Musique Mardi: Irma & Gad

Revisiting my old Musique Mardi series to share this sweet little jam session of Parisian musician Irma with my favorite French comedian Gad Elmaleh (seriously, I love Gad) doing a rendition of Isn't She Lovely. *happy sigh*

Musique Mardi: くじら12号

The summer I turned 19, I was obsessed with all things j-pop. My days were spent poring over magazines from the Japanese market and dreaming of Harajuku shopping excursions, watching videos of Long Vacation (if you haven't seen it, follow the link -- I promise you'll be hooked {it has English subtitles}), and listening to my Judy and Mary cd over and over (and over) again.
くじら12号 (Whale no.12) is my favorite track off the album because of the imagery of the lyrics -- it's like listening to a punk bedtime story.
A few of the best (nonsensical) lines:

With imitation diamonds

I want a love affair made up of lies

My lover will be kidnapped

Let's rescue him from the monster's castle

The golden-colored travellers are waiting

Let's hurry into the fairytale

Once the sun wakes up

Let's take that boat

Cuddling, swimming through the melting snow like whales

At the end of the sky that no one yet knows

Is probably a blindingly bright glass door

I want to feel the spine-tingling kick of a dolphin

*Coming later this week: a post about summertime in Japan!

Musique Mardi*: 27 Jennifers

*The formerly awkwardly-named Musical Interlude Tuesday will henceforth be referred to as Musique Mardi. What with the introduction of yesterday's L'Atelier Lundi I may be painting myself into a corner where every post must have an alliterative title (in French no less), but let's just go with it for now.
This week's selection is Mike Doughty's 27 Jennifers. The video creeps me out, but oh are the lyrics ever lovely. I mean, this is poetry:

 It’s the sweet shine of,
Yeah, force of divine love
The blessed arrival of you

You might be the one that I’ve been seeking for
You might be the strange delightful
You might be the girly who shall end all girls
You might be the sweet unspiteful

 The strange delightful indeed. I have been a fan since his Soul Coughing days, but whereas those were albums better suited for my strung-out on coffee late-nights in the art studio college era, his more recent solo work is melodic and layered and joyful and a good friend on contemplative rainy summer nights.

Musical Interlude Tuesday : Sunshowers

Just because it's an odd sort of song, political yet deceptively cheerful. Love the setting -- love that there are elephants and dancing through the jungle -- not your typical hip hop video. Also, it makes me crave mangoes every time I hear it.

Musical Interlude Tuesday : Make Her Say

Today's choice of Kid Cudi's Make Her Say was selected for the simple reason that at any given moment during the day, that Gaga sample is stuck in my head.
I may look like I'm lost in thought, deeply contemplating love, life, and the pursuit of happiness, but inside my mind is just a nonsensical loop of OH oh-oh-oh OH oh-oh-oh pah pah pah pah pah pah pah poker face... I dare you to listen and not suffer the same fate.

Meanwhile, I am putting together another collage-arific travelogue to share later this week!

Musical Interlude Tuesday : Con d'Homme

I couldn't even begin to describe the convoluted path of links that led me to this song, but my foray into French music began with an evening spent curled up with one of my most favorite films, Hors de Prix (a.k.a. Priceless).

 C'est delicieuse, non?

The song is Con d'Homme, by Camille Bazbaz, and yes, I think the title sounds like that intentionally. Am not too sure what its about or what's going on in that faux 70's porno video, but there is something hypnotic and languid and lovely in his crooning.

Musical Interlude Tuesday : Ray of Light

A day behind for this week's Musical Interlude Tuesday, but better late than never. Yesterday's Madonna-stravaganza episode of Glee (which, yes, was AWESOME) reminded me how much I kind of love that crazy chameleon, and how Ray of Light was my favorite song of all time at one point. The original video is a work of art in itself, but I like this live version too -- you can see what a force of nature Madge is, perfectly at home commanding a crowd of thousands. What would it be like to have that energy, that confidence, know exactly who you are and what you're capable of?

Musical Interlude Tuesday : I've Got Nothing

This week's featured song is one I only just discovered yesterday.
Reasons why I love it:

1. it will cheer you up like nobody's business
2. it was cobbled together by some talented kids
3. it features my favorite phenomenon -- a whole bunch of strangers joining forces to create something delightful
4. cute British boy!
5. it's so very, very catchy (just wait, you'll be singing it in the shower tomorrow morning)
6. if you buy the song on iTunes, the money goes towards the Children in Need foundation
7. the line "if you were sunshine, I'd bathe in you" is kind of awesome

Enjoy and be cheered!

Musical Interlude Tuesday : I Wanna Be Sedated

I'm not the only one who, whenever I hear this, flashes back to that scene in My So-Called Life where Jordan Catalano has to sing it on stage after the original lead singer bails, and he turns out to be perfect... right? right?
In any case, I have loved this Ramones song for longer than I can remember, and the thing is -- it never gets old. It's sublimely messy and utterly sing-able; a kind of anthem for bored youth with a joy that belies the jaded lyrics.

