I was reading one of my many music blogs this afternoon, when I happened upon the following music clip (via discopop directory):
After listening for about 20 seconds, I had this sneaking suspicion that I had heard this song before… Hmmm, where have I heard that same drumming, same guitar riff, and same distortion effect? That’s right… Muse’s Knights of Cydonia:
Well, I guess if you are going to copy a song, at least copy an amazing one, right? What I don’t get, is that I have never seen the amazing allure that the Arctic Monkeys have to them, and this just makes me question it even more… And I am not really familiar with the Rascals as of this writing. Oh well, perhaps they meant it as an homage to Muse, who are in their own right, a truly amazing band. I just wonder why they had to make it so damn similar, you know? The similarity was instantly recognizable to me, and I am sure that I am not alone in that sentiment.
What are your thoughts? What do you think when you hear an amazing song rehashed by a group that may be more commercially popular, but not necessarily any “better”, as far as you concerned? How does it make you feel when said “copied” group is a group that you really enjoy, but the other isn’t, and you know that they will have more success with their clone?
Well, this week, I am going to have to post my five song Friday a little early; I am flying to Ft. Lauderdale for the weekend for a friend’s wedding. I am worried, as of writing this, because I fear that I might be coming down with something… talk about bad timing. I cannot get sick. I will not let it happen!! Here’s hoping that I don’t.
Now, let’s get you the music, shall we?
The Lightning Seeds – You Showed Me
I have always loved the Lightning Seeds, and this was the first song of theirs (even though it is apparently a cover) that I ever heard. They have some amazingly upbeat and super happy songs, even though this isn’t one of them. While this is sort of different from the rest of their style, I have to say, I keep coming back to this one. Recently, someone mentioned the Lightning Seeds, and I had to run home and add it back to my ipod, because it got lost when the ipod was reformatted a while back. It’s nice to reminisce!
Danity Kane – Damaged
While this one had to grow on me at first, I will gladly admit that this is a hot track. I have been a huge Danity Kane fan ever since I watched Making the Band, and fell in love with these girls. When their debut record came out, I bought it on day one, and loved almost every single track. Imagine my excitement when I heard that their sophomore record was about to drop, and Damaged was the first single. After initial feelings of “meh”, it has really grown on me, and now I am digging it. However, the rest of the record is a bit of a let down. Maybe it will grown on me too? Here’s hoping. I do have to say, that I could COMPLETELY do without Diddy talking during the track.
Lindsay Lohan – Rumors
Love her, hate her, love to hate her, I don’t give a shit. I love Lindsay, and this club banger is a great fucking pop song. After posting Danity Kane’s new one, I had to bring this one back. I was shopping recently, and this song came on the overhead system, and I almost broke it down in the fucking store. Seriously, I loved this song when it came out, and even had it as my ringtone for months. Lindsay will always be my girl; and you have to admit it, she is fucking hot in this video. She could make a gay boy go straight (well… maybe for a night…)!
Mariah – Touch My Body
I will admit this; when Emancipation of Mimi came out, I didn’t give a shit. I have been a long time “hater” of Mimi, mostly because I felt like she was trying too hard. However, I couldn’t avoid the greatness that some of the tracks from Emancipation threw at me, and eventually ended up caving in, and loving a lot of what I heard. Well, I was all ears when I heard she was coming out with a new record, and after the first listen, I was in love with this song. It is as slutty as she wants to be; Mariah probably would have done the video totally nude if they would have let her, and that is what I love about Mimi. Plus, how can you not love that she named the record E=MC2?? Mimi, sweetie, we all know you are not up for Mensa membership… but another Grammy? Maybe!
Gnarls Barkley – Run
Damn, this track is, how do the kids say it these days… Bangin’?! I fucking love this song. It embodies some of the amazing tracks that Gnarls Barkley totally surprised me with on their debut. After hearing this song, I immediately got the record, and I have to say, that I was really underwhelmed. There were some AMAZING tracks on their debut (e.g., Transformer), so I was surprised I was so turned off by this record. Maybe it will grow on me (the first record did), but for right now, I play Run and just move on… this song is a fucking hit if I ever heard one. It totally makes me think of Andre 3000’s massive hit Hey Ya, but with more indie cred. I know that this one is going to be huge.
