beautiful, you’re genuinely never alone, in life, I mean, the real thing, life. You’ve got support, you’ve got love, you’ve got everything you need. It is my club’s anthem and I am very proud of that and my club.

Day 21: A song you like with a person’s name in the title. - The song I’ve gone for is a very famous one with a name in the title, Derek & The Dominoes - Layla The main reason I have picked this song is because of that opening guitar riff from Eric Clapton, possibly the best guitarist of all time. I’ve always been a fan of a strong guitar riff and there are very few stronger than this absolute banger from Slow Hands.

Day 22: A song that gets you moving forward. - I have never been one to work out or exercise too often, throughout my life, football has been the one thing that has acted as the exercise for me. For a period of time when I used my Dad’s cross trainer, the one song that would move me forward and give me a boost was Prodigy - Voodoo People(Pendulum remix) The Prodigy are a very different band but very popular amongst so many. This song, gets the adrenaline going for me, the Pendulum remix side kicks in and did help mid-workout for me.

Day 23: A song that you think everyone should listen to. - Elvis Presley - If I Can Dream(Philharmonic Orchestra Version). No reasons. Just listen and enjoy.

Day 24: A song by a band that you wish were still together. - Oh, I wonder what band I will pick for this one? Oasis - Rock and Roll Star. One of my favourite bands, as they are for many people around my age. I believe their best album is Definitely Maybe, it starts with the aggressive, in your face, flat out brilliant, Rock and Roll Star. Oasis are listened to in my flat, certainly weekly, possibly daily. I have been fortunate enough to see both Noel and Liam live in their careers since Oasis but what I would do to see Oasis live, even once.

Day 25: A song you like by an artist no longer living. - I am going for someone who was the first album I ever remember asking my Dad to buy. Michael Jackson - Earth Song. Yes Dad, this means Michael Jackson has died. This might have been one of the first songs I really liked, I certainly remember it being stuck in my head as a child. I could have chosen this for a song that reminds you of your childhood, but I am opting to dedicate that one to someone else. I have always enjoyed the music of Michael Jackson, every talented. There’s a reason he is called the king of pop, and rightly so.

Day 26: A song that makes you want to fall in love. - I am not picking a romantic song here, having never really been in love it would probably be difficult for me to do so. Instead I am opting for a song with a title that would fit this category. The Stone Roses - I Wanna Be Adored. The Stone Roses are my favourite band(thanks to a little help from my step mum). Who doesn’t want someone that adores them? This is the greatest opening to any gig I have ever been to. June 2017, Etihad Stadium, Manchester. Mani’s bass starts, the crowd erupts. I am about to see my favourite band for the first time in my life. They lived up to any expectations I had. I will stand by my thoughts of that day, John Squire is the best guitarist I have ever seen live. Sensational.

Day 27: A song that breaks your heart. - I am even struggling typing this one. I am picking Zac Brown Band - My Old Man. This song is about a young boy’s love of his father, how his father is his hero, a giant, a superhero. Hoping he can grow up to be just like him. He then has a son and is hoping he is the same figure to his son as his father has been to him. In the final verse you learn that Zac Brown’s father has passed away. Always brings a little tear to my eye, I’m not ashamed to say I am a cryer, at times. I have the same feeling towards my Dad, my hero, my giant, my superhero. This song makes me cherish every moment I have with him and every other loved one I have within my family.

Day 28: A song by an artist who’s voice you love. - I could have picked Chris Stapleton here but instead I wanted to get this band in and it just so happened that lead singer Caleb Followill has a ridiculous voice. Kings of Leon - Milk. A slow opening to this song gives Caleb the opportunity to showcase his voice. Having seen them live his voice is even better to hear in person. Slightly country, slightly rocky, very me. This is my favourite KOL song, because of the slow opening with the vocals being key, following onto the rockier middle then a vocal ending.

Day 29: A song you remember from your childhood. - I am doing this one for my Grandad, sadly we lost him 18 months ago so I wanted to dedicate this one to him. Max Bygraves - Gilly Gilly Ossenfeffer Katzenellen Bogen by the Sea. Yes I had to google the spelling. No I don’t have a clue what it means or even what the song is about. I do know that this song was played a lot at my Nana and Grandad’s house when I was little, they had a vinyl record player in the corner of their living room in Basingstoke. I remember my Grandad crawling round with my on his back, or playing rough and tumbles around the lounge, this song being the theme tune to many hours of horse play between the two of us. I was privileged enough to speak at his funeral. I talked about my Grandad’s love of football, the only person who loved it more that I do, I said. I remember the first ever game he gave me to watch on video, well, there was 2 games. The first one was Portsmouth Liverpool at Highbury as my Grandad had gone to it and you can see him on the footage. The second he used to say to me was the best game he’d ever seen. Italy vs Brazil 1982, Paolo Rossi and all that. I have watched that game back recently, and whilst it’s a lot slower to the current game. He wasn’t wrong with the quality on show, Zico, Socrates, Falcao and the star of the show a hat-trick from the Italian centre forward Paolo Rossi. Maybe my Grandad showing me that game at an early age is where it all began. If so, that’s just one of a number of things I am thankful to my Grandad for.

Day 30: A song that reminds you of yourself. - Easiest of the f**king lot. Courteeners - Not Nineteen Forever. No other song could sum me up better. This talks of partying too hard, being a fool, enjoying yourself a little too much. Ultimately saying “I know it seems strange, but things they change.” Yes they do, and I am pleased to say I have grown up a lot in the last few years, even if there is still the odd foolish decision. This song is everything I am, loud, enjoyable and an indie banger. Often makes me think of being in my favourite place, the middle of a field or arena, stood next to my sister, singing this at the top of our lungs. Well, not just us singing it like that but “Every single one of yas”

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sweet-soul-sister · 6 years

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Song Rewind - 365 Days Music Challenge

well, it’s day 150. so i figured i could make a post which includes all links to the first 100 days. the next 100 will come as soon as i find some time. please also check out @tailalindsay who is the creator of this wonderful challenge. and this is the masterpost

have fun browsing! :]

also under the cut because the list is quite long

Day 1: A song that reminds you of your first car - Angels by Robbie Williams

Day 2: A song that reminds you of summer - Kite by Kate Bush

Day 3: A song you listened to as a kid, that you thought made you cool. Real Cool - Schrei nach Liebe by Die Ärzte

Day 4: A song you like from a movie soundtrack - The Devil and the Huntsman by Daniel Pemberton

Day 5: A song that you quote to people - Meisenmann by Helge Schneider

Day 6: A song from an Artist you discovered from a TV show - Rhythm inside by Loïc Nottet

Day 7: A song that wrenches your heart out from sadness - Requiem for the Brigadier General by Akira Senju

Day 8: Your least favorite song from your favorite band - Line & Sinker by Billy Talent

Day 9: A song that if someone said they liked it, you would like them a little bit more - Tetris Techno Remix by DaCaV5

Day 10: A song from a band that you think should be more popular - Portuguese Knife Fight by Cage the Elephant

Day 11: A song you indulge in shameless self pity to - The Kingdom Soundtrack: Finale / End of the Road by Danny Elfman