Musical Interlude Tuesday : Southside

Today's Musical Interlude Tuesday: Moby's Southside, featuring my favorite blonde, Gwen Stefani. Because it reminds me of driving along Hollywood Blvd. in the middle of the night one summer years ago, because I'd forgotten how much I liked it until I just rediscovered it yesterday, and because the shot of Gwen licking Moby's scalp = crazy hotness.

Musical Interlude Tuesday : La Vie en Rose

February, a month for heart-shaped boxes, chocolate confections, lace-edged doilies, pink and red roses, but mostly love (in every shape and hue). Pomplamoose channeling Edith Piaf seems about the right mix of sweet with a sprinkle of melancholy and nostalgia.

Musical Interlude Tuesday : S-N double O-P

Another classic from ye olde archives. The silky smooth stylings of Mr.D-O double G.

In other news: my new macbook pro arrived this morning! Hmm, that didn't take long after I posted it in my wishlist. This bodes well for my dreams of new cameras and trips abroad...

Musical Interlude Tuesday : summer's ready when you are

What's that sound? Oh, it's my 14 yr old self rushing to press "record" as this song comes on the RADIO so I can add it to my MIX TAPE. Ah 20th century, you were a simpler time...

Musical Interlude Tuesday : How Soon is Now?

I have written before about my love of a good remake, and this week the song in question is the iconic 80's Smiths tune, How Soon is Now, as interpreted by those t.A.T.u girls. I've long had a bad impression of the duo, but there is no getting around the fact that not only have they done justice to the original song, but they've brought even more to it.

I've been thinking a lot about this issue of reconciling the artist with the art itself -- where do you draw the line? In the case of t.A.T.u., I don't appreciate their history of obnoxious behaviour, but that doesn't stop me from loving and sharing their music. When it comes to Chris Brown, though, as much as I really, really like both of his newest singles, I would feel mighty uncomfortable promoting them here. Is it possible to look at the art on its own merit and appreciate it, no matter who created it? Food for thought.

Lena and Yulia's version:

And the original Smiths. Morrissey rocks some AWESOME moves you guys.

Musical Interlude Tuesday : Year End Edition

For today, a very special edition of Musical Interlude Tuesday, in which I present my top 5 songs of the year. To clarify, these are not necessarily songs that came out in 2009, but just the ones that were in heaviest rotation on my iTunes. Without further ado:

5. I Gotta Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas
This was playing on the radio every single time we got in the rental car while in Hawaii, so it makes me think of palm trees and surfers and sunblock lotion and sand in my toes and freedom and hanging out with some great girls.

4. Not Big by Lily Allen
Best break-up song ever. Lily is like my eloquently crass and doll-faced alter-ego; the girl who voices (loudly) the thoughts I'm far too polite (read: scared) to say.

3. Every Single Song (especially this one, and this one) by the Glee Cast
I know, you're shocked. I only talk about Glee almost every other week.

2. Daisy Cutter by 311
To me, 311 embodies the quintessential SoCal sound of my youth (like early No Doubt), and it was perfect timing that I discovered their Uplifter album just before my trip to Huntington Beach. It sounds like bright sunlight and skateboards and sushi rolls and tattoos and New Age philosophy and falling in love.

1. Stay Crunchy by Ronald Jenkees
Boyfriend can jam.

Musical Interlude Tuesday : Do Dil

Today's musical offering is from Noori, a Pakistani band comprised of two brothers. I came upon this completely by accident (I was looking for a song called Noori) and immediately fell for it -- I think it has something to do with a particular guitar chord, or combination of chords that I respond to. Not being musical I don't know what that chord is, but when I hear it, my whole being seems to vibrate at the same frequency. Robert Fulghum described this phenomenon in one of his books (apparently the hum of his refrigerator matches his personal key).
The video has entirely too much soulful-eyes-looking-into-the-camera and emo hair-tossing and the first 30 seconds gets annoying, BUT the brothers are kinda beautiful and those opening chords just make my heart sing.

Musical Interlude Tuesday : Glee

The songs from Glee have been dominating my playlists for the past few months, and the mid-season finale brought three more tracks of aural bliss into my life and headphones. It was an utterly satisfying episode and it just makes me sad to think of anyone not watching the show and denying themselves of this pure, unadulterated JOY.
Rachel's rendition of Rain on My Parade is shiver-inducing-ly pitch perfect, and their interpretation of the Stone's classic is awesome, especially because it has long been a personal theme-song of mine. But my favorite has to be the closing number because of sheer exuberance + the fun of spotting the dance moves they revisit from previous episodes. Also: KISSING!