Well, there’s another, albiet very early, five song Friday!! As I said, I am off to Ft. Lauderdale for some fun with my friend, and a little wedding tossed in. Here’s hoping that I don’t get sick, and that my weekend rocks! One final note, I want to say a huge thanks to the reader that suggested Vampire Weekend to me, I have been spinning it like crazy, and it gets better with each listen. Thanks!
We have made it through another week, and it’s time for our weekly five song Friday. I am personally glad that it is Friday, because this week has been less than fun (mostly school related stuff). Either way, I am just looking forward to a good weekend, but then again, aren’t we all?
Let’s bring out the jams, shall we? This week has some off the wall bits, where some of the songs are a bit different than my “normal” tastes. Every once and a while, I am struck by a really strange song, and I love it because of its strangeness. Two such songs caught me recently, and I felt it fitting to put them together today. I am also bringing the pop hardcore this week, so strap yourself in, and let’s go!
Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova – This Low
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_314_glenmarketa-thislow.mp3]
After seeing the quirky, sweet, and romantic movie Once, I was so taken by the music, that I had to snag the sountrack right away; but that wasn’t enough. I found out, that when coming together to make music for the film, Hansard and Irglova (who won an Oscar for their song Falling Slowly from the film) actually wrote more songs, which were released on a separate CD called The Swell Season, which I promptly snagged as well. This song comes from the Swell Season, and is amazing. It is almost like a David Gray track infused with a bit of Damien Rice. I love the whole CD completely, and I am so glad that I finally saw this movie, and got the music. Great stuff, I tell you. If you like this song, make sure to check out the rest…
Jo O’Meara – What Hurts the Most
Today’s “throwback track” is from none other than Ms. Jo O’Meara, who may be better known as the lead singer of the smash pop sensation, S Club 7. While S Club only really had a couple (or maybe only one?) of hits in the US, they were pretty huge overseas, and I would definitely say that I count myself as a fan. I chose this song, because of all the buzz that has been swarming around about Cascada’s version of this song, which I like, but I figured that most people probably haven’t heard this version, and I feel that Jo’s version is far superior. I have her solo album, and it is quite good; I hope that she does more in the future. She is a great singer.
Jesse McCartney – Leavin’
He grew up! That is what I said when I saw this video. I checked out Jesse’s new song, because I was amazed to find out that he actually co-wrote the mega-hit Bleeding Love, which was the best selling single of ’07 in the UK! I really like that song, and actually think it is pretty well written, so I wanted to see what little Jesse was up to these days. Well, I have to say, that I really like the vibe and the beat of this song, and even though I wasn’t a fan before, I am eager to see what he has up his sleeve for his upcoming record. If it is more stuff like this, I will definitely be picking it up.
Hot Chip – Ready for the Floor
Holy shit, this song is soooo freaking catchy. The first time I saw the video, I had a natural WTF reaction (because seriously, these kids are a bit weird), but I was instantly pulled in by the hook in this song. It so catchy and fun to listen to, and really makes me want to get up and dance about. While the repetitive part that starts the song could be left out (IMHO), the rest is fabulous electro that has made me pay attention to a group that I would normally (continue to) ignore (I’ve heard some of their other stuff, and it is not my cup of tea). I will be checking out their most recent album because of this song, but even if I don’t like it, I am in love with this song, and have been listening to it non stop all week!
The Presets – My People
Alright, I will warn you… before you watch this video, realize that the video is really fucking creepy, and totally the stuff of nightmares. Nightmares that you have while you are on psychotropic substances. Regardless of the strange video (which does sort of suit the song), this song is dark, pulsating, and enjoyable. It took a couple of listens, but even after the first listen, there was something about it that made me want to hear this song again. This is a grower, but it is one of those rare ones that really intrigues you at first, because there is something special about it, something that makes you want to investigate further. It reminds me of LCD Soundsystem a bit, but it makes me think of the stuff that I like about them.
So there’s your five songs for this week! I hope that you enjoyed some, or all, of them! As always, let me know what you are listening to, and hey, tell me what you thought of these songs. Perhaps you have suggestions that you want me to check out?? They might make future incarnations of 5SF, so you have to let me know!! I hope everyone has a great weekend.