Day 12: A song you play when your getting ready to get your confidence up - Boss / Fire / Ko Ko Bop / Dramarama Remix (feat. Cherry Bomb) by Miggy Smallz

Day 13: A song that reminds you of a past love - Morning Sun by Robbie Williams

Day 14: A song you like that’s instrumental only - Harmonics of Life by Money Mark

Day 15: A song your parents played on road trips when you were young - Leopard Skin Pill-Box Hat by Bob Dylan

Day 16: A song you have seen performed live - Randale by Kraftklub

Day 17: A song you remember dancing in public to - Barada by Russkaja

Day 18: A song you would consider part of the “soundtrack” of your life - Nanana (Nanana nanana) by My Chemical Romance

Day 19: A song that you love from a band that has since broken up - Crazy by 4minute

Day 20: A song you know most or part of the choreography to - Blood, Sweat & Tears by BTS

Day 21: A song from a band or artist (member(s) alive) would love to see perform in person - Augenbling by Seeed

Day 22: A song from a band or artists (member(s) decease )you would have loved to have seen - Concert for Bangladesh by Leon Russell

Day 23: Song from a band or artist that you have met in person - Down Down Down by ITCHY

Day 24: The last new song that you heard that you really liked - Fake Love by BTS

Day 25: Worst song you have ever seen performed live - Wonderwall by Oasis

Day 26: One of the top songs that was released the year you were born - ... Baby one more time by Britney Spears

Day 27: A song you like to blast on your car stereo when it comes on - Welcome to the Black Parade by My Chemical Romance

Day 28: A song you change the words to when you sing it - I need you / 500k Mashup by myself (not actually existing song)

Day 29: A song that describes a friendship - You’re my best friend by Queen

Day 30: A song from a band/artist that you are planning to see in the next 6 months - Outro: Tear by BTS

Day 31: Your class song (or what you want your class song to be) - He’s a Pirate by Klaus Badelt

Day 32: A song that plays to your inner hopeless-romantic - A Lovely Night by Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling

Day 33: A song that you can’t even think of without it getting stuck in your head - Bedroom Warfare by ONE OK ROCK

Day 34: A song that you try to get stuck in your head to replace the one that’s currently stuck there - Zero for Conduct by BASTARZ

Day 35: Your favorite cover song - Somebody to love by Queen and George Michael

Day 36: Your least favorite cover song - Wonderwall by The Mike Flower Pops

Day 37: An essential karaoke song - Dancing Queen by ABBA

Day 38: A song that you sing really well - Perfekt by Die Ärzte

Day 39: A song that you wish you could sing really well - Bermuda Triangle by Zico feat. Crush and Dean

Day 40: Your favorite song from the 50’s - Blue Suede Shoes by Elvis Presley

Day 41: Your favorite song from the 60’s - House of the Rising Sun by The Animals

Day 42: Your favorite song from the 70’s - Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen

Day 43: Your favorite song from the 80’s - Livin’ on a Prayer by Bon Jovi

Day 44: Your favorite song from the 90’s - Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) by Backstreet Boys

Day 45: Your favorite song from the 00’s - Stan by Eminem

Day 46: Your favorite song of this year - Morgen by Fynn Kliemann

Day 47: The oldest song you own - Smyphony No. 7 by Ludwig van Beethoven

Day 48: A song that you wish you could’ve written - What it’s like by Everlast

Day 49: Your favorite TV show theme song - Daredevil - Main Title by John Paesano

Day 50: A song that you’ve listened to for years & have just recently begun to appreciate - Love me do by The Beatles

Day 51: A song that you realized you’ve been mishearing the lyrics for years - T.N.T. by AC/DC

Day 52: A song that you’ve been listening to for years & you still don’t know what the heck they’re saying - Gimme tha Power by Molotov

Day 53: The song that you’re most proud of knowing all the words to - Tetris Techno Remix by DaCaV5

Day 54: The song that got you hooked on your favorite band/artist - 3xxxv5 by ONE OK ROCK

Day 55: A song you’ve listened to so many times that you just can’t listen to it anymore - Monsta by Culcha Candela

Day 56: A song that is insanely simple/repetitive, but that you consider awesome anyway - Unbreakable by H3ctic

Day 57: Your favorite song from your favorite genre - Song Rewind

Day 58: Your therapist in a song - Calm after the Storm by The Common Linnets

Day 59: A song whose lyrics you take advice from - Think by Aretha Franklin

Day 60: Your favorite movie-moment song - Epilogue by Justin Hurwitz

Day 61: A song that you like to sing in the shower - Penny Lane by The Beatles

Day 62: Your favorite song by a singer turned actor - Lose Yourself by Eminem

Day 63: Your favorite duet - Owls by Cocoon

Day 64: Your favorite song featured in a musical - Audition (The fools who dream) by Emma Stone

Day 65: Your favorite song by a actor turned singer - Baby by Astro

Day 66: A song you like to clean the house to - Mansae by Seventeen

Day 67: Your least favorite song by a singer turned actor - The Kill by Thirty Seconds To Mars

Day 68: A song you have requested to be played on the radio - Nanana (Nanana nanana) by My Chemical Romance

Day 69: Your least favorite song by an actor turned singer - I feel everything by Cara Delevigne

Day 70: A song that you wish someone would cover - Ddu-du ddu-du by Blackpink

Day 71: A song that gives you a headache - Rom by Dschingis Khan

Day 72: A song that you love that you first heard on a mixed CD made for you - Quark by Die Ärzte

Day 73: A song someone has said reminds them of you - A Hard Day’s Night by The Beatles

Day 74: A song from a band that you wish you could hang out with - Shall we dance by Block B

Day 75: The song that you most recently downloaded - Bling Bling by iKON

Day 76: Your favorite song beginning with the letter A - Really good songs beginning with the letter A

Day 77: Part A - someone you wish would sing a duet with Part B - Zico

Day 78: Part B - someone you wish would sing a duet with Part A - Alligatoah

Day 79: A song that makes you think of the color blue - Blue Side by J-Hope

Day 80: Your favorite band beginning with the letter A - Really good bands / artists beginning with the letter A

Day 81: A song you like with Monday in the title - I don’t like Mondays by Bon Jovi and Bob Geldof

Day 82: A song you would dedicate to the boy/girl you have a crush on - What is Love? by Twice

Day 83: A song you would/have dance(d) with a parent to, at your wedding - Very Nice by Seventeen

Day 84: A song that you like that’s in a language you don’t know - Shoot Me by DAY6

Day 85: A song that you always put on a new mixed CD you make for everyone - Owls by Cocoon

Day 86: A song that you like by a band you suspect is going to break up - Nalina by Block B

Day 87: A song you play when someone breaks up with you - Nanana (Nanana nanana) by My Chemical Romance

Day 88: A song that you like that’s from a different culture - Il n’y a pas d’amour heureux by Youssou N’Dour

Day 89: A song that you love to work-out to - Limitless / Monster / I Need U / Hero / Hate Remix by Miggy Smallz

Day 90: A song that describes your work angst - Sklave by Kraftklub

Day 91: A song you like to sing to babies - Der Mond ist aufgegangen by Johann Abraham Peter Schulz

