Saturday, February 27, 2010

Aquarius/ Let the Sun Shine In - The 5th Dimension

Released in 1969, this is a two song medley from Hair that has just always a favorite of mine. It's great a great feel, some awesome horns, and the vocal melodies really go well together. The age of Aquarius was believed to be an era of love, light and humanity, what one might think of during the late sixties/early seventies. Really, it it just a fun little song that used to be very big ( won Grammy for song of the year) but has been unfortunately forgotten.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LANwIgpha7k

Aquarius/ Let the Sun Shine In

When the moon is in the seventh house
and Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars
This is the dawning of the age
of a Aquarius, the age of Aquarius
Aquarius, Aquarius
Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more falsehoods or derisions
Golden living dreams of visions
Mystic crystal revelation
and the minds true liberation
Aquarius, Aquarius
When the moon is in the seventh house
and Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars
This is the dawning of the age
of a Aquarius, the age of Aquarius
Aquarius, Aquarius

Let the sun shine, Let the sun shine in
The sun shine in(Repeat)

Friday, February 26, 2010

Land of Confusion - Genesis/Disturbed

This song is Genesis' finest, a rocking sound with Collins great vocal performance. What makes this such a great song however are the lyrics themselves, a very political song about the decline of our society that speak for themselves and the uncertainity during the Cold War era. The video itself is incredible too, filled with creepy puppets it's definitely something to behold. It was also criticized at the time for depicting Reagan as inept ( he's the one in bed at the beginning of the song). There was a cover done more recently by Disturbed, and it is extremely well done with an equally interesting video, definitely worth checking out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oepXF2B5NK4 - Genesis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6KXgjLqSTg&NR=1 - Disturbed

Land of Confusion

I must've dreamed a thousand dreams
Been haunted by a million screams
But I can hear the marching feet
They're moving into the street

Now did you read the news today
They say the danger's gone away
But I can see the fire's still alight
There burning into the night

There's too many men, too many people
Making too many problems
And not much love to go round
Can't you see this is a land of confusion?

Well this is the world we live in
And these are the hands we're given
Use them and let's start trying
To make it a place worth living in

Ooh, Superman where are you now
When everything's gone wrong somehow?
The men of steel, the men of power
Are losing control by the hour

This is the time, this is the place
So we look for the future
But there's not much love to go round
Tell me why, this is a land of confusion

This is the world we live in
And these are the hands we're given
Use them and let's start trying
To make it a place worth living in

I remember long ago when the sun was shining
Yes, and the stars were bright all through the night
And the sound of your laughter as I held you tight, so long ago

I won't be coming home tonight
My generation will put it right
We're not just making promises
That we know, we'll never keep

Too many men, there's too many people
Making too many problems
And not much love to go round
Can't you see, this is a land of confusion?

Now this is the world we live in
And these are the hands we're given
Use them and let's start trying
To make it a place worth fighting for
This is the world we live in

This is the world we live in
And these are the names we're given
Stand up and let's start showing
Just where our lives are going to

Thursday, February 25, 2010

You've Got Her In Your Pocket - The White Stripes

It's hard to pick out a particular Jack White song to post, as he has written so many incredible and unique songs. Although this one isn't quite my favorite, I think this song is so good because of how simple it is but how incredible it sounds. It has such lovely lyrics and White's unique voice makes you really feel the passion in his words. It's a great acoustic piece that is easy to pick up and play.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz90QvjL0Fo

You've Got Her In Your Pocket

You've got her in your pocket
And there's no way out now
Put it in the safe and lock it
'cause it's at home sweet home
Nobody ever told you that it was the wrong way
To trick a woman, make her feel she did it her way
And you'll be there if she ever feels blue
And you'll be there when she finds someone new
What to do
Well you know
You keep her in your pocket
Where there's no way out now
Put it in a safe a lock it
'cause it's home sweet home
The smile on your face made her think she had the right one
Then she thought she was sure
By the way you two could have fun
But now she might leave
Like she's threatened before
Grab hold of her fast
Before her feet leave the floor
And she's out the door
'cause you want
To keep you in my pocket
Where there's no way out now
Put it in a safe a lock it
'cause it's home sweet home
And in your own mind
You know you're lucky just to know her
And in the beginning all you wanted was to show her
But now you're scared
You think she's running away
You search in your hand for something clever to say
Don't go away
'cause I want
To keep you in my pocket
Where there's no way out
Put it in a safe a lock it
'cause it's home sweet home
Home sweet home

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Blinded By The Light - Bruce Springsteen

This song, although made famous by Manfred Manns Earth Band, is a Springsteen tune. Springsteen was always denied a number 1 single while Manfred's cover made it. Both versions are awesome to listen to and definitely both worth the listen. The two versions sound almost nothing alike, and Manfred's version is my favorite, but you have to give respect to Springsteen for the original.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN6zFN8cAPs

Blinded by the Light

Madman drummers bummers and Indians in the summer with a teenage diplomat
In the dumps with the mumps as the adolescent pumps his way into his hat
With a boulder on my shoulder, feelin' kinda older, I tripped the merry-go-round
With this very unpleasing sneezing and wheezing, the calliope crashed to the ground
Some all-hot half-shot was headin' for the hot spot, snappin' his fingers, clappin' his hands
And some fleshpot mascot was tied into a lover's knot with a whatnot in her hand
And now young Scott with a slingshot finally found a tender spot and throws his lover in the sand
And some bloodshot forget-me-not whispers, "Daddy's within earshot, save the buckshot, turn up the band"

And she was blinded by the light
Cut loose like a deuce, another runner in the night
Blinded by the light
She got down but she never got tight, but she'll make it alright

