Picks of the Week (Beta Version)
Posted: February 4th, 2009 | Filed under: Pop Culture | 42 Comments »
You know what’s fun? Being a test subject. Margo and I love that sort of stuff. I’m sad to say that the two times we went to Las Vegas, we went to be the test audience for some television show. The first time, it was for that television show “Dellaventura†starring Danny Aiello. We were not especially impressed. The show lasted like three episodes.
And then, last time, we sat through this interminable reality TV show about single moms trying to get back into the dating game. That show might be on the air, I don’t know. They gave you this little dial — not unlike the old controller for the video game “Pong†— and you were supposed to turn it to the right if you liked a scene, turn it to the left if you hated a scene. I think it’s fair to say I was further left than Dennis Kucinich on that show.
ANYWAY, we love that stuff. So I have agreed to be a test case again for a friend of mine.
Here’s how it works: Every week (at least until this thing stops) I am going to recommend a song of the week. I am going to recommend this through Amazon for data reasons that are too boring to go into. But it should be noted that the Amazon music link is really quite good: It downloads the music right into your iTunes if you are an iTunes person (98.83% of you) or into whatever other music source you use if you are not an iTunes person. You do have to download a music downloader, but it’s pretty pain free.
Anyway, using my rapidly improving music sources, I will recommend a song or two that seem pretty cool and new. I figure, hey, we’re all looking for good new music recommendations, right? And you will be able to hear a snippet of it on here (if all this works properly) and then, if you like it, you can click the button and buy the song for, whatever, 99 cents or 89 cents or whatever that song costs. It should be fun.
Two more things:
1. For every song you click, I get like a tiny percentage, which I will be donating to a writing charity. Margo and I are hoping to start our own writing charity here shortly — I hope to announce details about that soon (it’s a sportswriting program!) — but for now the money will go to 826 Valencia, the brilliant Dave Eggers charity that helps children with their writing skills. I think we’re probably talking about a few pennies (shoot it might not be ANY money) but as we go I’ll keep you all updated on exactly how much and exactly where it’s going.
So remember, you are not just buying music and helping a friend of mine with data checks, you are also donating a little money to a very cool charity.
2. I have no idea how any of this works, so please expect a few bumps in the process.
OK, I’m going to start this off with my three favorite Frank Sinatra Songs … Valentine’s Day is coming up. You have the joy of “A Summer Wind,†the awesome “The Way You Look Tonight,†and, if you have been dumped, you have the unbelievably sad “One for the Road.†Years ago, after I was dumped, I listened to that song like 40 times in two days. And then, I wanted to jump out the window. But that was an improvement.
Here we go*.
*And no complaining about there being too much music here: I’ve got a big baseball post coming by the end of the day. Plus, there are no Springsteen songs on this week’s list.
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Well as one of the 1.17 % without any portable musical device, I’ll tell the tale of my testing. My church got us to go to some test thing on radio songs. It made 50 bucks for each of us, and I got to spend a night listening to “Classic” rock. How often would you like to hear this song? Over and over. Well, a great song might be once a month, but these were the dinosaurs of the era, petrified and cold and rigor-mortised beyond life; Chicago, Frampton, The Stones, etc. I have really put that part of my life mostly behind me. I rarely listen to such stuff. I’m not opposed ot it, it just feels so old and long ago. So I got to say “Never” about 200 times.
I was never asked back to offer an opinion again.
Better break up Sinatra song – “Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me.”
Devastating.
Sinatra is cool and new all over again? Just kidding Joe. I’m interested but I already have something like 8,000 songs in iTunes… and a fair amount of Frank. But keep the music coming, Bruce included.
The Rams-Titans game was a snoozer until the fourth quarter. I’d pick the Giants-Bills game as the best one all the way through.
Reason No. 16 you should ignore those who complain about the Springsteen on a blog they do little more than read: Many of us probably like Springsteen more than Sinatra.
Can we start polling for our favorite breakup songs now? Mine’s “Alone” by Blues Traveler.
Just for the record, Joe, I have no problem with the music posts. In fact, I like them. And I don’t exactly have the same taste as you (and many of the blog’s readers) – I’m one of those “young people who don’t get Bruce,” plus I like The Doors.
Can we make picks? You know it’s gonna happen anyway…so here’s mine…
“Positive/Negative” by Modest Mouse (break-up song).
“Just Like Heaven” by The Cure (love song).
“Rousseau” by Pinback (just ’cause it’s stuck in my head – great song, though).
I can’t stand Springsteen and would listen to Sinatra over him any day of the week. I’m a classic/hard rock kind of guy, but I find him horribly overrated.
Ignore those who want you to write about nothing but Springsteen and keep up the good baseball stuff.
Kansas City Royals – 2009 AL Central Champs
Joe, keep writing about whatever you feel like writing about.