Day 92: A song you play when you can’t sleep - Far Away by H3ctic

Day 93: A song you play when you break someone’s heart - Hypocritical Kiss by Jack White

Day 94: Your favorite song that features the use of a harmonica - Harmonics of Life by Money Mark

Day 95: Your favorite song that starts with the letter “B” - Really good songs beginning with the letter B

Day 96: A song that makes you think about stars and the universe - Black Tears by Tyler Bates

Day 97: Your favorite classical song - Symphony No. 7 (Allegretto) by Ludwig van Beethoven

Day 98: Your favorite song that you remember from a kid’s show - Opening Theme from “Die Sendung mit der Maus” by Hans Posegga

Day 99: A song that you like in part, because the title is so good - Waldspaziergang mit Folgen by Die Ärzte

Day 100: A song from the last CD mix you made someone - While my guitar gently weeps by George Harrison and Eric Clapton

well, you made it. i’m proud of you :) and also thanks for reading through this list. it means a lot to me. if you noticed any errors or false links, feel free to message me :]

#365 days music challenge #365 day challenge #masterpost #challenge #music #song #song rewind

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axshadows · 6 years

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1 thru 10

thank you!!! :D

• 1. have you ever been in love?

If being in love with classic rock stars count, then yes

• 2. who is your favorite artist?

The Beatles

• 3. what is your favorite music genre?

60s and 70s rock

• 4. have you ever had a penpal?

• 5. are you single or in a relationship?

Single

• 6. what color are your eyes?

Blue

• 7. what is your favorite word?

one that comes to mind is “audacity”

• 8. do you play any instruments?

No but I used to play the clarinet

• 9. what is your favorite color?

Blue

• 10. do you have any nicknames?

Sometimes people call me Ash or my parents call me by my middle name sometimes

#ask

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ladyfawkes · 3 years

Text

The Myriad Ways in Which I Relate to Dean Winchester....

1.) Oldest 2.) Self-loathing factor 3.) Expected to be the better example 4.) Glue that kept my family together 5.) Helped raise the younger siblings 6.) Was the "good girl/responsible sibling" who did what parents told her 7.) Orgasmic obsession with classic rock 8.) I LOVE fast or powerful classic cars from the 60s ('69 Stingray in particular) 9.) Owned an old Impala during my 20s/would drive around town at night, on the cruise, w/my younger sis while belting out classic rock songs at the top of our lungs 10.) I've worn a LOT of blue plaid/flannel in my day 11.) Burgers aren't my weakness but steak is.....but I have a medical excuse, lol. Chronic iron deficiency will do that to a person! 12.) I've worn a silver ring on my right ring-finger for years....decades now. 13.) In my teens/20s/early 30s I wore short charm necklaces a LOT like the Samulet 14.) Emotionally distant father 15.) My relationship with dad was more like Sam's, though, at least after I went to college 16.) Never stood up to my dad about what I wanted for my own life until I was 27 years old 17.) Envied the FUCK out of my younger sister who could stand up to dad without getting punished 18.) Like Dean, if my younger siblings ever stepped out of line, I'd be the one to get it in the neck 19.) My parents used to sing Beatles songs to my siblings and I when we were little, All You Need is Love and Hey Jude amongst them 20.) In 2013, my sis and I didn't know whether or not I would make it out alive. (I got back to back life-threatening diagnoses, cancer among them; had to have several surgeries, invasive therapies, etc lasting for over a year.) So like Dean in S3, my family & several friends helped me fulfill a bunch of bucket list items....I wanted to go out with a bang, not a whimper 21.) My sis never made a deal with a demon, and I still can't explain how or why....but here I am, still alive, nearly 9 years later 22.) There's more, I just can't think of them at the moment.... To Be Continued.....

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aleatoryalarmalligator · 6 years

Text

answering all the music asks i posted cause why not?

1. a song from the year you were born

Pictures of You by The Cure (probably one of the more decent ones that was popular at the time)

2. a song that reminds you of school

1979 by Smashing Pumpkins or maybe Heart Shaped Box by Nirvana and a bunch of bad alternative post grunge stuff that i used to absentmindedly listen to on the radio

3. a song tied to a specific moment in your life

Coin Operated Boy by The Dresden Dolls

4. a song that is not sung in your native language

Me voir un amie plurer by Jacques Brel, or maybe Cler Echel by Tinariwen

5. a song over 5 minutes long

O’Malley’s Bar by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds was the first thing that came to my mind, or maybe Bella Lugosi’s Dead by Bauhaus

6. a song under 2 minutes long

OOO by Karen O. It’s really beautiful and people should listen to it now.

7. an instrumental

For Belgian Friends by Durutti Column

8. a classical piece

The Wedding Organ song

9. a song with no percussion

Waste of Paint by Bright Eyes

10. something you’ve heard performed live

I mean, it’s not my favoritest thing in the world, but Blue Oyster Cult’s ‘Don’t Fear the Reaper’ is pretty well known by pretty much everyone

11. something you’d give ANYTHING to hear performed live

I think actually seeing The Doors play some of their songs at their peak would have been spectacular

12. a song by an artist who’s from where you’re from (town/city/state/country)

Well, Idaho pretty well sucks when it comes to arts. But Built To Spill came from Idaho and I’ve always been pretty fond of their song Canned Oxygen

13. a song made suddenly precious because of a special someone

Oh my god this is corny, but Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley was something Josh and I used to have fun listening to - it was partially sarcastic and partly because we genuinely liked cheesy 80′s hits more than we wanted to tell anyone

14. a song made suddenly awful because of a special someone

Zack pretty much ruined anything by Alice in Chains for me. I was never a big fan or anything, and i have respect for what they were doing at the time, but when people try to sound like Alice in Chains it grosses me out. Only Alice in Chains can be Alice in Chains.

15. something to BELT SHAMELESSLY/do DIVA HANDS to

Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen of fucking course

Maybe Careful Who You Dance With by Parenthetical Girls

16. something to SCREAM ALONG to

For Real by Okkervil River, or I Luv the Valley OH! by Xiu Xiu

17. a song for raging

Bite the Hand that Feeds, or Everyday is Exactly the same, both by Nine Inch Nails

18. a song that demands lipsyncing into a makeshift microphone

this isn’t something i think about too often so the only things that come to mind at the top of my head are all cliche and i don’t want to mention it

19. the last song you had stuck in your head

Elegant Chaos by Julian Cope

20. a song you’re dying to master all the words to

secretly i wish i knew all the lyrics perfectly well to the entire Hamilton musical and i pretty much do, but not quite yet. I don’t understand all the lyrics of Death Grips songs. I am not dying for any of this though because if i wanted to I could know most of it in a matter of a few weeks.

21. a song that you could SLAY at karaoke

eh. I could slay nothing. But i’ve practiced this absurd Morrissey routine from his early Smiths days and i pretend to dance like him just to make my sister laugh

22. a song you can’t help but dance to

Dancing With Myself by Billy Idol

Maybe Fell in Love with a Girl or The Hardest Button to Button by The White Stripes

23. a song that makes you want to dance on a table

Life of an Office Worker by Momus. Maybe Raised Right Man by Tom Waits or American Garbage by AJJ

24. a song that makes you wanna STRIP

I don’t want to strip. But if i did strip i would pick old 20′s, 30′s and 40′s tunes just to be weird.