Some brimstone baritone anti-cyclone rolling stone preacher from the East
He says, "Dethrone the dictaphone, hit it in its funny bone, that's where they expect it least"
And some new-mown chaperone was standin' in the corner all alone, watchin' the young girls dance
And some fresh-sown moonstone was messin' with his frozen zone to remind him of the feeling of romance

Yeah, he was blinded by the light
Cut loose like a deuce, another runner in the night
Blinded by the light
He got down but he never got tight, but he's gonna make it tonight

Some silicone sister with her manager's mister told me I got what it takes
She said, "I'll turn you on, sonny, to something strong if you play that song with the funky break"
And Go-Cart Mozart was checkin' out the weather chart to see if it was safe to go outside
And little Early-Pearly came by in her curly-wurly and asked me if I needed a ride
Oh, some hazard from Harvard was skunked on beer, playin' backyard bombardier
Yes, and Scotland Yard was trying hard, they sent some dude with a calling card, he said, "Do what you like, but don't do it here"
Well, I jumped up, turned around, spit in the air, fell on the ground and asked him which was the way back home
He said, "Take a right at the light, keep goin' straight until night, and then, boy, you're on your own"
And now in Zanzibar, a shootin' star was ridin' in a side car, hummin' a lunar tune
Yes, and the avatar said, "Blow the bar but first remove the cookie jar, we're gonna teach those boys to laugh too soon"
And some kidnapped handicap was complainin' that he caught the clap from some mousetrap he bought last night
Well, I unsnapped his skull cap and between his ears I saw a gap but figured he'd be all right

He was just blinded by the light
Cut loose like a deuce, another runner in the night
Blinded by the light
Mama always told me not to look into the sights of the sun
Oh, but Mama, that's where the fun is
I was blinded
I was blinded
I was blinded

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Desperado - Alice Cooper

Same name, different song. This song is off Coopers wicked Killer album from 1971. Cooper has said that the song is both about Jim Morrison of the Doors, as well as Robert Vaughn from the Magnificent 7. Either make sense in my eyes, but I definitely lean towards Vaughn as it really gives off an old west storyline. The album is absolutely a must listen and though Cooper has put out many, many albums, this is most likely his greatest in my eyes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dM2UXFe78sc&feature=related

Desperado

I'm a gambler
And I'm a runner
But you knew that
When you lay down

I'm a picture
Of ugly stories
I'm a killer
And I'm a clown

Step into the street by sundown
Step into your last goodbye
You're a target just by living
Twenty dollars will make you die

I wear lace
And I wear black leather
My hands are lightning upon my gun

My shots are clean
And my, my shots are final
My shots are deadly
And when it's done

You're as stiff as my smoking barrel
You're as dead as a desert night
You're a notch
And I'm a legend
You're at peace
And I must hide

Tell me where the hell I'm going
Let my bones fall in the dust
Can't you hear that ghost that's calling
As my Colt begins to rust
In the dust

I'm a killer
I'm a clown
I'm a priest
That's gone to town

Monday, February 22, 2010

Desperado - The Eagles

Everyone knows the Eagles, and they are a band that deserves every bit of fame they've achieved. This is a fairly popular song,and one of my favorites by them, just so mellow, easy to listen to and get lost in. A similar piece was written in 68' but Henley adapted it later into Desperado in 73'. The Eagles are an interesting band as they started off as a backup band for Linda Ronstadt, but after realizing what talent they had, split off and began rocking. This may be the only case I know of the band leaving the singer and becoming more famous. Funny enough, they were considered country when they started out, and this song is categorized as country rock.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juzUq5sPOE0&feature=related

Desperado

Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
You been out ridin' fences for so long now
Oh, you're a hard one
I know that you got your reasons
These things that are pleasin' you
Can hurt you somehow

Don't you draw the queen of diamonds, boy
She'll beat you if she's able
You know the queen of hearts is always your best bet

Now it seems to me, some fine things
Have been laid upon your table
But you only want the ones that you can't get

Desperado, oh, you ain't gettin' no younger
Your pain and your hunger, they're drivin' you home
And freedom, oh freedom well, that's just some people talkin'
Your prison is walking through this world all alone

Don't your feet get cold in the winter time?
The sky won't snow and the sun won't shine
It's hard to tell the night time from the day
You're losin' all your highs and lows
Ain't it funny how the feeling goes away?

Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
Come down from your fences, open the gate
It may be rainin', but there's a rainbow above you
You better let somebody love you, before it's too late

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight - The Beatles

One of the lesser known songs, Golden Slumbers is a powerful little number of the B side of Abbey Road. This album is my favorite Beatles album, and one of my top albums all of all time and it is largely in fact to the 2nd side. The way the songs run together, repeating rhythms and some lyrical set ups is beautiful and this song just seems to catch the power of the whole piece in my eyes. Followed by Carry that weight that wraps up the piece bringing back the earlier fields and then kicks it into The End, the only true Ringo solo. An incredible song progression that is sometimes looked over, but well worth the listen, although I suggest listening to the whole side together, the whole album in fact.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e_j66mgTDE&feature=related

Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight

Once there was a way to get back homeward
Once there was a way to get back home
Sleep pretty darling do not cry
And I will sing a lullabye

Golden slumbers fill your eyes
Smiles awake you when you rise
Sleep pretty darling do not cry
And I will sing a lullabye

Once there was a way to get back homeward
Once there was a way to get back home
Sleep pretty darling do not cry
And I will sing a lullabye

Boy, you're gonna carry that weight
Carry that weight a long time
Boy, you're gonna carry that weight
Carry that weight a long time

I never give you my pillow
I only send you my invitations
And in the middle of the celebrations
I break down

Boy, you're gonna carry that weight
Carry that weight a long time
Boy, you're gonna carry that weight
Carry that weight a long time