I started my blog over five years ago with an entry about why I was going to call it The Adventures of Deep Kick Girl. Deep Kick is a Red Hot Chili Peppers' song from the album most fans seem to hate but which I love, One Hot Minute.
The song itself is a little hard to listen to; sort of a rambling monologue and not really their style at all. In a nutshell it's the story of Anthony and Flea and their teenage years as best friends, hanging out, having adventures, getting into trouble.
It's a personal song but one which I can relate to so much. For me the extra special bonus with this song is Flea singing the last verse in his broken little voice (fantastic musician, not so good with the singing).
It's not a song I rush off to listen to very often but just knowing it exists in the world is enough for me.
Deep Kick (live version from YouTube; it was never a single so there was never a proper film clip and I also don't imagine they would do it live much, these days they never do songs from One Hot Minute because I understand John refuses to play Dave's songs - SOB!)
It started when we were little kids.
Free spirits, but already tormented by our own hands
given to us by our parents.
We got together and wrote on desks
and slept in laundry rooms near snowy mountains
and slipped through whatever cracks we could find,
minds altered, we didn't falter
in portraving hysterical and tragic characters in a smog filled universe.
we loved the dirty city
and the journeys away from it.
We had not yet been or seen our friends, selves,
chase tails round and round in downward spirals,
leaving trail of irretrievable, vital life juice behind.
Still, the brothersbloodcomradespartnerfamilycuzz was impenetrable
and we lived inside it
laughing with no clothes, and everything experimental 'till death was upon us.
In our face, mortality.
And lots of things seemed futile then, but love and music can save us,
and did, while the giant grey monster grew
more poisoned and volatile around us,
jaws clamping down and spewing ugly shit around.
Nothing is the same.
So we keep moving.
We keep moving.
(Ooooooooooooh Shit! Ooooooooooooh Shit!)
Went off and got some hair cuts
Lookin wild and got all drugged up
Hopped a train into the night
Got a ride with a transvestite
Two boys in San Francisco
Two boys in San Francisco
Blasted off in a Bart bathroom
Those coppers woke us up
The mothersfuckers woke us up
Two young brothers on a hovercraft
Telepathic love and belly laughs
Storm the stage of Universal
Slim shine talk boy go subversal
Papa's proud and so he sent us
Pounding hearts full and relentless
Two boys in London, England
Two boys in London, England
Climbing out of hostel windows
Wearing gear so out but in though
Come on kid and do the no no
Two young brothers on a hovercraft
Telepathic love and belly laughs
(Oooooooooooh Shit! Ooooooooooooh Shit!)
We went to Fairfax High School
Jumped off buildings into their pools
We'd sit down and grease at Canters
Run like hell they can't catch us
Two boys in L.A. proper
Two boys in L.A. proper
Stealin' anything that we could
Gotta sneak into the Starwood
Gotta peak into the deep good
I remember...
10 years ago in Hollywood
We did some good
and we did some real bad stuff
but the Butthole Surfers said
It's better to regret something you did
Than something you didn't do
We were young
And we were looking
looki-i-ing
looking for that deep kick...
Seen 'em come, seen 'em go...
(And I feel I'm getting close to you)
And with that I bid goodbye to Rocktober. That was fun but now I need a Bex and a good lay down.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Rocktober Day Thirty: Cleaning Windows
In 1991, not long after the first gulf war started, my first husband Colin left me for my best friend's husband's much younger half sister who he had met for the first time at their wedding. [This is not a plot line from The Bold and The Beautiful.] I had just started working for my dad's new company and our office was in Ultimo, just near the Powerhouse Museum. There was no parking nearby, so I would park blocks away, under the overpass and it was a good walk through the back streets to the office and back.
Not long after I had a brief, though intense and, in hindsight, totally weird relationship with the graphic designer who was sub-leasing part of our office space.
I was angry, sad, spaced out and in a very strange mental space.
Why do you need to know all this? Not sure, really. But a very strong memory I have of that surreal time was listening to the Best of Van Morrison in the car every afternoon. It's a wonder I didn't wear out that CD.
It suited my mood at the time and when I hear any of those songs now it immediately takes me back to that time.
I don't know why I love this song, except that it has such an uplifting tune and sentiment... but I just do.
Cleaning Windows (live clip from YouTube - he's not so great live I have heard)
Oh, the smell of the bakery from across the street
Got in my nose
As we carried our ladders down the street
With the wrought-iron rows
I went home and listened to Jimmy Rodgers in my lunch-break
Bought five Woodbines at the shop on the corner
And went straight back to work
Oh, Sam was up on top
And I was on the bottom with the v
We went for lemonade and Paris buns
At the shop and broke for tea
I collected from the lady
And I cleaned the fanlight inside-out
I was blowing saxophone on the weekend
In that down joint.What's my line?
I'm happy cleaning windows
Take my time
I'll see you when my love grows
Baby don't let it slide
I'm a working man in my prime
Cleaning windows (number thirty-six).
I heard Leadbelly and Blind Lemon
On the street where I was born
Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee, Muddy Waters sing "I'm a Rolling Stone"
I went home and read my Christmas Humphreys' book on Zen
Curiosity killed the cat
Kerouac's "Dharma Bums" and "On The Road".
What's my line?
I'm happy cleaning windows
Take my time
I'll see you when my love grows
Baby don't let it slide
I'm a working man in my prime
Cleaning windows ...
Not long after I had a brief, though intense and, in hindsight, totally weird relationship with the graphic designer who was sub-leasing part of our office space.
I was angry, sad, spaced out and in a very strange mental space.
Why do you need to know all this? Not sure, really. But a very strong memory I have of that surreal time was listening to the Best of Van Morrison in the car every afternoon. It's a wonder I didn't wear out that CD.
It suited my mood at the time and when I hear any of those songs now it immediately takes me back to that time.
I don't know why I love this song, except that it has such an uplifting tune and sentiment... but I just do.
Cleaning Windows (live clip from YouTube - he's not so great live I have heard)
Oh, the smell of the bakery from across the street
Got in my nose
As we carried our ladders down the street
With the wrought-iron rows
I went home and listened to Jimmy Rodgers in my lunch-break
Bought five Woodbines at the shop on the corner
And went straight back to work
Oh, Sam was up on top
And I was on the bottom with the v
We went for lemonade and Paris buns
At the shop and broke for tea
I collected from the lady
And I cleaned the fanlight inside-out
I was blowing saxophone on the weekend
In that down joint.What's my line?
I'm happy cleaning windows
Take my time
I'll see you when my love grows
Baby don't let it slide
I'm a working man in my prime
Cleaning windows (number thirty-six).
I heard Leadbelly and Blind Lemon
On the street where I was born
Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee, Muddy Waters sing "I'm a Rolling Stone"
I went home and read my Christmas Humphreys' book on Zen
Curiosity killed the cat
Kerouac's "Dharma Bums" and "On The Road".
What's my line?
I'm happy cleaning windows
Take my time
I'll see you when my love grows
Baby don't let it slide
I'm a working man in my prime
Cleaning windows ...
Rocktober Day Twenty Nine: You Don't Know Me
How can you go wrong when you put together Ben Folds AND Regina Spektor. Musical heaven.
This song is not what I was expecting. It's an angry little song but I love it. I love walking to it; it really puts an extra bounce in my step.
The great tune masks some rather savage lyrics. I just love it.
And who hasn't had that moment in a relationship when something is said and you look at your loved one and think "you don't know me... at all".
Writing about Ben Folds makes me realise I've forgotten to download the album he made with Nick Hornby - another marriage of two wonderful talents. Must get onto that tomorrow.
You Don't Know Me (cute live version from YouTube)
I wanna ask you -
Do you ever sit and wonder,
It's so strange
That we could be together for
So long, and never know, never care
What goes on in the other one's head?
Things I've felt but I've never said
You said things that I never said
So I'll say something that I should have said long ago:
(You don't know me)
You don't know me at all
(You don't know me)
You don't know me at all (at all)
You could have just propped me up on the table like a mannequin
Or a cardboard stand-up and paint me (paint me)
Any face that you wanted me
To be seen.
