Episode 20 Preview - Hello

It's time to get on the dance floor with this week's tune, "Hello" by Martin Solveig with Dragonette. Other than being the song I put away dishes to, it's an actual club tune that I first heard at an actual club.  But let's save that story for the podcast.

You can listen to "Hello" by purchasing it on iTunes, Amazon Music (free with Prime, just scroll down to track 1), or Google Play.  There are like a million versions of this so I tried to link to the one that I listened to before recording the episode.

If you prefer visuals with your songs, here's the official music video as well as the lyrics.  Watcher beware, the video is part of some sort of epic, multi-part series so the song is cut up a bit to match it.

"Hello"

I could stick around and get along with you 
Hello 
It doesn't really mean that I'm into you 
Hello 

You're alright but I'm here darling to enjoy the party 
Don't get too excited 'cus that's all you get from me 
Hey 

Yeah I think you're cute but really you should know 
I just came to say hello 
Hello 
Hello 
Hello 

I'm not the kinda girl who'd get messed up with you 
Hello 
Imma let you try to convince me to
Hello 

It's alright I'm getting dizzy just enjoy the party 
It's ok with me if you don't have that much to say 
Hey 

Kinda like this thing but there's something you should know 
I just came to say hello 
Hello 

Hey 
Hey 

I could stick around and get along with you 
Hello 
It doesn't really mean that I'm into you 
Hello 

(I'm here darling to enjoy the party) 

I just came to say hello 
Hello 
Hello 
Hello 

I'm not the kinda girl who'd get messed up with you 
Hello 
Imma let you try to convince me to 
Hello 

It's alright I'm getting dizzy just enjoy the party 
It's ok with me if you don't have that much to say 
Hey 

Kinda like this thing but there's something you should know 
I just came to say hello 

Hey

So, listen, watch, read, and join us on back here on Wednesday with your best moves.

Happy Thanksgiving!

To all of our American listeners, hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with family and large portion sizes.  For non-American listeners, today is Thanksgiving in America so please visit our country to join the stampede of shoppers looking for 4K TVs at midnight.

Jack E. posted a suggestion that we discuss "Alice's Restaurant Massacree" by Arlo Guthrie which is apparently a Thanksgiving song now.  I didn't have time to fit in a full episode (maybe next year, Jack!).  Strangely enough, I did actually do an oral report on the song as part of a project looking at protest songs of the Vietnam War.  According to Mr. Guthrie the song isn't specifically an anti-war song either, but he seemed happy that it had become associated with Thanksgiving.

With that in mind, relax from eating turkey by checking out this video of Arlo Guthrie performing "Alice's Restaurant Massacree".  It's even got footage from the movie!

Episode 19 - Lucky

Is it possible to decode the meanings of Radiohead songs without Wikipedia? I can't, but special guest, Matt Summers, sure can when we discuss "Lucky" off the seminal album, OK Computer.  Matt shares his personal connection with the song and some great insight into the musical techniques of the band while I talk loudly about superheroes and what you'll find if you Google my name.  It's what we in the biz call fair and balanced.

Please very much enjoy!



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Episode 19 Preview - Lucky

This week we're talking about Radiohead's "Lucky" with special guest (and podcast fan!) Matt Summers.  While we've delved into a number of 90's tracks, Radiohead is almost a musical entity unto itself so you'd better come prepared for this episode!

Take a listen on iTunes, Amazon Music, or Google Play, though I'm sure most of you already own the album, OK, Computer.

Here's what I believe to be the official video as well as the song lyrics.  Please note, the video was originally released as part of a benefit album to raise funds and awareness for victims of the Bosnian War in the early 90s so there are some disturbing images throughout.

"Lucky"

I'm on a roll, I'm on a roll
This time, I feel my luck could change
Kill me Sarah, kill me again with love
It's gonna be a glorious day

Pull me out of the aircrash
Pull me out of the lake
'Cause I'm your superhero
We are standing on the edge

The Head of State has called for me by name
But I don't have time for him
It's gonna be a glorious day
I feel my luck could change

Pull me out of the aircrash
Pull me out of the lake
'Cause I'm your superhero
We are standing on the edge

We are standing on the edge

So, listen, read, think, and join us back here on Wednesday for the full episode.