Welcome to the first five song Friday of March, y’all. I have a HUGE amount of frustration with computers today, because my home PC has decided that it doesn’t want to work correctly; which I suspect is the cause of a virus or something malicious. I don’t know where it came from, but I want it fixed… NOW. To top that off, I come in to work, only to deal with one of the slowest computers ever… my work PC is a crap. I need a vacation… but that doesn’t mean that I don’t have music for you, because I do! So on to better things, eh?
Taken by Trees – Sweet Child ‘o Mine
Recently, I was driving home, and I heard this amazing version of the classic, hair metal anthem, Sweet Child ‘o Mine; as covered by Taken by Trees. Instantly, I felt like I had heard that voice before, and I discovered, through some googling when I got home, that the singer was the female vocalist from the Peter Bjorn and John song, Young Folks. I have to say, that I really love this acoustic version of the song, and I am a sucker for a great cover; and this is definitely a great one indeed. (a word about the video: I have no idea how it relates to the song, or if it is even the real video, but it is what I found on youtube. Unfortunately, when you buy something on iTunes, apparently, it isn’t yours, and therefore, you can’t have it as an mp3. So I couldn’t use my song that I rightfully purchased as an mp3, and therefore, I have to post the video. Thanks iTunes!)
Weezer – Dope Nose
Today’s “throwback song” comes from the amazing Weezer, who are one of my all time favorite bands. The other day, I heard Dope Nose, which prompted me to listen to the entire Weezer catalog, and I can definitely say, that they are still a favorite. I am very anxiously looking forward to a new Weezer CD, rumored to be released some time in the coming months. I have enjoyed rocking out to Weezer this week, and especially love this song. Rivers Cuomo is the man; and is quite cute as well.
Kate Rusby – Awkward Annie
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_37_katerusby-awkwardannie.mp3]
This song reminds me a bit of my Christian rock days, because a lot of those bands have a similar folk/fiddle & banjo-driven type of rock that I really love. Kate adds the soft voice with an Irish twinge, both of which just send me over the edge. I love the Celtic influence in her songs, and I have really been enjoying this random find. I picked this song from the album of the same name, because it was the first song I heard (it’s the first on the record), and it’s the one that really reeled me in.
Vampire Weekend – Oxford Comma
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_37_vampireweekend-oxfordcomma.mp3]
Warning: they say fuck in this song, so I guess that counts as NSFW for some; just a heads up. This song comes from a reader’s suggestion (thanks!), for me to check out Vampire Weekend’s self titled recent release. I have to say, that I really couldn’t get into the whole CD totally at first, but there were moments where I was like, “oooo, I like this!”. Oxford Comma was the first of those moments, and since then, I have liked them a little more with each listen. It was definitely a great suggestion, and one that I was pleased to check out. Thanks again for the suggestion, and now, I am pleased that I get to pass that on to you!
September – Can’t Get Over
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_37_september-cantgetover.mp3]
Finally today, I bring you an uber-gay dance track from a Swedish dance diva, who is named for the ninth month of the year. I recently stumbled on her CD, and downloaded it instantly when it was described as “pop/Euro-dance”, which the little gay clubber in me can’t get enough of. Sure enough, September totally delights, as this song can definitely be described as fierce! This song is the perfect dance anthem to end this frustrated Friday, and I am glad that it puts such a big smile on my face.
Well, that’s it you guys… another five songs for you. I hope that everyone found something to enjoy this week, and make sure you throw some suggestions my way!! Have a great weekend!
On Tuesday, James and I headed out to the Tabernacle to see the lovely and amazing Ms Sara Bareilles. As expected, she was simply amazing. I am glad that we left right after she performed (she was opening for James Blunt, who frankly, I had NO desire to see), because we met her in the parking lot!!! It was great seeing her again, and even better being able to talk to her again. She is not only an amazing performer, but she is the sweetest person ever.
I am going to see her again with my buddy Deb in April, and I can’t wait. She is headlining that show, so I know that it is going to be even better than Tuesday was. I have to say, that the James Blunt fans really weren’t my crowd, and I was pretty annoyed at the level of talking that was apparent during Sara’s performance. Several of her quieter songs were inundated with talking; which was pretty annoying. Oh well… she was still amazing, so it didn’t really distract too much. I wish that we would have gotten their earlier, because apparently, James Blunt fans are prompt, and we couldn’t get very close. I took some pictures (on flickr now), and a little video, which as of this moment, have had issues getting on youtube. I am going to give it a go again tonight, so I will update with some video; especially the performance of my personal favorite of her songs, Between the Lines. Wow. It was amazing.