We're
Damned by the existential moment where
We saw the couple in the coma and
It was we were the cliché,
But we carried on anyway.
So, sure, I could just close my eyes.
Yeah, sure, trace and memorize,
But can you go back once you know
(You don't know me)
You don't know me at all
(You don't know me)
You don't know me at all (at all)
(You don't know me)
You don't know me at all
(You don't know me)
You don't know me
If I'm the person that you think I am (Ah ah ahh)
Clueless chump you seem to think I am (Ah ah ahhh)
So easily led astray,
An errant dog who occasionally escapes and needs a shorter leash, then
Why the f**k would you want me back?!
Maybe it's because
(You don't know me at all)
Ahhh ah
Ahhh ah
(You don't know me,
you don't know me.)
Ahhh ah
Ahhh ah
So, what I'm trying to say is
What (What?)
I'm trying to tell you
It's not gonna come out like I wanna say it cause I know you'll only change it.
(Say it.)
(You don't know me)
You don't know me at all
(You don't know me)
You don't know me at all (at all)
(You don't know me)
You don't know me at all
(You don't know me)
You don't know me at all (at all)
What?
(Mmmm, ohh oh
Ah ah ah ah ah
Aha ah ah ah
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Aha ah
Ah ah
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
Oh-oh-oh-oh oh ohh)
This song is not what I was expecting. It's an angry little song but I love it. I love walking to it; it really puts an extra bounce in my step.
The great tune masks some rather savage lyrics. I just love it.
And who hasn't had that moment in a relationship when something is said and you look at your loved one and think "you don't know me... at all".
Writing about Ben Folds makes me realise I've forgotten to download the album he made with Nick Hornby - another marriage of two wonderful talents. Must get onto that tomorrow.
You Don't Know Me (cute live version from YouTube)
I wanna ask you -
Do you ever sit and wonder,
It's so strange
That we could be together for
So long, and never know, never care
What goes on in the other one's head?
Things I've felt but I've never said
You said things that I never said
So I'll say something that I should have said long ago:
(You don't know me)
You don't know me at all
(You don't know me)
You don't know me at all (at all)
You could have just propped me up on the table like a mannequin
Or a cardboard stand-up and paint me (paint me)
Any face that you wanted me
To be seen.
We're
Damned by the existential moment where
We saw the couple in the coma and
It was we were the cliché,
But we carried on anyway.
So, sure, I could just close my eyes.
Yeah, sure, trace and memorize,
But can you go back once you know
(You don't know me)
You don't know me at all
(You don't know me)
You don't know me at all (at all)
(You don't know me)
You don't know me at all
(You don't know me)
You don't know me
If I'm the person that you think I am (Ah ah ahh)
Clueless chump you seem to think I am (Ah ah ahhh)
So easily led astray,
An errant dog who occasionally escapes and needs a shorter leash, then
Why the f**k would you want me back?!
Maybe it's because
(You don't know me at all)
Ahhh ah
Ahhh ah
(You don't know me,
you don't know me.)
Ahhh ah
Ahhh ah
So, what I'm trying to say is
What (What?)
I'm trying to tell you
It's not gonna come out like I wanna say it cause I know you'll only change it.
(Say it.)
(You don't know me)
You don't know me at all
(You don't know me)
You don't know me at all (at all)
(You don't know me)
You don't know me at all
(You don't know me)
You don't know me at all (at all)
What?
(Mmmm, ohh oh
Ah ah ah ah ah
Aha ah ah ah
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Aha ah
Ah ah
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
Oh-oh-oh-oh oh ohh)
Rocktober Day Twenty Eight: I Wanna Be Sedated
In 1981 my world was well and truly rocked by a little movie called Times Square. Tim Curry was the main attraction for me, having my love and dedication as Frank'n'Furter in Rocky Horror. But it was the story of two girls, one "good", one "bad", and their crazy friendship and adventures which stole my heart for ever. Not to mention the two young actresses, Trini Alvarado and Robin Johnson as Pamela and Nicky.
The soundtrack was a classic, including the awesome Pissing in the River by the Patti Smth Band, Life During Wartime by Talking Heads and Down in the Park by Gary Numan. Truly the soundtrack of the 80s.
But the most fun song, the song I think of when I think of this movie is this one. What a strange band The Ramones were. So unmusical, so bland (in a way), so many problems. So unlikely to be more than a garage band no-one ever heard of.
I Wanna Be Sedated (the original clip from YouTube, can you spot a young Courtney Love?)
Twenty-twenty-twenty four hours to go I wanna be sedated
Nothin' to do no where to go-o-oh I wanna be sedated
Just get me to the airport put me on a plane
Hurry hurry hurry before I go insane
I can't control my fingers I can't control my brain
Oh no no no no no
Twenty-twenty-twenty four hours to go I wanna be sedated
Nothin' to do no where to go-o-oh I wanna be sedated
Just put me in a wheelchair get me on a plane
Hurry hurry hurry before I go insane
I can't control my fingers I can't control my brain
Oh no no no no no
Twenty-twenty-twenty four hours to go I wanna be sedated
Nothin' to do no where to go-o-oh I wanna be sedated
Just put me in a wheelchair get me to the show
Hurry hurry hurry before I go loco
I can't control my fingers I can't control my toes
Oh no no no no no
Twenty-twenty-twenty four hours to go I wanna be sedated
Nothin' to do no where to go-o-oh I wanna be sedated
Just put me in a wheelchair get me to the show
Hurry hurry hurry before I go loco
I can't control my fingers I can't control my toes
Oh no oh oh oh oh
Ba-ba-bamp-ba ba-ba-ba-bamp-ba I wanna be sedated
Ba-ba-bamp-ba ba-ba-ba-bamp-ba I wanna be sedated
Ba-ba-bamp-ba ba-ba-ba-bamp-ba I wanna be sedated
Ba-ba-bamp-ba ba-ba-ba-bamp-ba I wanna be sedated
The soundtrack was a classic, including the awesome Pissing in the River by the Patti Smth Band, Life During Wartime by Talking Heads and Down in the Park by Gary Numan. Truly the soundtrack of the 80s.
But the most fun song, the song I think of when I think of this movie is this one. What a strange band The Ramones were. So unmusical, so bland (in a way), so many problems. So unlikely to be more than a garage band no-one ever heard of.
I Wanna Be Sedated (the original clip from YouTube, can you spot a young Courtney Love?)
Twenty-twenty-twenty four hours to go I wanna be sedated
Nothin' to do no where to go-o-oh I wanna be sedated
Just get me to the airport put me on a plane
Hurry hurry hurry before I go insane
I can't control my fingers I can't control my brain
Oh no no no no no
Twenty-twenty-twenty four hours to go I wanna be sedated
Nothin' to do no where to go-o-oh I wanna be sedated
Just put me in a wheelchair get me on a plane
Hurry hurry hurry before I go insane
I can't control my fingers I can't control my brain
Oh no no no no no
Twenty-twenty-twenty four hours to go I wanna be sedated
Nothin' to do no where to go-o-oh I wanna be sedated
Just put me in a wheelchair get me to the show
Hurry hurry hurry before I go loco
I can't control my fingers I can't control my toes
Oh no no no no no
Twenty-twenty-twenty four hours to go I wanna be sedated
Nothin' to do no where to go-o-oh I wanna be sedated
Just put me in a wheelchair get me to the show
Hurry hurry hurry before I go loco
I can't control my fingers I can't control my toes
Oh no oh oh oh oh
Ba-ba-bamp-ba ba-ba-ba-bamp-ba I wanna be sedated
Ba-ba-bamp-ba ba-ba-ba-bamp-ba I wanna be sedated
Ba-ba-bamp-ba ba-ba-ba-bamp-ba I wanna be sedated
Ba-ba-bamp-ba ba-ba-ba-bamp-ba I wanna be sedated
Woops!