25. a song with a great music video

There There by Radiohead

26. a song that makes you act out the music video when you hear it

pshaw, i don’t ever do this

27. a song with counting

Roadrunner by Jonathan Richman

28. a song with spelling

Loverman by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

29. a song with lots of clapping

Black Balloon by The Kills

30. a song 40 years older than you

I looked it up and it appears that Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer is from that year

31. a song you wish your parents didn’t know the words to

a lot of the Beatles songs. My father does a miserable impression of John Lennon

32. a song whose lyrics shocked you once you were old enough to understand them

it didn’t exactly shock me, nor is it my favoritest song in the world, but Bruce Springsteen's song Born in the USA isn’t some validating anthem that is all republicany and pro America in the way people have always used it. I grew up with the notion that it was understandably, as i am sure many did.

33. a song you have ZERO patience for

certain kinds of really lame pop rock that’s on the radio. There is this song (and i just had to look it up because i didn’t know who did it) by James Arthur called Say You Won’t Let Go, and it played over and over and fucking over on the factory floor and when i hear it i want to die because it’s extremely bland to me

34. a song you’d like your favorite artist to cover

I mean, i don’t feel like anyone should cover something they don’t want to. I have no specific ideas on this

35. a great song you discovered thanks to a movie

there are some cliche songs i have found because of movies and i really want to avoid mentioning those ones. I do have to admit to everyone though that School Of Rock with Jack Black in it was probably where i first heard Moonage Daydream by David Bowie. And Substitute by The Who.

36. a great song you discovered thanks to television

I heard Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby on The Handmaid’s Tale and i pretty much fell in love with it

37. a song you’re ashamed to have in your music library

I am not exactly ashamed of it, because actually she’s a fucking amazing lady, but I feel like my family and friends are a little surprised to find out how much i actually like Peaches’ Fuck the Pain Away

38. ok what’s the song you were too ashamed to even post for #37

there are a few of the Eagles hits that me and my mom used to sing together. They are really lame, but i think about good times with my mom and so i really can’t dismiss them,

39. the most played song in your music library

That doesn’t show. But i am sure it would have to be I Know It’s Over by The Smiths because I had a devastating experience in my life where i romantically lost someone and I spent three weeks in bed with it on repeat. And i still like that song. I am not tired of it yet.

40. favorite disney song

You know, i think i liked that song that the prince and snow white sang together. I always sort of laugh when the Prince belts out from nowhere ‘Now That I Found You, Here’s What I Have to SAAaaaayYYYYY!!’ It’s pretty fancy stuff.

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feel-the-sunshine · 3 years

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1-10 for the music asks! 💖

1. what are your favorite bands?

1D, Cage The Elephant, Eagles, The Lumineers, Fleetwood Mac, Weezer, The Neighbourhood, Florence + the Machine, Oasis

2. what are your favorite singers?

Lana Del Rey, Kacey Musgraves, Elton John, Post Malone, Billie Eilish, James Taylor, Angus & Julia Stone (also HS, LT, & NH which is a given)

3. what are your favorite albums?

Flicker by NH, Harry Styles & Fine Line by HS, Chemtrails Over the Country Club by Lana Del Rey, Rumours by Fleetwood Mac, Made In the AM and Four by 1D, Hollywood’s Bleeding by Post Malone, & the whole Mama Mia soundtrack is the only thing keeping me afloat at the moment lol

4. what are your favorite songs?

Fine Line & From the Dining Table by HS, Dark But Just a Game and Yosemite by Lana Del Rey, Something In the Way She Moves by James Taylor, Fearless & Don’t Let It Break Your Heart by LT, Black Crow by Angus & Julia Stone

5. what do you think the best popular song of the year is so far?

Good Days by SZA or Save Your Tears by The Weeknd

6. which genres of music do you tend to like the best?

Alternative/indie, classic rock, pop, singer/songwriter

7. what is the best concert you’ve ever been to?

Hands down was 1D Take Me Home Tour & 5SOS opened for them. It was on my birthday and my best friend and I had floor seats, it was so much fun.

8. song of the year?

2020- Invisible String by Taylor Swift

2021 so far- Let Me Love You Like a Woman by Lana Del Rey

9. album of the year?

Technically within the last year; 2020- Heartbreak Weather by NH

2021 so far- Chemtrails Over the Country Club by Lana Del Rey

10. what are the best songs your parents have gotten you into?

(Sooo many. My music taste stems from my parents. We used to listen to albums together all the time. I’m just going to list the ones that are my favs & I remember listening to with them.)

Paul McCartney & Wings: Band On The Run, Live and Let Die, Silly Love Songs, Let ‘Em In, She’s My baby, Arrow Through Me, With a Little Luck

Journey- Lights, Open Arms

James Taylor- Carolina In My Mind, How Sweet It Is, Shower the People, Fire and Rain, Your Smiling Face

The Beatles- Yesterday, Let It Be, Here Comes the Sun, All You Need Is Love

Billy Joel- Just the way You Are

Fleetwood Mac- Landslide, Dreams, Go Your Own Way, Sara, Don’t Stop

Boston- Peace of Mind, Long Time, Rock & Roll Band

This is probably way longer than it needed to be lol but I have so many music opinions. Thanks for asks Sophia💗

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britneyshakespeare · 6 years

Note

6, 9, 16, 23, 41, 49, 53, 59

6. which genres of music do you tend to like the best?

I don’t know. It sounds kinda typical but at this point in my life I just like whatever feels most heart-felt and well put together or interesting or… some other quality that can make a song feel appealing. In my life I’ve listened to by far mostly rock and pop music (and of that, rock much more than pop) and I feel most confident offering my opinions of artists in those genres. But. I can’t say I don’t enjoy music outside of that at all.

I don’t know. Maybe psychedelic rock or folk if I had to pick. Jazz is also up there, and soft rock. OOOH and definitely music hall. I love me some music hall.

9. album of the year?

So far I’m giving it to the new Dorothy album 28 Days in the Valley but obviously Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino knocked my socks off too. And I really wanna see what’s coming up w the Struts’ new album, whenever the hell that comes out. They just dropped their first single in almost a goddamn year. Idk what’s goin on w their label but they need to get their shit together and promote my boys.

16. what kinds of music were you raised on?

I wouldn’t say I was raised on any kinds of music so much as I was raised with certain songs and artists. I’m a life-long Beatles fan and it’s kind of cliche to say “oh my parents got me into (X old band or artist)” especially if it’s the Beatles but to be honest I wouldn’t say they influenced me in that respect that much, I’m the youngest of four children so I had a lot of my ways shaped by my siblings, especially my brothers who are 4 and 6 years older than me as opposed to my twin sister who, being my age, was learning all the same shit as me at the same time just processing it differently because we’re different people.