A huge thanks to Sara Bareilles again, for being such an amazing performer, and totally bringing it in concert. If you haven’t seen her, you owe it to yourself; she is the real deal. I also appreciate her listening to this fan gush about how great she is!! Meeting her again made my night! Now, I can definitely say, that I am even more excited about the next show in April!
Every four years, we get an “extra day”, and how great is it that it is also a Friday this year? Perhaps the extra day is a sign that I am coming out of my music lull, because I have some fresh stuff for you today. I am also going to bring you some fantastic beats from Mother Gem herself, regardless of all the haters out there. Let’s get to it, shall we?
JES – Around You
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_leap_jes-aroundyou.mp3]
When I downloaded JES’s most recent compilation CD Into the Dawn, I had NO IDEA that she was the amazing voice behind one of my favorite dance songs to have ever been recorded, As the Rush Comes by Motorcycle. After listening to her record, I completely love how many of the retooled down-tempo chill tracks completely showcase the ache in her voice. It is a little bit Portishead and a little bit Kosheen; and a lot of greatness. There is something about this song that just begs to be played over and over. It is simple and a perfect song “for the bedroom”, if you know what I mean…
MGMT – Time To Pretend
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_leap_mgmt-timetopretend.mp3]
This is one of MANY songs that I have heard, and been like, “eh”, and then never got back to it. Then, I hear it on the radio, and I am all, “wow! I kinda love this!”. So yeah. I really enjoy this song, mostly, because it really sounds like it has a huge influence from the amazing Peter Bjorn and John, whom I love. I love the electronic distortion, and I really dig the beats. This is definitely a fun track, and one that is getting attention; and even some more from me!
Styrofoam – Couches in Alleyways (feat Ben Gibbard)
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_leap_styrofoam-couchesinalleys.mp3]
Whoa. I was driving home yesterday, and I was flipping through the radio stations, and I heard this song. At first, I didn’t hear the singing, because it was near the beginning, but I remember thinking, “this is really good… sounds a bit like the Postal Service”. Then, much to my surprise, the lead singer of the Postal Service Ben Gibbard’s vocals came through my speaker. Holy cow! Who is this? I thought. Well, turns out, Styrofoam, who has done a couple of remixes of Postal Service songs, released a record a while back, and this great song is on it! He has a new one coming out soon, and I look forward to hearing it when it arrives. Great random find.
The Faint – Glass Danse
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_leap_thefaint-glassdanse.mp3]
A good buddy of mine was telling me about The Faint the other night, and I promised that I would check them out upon his recommendation. Glass Danse was the first song that played when I went their myspace (which, isn’t that the only thing myspace is good for? music? anyway…), and I instantly loved it. I haven’t really gotten too much into their other stuff as of yet, but this song sounds a lot like Shiny Toy Guns with a touch of the Killers. This song has a lot of intense electronic energy, and a lot to get you going.
Leslie Hall feat. Elvira – Zombie Killer (revisited)
Alright, now I must bring the love to the Mother Gem, as promised. I know very well that this will not be everyone’s cup of tea, and that is fine, but I must tell you, that I love me some Leslie Hall. As I blogged about earlier, I saw her last weekend, and she is glamorous and fabulous in so many ways. I have been listening to all three of her CDs all week long, and I have been having such a great time with each one. She is hilarious, and has this talent to her act that is just refreshing and delightful. This song is hilarious, and even has guest vocals from none other than the amazing Elvira Mistress of the Dark!! Leslie warns us… The zombies are seeking beat-box revival… you must shoot them in the brains! How can you beat that?? A song about zombies featuring Elvira? I can’t believe I am privileged enough to type that previous sentence. Amazing. SHAZAM! If this makes you smile at all, you should check out more from the fabulous Leslie Hall… she is a midwest diva/tiger-colt, and she is hear to bring the freshest jams in all the land to you. Sweet lady rapper, sing your songs to me!! I want to be a junior gem!
Well, I hope that everyone is having a great leap year day, and I hope that you enjoyed the music!! As always, let me know what you are listening to… I really do take all of those suggestions and listen to each one! Have a great weekend everyone!
Well, I am here to bring a review of a concert that displayed such epic-ness, that can only be contained by the sheer will of itself. The concert of which is speak, was none other than Leslie and the LYs, Saturday night at eyedrum.