I’m sorry, I just about spit out what was in my mouth when I saw Vin’s pick of “Just Like Heaven” as a LOVE SONG. Take a real good look at the lyrics, buddy. It’s about a sad, Robert Smith-type character who lost a chance at true love because he couldn’t open up to the girl. There’s nothing happy about that song.
Hi Joe, I’ve been reading since the days of the old website (got my note for buying the soul of baseball and everything) and just wanted to thank you for donating your money to 826! I volunteer as a tutor at the nyc branch (http://www.826nyc.org/) and it’s an exceptionally good cause. Now if you just let me use my pozcar voter status to bump up Dylan I’ll really be set for the day.
Wow, you hit two of my top three Sinatra songs. I would replace “One for the Road” (which is just asking for a DWI) with “In the Wee Small Hours”. Great stuff, as always.
Jonathan – OK, OK, I’d I’ve never taken a good look at the lyrics (I’m not a huge Cure fan, I mostly just know the singles). I’ll take your word for it, and substitute “Dear Prudence” by the Beatles.
There’s already a sportswriting charity. It’s called the New York Post. Hey now!
Cool idea. Can’t wait to read more.
Favorite Sinatra: Summer Wind. Always takes me back to when I first moved to NYC; sitting in bars in Queens, getting tanked, betting horses, and listening to Frank on the jukebox. Sweet times.
I’m sure you will without our encouragement, but I agree with Jeff; please write about whatever you want.
Best breakup song ever has got to be Elvis Costello’s “Good Year for the Roses.” I’ve been happily married for almost 15 years and that song still makes me whistful for a long gone romance.
I’ve never been a fan of Springsteen. Liked some of his stuff, disliked others, mostly just ignorant of the bulk of it. But based on Poz’s strenuous recommendation and some of the brilliant readers here, I am now the proud owner of a pair of tickets to his April show in Atlanta.
Finally a musician I can really comment on…although I currently have very little to say except that I already own all of those songs but feel compelled to buy one again just to vote or whatever it is we are doing with our money. The charity not withstanding.
Summer wind, That’s Life and Luck Be a Lady (my top 3 off the top of my head) I’ll probably hear 2 others that could easily make the list after I push enter.
Good Stuff, Joe as always.
My Ipod is filled with J.J. Cale. Any other fans out there?
Jim C,
Dude, don’t lump the Rollings Stones in with the like of Chicago and Frampton.
Joe, you put a list like that for your poll, and then you start your music recs with Sinatra? Please don’t do that… let me guess, you think that what Michael Phelps did was a travesty.
At least stay somewhat current and give us your favorite songs by each artist in your poll. That would be infinitely more telling than random recommendations from the 50’s.
I’ll get you started :
The Killers : Smile Like You Mean It
Elton John : Your Song
Coldplay : Spies
American Idol people : i got nothing…
I’m more for buying entire albums (digital is fine). Not a big fan of the single song selection. Maybe include a few album recommendations, and I would most likely buy. I know this kinda bucks the current trends, but, ya know, just a suggestion.
Sinatra = sweet. Thumbs up on all those songs, btw.
@per14 – you’d be surprised at the early Chicago stuff if all you’re thinking of is the weepy Cetera power ballad krep. There’s a seven-minute live performance of them doing Winwood’s “I’m a Man” that is something else. Terry Kath on guitar and Danny Seraphine on drums? Way underrated.
Love: “She’s Got a Way,” Billy Joel, from Songs in the Attic
Breakup: “Romeo and Juliet,” the Dire Straits
Earworm: “Viva la Vida,” Coldplay
And BTW, what the heck? COLDPLAY? Where the heck did this album come from? They’re like an athlete who puts up OK numbers, gets tossed into a trade somewhere else, and suddenly puts up a 320/400/580. The question is, do they stay at this level or slump back down?
The fact that you failed to mention that yesterday was the day the music died makes me very sad indeed.
http://www.goodsearch.com. Penny per search to your charity of choice. Uses Yahoo. Check it out.
Ditto what Dave (#13) and Jeff (#7) said. That’s beauty of the blog.
Does your view of Bruce’s performance change after knowing his band didn’t even play?
http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/turn_it_up/2009/02/music-insiders-explain-why-backing-tapes-are-a-must-for-hudson-springsteen-at-super-bowl.html
The C.O.B. (Chairman of the Board). Sweet!
Nightfly,
While I haven’t actually heard the new Coldplay album because I am far too cool for them, the new album is surely better because Brian Eno produced it.
This thing about Bruce playing to pre-recorded tracks, do we know if this is true?
That totally blows if it is true. That’s lame, no two ways about it. Lame to speak of it as a musical performance at least.