But uhh. In the 2000s they listened to some classic rock other than the Beatles but that was sorta the thing we were all into. There was some Green Day, especially American Idiot singles. I have this clear as day memory of me walking around my street singing Boulevard of Broken Dreams when I was 5 or 6 and my oldest brother, being middle school aged at the time, thought it was fucking hilarious and I didn’t really get it. They also listened to Bon Jovi, which is a band I find kinda annoying but whatever. Fuckin. Soulja Boy. Old Maroon 5 which I only ever really thought was okay. Cascada was fuckin huge and everywhere.

OH and then there’s also the kiddie music I was into. I LOVED Hannah Montana when I was in elementary school, I had a big unconscious crush on Selena Gomez. One time in fifth grade this girl who sat at my table and loved the Jonas Brothers told me I ~~~looooved~~~ Selena Gomez (implying that it was… like. not straight. as much as a kid can imply that sort of thign) and i felt REALLY fucking awkward. Demi Lovato’s old pop-rock was and still is the fucking shit, I stand by those first two albums man. They were solid as hell, Got Dynamite made me feel like a leather-jacket-wearing badass. I liked Taylor Swift when I got a little older but I sorta dropped off around Red era when she was getting too poppy for my then 13-year-old pop-punk-listening self (I refer to my pop punk phase as “the time I spent in training bras” because the timeline of those two developmental periods of my life overlap almost completely). yeah. I… I went on too long for this question. I stand by Taylor Swift’s old stuff still too, I haven’t really listened to any of her more recent albums so I can’t speak on those.

23. if you were to become a musician, what kind of musician would you be?

Definitely something lyrically-heavy. I’m more of a poet than anything else. Maybe a folk career. Or, I don’t know. I’m kind of a perfectionist as well as an explorer so I think I’d experiment with genre a lot. Basically, I’d wanna be in Queen more than anything.

41. do you prefer songs that have good melodies or songs that have good lyrics?

Hmm. Well honestly I like a balance of both. Maybe lyrics because those cause me to think more than anything but I wouldn’t go so far as to say melody isn’t important to me; it is. Actually, when it comes to the musical aspect of a song, I’m more interested in how an instrumental is composed than the melody. I would say I get annoyed by very, very bad and predictable and unoriginal melodies but if there’s nothing terribly offensive about a melody I’m going to find it serviceable as long as it’s its own unique thing. But again, I’m a poet. I love lyrics.

49. what are your favorite album covers?

Sgt. Pepper’s obviously, I also really dig Broken English, Plastic Letters, Led Zeppelin IV, A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out, Blonde on Blonde, Humbug, Beggars Banquet.

53. if you could meet any musician you’d like, who would it be?

Meeting a musician I like is an intimidating prospect. I’d much rather know someone than meet them as I’m very much an awkward mess upon meeting people. But as for whom I’d like to know… Well, Marianne Faithfull obviously. I’d also really like to work with someone like Bob Dylan or Patti Smith, a really good poet, you know? Luke Spiller seems like a cool, down to Earth guy. I don’t think I’d have the confidence to speak around Alex Turner even if I did know him well but in some alternate universe where I have an ounce of self esteem yeah I guess I’d like to know him.

59. what do you think the best “era” for music was?

I’m not really sure I believe in such a thing. There’ve always been genius innovators in popular music, even when really shitty trends prevailed. And a lot of great artists that aren’t literally the Beatles are a lot more popular in history’s memory than their charts reflected at the time. Maybe the 60s-70s would be my favorite but that just happens to be what I happen to listen to most often, you know? But there were a lot of cool movements going on at the same time. Jazz was still around. Rock and roll went from its rougher more juvenile stage to an art that’d be taken seriously and shape a generation. Motown stuff was goin on. R&B. Bossa nova was blowing up in Latin America and blew to the point where even Frank fucking Sinatra participated in it. In France there were beautiful brooding Yé-Yé starlets. It’s about the first time in the popular consciousness that music became political. Pyschedelia took over. Hard rock and heavy metal came into existence. Punk started to grow its legs. There are a lot of different musical movements going on in those two decades that really fascinate me.

send me music asks

#i went off #thanks much nancy #pavlovers #dianswered #long post

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musicmixtapes · 6 years

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June 6, 2018 Mix

Hey everyone,I haven't been as timely with the mixes as usual because it's summer and there's way more distraction, but I love finding old music and making it new again and I really feel that this week with some of the selections.