Sorry about that. Life just sucked me away from blogging for a few days there.
Started with a class performance Will was participating in which meant we didn't get home to bed until 11:30 pm on Thursday night (after a much earlier than normal start to the day... which included me helping at the uniform shop during the orientation day for the new Kindy 2011 families at our school). There's a blog entry on school performances coming up.
Friday night we caught up for dinner with friends we hadn't seen for a little while (howdy, M, C and I). That, again, ended being a late night after the "system" ate out dinner order and we ended up actually eating much later than expected.
Saturday we ran around like lunatics getting organised so we could drop the kids at mum's place and then head up the Central Coast for a wedding. I may do a seperate rant about weddings soon. The most important point to make is we stayed the night at The Beachcomber Motel in Toukely and it was absolutely AWFUL. The room was very run down and smelly and to top things off the bogans from the nightclub kept me up most of the night yelling and swearing on the street outside our window. Oh joy!
This morning we rushed home (not that I was sleeping anyway) so that I could take Marianna to a Halloween party at a classmate's house (wow! what a party... some people know how to do things right... some may say OTT, but I wouldn't).
Have spent the last couple of hours by the pool with the kids, reading the Sunday paper and trying to unwind a little. I'm super tired and I know that as soon as dinner is done and the kids are in bed I'm going to hit the wall, hard.
For now, let's catch up on Rocktober... Resuming normal transmission in 10, 9, 8...
Started with a class performance Will was participating in which meant we didn't get home to bed until 11:30 pm on Thursday night (after a much earlier than normal start to the day... which included me helping at the uniform shop during the orientation day for the new Kindy 2011 families at our school). There's a blog entry on school performances coming up.
Friday night we caught up for dinner with friends we hadn't seen for a little while (howdy, M, C and I). That, again, ended being a late night after the "system" ate out dinner order and we ended up actually eating much later than expected.
Saturday we ran around like lunatics getting organised so we could drop the kids at mum's place and then head up the Central Coast for a wedding. I may do a seperate rant about weddings soon. The most important point to make is we stayed the night at The Beachcomber Motel in Toukely and it was absolutely AWFUL. The room was very run down and smelly and to top things off the bogans from the nightclub kept me up most of the night yelling and swearing on the street outside our window. Oh joy!
This morning we rushed home (not that I was sleeping anyway) so that I could take Marianna to a Halloween party at a classmate's house (wow! what a party... some people know how to do things right... some may say OTT, but I wouldn't).
Have spent the last couple of hours by the pool with the kids, reading the Sunday paper and trying to unwind a little. I'm super tired and I know that as soon as dinner is done and the kids are in bed I'm going to hit the wall, hard.
For now, let's catch up on Rocktober... Resuming normal transmission in 10, 9, 8...
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Rocktober Day Twenty Seven: Anchorage
I can't believe I almost overlooked one of my all time, hands down favourite songs, ever.
One of the problems with human psychology (at least my human psychology) is that we are always looking back or looking forward, it's difficult to focus on the present, I guess because being in the present we are always kind of dealing with it right now.
Looking back on life tends to be done through rose tinted nostalgia glasses. Everything was better way back when. I have a few girlsfriends who date back to my wilder days and there's nothing better than letting our minds float back to those good ol' days and remember who we were before we became what we are.
This song is about that for me. Looking back on a life of freedom and innocence, to a special time between friends. About moving on from friends but always having them in your heart. It makes my skin tingle from the very first note and that last line "Leroy says keep on rocking girl..." just makes me want to cry and cry and not ever stop.
This is a comment I saw when I found this song on YouTube. It really sums up my feelings too.
"This song is amazing. Every time I listen to it, it takes me to somewhere I don't even know, but it's somewhere I want to be."
Thank you, Michelle Shocked, for something very special.
Anchorage (original sweet clip from YouTube)
I took time out to write to my old friend
I walked across that burning bridge
I mailed my letter off to Dallas but her reply came from
Anchorage, Alaska
She said, Hey girl it's about time you wrote
It's been over two years, my old friend
Take me back to the days of the foreign telegrams
And the all night rock and rolling
Hey Chel we was wild then
Hey Chel you know it's kinda funny
Texas always seems so big
But you know you're in the largest state in the Union
When you're anchored down in Anchorage
Hey girl I think the last time I saw you
Was on me and Leroy's wedding day
What was the name of that love song you played?
I forgot how it goes
I don't recall how it goes
Anchorage
Anchored down in Anchorage
Leroy got a better job so we moved
Kevin lost a tooth, he's started school
I've got a brand new eight month old baby girl
I sound like a housewife
Hey Chel, I think I'm a housewife
Hey girl what's it like to be in New York?
New York City, imagine that
What's it like to be a skateboard punk rocker?
Leroy says send a picture
Leroy says hello
Leroy says keep on rocking, girl
Keep on rocking
One of the problems with human psychology (at least my human psychology) is that we are always looking back or looking forward, it's difficult to focus on the present, I guess because being in the present we are always kind of dealing with it right now.
Looking back on life tends to be done through rose tinted nostalgia glasses. Everything was better way back when. I have a few girlsfriends who date back to my wilder days and there's nothing better than letting our minds float back to those good ol' days and remember who we were before we became what we are.
This song is about that for me. Looking back on a life of freedom and innocence, to a special time between friends. About moving on from friends but always having them in your heart. It makes my skin tingle from the very first note and that last line "Leroy says keep on rocking girl..." just makes me want to cry and cry and not ever stop.
This is a comment I saw when I found this song on YouTube. It really sums up my feelings too.
"This song is amazing. Every time I listen to it, it takes me to somewhere I don't even know, but it's somewhere I want to be."
Thank you, Michelle Shocked, for something very special.
Anchorage (original sweet clip from YouTube)
I took time out to write to my old friend
I walked across that burning bridge
I mailed my letter off to Dallas but her reply came from
Anchorage, Alaska
She said, Hey girl it's about time you wrote
It's been over two years, my old friend
Take me back to the days of the foreign telegrams
And the all night rock and rolling
Hey Chel we was wild then
Hey Chel you know it's kinda funny
Texas always seems so big
But you know you're in the largest state in the Union
When you're anchored down in Anchorage
Hey girl I think the last time I saw you
Was on me and Leroy's wedding day
What was the name of that love song you played?
I forgot how it goes
I don't recall how it goes
Anchorage
Anchored down in Anchorage
Leroy got a better job so we moved
Kevin lost a tooth, he's started school
I've got a brand new eight month old baby girl
I sound like a housewife
Hey Chel, I think I'm a housewife
Hey girl what's it like to be in New York?
New York City, imagine that
What's it like to be a skateboard punk rocker?
Leroy says send a picture
Leroy says hello
Leroy says keep on rocking, girl
Keep on rocking
Rocktober Day Twenty Six: Paradise By The Dashboard Light
Meatloaf may be a bit of a musical joke in some circles but I love him and I love the Bat Out Of Hell album. For my money this is theatrical rock & roll at it's best. Big music, big voices, big lyrics, showy, brassy, dramatic... just a shitload of fun really.
This is the song I never get sick of. This is the progression of a romance put better than I ever could: hot lust (say anything, promise anything) followed by disdain (who is this person and how have I ended up here?).
Just like with The Blair Witch Project, it's all about the last bit. That last verse just pulls everything together and gives me that "aaaahhh" moment.
Paradise By The Dashboard Light (I found this version of Meatloaf and Megan Mullally - that's Karen from Will and Grace - singing it live on her show and just couldn't resist - I love her!)
I. Paradise
Boy:
I remember every little thing
As if it happened only yesterday
Parking by the lake
And there was not another car in sight
And I never had a girl
Looking any better than you did
And all the kids at school
They were wishing they were me that night
And now our bodies are oh so close and tight
It never felt so good, it never felt so right
And we're glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife
C'mon! Hold on tight!
C'mon! Hold on tight!