I can understand the litany of cynical and reasonable explanations for using pre-recorded tracks, but honestly, they all are antithetical to a person who loves to play music on stage in front of people. In an understated way, I take Bruce to be one of these people, and cannot conceive he would wish to be involved in that. Or rather, I almost imagine that he would fess up to it, or explain that it’s part of why he never wanted to do it.
This is not some sort of “Say it ain’t so Joe” comment, it is more that it renders utterly unworthy ANY discussion of how the musical performance was (other than gossipy blah blah about his James Brown moves and knee slides.)
A cynical response to the issue of Bruce Springsteen doing this will not suffice.
We must know!!
And we must scorn!
Though, even in saying all that, there is some level of pre-recorded instrumentation that is tolerable.
It’s the cynical thing that bothers me.
My heartbreak was to Black by Pearl Jam. Eddie Vetter really putting some emotion into it. Do love the Chairman though.
Are the Royals even remotely involved in getting more pitching? (other than signing Banny I mean). Isn’t there a cheap 4th or 5th starter out there somewhere?
Can’t wait for the first Banny log. It means the weather has warmed, the birds are singing, and hope springs eternal for a KC Royal fan.
I miss FJM, I too had my heartbroken to “Black”—STP’s “Interstate Love Song”, also*. Sadly, my grief got the better of me and I clutched onto The Cardigans’ “love me, love me” song as well. I googled it. It’s called “Lovefool”. Aptly titled I should say. I didn’t own the album, but I recall turning the radio up and wallowing in pity whenever the song was played. Not something I’m proud of. That is one hell of a whiny, sappy break-up song.
*I had one of those portable CD players in my 1987 sky blue Celebrity. You know the kind with the cord connected to a tape inserted into the tape deck. Those were the days.
Not that anyone asked, but my favorite breakup song would be “Song For The Dumped” by the Ben Folds Five. Which oughta score me points with Joe.
one should never have to pick one of those three sinatra songs as ‘the best’, because each is ‘the best’ of it’s kind in it’s own context…having said that, i’ll go with ’summer wind’, while wondering why ‘it was a very good year’ wasn’t included…because that might be the best of even sinatra’s best.
As long as we’re talking breakup songs, I’ll throw my Top 5 out there (not that I dwell on prior breakups or anything):
“Last Goodbye” by Jeff Buckley (best song ever, IMO)
“Unhappy Birthday” by Morrissey (best kinda funny breakup song)
“You Oughta Know” by Alanis Morrisette (best bitter FU breakup song)
“Pictures of You” by The Cure (if you’re looking to wallow in your own misery for 7 1/2 minutes)
“Hear Me Calling” by Bob Mould (classic regret song, although he has like 10 that could fit on the list)
BTW, big hat tip to both FJM for Black and 3rd Period Points for The Cardigans’ Lovefool, both outstanding choices.
Somebody please explain Frank Sinatra to me. I don’t know what anyone finds remotely interesting about his music.
Chuck0, I suggest you stick with whatever garbage floats your boat. “Explaining” Sinatra won’t help.
Ditto to Dan #35. Having to “explain” Sinatra to someone is like having to explain a joke — obviously, the person the other side just doesn’t get it.
Song suggestions:
Vampire Weekend- M79
TV on the Radio- DLZ
Damien Rice- Coconut Skins
Damien Rice- I Remeber
Franz Ferdinand- Ulysses
Well, Dan #35, your assumption that because I don’t like Sinatra because I like garbage is presumptuous, and says a lot about the deficiencies of your intellect. I listen to and like a lot Beethoven and Bach. I enjoy Charlie Parker, Thelonius Monk, and other jazz greats. I’ve just never understood the fascination with Sinatra, and I’m no kid. I’m in my sixties, so it isn’t a generational thing.
bmorten, you are right about “It Was a Very Good Year”; I was only 18 when I first heard it, and it made me melancholy and nostalgic even then! I’m a middling (and now middle-aged) Sinatra fan, but that song is the best–wasn’t it with Nelson Riddle?
Carl Spackler, thanks for the tip on the Springsteen using backing tracks. When Bruce was spinning the guitar around and around his shoulder/waist, I thought they must have some really cool wireless device attached to allow him to do that, right? Because it certainly wasn’t plugged in. At least it wasn’t lip-synched, that’s all I can say.
Chuck0, apologies for assuming that someone who asks for an “explanation” for Sinatra is likely to be young and clueless about the American Songbook than a man in his sixties. Its ironic that you like jazz – did you know that Lester Young was a huge Sinatra fan? Or that Sinatra used to ask Harry “Sweets” Edison “to come play those three notes you know on my record”?
OK, Joe. I thought I already had all 3 of those but I didn’t have One More for the Road, although I know the song really well. So I bought that one although Summer Wind would be my top of the 3.