Spotify Playlist 1. Where Did Your Truth Go? by Girl Skin - Listen carefully especially in the beginning to the laughing conversation, the city sounds etc, its such an interesting layering behind the simple guitar and piano. The words are very philosophy based around conformity in society and wearing a mask to fit in. 2. Dancing In The Moonlight (It's Caught Me In Its Spotlight) by Thin Lizzy - A classic that I will always sing and dance to, but I listened to this because I first heard the Alt-J slowed down version (featured on a previous Music Mix) and wanted to hear the original which is amazing in its own right. 3. Africa by Weezer - I was so excited when I saw that Weezer took on this icon of a song originally done by artist 'Toto' and I was definitely impressed by their garage rock take of it, although some portions still remained true to its 80s original which I loved as well. 4. Shake Your Lonely by Twin Peaks - When they sang in beautiful harmony "I know I'll be the only girl to shake your lonely heart" well, I really felt that on a relatable level. The chilled out indie folk vibes I get from this is so beach and summer feels, love the horns featured too. 5. Cigarette by Marika Hackman - I felt like I was listening to this in a small dimly lit bar with Marika sitting on a stool with this song. It just gives you those feelings and I love the minor chord progressions that go on throughout, especially the line "lit a cigarette and gave it a kiss" it's just very perfect. 6. Night And Day by Fred Astaire - The story behind my discovery of this song is me listening to Beatles Sirius XM in the car and hearing Ringo Starr do his version of this classic and then them playing Astaire's croony lulling version right after. And obviously I fell in love with the jazzy vintage vibes, especially the trumpet. 7. I Won't Hurt You by The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band - I treat this song as a spoken poem because it's so beautiful that I think it needs to be read while being listened to simultaneously. It's essentially about the speaker wanting someone to appreciate and love them because they feel dissociated from the world. Also there's the sound of a heartbeat throughout the entire song which is amazing. 8. One Day Like This by Elbow - Shout out to my girl Devlin for showing me this brilliant gem that I had never heard of before the other day! I love this one, it takes you through a relationship going through tumultuous times but one party wanting to just forget about it and move on to a better time. But the truth is that life isn't like this, all the speaker wants is just one beautiful day to appreciate love. 9. Thirteen Sad Farewells by Stu Larsen - I've definitely been getting back into the folk genre recently, I think that the lyrics here are so story-like, so they're very easy to follow, but they definitely make you think as well. I'm not sure what the significance behind 13 is, but perhaps alluding to the unluckiness of the number and his bad luck in relationships and that he has no more goodbyes after that. 10. Gold Dust Woman by Fleetwood Mac - I guess I'm putting some iconic songs on this mix, but icons deserve to be recognized every once in awhile too, not just obscure weird songs. Then again, this song is pretty edgy what with it's clear meaning of a woman who frequently does cocaine and how it affects her and her visions. The woman this song is about will never change her ways and it does note bode well for people to love her because they will become broken. 11. I Want To Break Free by Queen - Happy Pride Month! Had to include a song that celebrates people who quite literally need to break out of the typical and express who they really are. Mercury was one of the first male singers/icons to come out, especially for the time period in which Queen was performing, it was quite bold. This song you will sing along to whether you like it or not. 12. U + Ur Hand by P!nk - This. Song. It means everything to me and whenever I get nervous to go out to a party where I know people will be judging me or thinking that I'm there for them, I listen to this. P!nk knows what's up and the fact that she is leaving a man who has wronged her and treated her badly with his hand to soothe himself, makes me feel like I can do the same. 13. Make Out In My Car (Sufjan Version) by Moses Sumney - A super simple song that is sung by Sufjan? I'm not really surprised, but I am so in love with this little tune that should be in an independent movie. The sentiment that the speaker doesn't want to sleep with the love interest, but simply just kiss is SO romantic and slow going and sweet. 14. Beige by Yoke Lore - A song about wanting to see someone's bad parts, the realest part of a person, what's going on inside of them rather than what they portray to the world. That is a beautiful sentiment. Also this is an interesting music genre cross over because it begins as a folky song but then becomes kind of electro-folk? I love it, it's pretty original. 15. Ya Ya Ya by You Won't - People getting together over having shared issues with their parents? Sounds like it would make an interesting song, and it totally does in this one. This gave me serious Father John Misty vibes with the interesting chord choices and simple voice with cool words sprinkled in. This was released a couple years ago, but they're a seemingly unknown band so they deserve the hype. 16. Poem by U.S. Girls - You might think this was an 80s song if I didn't tell you otherwise. U.S. Girls are very individualistic, with their electro-indie-pop tunes and their obvious affection for poetry, which drew me into them, because I also am a huge poetry fan/poet myself. Kind of reminds me of some Imogen Heap songs so if you're into that, definitely listen to the rest of this album. 17. Jmy Attendais Pas by Clea Vincent - Another electro-pop song, except more fun because it's in French! I actually translated the lyric page so I could see exactly what the song was about and I highly recommend you do the same if you don't speak fluent French because the sentiments are so sweet in addition to it being such a fun song anyway. 18. Halloween Party by Soda Club - My friend Maeve's cousins' partner is the drummer in this saxophone driven dream pop band which is currently on a tour in which they are playing songs from their EP and also some other fun tunes! They are amazing live, but I specifically connected with this song and how the speaker repeats the phrase "who am I supposed to be?" to take it further than it just being about a costume on Halloween, but goes into the existential sense which I love. 19. Ruin Your Night by Sorcha Richardson - Everyone needs to have this in their feels/alternative/driving playlist because everything about it is the quintessential alternative song that belongs in your life. I love the message driven feeling to this song that the speaker is bad for the love interest and knows it, but will pursue the love anyway and ruin things. 20. All These Things That I Have Done by The Killers - This is in no way an underrated song and is generally hyped up enough, but I feel like I got away from it for awhile and was focused on a lot of other songs by The Killers and kind of forgot about this one. The buildup of this song is everything, like the fact that it starts with one sound and becomes a whole chorus of people singing by the bridge part of the song. Amazing. Iconic. Hope you enjoyed this week's mix! I'll probably have 1-2 more mixes out before I embark on my journey to France for my poetry course! Stay tuned in and rock on Xoxo,

Julia

#music #newmusic #goodmusic #piano music #rock #indierock #rocknroll #altrock #classicrock #classic #vintage #good vibes #bedroompop #dreampop #song #playlist #Mixtape

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drrubberfunk · 4 years

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Earlier in the year I was asked to contribute to the excellent ‘Dusk Dubs’ mixtape series, and jumped at the chance. They have a nice format of asking guests to provide music that has a special place in their memories and in their souls - ‘...music that moves them, that invokes images of sunrises, sunsets, good times and good people’.

I thought it’d be a nice way to compliment the other ‘My Life At 45′ themed mixes that I’ve done this year, with a selection of music you’d be likely to hear playing at my house over the last 30+ years, with tracks featured in full, mixed end to end, and a little story to go with each track.

Here’s the full tracklisting, and photos of some of my well-loved vinyl that the tracks were recorded from - hope you enjoy this laid-back late summer stroll through my record collection, and My Life At 45!

1) Peddlers - ‘Whole Lot Of Sunlight’, from the 1970 Philips LP ‘Three For All’.

I picked this up in Avid Records in Oxford in the late nineties, I got a lot of good stuff from them around that time, picking up cheap classic soul, blues and jazz LPs, bargain priced late ‘80s / early ‘90s 12” singles that I’d missed the first time round and just taking a punt on interesting looking sleeves, or bands I’d heard about in sampling cirlces. ‘Suite London’ was the hot crate digger’s favourite from The Peddlers, but the production on ‘Three For All’ is right up my street, with wonderful hammond playing and a killer drum sound. It’s a great album from start to finish. I’ve used tracks on a few mixtapes in the past 20 years, but not this particular one, and with an apt title, it seemed like ‘Whole Lot Of Sunlight' was a nice way to kick off my late summer Dusk Dubs selection!

2) Joe McDuphrey Experience - ‘Solar Waves’, from the 2002 Stones Throw 12” ‘Experience EP’.

Madlib made a big impression on me when I first started producing with a sampler and a second hand Hohner Pianet. I really enjoyed this era when he was mixing live instrumentation with the straight up MPC sample business. ‘Solar Waves’ has it all - lolloping drums, wonky synths and tasty electric piano - a super laid-back groove, and is one I rediscovered in my collection recently. Plus, I’m a sucker for coming up with a bunch of aliases to cover all the roles you might play on a record - Madlib is the undisputed champ at that.

3) Paul Weller - ‘That Spiritual Feeling’ (New Mix) from the 1993 Go! Discs promo 12” GOXDJ 102.

My first proper music industry job in the mid nineties was as a radio plugger, and we shared an office building with Go!Discs - home at the time to Portishead, David Holmes, The Beautiful South and Paul Weller, amongst others. There was a little shared kitchen area with a photocopier, and I was busily copying press releases one afternoon on about my 3rd day in the job, when I heard someone making a drink behind me. Turning round I was confronted by Mr Paul Weller himself, impeccably dressed (with an AMAZING tan) stirring his cup of tea. ‘Hello’ he said, ‘I’m Paul - nice to meet you’.

I managed not to swoon or drop my photocopying and introduced myself as the new boy. I worked on radio promo with him across various album projects for the next 4 years, culminating with a week on a tour bus with Paul and his crew doing sessions at radio stations across the country. Story for another time maybe … Anyway - also in that little kitchen area at Go! Discs was their stock cupboard, which I rinsed for releases I’d missed in the years prior to my starting work there. ‘That Spiritual Feeling’ was originally on his first solo release ‘Into Tomorrow’ in 1991, but got remixed and added to this promo, as well as appearing on the ‘Sunflower’ 12” (taken from ‘Wildwood’) It’s got the instantly recognisable JBs on it, with a classic horn arrangement backing up a kinda hypnotic 2 chord groove that just rolls and rolls. I can listen to it for hours.

4). Rhianna - ‘Word Love’ (4 Hero Soul Mix) from the 2002 Sony Soho Square promo 7” XPR 3600.