Though it's cold and lonely in the deep dark night
I can see paradise by the dashboard light
Girl:
Ain't no doubt about it
We were doubly blessed
Cause we were barely seventeen
And we were barely dressed
Ain't no doubt about it
Baby got to go and shout it
Ain't no doubt about it
We were doubly blessed
Boy:
Cause we were barely seventeen
And we were barely dressed
Baby doncha hear my heart
You got it drowning out the radio
I've been waiting so long
For you to come along and have some fun
And I gotta let ya know
No you're never gonna regret it
So open up your eyes I got a big surprise
It'll feel all right
Well I wanna make your motor run
And now our bodies are oh so close and tight
It never felt so good, it never felt so right
And we're glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife
C'mon! Hold on tight!
C'mon! Hold on tight!
Though it's cold and lonley in the deep dark night
I can see paradise by the dashboard light
Paradise by the dashboard light
You got to do what you can
And let Mother Nature do the rest
Ain't no doubt about it
We were doubly blessed
Cause we were barely seventeen
And we were barely--
We're gonna go all the way tonight
We're gonna go allt he way
An tonight's the night...
Radio Broadcast:
Ok, here we go, we got a real pressure cooker
going here, two down, nobody on, no score,
bottom of the ninth, there's the wind-up and
there it is, a line shot up the middle, look
at him go. This boy can really fly!
He's rounding first and really turning it on
now, he's not letting up at all, he's gonna
try for second; the ball is bobbled out in center,
and here comes the throw, and what a throw!
He's gonna slide in head first, here he comes, he's out!
No, wait, safe--safe at second base, this kid really
makes things happen out there.
Batter steps up to the plate, here's the pitch--
he's going, and what a jump he's got, he's trying
for third, here's the throw, it's in the dirt--
safe at third! Holy cow, stolen base!
He's taking a pretty big lead out there, almost
daring him to try and pick him off. The pitcher
glance over, winds up, and it's bunted, bunted
down the third base line, the suicide squeeze in on!
Here he comes, squeeze play, it's gonna be close,
here's the throw, there's the play at the plate,
holy cow, I think he's gonna make it!
II. Let Me Sleep On It
Girl:
Stop right there!
I gotta know right now!
Before we go any further--!
Do you love me?
Will you love me forever?
Do you need me?
Will you never leave me?
Will you make me so happy for the rest of my life?
Will you take me away and will you make me your wife?
Do you love me!?
Will you love me forever!?
Do you need me!?
Will you never leave me!?
Will you make me so happy for the rest of my life!?
Will you take me away and will you make me your wife!?
I gotta know right now
Before we go any further
Do you love me!!!?
Will you love me forever!!!?
Boy:
Let me sleep on it
Baby, baby let me sleep on it
Let me sleep on it
And I'll give you my answer in the morning
Let me sleep on it
Baby, baby let me sleep on it
Let me sleep on it
And I'll give you my answer in the morning
Let me sleep on it
Baby, baby let me sleep on it
Let me sleep on it
And I'll give you my answer in the morning
Girl:
I gotta know right now!
Do you love me?
Will you love me forever?
Do you need me?
Will you never leave me?
Will you make me so happy for the rest of my life?
Will you take me away and will you make me your wife?
I gotta know right now!
Before we go any further
Do you love me?
And will you love me forever?
Boy:
Let me sleep on it
Baby, baby let me sleep on it
Let me sleep on it
And I'll give you my answer in the morning
Let me sleep on it!!!
Girl: Will you love me forever?
Boy: Let me sleep on it!!!
Girl: Will you love me forever!!!
III. Praying for the End of Time
Boy:
I couldn't take it any longer
Lord I was crazed
And when the feeling came upon me
Like a tidal wave
I started swearing to my god and on my mother's grave
That I would love you to the end of time
I swore that I would love you to the end of time!
So now I'm praying for the end of time
To hurry up and arrive
Cause if I gotta spend another minute with you
I don't think that I can really survive
I'll never break my promise or forget my vow
But God only knows what I can do right now
I'm praying for the end of time
It's all that I can do
Praying for the end of time, so I can end my time with you!!!
Boy:
It was long ago and it was far away
and it was so much better than it is today
Girl:
It never felt so good
It never felt so right
And we were glowing like
A metal on the edge of a knife
This is the song I never get sick of. This is the progression of a romance put better than I ever could: hot lust (say anything, promise anything) followed by disdain (who is this person and how have I ended up here?).
Just like with The Blair Witch Project, it's all about the last bit. That last verse just pulls everything together and gives me that "aaaahhh" moment.
Paradise By The Dashboard Light (I found this version of Meatloaf and Megan Mullally - that's Karen from Will and Grace - singing it live on her show and just couldn't resist - I love her!)
I. Paradise
Boy:
I remember every little thing
As if it happened only yesterday
Parking by the lake
And there was not another car in sight
And I never had a girl
Looking any better than you did
And all the kids at school
They were wishing they were me that night
And now our bodies are oh so close and tight
It never felt so good, it never felt so right
And we're glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife
C'mon! Hold on tight!
C'mon! Hold on tight!
Though it's cold and lonely in the deep dark night
I can see paradise by the dashboard light
Girl:
Ain't no doubt about it
We were doubly blessed
Cause we were barely seventeen
And we were barely dressed
Ain't no doubt about it
Baby got to go and shout it
Ain't no doubt about it
We were doubly blessed
Boy:
Cause we were barely seventeen
And we were barely dressed
Baby doncha hear my heart
You got it drowning out the radio
I've been waiting so long
For you to come along and have some fun
And I gotta let ya know
No you're never gonna regret it
So open up your eyes I got a big surprise
It'll feel all right
Well I wanna make your motor run
And now our bodies are oh so close and tight
It never felt so good, it never felt so right
And we're glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife
C'mon! Hold on tight!
C'mon! Hold on tight!
Though it's cold and lonley in the deep dark night
I can see paradise by the dashboard light
Paradise by the dashboard light
You got to do what you can
And let Mother Nature do the rest
Ain't no doubt about it
We were doubly blessed
Cause we were barely seventeen
And we were barely--
We're gonna go all the way tonight
We're gonna go allt he way
An tonight's the night...
Radio Broadcast:
Ok, here we go, we got a real pressure cooker
going here, two down, nobody on, no score,
bottom of the ninth, there's the wind-up and
there it is, a line shot up the middle, look
at him go. This boy can really fly!
He's rounding first and really turning it on
now, he's not letting up at all, he's gonna
try for second; the ball is bobbled out in center,
and here comes the throw, and what a throw!
He's gonna slide in head first, here he comes, he's out!
No, wait, safe--safe at second base, this kid really
makes things happen out there.
Batter steps up to the plate, here's the pitch--
he's going, and what a jump he's got, he's trying
for third, here's the throw, it's in the dirt--
safe at third! Holy cow, stolen base!
He's taking a pretty big lead out there, almost
daring him to try and pick him off. The pitcher
glance over, winds up, and it's bunted, bunted
down the third base line, the suicide squeeze in on!
Here he comes, squeeze play, it's gonna be close,
here's the throw, there's the play at the plate,
holy cow, I think he's gonna make it!
II. Let Me Sleep On It
Girl:
Stop right there!
I gotta know right now!
Before we go any further--!
Do you love me?
Will you love me forever?
Do you need me?
Will you never leave me?
Will you make me so happy for the rest of my life?
Will you take me away and will you make me your wife?
Do you love me!?
Will you love me forever!?
Do you need me!?
Will you never leave me!?
Will you make me so happy for the rest of my life!?
Will you take me away and will you make me your wife!?
I gotta know right now
Before we go any further
Do you love me!!!?
Will you love me forever!!!?
Boy:
Let me sleep on it
Baby, baby let me sleep on it
Let me sleep on it
And I'll give you my answer in the morning
Let me sleep on it
Baby, baby let me sleep on it
Let me sleep on it
And I'll give you my answer in the morning
Let me sleep on it
Baby, baby let me sleep on it
Let me sleep on it
And I'll give you my answer in the morning
Girl:
I gotta know right now!