Leslie Hall hails from Iowa, representing her other Midwest divas, and brings the jams while she flashes her sparkle jems. She is the self-professed mother gem, and comes out of the night, as a purveyor of fantastical gem sweaters and slick beats.
During her show, Leslie dances, she grooves, and she moves her way into your heart, clad from neck to toe in skin tight gold-goodness. She’s a “sequined tower of eternal glamor, pounding out the sexy with a sparkly hammer”.
I have wanted to see her for a while now, and I am glad that I got the chance to this weekend. Basically, if you haven’t heard of her, she is an internet phenomenon who has been doing some great stuff on youtube. Her songs are great, and she makes me laugh out loud more than many can. Saturday night was an amazing night, and I will always remember it as the night that I fell in love with Leslie Hall.
The show itself was an amazing spectacle of ginormous proportions, and here’s a little rundown of how it went down…
The opening act was absolutely DREADFUL, which consisted of a whole hour (seriously) of really loud distortion and guitar “playing” by a tall black dude in a wig. Then a Bjork-wannbe came on and spoke some gibberish, while her other friend (with a fake third arm) “played” a base guitar and created even more loud distortion. It was loud, and uncalled for. I asked the bartender if they were for real, and all he could say was, “well, they’re up there… it doesn’t get much more real than that.”. Agreed.
After that monstrosity, this cute trio that reminded me of TLC busted out two great songs, only to hurry off stage after finishing. It was a refreshing sound after that nonsense from before; but I would have liked to have heard more. No matter… by that time, I wanted my Mother Gem more than ever.
Then… the gold one herself took the stage. Now, I have seen her videos and heard some of her songs, but I had no idea the show that Leslie Hall puts on. Flanked by her accomplices, the LYs, she grooved and jammed for over an hour. It was amazing.
People in the audience called out for Leslie, myself included, and she gave us a feast of beats, rhythms, lady jams, and scissor kicks. She fucking performed the hell out of everything she did, and was completely hilarious and amazing throughout. I don’t know if I have ever had that much fun; seriously.
After the show, she greeted fans, and signed autographs. I got bunches of pictures of both the concert, and the after meet and greet. (click on the photo to go to flickr, and see what you missed out on…). I ended up getting both of her CDs at the show, and I must say that have been lapping up the jams all day.
You must do yourself a favor and see the mother gem herself, Leslie Hall, when she comes to a town near you. She is a goddess, and she is coming for you… I myself cannot WAIT until she comes back my way. SHAZAM! SHE IS GLAMOROUS!
First of all, let me apologize for two things: one, I am still in a music lull, and haven’t really found that many new things to share with you. Second, we had the floors in our office torn out and replaced this week, and as such, I am without my computer, so even the few things I could have shared are locked on my unplugged computer. No matter though, I still have five songs for ya, and regardless if they are new or old, they are at least something for you to check out!
Hayden – Bad As They Seem
I booked tickets to see the upcoming Feist show at the Tabernacle, and I was pleased to see a name I hadn’t seen in YEARS. apparently, Hayden is opening for her, and for those that don’t know Hayden, this is the first song of his that I ever heard. When I was in high school, we had a satellite, but not cable, and at the time, Much Music was the music channel that we got (instead of MTV). As such, I got to know several Canadian acts (like Our Lady Peace), and Hayden was one of them. I used to have a couple of his CDs, but they fell victim to that crazy period where I thought I should get rid of everything that I wasn’t listening to on repeat. I downloaded his most recent CD last week in order to see if I still liked him (and to get ready for seeing him with Feist), and I have been pleased with what I have heard. I can’t find a video of anything new, but if this song sounds good to you, you should check him out. He reminds me a lot of Ray LaMontagne with his darker, more somber folk, but I quite like what I have heard, and I am glad to have been reacquainted with this old favorite.
Nicole Atkins – Neptune City
Now, those of you that pay attention will notice that this isn’t the first time that I have mentioned Ms. Atkins, but to be honest, she is deserved of more attention, IMHO. I randomly popped her CD into my car player this morning, and I was instantly reminded why I sang such high praises for her initially; I really love her sound. So, what better song to include today? This one has a strange-ish video, but it is definitely a beautiful song. I love her voice so much, as it sounds like it is from another era. She sounds so weathered and has this professional quality to her that I just adore. Be sure to check out her CD, which made my top 31 of 2007; because it’s great.