4 Hero were killing it in the early ‘00s as their productions evolved from the breakbeat mastery of the ‘90s into the wonderfully orchestrated arrangements that saw them covering ‘Les Fleur’, and bringing their deft touch to an increasing number of quality remixes. I don’t think this version of British soul star Rhianna’s ‘Word Love’ - which I loved in it’s original form - ever made it to a commercial release, but it’s something I’ve played out a lot over the years, and it always gets great comments and a bunch of info requests from the crowd.

5) GangStarr - ‘Jazz Thing’ (Instrumental Mix) from the 1990 CBS promo 12” XPR 1571.

I saw Mo Better Blues at the cinema in Australia in November 1990 and bought the soundtrack on cassette the next day. Brandford Marsalis and Terence Blanchard have a superb dialogue across all the tracks, especially on the Canonball Adderley-esque title track. However, Gang Starr’s ‘Jazz Thing’ blew my tiny teenage mind, and I became a bit obsessed with it over the next few years, the samples, the cuts, the live loops - especially after my new college mate Pete made me a tape a year or so later with two extra versions from the 12”, including this, the Instrumental Mix. I finally tracked down my own copy of this import promo in the Soul & Dance Exchange in Notting Hill in the late nineties, and it’s lived in my record bag pretty much ever since.

6) John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers with Peter Green - ‘Greeny’, from the 1969 Decca LP ‘The World Of Blues Power’.

Everyone my sort of age with some records is bound to have one or two liberated from their parent’s collection, and this was an album I discovered in my folks collection in about 1987, not long after buying a drum kit. I’d been rinsing their Beatles albums since I was a kid - singing along to ‘Drive My Car’ and ‘Octopus’s Garden’, but the World Of Blues Power seem a bit of alien concept until I gave it a good listen as a teen. There’s some classic pyrotechnic stuff from rising Brit Blues stars like Eric Clapton and Paul Butterfield, alongside US veterans like Champion Jack Dupree and Eddie Boyd, who’d moved to Europe in the ‘60s.

Always understated, Peter Green’s playing on ‘Greeny’ is perfect; simple and catchy as hell, but with complete mastery of his instrument.

7) Stanley Clarke - ‘Blues For Mingus’, from the 1979 Nemperor LP ‘I Wanna Play For You’.

This was another ’90s bargain from Avid Records in Oxford, but I first heard it when babysitting in the late ‘80s. The couple who’s kids I was deemed suitably responsible enough to be left in charge of were very happy for me to listen to their small but perfectly formed record collection, and many happy evenings were spent with a pile of C90s taping all sorts of classic jazz and blues. Took me the best part of the next 20 years to find my own vinyl copies of them all mind you. The uptempo jazz rock that Stanley Clarke was known for in the ‘70s is featured throughout the part-live ‘I Wanna Play For You’ album, but this downtempo small group number perfectly encapsulated my idea of what a jazz club gig should sound like; dark, smoky and soulful.

8) Al Green - ‘Lay It Down’, from the 2008 Blue Note LP ‘Lay It Down’.

Is it controversial to call this my favourite Al Green album? I mean, you can’t deny the classic ‘60s and ‘70s hits, but for me, this Questlove produced LP is right up there in terms of songwriting and production. I could have happily featured any of the album tracks here, but went with the title track for the silky strings and restrained playing from Questlove. Something as a drumming producer myself I’m less good at ;)

9) Matt Deighton - ‘Hey, My Mind’, from the 1995 Focus LP ‘Villager’.

This whole album is stuffed full of timeless sounding songs, it's one I’ve listened to alot over the years and comes complete with alot of happy memories.

Just before I got the plugging job, I’d been working in promotions for (the original) Virgin Radio in London, driving a branded vehicle around town all day. Seems mad and pointless in 2020, but it was fun in 1995, I was young, it seemed to be sunny all the time, I had a free 4WD and it paid quite well. I used the station’s copy of ‘The White Book’ - an entertainment industry directory that cost a small fortune back then - to look up the addresses of my favourite record labels, and spent most days knocking on their doors in an attempt to blag some free records. One of these labels was Acid Jazz, and, having announced which station I worked for, I was rushed in to meet their head of marketing and plied with records and CDs, before someone eventually asked ‘so, what is it you actually do at Virgin again?’. I bluffed my way through the next 10 minutes and agreed to have a chat to the producer of the evening show about getting a session for Matt Deighton. Matt was the singer and guitarist with Mother Earth, of whom I was a big fan, and was currently promoting a new solo album ‘Villager’ - Mother Earth had been a guest on the Virgin show before, and so the producer said yes to a session. I’m sure she would have booked him anyway, but she graciously let me set it up with Acid Jazz, gaining me some vital industry kudos and connections in the process.

10) Money Mark - ‘All The People’, from the 1998 Mo Wax / A&M LP ‘Push The Button’.

Mo Wax were one of my favourite ‘90s labels, having been introduced to them by a college friend sometime in ’93, and I think I tried unsuccessfully blagging my way onto their mailing list in my Virgin days, but later on, after the A&M deal, I had better luck getting occasional freebies. ‘Mark’s Keyboard Repair’ was the record that the genre lo-fi was invented for, with the mix of bit-crushed samples and live vintage keys, but ‘Push The Button’ is a brilliantly rounded record, with some great pop songs. Session legend Jim Keltner is playing drums on this track, which I’d forgotten about until I was reading the sleevenotes while recording this mix - his playing with the likes of Delaney & Bonnie, BB King, Leon Russell, Bill Withers, Eric Clapton and all of the Beatles on their various solo projects has been a big influence on my drumming style over the years. Records I’ve never heard of but have bought just because Jim Keltner is on drums is an extensive section of my collection.

11) Bedouine - ‘Summer Cold’, from the 2017 Spacebomb Records LP ‘Bedouine’.

Spacebomb are one of my favourite contemporary labels, with a studio sound and ethos that I aspire to greatly as I enter my third decade as a producer, and I’ve been picking up their releases since hearing label owner, and talented artist, Matthew E. White interviewed on 6 Music back in 2015. LA Based Syrian born Bedouine put out one of my most listened to albums of 2017 (and since!), and I would have featured any of the tracks in this mix, but something about the found sounds at the end of ‘Summer Cold’ seemed to work very nicely with the start of the following song from Emily King. Bedouine’s vocal and guitar sound is wonderfully distintive, and beautifully enhanced by the sympathetic Spacebomb Horn and String arrangements - get yourself the LP!

12) Emily King - ‘Distance’, from the 2015 Making Music Records LP ‘The Switch’.

I didn’t listen to many new records while I was producing Izo FitzRoy’s debut (track coming next!) - I think I thought I’d find it distracting, I suspect that wouldn’t have been the case, but once Izo’s record was in the can, I gorged on releases I’d missed and found things that have become all time favourites. Most of them seem to be by women with a very different sound to Izo, but equally captivating writing and energy. Emily King is one of those artists, along with Bedouine, Jane Weaver and Aldous Harding amongst others. ‘Distance’ is such a great song, and I love Emily’s voice and guitar playing, plus the production and feel too - ticks all the boxes for me.