Do you love me?
Will you love me forever?
Do you need me?
Will you never leave me?
Will you make me so happy for the rest of my life?
Will you take me away and will you make me your wife?
I gotta know right now!
Before we go any further
Do you love me?
And will you love me forever?
Boy:
Let me sleep on it
Baby, baby let me sleep on it
Let me sleep on it
And I'll give you my answer in the morning
Let me sleep on it!!!
Girl: Will you love me forever?
Boy: Let me sleep on it!!!
Girl: Will you love me forever!!!
III. Praying for the End of Time
Boy:
I couldn't take it any longer
Lord I was crazed
And when the feeling came upon me
Like a tidal wave
I started swearing to my god and on my mother's grave
That I would love you to the end of time
I swore that I would love you to the end of time!
So now I'm praying for the end of time
To hurry up and arrive
Cause if I gotta spend another minute with you
I don't think that I can really survive
I'll never break my promise or forget my vow
But God only knows what I can do right now
I'm praying for the end of time
It's all that I can do
Praying for the end of time, so I can end my time with you!!!
Boy:
It was long ago and it was far away
and it was so much better than it is today
Girl:
It never felt so good
It never felt so right
And we were glowing like
A metal on the edge of a knife
Monday, October 25, 2010
Rocktober Day Twenty Five: Anarchy In The UK
Maybe it's because it's Monday morning and I'm tired and grumpy (should stop staying up on Sunday nights when I'm already over tired catching up on True Blood episodes, which get me over excited and stop me sleeping almost the whole night). But probably it's just because this song popped into my brain yesterday when I was thinking about how to fill up this final week of Rocktober. The Sex Pistols, but of course!
Either way this song is fantastic for anger management. This is the most snarling, sneering, angry song I can think of and it played a big part of my musical soundtrack around the age of 14, circa 1982... when I spent a lot of time both sneering and being angry. That's when I thought anarchy would be a great thing... not so much the end of social constraints and society as we know it but just the mechanism by which I wouldn't have to do what my mum and dad told me (i.e. stay up late and go out whenever I wanted). I probably should have taken a moment to look up the word in the dictionary.
The Great Rock'n'Roll Swindle is a fantabulous album and just thinking about it makes me want to find it on iTunes (so not 1979 punk) and download it immediately. It's just a great rollicking good time collection of music. From the Python-esque Who Killed Bambi? and You Need Hands to the sing-a-long, rock and roll fun of C'mon Everybody and Something Else this album is non stop fun.
Anarchy In The UK (live version from YouTube)
Right! NOW! ha ha ha ha ha
I am an anti-christ
I am an anarchist
Don't know what I want but
I know how to get it
I wanna destroy the passer by cos I
I wanna BE anarchy!
No dogs body!
Anarchy for the UK it's coming sometime and maybe
I give a wrong time stop a traffic line
your future dream is a shopping scheme
cos I, I wanna BE anarchy!
In the city
How many ways to get what you want
I use the best I use the rest
I use the enemy
I use anarchy cos I
I wanna BE anarchy!
THE ONLY WAY TO BE!
Is this the M.P.L.A
Or is this the U.D.A
Or is this the I.R.A
I thought it was the UK or just
another country
another council tenancy
I wanna be anarchy
and I wanna be anarchy
Know what I mean
And I wanna be anarchist!
Get PISSED DESTROY !
Either way this song is fantastic for anger management. This is the most snarling, sneering, angry song I can think of and it played a big part of my musical soundtrack around the age of 14, circa 1982... when I spent a lot of time both sneering and being angry. That's when I thought anarchy would be a great thing... not so much the end of social constraints and society as we know it but just the mechanism by which I wouldn't have to do what my mum and dad told me (i.e. stay up late and go out whenever I wanted). I probably should have taken a moment to look up the word in the dictionary.
The Great Rock'n'Roll Swindle is a fantabulous album and just thinking about it makes me want to find it on iTunes (so not 1979 punk) and download it immediately. It's just a great rollicking good time collection of music. From the Python-esque Who Killed Bambi? and You Need Hands to the sing-a-long, rock and roll fun of C'mon Everybody and Something Else this album is non stop fun.
Anarchy In The UK (live version from YouTube)
Right! NOW! ha ha ha ha ha
I am an anti-christ
I am an anarchist
Don't know what I want but
I know how to get it
I wanna destroy the passer by cos I
I wanna BE anarchy!
No dogs body!
Anarchy for the UK it's coming sometime and maybe
I give a wrong time stop a traffic line
your future dream is a shopping scheme
cos I, I wanna BE anarchy!
In the city
How many ways to get what you want
I use the best I use the rest
I use the enemy
I use anarchy cos I
I wanna BE anarchy!
THE ONLY WAY TO BE!
Is this the M.P.L.A
Or is this the U.D.A
Or is this the I.R.A
I thought it was the UK or just
another country
another council tenancy
I wanna be anarchy
and I wanna be anarchy
Know what I mean
And I wanna be anarchist!
Get PISSED DESTROY !
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Rocktober Day Twenty Four: Laid
You would think I had sex on the brain... which I do and I don't. Music and sex, you know, they just go together.
This morning I was really drawing a blank on what to write about. So I trawled the void I call my brain and started thinking about the music I love when it unexpectedly comes on the radio or on the iPod when I have shuffle on. The song I've forgotten about until there it is... and then, instant joy.
This song is definitely in that category. I don't know who James are or is. I don't know any of their/his other songs. I just know this song is super fun to sing along to and I love that rolling drum bit.
Laid (recent live version from YouTube, who knew they were still around and touring)
This bed is on fire
With passionate love
The neighbours complain about the noises above
But she only comes when she’s on top
My therapist said not to see you no more
She said you’re like a disease without any cure
She said I’m so obsessed that I’m becoming a bore, oh no
Ah, you think you’re so pretty
Caught your hand inside the till
Slammed your fingers in the door
Fought with kitchen knives and skewers
Dressed me up in womens clothes
Messed around with gender roles
Dye my eyes and call me pretty
Moved out of the house, so you moved next door
I locked you out, you cut a hole in the wall
I found you sleeping next to me, I thought I was alone
You’re driving me crazy, when are you coming home
This morning I was really drawing a blank on what to write about. So I trawled the void I call my brain and started thinking about the music I love when it unexpectedly comes on the radio or on the iPod when I have shuffle on. The song I've forgotten about until there it is... and then, instant joy.
This song is definitely in that category. I don't know who James are or is. I don't know any of their/his other songs. I just know this song is super fun to sing along to and I love that rolling drum bit.
Laid (recent live version from YouTube, who knew they were still around and touring)
This bed is on fire
With passionate love
The neighbours complain about the noises above
But she only comes when she’s on top
My therapist said not to see you no more
She said you’re like a disease without any cure
She said I’m so obsessed that I’m becoming a bore, oh no
Ah, you think you’re so pretty
Caught your hand inside the till
Slammed your fingers in the door
Fought with kitchen knives and skewers
Dressed me up in womens clothes
Messed around with gender roles
Dye my eyes and call me pretty
Moved out of the house, so you moved next door
I locked you out, you cut a hole in the wall
I found you sleeping next to me, I thought I was alone
You’re driving me crazy, when are you coming home
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Rocktober Day Twenty Three: You Are My Sister
Right now I'm thinking about my sister who is due back from New York on Monday (this long long long distance romance stuff is hard work). Which made me think of this song and made me realise that it is terribly remiss of me to leave poor Antony and The Johnsons until day twenty three when they are so very important to me.
As you probably know I found Antony at the Came So Far For Beauty concert at the Sydney Opera House in January 2005. It was a tribute concert for Leonard Cohen songs and there was an assortment of musicians performing. Some I knew, many I didn't.
Antony lumbered onto the stage, a huge man, all long black hair and stretched out old jumper; looking like someone's oversized four year old brother. Not for a moment did I expect the voice of a fallen angel to emerge from that shape.