From the Movie Across The Universe – Let It Be
Wow. I watched Across the Universe last night, the movie-musical that uses Beatles songs to tell the story, and I was simply and utterly blown away by the arrangement in this gospel re-tooling of Let It Be. It is already an amazingly emotional song, and paired with the visuals, and the powerful singing that they used in the movie version, it is hard not to get a little tear in your eye when you watch it. I loved a lot of the versions of the Beatles hits that they used in the movie, and I would definitely recommend seeing it if you are fan of musicals. A very interesting movie with some great remakes of great old songs. Just a note, there is some graphic violence in this video, so just be warned.
Bjork – Declare Independence
This next song is a bit of a weird one, which, if you know Bjork, pretty much goes without saying. It is off of her most recent album, Volta, which is definitely good, but didn’t hook me in the way that I thought it would. While I really love the album, there are a few songs that distracted me, and as such, my attention wavered. However, recently, I randomly saw this video, and was again, impressed by Bjork’s ability to not only craft some amazing music, but she also has this uncanny ability to use video to take it to the next level. This is one of those songs that the video takes it totally to another plain; I absolutely LOVE this video, and I believe that it is almost necessary for the song. It is inventive, and moving. It totally captures the call to “declare independence”, and really does it well. Bjork may be a little misunderstood, even by me, but there are some times where she totally nails it for me, and this is one of those times.
Janet – Feedback
Since her CD leaked this week, I figured it would be appropriate to post this naughty little pleasure of mine. I will admit that I wasn’t impressed at all when I first heard this song, but it has REALLY grown on me. It is quite a nice little dance number, and the video is just so weird that I couldn’t avoid posting it too! I have hopes that the album is good (she has had some stunners and some duds in her past), and if it is anything like Feedback, I am sure that it will grow on me. I do have to mention, that perhaps my FAVORITE thing about the video is how she is all Mario Galaxy at the beginning. Maybe Janet should make a deal with Nintendo? Either way, this is a guilty pleasure of the moment, for sure.
Well, that was interesting! I can’t believe that I pulled that out of my hat! I hope you enjoyed this week’s five song Friday; there are some great ones in there! Hope everyone has a great weekend!
I was actually scratching my head and wondering most of this week about what I was going to pick for my five songs this week, as I haven’t really been blown away by any of the stuff I have been checking out lately (new or otherwise). Maybe I am just in a lull? Who knows… however, it has allowed me to reexamine some stuff that I really love, and I figured it would be fun to post a few of those songs today. I am sure that there is a chance that it might be the first time someone is hearing it, or it may re-awaken interest in something you haven’t listened to in forever; either way, it’s all about the music. Since I have been in such a rut lately with finding new, great stuff, PLEASE send me your recommendations, okay? Now, on with the show!
Note: No videos this week, so feed readers, come by and listen up!
The Postal Service – Brand New Colony
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_215_postalservice-brandnewcolony.mp3]
One of my favorite records, Give Up by the Postal Service, drifted back into my focus recently, and I have been enjoying reexamining this fantastic album. I really hope that Ben Gibbard gets around to doing a follow up record at some point, because I would love to have some new Postal Service material. I love the whole album, but this is one of the songs that I tend to listen to over and over from the record; such great lyrics (a couple of which can be found in my header from time to time).
Hellogoodbye – All Time Lows
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_215_hellogoodbye-alltimelows.mp3]
After the aforementioned disappointment that I have been having trying to find new stuff to check out, I also stumbled on Hellogoodbye again, which is one of those rare CDs that I loved instantly from beginning to end. I absolutely adore their electro-pop-rock sound, and after I saw them live, I became a permanent fan. These guys are awesome, and they totally rock that whole “nerdy-cool” vibe, which fits them, and makes me swoon like the other little girls at the concert were. If you like this song, I highly recommend the whole album; I am looking forward to more from these guys. Hearing this again is definitely a great reminder of some of the great stuff in my massive music collection.
RyanDan – The Face
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_215_ryandan-theface.mp3]
Not only are these two identical twin brothers totally gorgeous, but they have this amazing harmony and quality to their singing. While most of their record is watered down with cheesy covers, the two opening songs are fantastic. The Face, which is one of those two openers, is my favorite song of theirs, and is one that I find myself listening to often. It is a totally beautiful song. Sometimes a cheesy ballad is EXACTLY what I need.