13) Izo FitzRoy - ‘Heads Held High’, from the 2017 Jalepeno Records LP ‘Skyline’.

This was one of my favourites from Izo’s debut that I produced and played on a few years ago. A great lyric and performance from Izo over a groove that we worked hard to sound like a mix of samples and live instruments, but was in fact all recorded and produced in my studio at home. Initially Izo and I were writing on some tracks that I’d already recorded with a view to them going on a Dr Rubberfunk album, but it was pretty clear after we’d written a few things together that she had so many great songs that the project needed to be an album for her. Even at a few years distance, I’m still really pleased with how the record turned out, with a ’studio sound’ I can call my own, and one that I’ve been able to carry over to my recent ‘My Life At 45’ LP - on which Izo turns in another couple of killer performances!

14) Urban Species - ‘Blanket’ featuring Imogen Heap, from the 1998 Talkin’ Loud LP ‘Blanket’.

Along with Acid Jazz and Mo Wax, Talkin’ Loud were another label I was madly collecting everything they released throughout the ‘90s and beyond. Having DJ’d in support of Urban Species at my college in 1994, I was already a fan, and their second album ‘Blanket’ is one of my all-time favourites by any artist. It features two great collaborations with Terry Callier, and two with Imogen Heap, including the title track featured here. Great writing and production, I was very influenced by this record as I started working with vocalists. Always love the guitar solo over the fade out too - if it exists, I’d love to get my hands on the full version without the fade!

15) Routes In Jazz - ‘Out In The Jungle’, from the 1992 Concious Records 12” CON 999.

Another sure shot from my days as a nascent DJ at Froebel College in West London in the early ‘90s. I was fortunate to have the support and encouragement of a couple of older students as I joined the Student Union and started organising events, and one of them - Lee - actually let me borrow his records a few times to play out with. Cheers Lee! This was one he used to play in warm up and bar sets, and I loved the double bass loop and ear worm horn sample (I never have worked out what it’s from), so had to get a copy. In some ways it’s a very 1992 record, but has stood the test of time in terms of production as far as I’m concerned.

16) DJ Krush - ‘Yeah’, from the 1994 Mo Wax LP ‘Strictly Turntablized’.

Early Mo Wax classic, from before all this sort of thing was considered ‘trip hop’, it was just killer instrumental hip hop as far as I was concerned, and DJ Krush, along with DJ Shadow, was right up there, leading the way. Another big influence on me when I eventually got a sampler - tough drums: check, swinging bass sample: check, jazzy horn and vocal samples: check. Love it.

17) Freak Power - ‘My Heart Sings’, from the 1994 ‘In Dub - The Fried Funk Food EP’, bonus album with some vinyl editions of the ‘Drive Thru Booty’ LP

They say never meet your heroes, but having meet and worked with both Norman Cook and Ashley Slater, the creators of the Freak Power project, I’d have to disagree. Naturally, if you’ve read through the tracklisting this far, you’ll have worked out there’s another showbiz story to go with this selection, and there is, but I’m saving it for another time, ‘cos it’s LONNNGGGG. Suffice it to say, ‘Turn On Tune In, Cop Out’ was a massive tune in ’93, and when the album dropped the following year I was straight down the record shop on release day. I wasn’t expecting a bonus ‘Dub EP’, much less one with almost unrecognisable remixes of the album tracks, but I was very happy to have it included. Some of the best downtempo beats Norman has made I think, and the drum programming on the second half of this track had me scratching my head in my pre-sampler owning days and wondering how the heck it was done. Fabulous sample choices, and nice and long too - handy for those DJ set comfort breaks.

18) John Martyn - ‘Sunshine’s Better’ (Talvin Singh Mix), from the 1996 Go! Discs promo 12” SSB1.

Talking of long tracks, here’s 10 minutes plus of John Martyn and the balearic classic ‘Sunshine’s Better’ reworked beautifully by Talvin Singh. John was another of the artists on Go! Discs when I was plugging for them, and I think it’s widely accepted he was a challenging character at that stage of his career. Still an amazing songwriter and performer though, and sounding as good as ever on the album ‘And’ from which ‘Sunshine’s Better’ is taken. Phil Collins on drums too.

19) Incognito - ‘Out Of The Storm’ (C’s Planet E Mix), from the 1996 Talkin’ Loud promo 12” TLDJ54.

If you were putting together a downtempo set in ’96, and you had ‘Sunshine’s Better’, you needed this Carl Craig mix of ‘Out Of The Storm’ for sure. Hip hop drum loops, swirling synth pads, a wobbly flute sample and some perfectly placed little bass guitar fills and turnarounds made this perfect in so many ways. I was VERY excited to get a promo copy, and definitely felt I had ‘arrived’ as a DJ when this came through the letterbox one morning. old DJ voice “Those were the days.” LOL.

20) Freddie King - ‘Gambling Woman Blues’, from the 1977 RSO LP ‘Freddie King (1934-1976)’.

In case you were worried I’d skipped over my love of the blues with just one track, here’s a less well known number from Freddie King, recorded during sessions with Eric Clapton and his band in the early ’70s, just a few years before King’s untimely death in 1976. I’ve got plenty of albums by the ‘Three Kings’ (Albert, B.B and Freddie) and they all had some very funky moments in the late sixties and early seventies. This posthumous compilation album was also in the collection of the family I used to babysit for, another tape that had pretty much worn out before I could track down my own vinyl copy, which, as you can hear, has been well played too. Again, a track that seems to fade just as it’s getting going, but fear not - there’s a 20+ minute version on some of the popular streaming services.

21) Donny Hathaway - ‘What’s Going On?’ from the 2014 ATCO Records LP ‘Live At The Bitter End 1971’.

I heard Gilles Peterson play tracks from this album on his 6 Music Show on Record Store Day in 2014. RSD often falls on my birthday weekend, so I thought I’d treat myself to this re-issue (with previously unissued tracks) of Donny Hathaway’s 1971 shows at the Bitter End on Bleecker Street in New York City. Although there aren’t many artists that can make a convincing go of covering Marvin Gaye, Donny is definitely one of them, and ‘What’s Going On?’ sounds just as relevant today as it ever did. I felt it was an appropriate choice, given the state of the world today, my love of black music and the fact that my whole music career is based on it. Once more, for the people at the back, BLACK LIVES MATTER.

22) Wes Montgomery - ‘Sun Down’, from the 1966 Verve Records LP ‘California Dreaming’.

3 quid from, you’ve guessed it, Avid Records. Bargain. I listened to an absolute ton of blues guitarists in my late teens, but it was a few years later that I started going sideways into jazz guitar, falling in love with the soul jazz / acid jazz sound of Grant Green and Ivan ‘Boogaloo Joe’ Jones, before finding the earlier generation - the likes of Barney Kessel, Kenny Burrell, Joe Pass and Wes Montgomery. Tricky to pick between them to be honest, but it seemed this upbeat and optimistic big band number from the 1966 ‘California Dreaming’ album by Wes Montogomery, a mixture of contemporary pop covers and jazz standards, with Herbie Hancock on piano, and engineered by Rudy Van Gelder - two more heroes of mine - was a good way to close out my Dusk Dubs choices.

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