Episode 18 - Rock Band

It's an epic discussion of all things Rock Band with Diana Parry-Cruwys and Brian Grady!  We wear our video game reviewer hats to examine how playing crappy songs on plastic instruments makes everything better and how playing awesome songs with your friends is utterly transcendent.  Is there one song to make our song? No! Hundreds of songs are yours for the taking, you just have to be ready to be the bass player.

Please very much enjoy!



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Episode 18 Preview - Rock Band

Bit of a break this week as we talk about the video game sensation "Rock Band".  Though not the first "I can pretend to play music using a guitar/drum/microphone controller" game, it is arguably one of the best.  And, with the release of "Rock Band 4" by Boston's own Harmonix Music Systems, I take some time to talk with fans of the game about their favorite tunes and the allure of playing fake, plastic instruments in a group holds.

As "Rock Band" contains hundreds of songs, we won't be focusing on any one tune so, instead read some background material on the game itself as well as some reviews of the latest iteration then come back on Wednesday for the show.

Episode 17 - Conversation 16

Brian Grady joins us with a deep dive into The National's "Conversation 16".  We seek the answers to those eternal questions like is a bad relationship compare to brain-eating, how many internal monologues does it take to find happiness, and, are we all really that evil? Fun bonus game: figure out where I edited out my terrible hacking coughs and you could win a pizza from Agostino's.  I mean, you won't, so...

Please very much enjoy!


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Episode 17 Preview - Conversation 16

Our awesome guests return with their own favorite songs.  This week, Brian Grady brings The National to our airwaves with their song "Conversation 16".

Episode 16 - Sick Day

Inspired by a true story about a boy, a girl, and a contractual obligation of their employer to allow them to stay home when ill and still get paid.  It's Fountains of Wayne's "Sick Day"!

Please very much enjoy!


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Episode 16 Preview - Sick Day

Besides needing my voice for podcasting, I just super-love talking all the time.  So losing my voice for a week+ has been just the worst.  Coughing up phlegm like a consumption victim on Downton Abbey didn't help much either.  It got so bad that I did, in fact, need to take a sick day to just sleep and recuperate.  Which made me think of the Fountains of Wayne song, "Sick Day".  While not even close to my favorite FOW song--that list is too long to discuss here--it certainly is topical.  So, we have our episode, a little late and a little raspy.  Fun fact: Diana and I once saw Fountains of Wayne at a show in Northampton get cut short due to lead singer Chris Collingwood having a case of laryngitis.

You can purchase the song on iTunes, Amazon Music, or Google Play. No official music video, but we do have a live version of the song from a Chicago show in 2009.  Not quite the same as the album version though which is the one we'll be talking about.

Did I hear a request for lyrics?

"Sick Day"

Check out the girl in the Harbor Tunnel
Crawling to work six feet under
And the day has barely begun
They're all chewing gum

And laughing at the voice on the crackling radio station
Lead us not into Penn Station
Cause the best part's just begun
We're all becoming one again

And she's making the scene
With the coffee and cream
And the copy machine's not working
She's a hell of a girl
She's alone in the world
And she likes to say hey good lookin'
She's on her way
She's taking a sick day..soon

And here is the man pushing paper past her
Thinks up ways to make the day go faster
But the day goes on and on
He dreams of his lawn

And all about 
the pretty careerist 
the next cube over
The fat secretary, 
the lunchtime lovers
'Til the path train finally comes
The platform's full of bums again

And she's making the scene
With the coffee and cream
And the copy machine's not working
She's a hell of a girl
She's alone in the world
And she likes to say hey good lookin'
She's on her way
She's taking a sick day..soon

And she's taking her time
As she's tossing a dime
At the man in the cardboard coffin
It doesn't have to be fine
She's ahead of the line
And doesn't have to be here too often
She's making a play
She's taking a sick day..soon

So, listen, read, watch, think, and come back here on Friday (maybe Thursday? haven't you subscribed to the RSS feed or on iTunes yet?) for the discussion.

Running late this week

So, my voice is still shot.  And I had to reschedule everybody to record later this week.  So, I'm a bit behind.  It did get me thinking of a song I'd like to talk about.  Hopefully my voice will return enough to get something together a little later in the week.  As long as I don't sound like the spirit of emphysema, I'll shoot for a Thursday release, just a little late.  Perhaps some extra sleep and less talking will speed my recovery along.