When I left the concert hall that night I was in shock. I needed to find out about Antony Hegarty immediately if not sooner. When I couldn't get into his booked out solo show at a small nightclub in Newtown a few days later I literally sat in my car and sobbed.
A few weeks later I received his I Am A Bird Now CD (import, not available in Australia) and I could not get enough. For a while it was on constant rotation in the car. Now I don't listen that often; the feelings his voice brings out in me are too painful. Avoidance and denial, try them, you'll like them.
Anyway, this song is too beautiful for anyone who has a sister (or any sibling or really a wonderful friend) who has been there for them. For a giant homosexual, androgynous boy growing up must have been tough in New York City and I imagine these words for his sister are a tribute to the love and support she showed him through the difficult years.
The addition of Boy George's beautiful backing vocals are an extra treat.
You Are My Sister (Antony and the Johnsons live on Letterman)
You are my sister, we were born
So innocent, so full of need
There were times we were friends but times I was so cruel
Each night I'd ask for you to watch me as I sleep
I was so afraid of the night
You seemed to move through the places that I feared
You lived inside my world so softly
Protected only by the kindness of your nature
You are my sister
And I love you
May all of your dreams come true
We felt so differently then
So similar over the years
The way we laugh the way we experience pain
So many memories
But theres nothing left to gain from remembering
Faces and worlds that no one else will ever know
You are my sister
And I love you
May all of your dreams come true
I want this for you
They're gonna come true (gonna come true)
As you probably know I found Antony at the Came So Far For Beauty concert at the Sydney Opera House in January 2005. It was a tribute concert for Leonard Cohen songs and there was an assortment of musicians performing. Some I knew, many I didn't.
Antony lumbered onto the stage, a huge man, all long black hair and stretched out old jumper; looking like someone's oversized four year old brother. Not for a moment did I expect the voice of a fallen angel to emerge from that shape.
When I left the concert hall that night I was in shock. I needed to find out about Antony Hegarty immediately if not sooner. When I couldn't get into his booked out solo show at a small nightclub in Newtown a few days later I literally sat in my car and sobbed.
A few weeks later I received his I Am A Bird Now CD (import, not available in Australia) and I could not get enough. For a while it was on constant rotation in the car. Now I don't listen that often; the feelings his voice brings out in me are too painful. Avoidance and denial, try them, you'll like them.
Anyway, this song is too beautiful for anyone who has a sister (or any sibling or really a wonderful friend) who has been there for them. For a giant homosexual, androgynous boy growing up must have been tough in New York City and I imagine these words for his sister are a tribute to the love and support she showed him through the difficult years.
The addition of Boy George's beautiful backing vocals are an extra treat.
You Are My Sister (Antony and the Johnsons live on Letterman)
You are my sister, we were born
So innocent, so full of need
There were times we were friends but times I was so cruel
Each night I'd ask for you to watch me as I sleep
I was so afraid of the night
You seemed to move through the places that I feared
You lived inside my world so softly
Protected only by the kindness of your nature
You are my sister
And I love you
May all of your dreams come true
We felt so differently then
So similar over the years
The way we laugh the way we experience pain
So many memories
But theres nothing left to gain from remembering
Faces and worlds that no one else will ever know
You are my sister
And I love you
May all of your dreams come true
I want this for you
They're gonna come true (gonna come true)
Friday, October 22, 2010
Rocktober Day Twenty Two: We Are All In This Together
It's Friday, it's been a long week, I'm tired. So I needed something easy and cheerful. This song never fails to perk me up.
I've written about Ben Lee before. You all know the story... how he went to school with my sister (they danced together at a school dance), how he's married to Ione Skye (who was making Say Anything with John Cusack while living with Anthony Keidis [when Ben Lee would have been about 10 years old]).... which makes my six degrees of seperation... well, blah blah. I got into Ben's music almost against my better judgement but I once I started listening I was hooked.
So on the one hand this song is a little cheesy but it's optimistic and has a wonderful life and world sentiment that I just love. Sometimes a little cheesy is not a bad thing.
There are other songs of his that I like more (Boy With A Barbie being a recent favourite) but this song says everything about Ben's music. A perfect song to end the week.
We Are All In This Together (I'm pretty sure this is not the "official" clip and they seem to have chopped off the last bit but I can't seem to find anything better on YouTube or even on Ben's website - sorry!)
I woke up this morning
I suddenly realised
We're all in this together
I started smiling
'Cause you were smiling
And we're all in this together
I'm made of atoms
You're made of atoms
And we're all in this together.
And long division just doesn't matter
'Cause we're all in this together...yeah
I saw you walking
In the city
We're all in this together
The city's changing
cause we are changing
and we're all in this together
every 12 seconds
someone remembers
that we're all in this together
In the kitchen of your rent control apartment
we're all in this together
come on baby i don't mean to rush you
I only wanted to reach out and touch you
I've got to start to open my heart
I know you think about jumping ship before it sinks
but we are all in this together
ask a scientist
it's quantum physics
we are all in this together
and on the subway we feel like strangers
but we're all in this together
yeah i love you and you love her and she loves him
But we're all in this together
You know baby there's never been protection
and all the history of human connection
come on darling its alright to show me
you dont ever need to be lonely
once you start to open your heart
I saw you crying
I started crying
cause we're all in this together
and then religion is a big decision
but we're all in this together
I've written about Ben Lee before. You all know the story... how he went to school with my sister (they danced together at a school dance), how he's married to Ione Skye (who was making Say Anything with John Cusack while living with Anthony Keidis [when Ben Lee would have been about 10 years old]).... which makes my six degrees of seperation... well, blah blah. I got into Ben's music almost against my better judgement but I once I started listening I was hooked.
So on the one hand this song is a little cheesy but it's optimistic and has a wonderful life and world sentiment that I just love. Sometimes a little cheesy is not a bad thing.
There are other songs of his that I like more (Boy With A Barbie being a recent favourite) but this song says everything about Ben's music. A perfect song to end the week.
We Are All In This Together (I'm pretty sure this is not the "official" clip and they seem to have chopped off the last bit but I can't seem to find anything better on YouTube or even on Ben's website - sorry!)
I woke up this morning
I suddenly realised
We're all in this together
I started smiling
'Cause you were smiling
And we're all in this together
I'm made of atoms
You're made of atoms
And we're all in this together.
And long division just doesn't matter
'Cause we're all in this together...yeah
I saw you walking
In the city
We're all in this together
The city's changing
cause we are changing
and we're all in this together
every 12 seconds
someone remembers
that we're all in this together
In the kitchen of your rent control apartment
we're all in this together
come on baby i don't mean to rush you
I only wanted to reach out and touch you
I've got to start to open my heart
I know you think about jumping ship before it sinks
but we are all in this together
ask a scientist
it's quantum physics
we are all in this together
and on the subway we feel like strangers
but we're all in this together
yeah i love you and you love her and she loves him
But we're all in this together
You know baby there's never been protection
and all the history of human connection
come on darling its alright to show me
you dont ever need to be lonely
once you start to open your heart
I saw you crying
I started crying
cause we're all in this together
and then religion is a big decision
but we're all in this together
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Rocktober Day Twenty One: One In Ten
Thinking about ska music yesterday brought me to UB40. I don't have a lot to say about them except they are great to see live, Ali Campbell has a gorgeous voice and that this song symbolises where they started off (and how far away from that point they are now).
It's not that I don't like their lovey dovey stuff. I do. The Labour of Love stuff is fine but this is where their heart is (or was). This song says it all about the really sad stuff of life, the stuff that's too hard to talk about day to day. It's a great bit of effective songwriting... and a lovely, simple reggae tune... and of course we get Ali's voice.
One In Ten (YouTube clip from Top of the Pops, 1981)
I am the one in ten
A number on a list
I am the one in ten
Even though I don`t exist
Nobody knows me
Even though I`m always there
A statistic, a reminder
Of a world that doesn`t care
My arms enfold the dole queue
Malnutrition dulls my hair
My eyes are black and lifeless
With an underprivileged stare
I`m the beggar on the corner
Will no-one spare a dime?