Lumidee – She’s Like The Wind
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_215_lumidee-sheslikethewind.mp3]
True story: recently, I was riding in my car to get some lunch, and randomly, She’s Like the Wind (the Patrick Swayze version) popped into my head. I had to turn off the radio and sing the whole song… cheesy, right? Well, I actually kind of love that song, and found out that it had been remade into kind of a great little hip hop number last summer. I have to say, that I kind of like this remake, the sample fits really well with the hip hop beat.
Sugababes – I Bet That You Look Good On The Dancefloor
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_215_sugababes-ibetthatyoulookgood.mp3]
A long while back, my good buddy Stu was giving me a “crash course” in order to bring me up to speed with the Sugababes (who I hadn’t really heard much from at that time), and this cover of the Arctic Monkey’s song of the same name was one of the songs he exposed me to. Not only does it tower over the original version, but it truly highlights what one should do when attempting to cover a song; fucking blow it out of water. See, I don’t mind when you cover a song, and actually cover it really well. In this case, the cover is far better than the original.
Now are you beginning to see just how varied my music tastes are, right? I like a little bit of everything! As always, I hope you enjoyed the songs, and I hope even more that you have some feedback/suggestions yourself! Have a great THREE DAY weekend everyone!
Let me start this post by saying that I generally love the UK’s X-factor; after all, they gave me one of the loves of my life, Mr. Shayne Ward. Not only that, they followed him with the amazing Leona Lewis, who’s Bleeding Love is a song that I still have in heavy rotation; months after I initially heard it. However, with all that good, there too can come some bad. Even though I heard that this year’s winner Leon Jackson was to cover When You Believe, the amazing song from the Prince of Egypt that was originally sung by none other than the divas Mariah and Whitney, I had somehow avoided hearing his version, that is, until recently. It came on U-Pop the other day, and I listened, in order to hear the magnificence that the UK had chosen to win X-Factor. Instead of being impressed, I was horrified.
Not only does he clearly lack the same level of talent that Shayne and Leona possess, but his singing voice doesn’t even seem to be at a level higher than amateur. Not to be mean to the poor kid, but seriously, this is just a bad cover of an otherwise great song.
This brings me to my other gripe: Whomever chose When You Believe as the song that the winner would sing is either a sadist, or just an asshole; because if you are going to do a song that Mariah and Whitney did beautifully, the only way to do it successfully, is to do it better (which that, in and of itself, would be a difficult task indeed). Even without the powerhouse divas singing the original, what on earth were they thinking handing this enormous song to an “undiscovered talent”? Wow. To me, this is just a recipe for disaster, and makes a situation that only sheer luck could bail them out of. Unfortunately, the likable, and in my opinion, much more talented brother-sister group Same Difference did NOT win X-Factor, so we cannot know whether or not their version of the song would be superior to Leon’s; but one thing I do know, is that his version is almost un-listenable. But don’t just take my word for it, see (or rather, hear) for yourself.
First, I give you the Mariah and Whitney version; which is in my opinion, a flawless pop song. It is well written, and their voices compliment each other beautifully. Also, need I even mention that it is fucking Mariah and Whitney, which again, begs to question why one would ever try to cover something that big, unless they KNOW for certain they can do it better?
Now, check out Leon’s version of When You Believe (sorry, but the real video can’t be embedded). I can’t believe they went there, to be honest. I guess it is a little like Leona’s version of A Moment Like This (which is quite terrible as well, but she has managed to distance herself from it quite well), if you have heard a superior version of the song several years in advance of some practical nobody doing a sub-par version of it, what is the fucking point of them doing it at all? There are TONS of songs out there he could have covered; so why this one?
Oh well, we can never know what prompts these producers to rehash the same pop trinkets on other shores, but I can hope that future incarnations of shows like X-Factor, and even the dwindling American Idol, can manage to pull out some better songs, suited for the potential winners. If they are going to stick with sending these poor singers out there with rehashed, sub-par covers, can they at least pick some songs that they would be better suited for? Clearly, in this case, that did not happen at all. I just don’t think that we should have more tragedies like this one, littering the airwaves, and making my ears cringe when I hear them. Clearly, believing that you can sing the song better does not mean that you actually can. Poor Leon…