I`m the child that never learns to read
`Cause no-one spared the time
I`m the murderer and the victim
The licence with the gun
I`m a sad and bruised old lady
In an ally in a slum
I`m a middle aged businessman
With chronic heart disease
I`m another teenaged suicide
In a street that has no trees
I`m a starving third world mother
A refugee without a home
I`m a house wife hooked on Valium
I`m a Pensioner alone
I`m a cancer ridden spectre
Covering the earth
I`m another hungry baby
I`m an accident of birth
It's not that I don't like their lovey dovey stuff. I do. The Labour of Love stuff is fine but this is where their heart is (or was). This song says it all about the really sad stuff of life, the stuff that's too hard to talk about day to day. It's a great bit of effective songwriting... and a lovely, simple reggae tune... and of course we get Ali's voice.
One In Ten (YouTube clip from Top of the Pops, 1981)
I am the one in ten
A number on a list
I am the one in ten
Even though I don`t exist
Nobody knows me
Even though I`m always there
A statistic, a reminder
Of a world that doesn`t care
My arms enfold the dole queue
Malnutrition dulls my hair
My eyes are black and lifeless
With an underprivileged stare
I`m the beggar on the corner
Will no-one spare a dime?
I`m the child that never learns to read
`Cause no-one spared the time
I`m the murderer and the victim
The licence with the gun
I`m a sad and bruised old lady
In an ally in a slum
I`m a middle aged businessman
With chronic heart disease
I`m another teenaged suicide
In a street that has no trees
I`m a starving third world mother
A refugee without a home
I`m a house wife hooked on Valium
I`m a Pensioner alone
I`m a cancer ridden spectre
Covering the earth
I`m another hungry baby
I`m an accident of birth
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Rocktober Day Twenty: Australian 80s Ska
OK. So I've broken the pattern somewhat but the song I wanted to write about Grey Skies by Australian band Strange Tenants just can't be found on YouTube and the lyrics are nowhere to be found either. I know I have the original albums, possibly with lyrics, in the deep depths of my garage but I don't have the time or inclination to find them.
Any old how, when I started looking around for this song on the www I came across some other stuff which took me hurtling back to the mid 80s when I was a Rude Girl and ska was my life. In particular Strange Tenants were my life. They were a ska band from Melbourne and they toured non-stop, I believe someone called them "the hardest working band in the country".
When they played in Sydney we would go to every show, sometimes two in one night. We would start off in the suburbs somewhere, Gladesville or Caringbah (they often played that old shed, the Caringbah Inn) and would end up at the old Manzil Room in Kings Cross for a 1 or 2 am gig. My god, we had stamina in those days. Worked all day, then headed out for drinks, two gigs, dancing through each gig, stumble home (well, to someone's home) at 4 am, up again at 7 am for another day at work. All at the ripe old age of 16. Who was that person that I used to be?
The thing I remember about Grey Skies is the line "Grey skies over Collingwood"... what an evocative line that was for a Sydney girl with little idea of what Collingwood was. I was rebelling against my safe middle class world and battle weary Collingwood seemed exotic and scary and wonderful.
I didn't find Grey Skies but I did find another great song of theirs Hard Times on YouTube and then I found My Dad by No Nonsense (another of my faves from those days). So while I can't show you the lyrics for either song, I can take you on a little musical journey back in time to what made me tick circa 1984/5. The clips are old and grainy and don't translate well to digital technology but I hope you enjoy.
Any old how, when I started looking around for this song on the www I came across some other stuff which took me hurtling back to the mid 80s when I was a Rude Girl and ska was my life. In particular Strange Tenants were my life. They were a ska band from Melbourne and they toured non-stop, I believe someone called them "the hardest working band in the country".
When they played in Sydney we would go to every show, sometimes two in one night. We would start off in the suburbs somewhere, Gladesville or Caringbah (they often played that old shed, the Caringbah Inn) and would end up at the old Manzil Room in Kings Cross for a 1 or 2 am gig. My god, we had stamina in those days. Worked all day, then headed out for drinks, two gigs, dancing through each gig, stumble home (well, to someone's home) at 4 am, up again at 7 am for another day at work. All at the ripe old age of 16. Who was that person that I used to be?
The thing I remember about Grey Skies is the line "Grey skies over Collingwood"... what an evocative line that was for a Sydney girl with little idea of what Collingwood was. I was rebelling against my safe middle class world and battle weary Collingwood seemed exotic and scary and wonderful.
I didn't find Grey Skies but I did find another great song of theirs Hard Times on YouTube and then I found My Dad by No Nonsense (another of my faves from those days). So while I can't show you the lyrics for either song, I can take you on a little musical journey back in time to what made me tick circa 1984/5. The clips are old and grainy and don't translate well to digital technology but I hope you enjoy.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Rocktober Day Nineteen: Sydney From A 727*
* It was originally 727 but was upgraded to a 747 at some point.
I love Sydney. It's no secret. Possibly I love it more than my own family. My city is part of my family. Part of the reason I could never consider living in any other city in the world (though I'm heavily in lust with London and prepared to be so with New York, I know that those relationships would only ever be shallow and superficial). It's the real thing with Sydney and me.
Like Anthony singing about Los Angeles in Under The Bridge I feel that Sydney is "my companion" and "she knows who I am". Sydney is me and I am Sydney.
Writing about The Whitlams yesterday made me think of great Australian songwriters and of course the wonderful Paul Kelly came to mind... and when I think of Paul Kelly I think of this song. It makes my heart soar and swell. There is nothing like flying home into Sydney, especially at night, especially when I've been away a while. I always get homesick for my city, no matter what fabulous place I've been, and I always get happy/emotional when I see her twinkling below me. This song is the feeling of Sydney.
Sydney From A 727 (747 in this great version from the Tamworth Country Music Festival)
Sydney shines such a beautiful light
And I can see Bondi through my window way off to the right
And the curling waves on a distant break
And the sleeping city just about to wake
Have you ever seen Sydney from a 727 at night?
Now the red roofs are catching the first rays of the morning sun
My eyes are full of sand from my midnight run
And the captain says belt up now we'll be touching down in ten
So I press my seat and I straighten up
I fold my tray and I stash my cup
As the red roofs are catching the first rays of the morning sun
Have you ever fallen for a girl with different coloured eyes?
And sent her letters full of lies
Have you ever longed to see the sun fall where it used to rise?
And quit your job on the spot
Bought that ticket yeah spent the lot
Have you ever fallen for a girl with different coloured eyes?
Have you ever seen Sydney from a 727 at night?
Have you ever seen Sydney from a 727 at night?
Have you ever seen Sydney from a 727 at night?
Me I've never seen Dallas from a DC9
I love Sydney. It's no secret. Possibly I love it more than my own family. My city is part of my family. Part of the reason I could never consider living in any other city in the world (though I'm heavily in lust with London and prepared to be so with New York, I know that those relationships would only ever be shallow and superficial). It's the real thing with Sydney and me.
Like Anthony singing about Los Angeles in Under The Bridge I feel that Sydney is "my companion" and "she knows who I am". Sydney is me and I am Sydney.
Writing about The Whitlams yesterday made me think of great Australian songwriters and of course the wonderful Paul Kelly came to mind... and when I think of Paul Kelly I think of this song. It makes my heart soar and swell. There is nothing like flying home into Sydney, especially at night, especially when I've been away a while. I always get homesick for my city, no matter what fabulous place I've been, and I always get happy/emotional when I see her twinkling below me. This song is the feeling of Sydney.
Sydney From A 727 (747 in this great version from the Tamworth Country Music Festival)
Sydney shines such a beautiful light
And I can see Bondi through my window way off to the right
And the curling waves on a distant break
And the sleeping city just about to wake
Have you ever seen Sydney from a 727 at night?
Now the red roofs are catching the first rays of the morning sun
My eyes are full of sand from my midnight run
And the captain says belt up now we'll be touching down in ten
So I press my seat and I straighten up
I fold my tray and I stash my cup
As the red roofs are catching the first rays of the morning sun
Have you ever fallen for a girl with different coloured eyes?
And sent her letters full of lies
Have you ever longed to see the sun fall where it used to rise?
And quit your job on the spot
Bought that ticket yeah spent the lot
Have you ever fallen for a girl with different coloured eyes?
Have you ever seen Sydney from a 727 at night?
Have you ever seen Sydney from a 727 at night?
Have you ever seen Sydney from a 727 at night?
Me I've never seen Dallas from a DC9
Monday, October 18, 2010
My Anything Goes Muffins
Here's the recipe for my "Anything Goes" Muffins. This started as a proper muffin recipe I found in a magazine but over the years I have discovered that I can change or substitute the ingredients and still end up with a yummy muffin. The good thing is that as long as you stick to the basic quantities of wet and dry ingredients you can use up many different leftover fruits and dairy sitting around in your kitchen. Give it a try and let me know what you like or don't like about it.
Ingredients
1 egg (large and free range, preferrably)
1 cup yoghurt (plain - I like to use Greek yoghurt for a nice tangy result - or fruit yoghurt or custard or buttermilk – whatever you have sitting around in the fridge)
1/3 cup oil (I use sunflower but you can use rice bran or vegetable or light olive oil –just don’t use full bodied olive oil as it’s too strong)
1 cup mashed bananas (about 2 ripe bananas) or grated pear or apple or carrots or berries of some kind (fresh or frozen) - be creative almost any fruit can be mashed, grated or finely chopped
Optional: some grated lemon or orange zest for extra zing and/or ½ cup of white or milk chocolate bits and/or some chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts or almonds - extra good if you toast them in the oven for a few minutes first, nice and crunchy) and/or craisins and/or sultanas - almost anything you like
1 ¾ cup self raising flour (or 1 ¼ cups s/r flour and ½ cup almond meal for something a little different)
¾ cup caster sugar (or fine brown sugar if you prefer)
Method
Preheat oven to 180 degrees if not fan forced or 170/175 degrees if fan forced - nice moderate oven, not too hot.
Beat the egg lightly in a big bowl. Add yoghurt and oil and mix with a fork. Add fruit and mix.
Sift flour and sugar over the wet ingredients and mix with a fork until just combined. You’ll get a thick batter. Make sure it’s evenly mixed throughout (no leftover dry flour on the bottom) but don't over mix.
Spoon into a 12 regular cup muffin tin or 24 cup mini muffin tin (I like to use paper muffin cases so that the tin stays clean). I like to add a whole almond or pecan to the top of each muffin, but that's up to you. Bake for about 20-30 minutes. Keep an eye on them after 20 minutes. You just want golden brown on top. It depends on your oven how quickly they cook and brown. If using mini muffin tin possibly only 15-18 minutes might do the job.
Enjoy and let me know if you give it a try. They keep reasonably well - still good after 2 or 3 days, just microwave fro 20 seconds if they start getting stale.
Ingredients
1 egg (large and free range, preferrably)
1 cup yoghurt (plain - I like to use Greek yoghurt for a nice tangy result - or fruit yoghurt or custard or buttermilk – whatever you have sitting around in the fridge)
1/3 cup oil (I use sunflower but you can use rice bran or vegetable or light olive oil –just don’t use full bodied olive oil as it’s too strong)
1 cup mashed bananas (about 2 ripe bananas) or grated pear or apple or carrots or berries of some kind (fresh or frozen) - be creative almost any fruit can be mashed, grated or finely chopped
Optional: some grated lemon or orange zest for extra zing and/or ½ cup of white or milk chocolate bits and/or some chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts or almonds - extra good if you toast them in the oven for a few minutes first, nice and crunchy) and/or craisins and/or sultanas - almost anything you like
1 ¾ cup self raising flour (or 1 ¼ cups s/r flour and ½ cup almond meal for something a little different)
¾ cup caster sugar (or fine brown sugar if you prefer)
Method
Preheat oven to 180 degrees if not fan forced or 170/175 degrees if fan forced - nice moderate oven, not too hot.
Beat the egg lightly in a big bowl. Add yoghurt and oil and mix with a fork. Add fruit and mix.
Sift flour and sugar over the wet ingredients and mix with a fork until just combined. You’ll get a thick batter. Make sure it’s evenly mixed throughout (no leftover dry flour on the bottom) but don't over mix.
Spoon into a 12 regular cup muffin tin or 24 cup mini muffin tin (I like to use paper muffin cases so that the tin stays clean). I like to add a whole almond or pecan to the top of each muffin, but that's up to you. Bake for about 20-30 minutes. Keep an eye on them after 20 minutes. You just want golden brown on top. It depends on your oven how quickly they cook and brown. If using mini muffin tin possibly only 15-18 minutes might do the job.
Enjoy and let me know if you give it a try. They keep reasonably well - still good after 2 or 3 days, just microwave fro 20 seconds if they start getting stale.
Rocktober Day Eighteen: Buy Now, Pay Later
There was a time in 1997/8 when The Whitlam's Eternal Nightcap did not come out of my car CD player, not for weeks or possibly months on end. I could listen from start to finish and then start all over again.
Their big hit at the time was No Aphrodisiac (Like Lonliness) and while that song was HUGE and also beautiful and totally wonderful, it was the gorgeous, funny, sweet I Make Hamburgers from an earlier album which made me fall in love with Tim Freedman and this band in the first place.
Like all their songs, Buy Now, Pay Later is personal storytelling, a small song with big feelings.
Buy Now, Pay Later (Tim Freedman live at The Basement in Sydney)
Charlie you're not my Charlie anymore
You're screwing it up
You're killing your soul with an audience looking on
If I hadn't left early last night
I would have made a speech to you
How you're not the only one you're going to hurt
If you don't believe me I don't believe in you
If you don't believe me I don't believe in you
Makes it all feel better does it?
Makes you feel like heaven does it?
You loved it and you spent accordingly
You can't afford it now
You'll try and you'll fail
And love it like a little dog
And feed it on the scraps you find
And kiss it while you're still asleep
You buy now and pay later
So where's the problem you can ask if you keep your head up
But the road is long and you're falling asleep at the wheel
There's a girl going crazy about you and I'm not far behind
Can you care about your friends anymore?
You buy now and pay later
Their big hit at the time was No Aphrodisiac (Like Lonliness) and while that song was HUGE and also beautiful and totally wonderful, it was the gorgeous, funny, sweet I Make Hamburgers from an earlier album which made me fall in love with Tim Freedman and this band in the first place.
Like all their songs, Buy Now, Pay Later is personal storytelling, a small song with big feelings.
Buy Now, Pay Later (Tim Freedman live at The Basement in Sydney)
Charlie you're not my Charlie anymore
You're screwing it up
You're killing your soul with an audience looking on
If I hadn't left early last night
I would have made a speech to you
How you're not the only one you're going to hurt
If you don't believe me I don't believe in you
If you don't believe me I don't believe in you
Makes it all feel better does it?
Makes you feel like heaven does it?
You loved it and you spent accordingly
You can't afford it now
You'll try and you'll fail
And love it like a little dog
And feed it on the scraps you find
And kiss it while you're still asleep
You buy now and pay later
So where's the problem you can ask if you keep your head up
But the road is long and you're falling asleep at the wheel
There's a girl going crazy about you and I'm not far behind
Can you care about your friends anymore?
You buy now and pay later
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Wishful Thinking
I spend more time than is probably healthy daydreaming about being a pastrychef at Charm City Cakes (as seen on Ace of Cakes). It would be so amazingly fun and cool to hang out with Duff and Mary Alice and strange Geof and the rest of the gang. We would make the most wonderful, creative cakes and there would be non-stop hilarious banter. It's sort of my running away to the circus daydream.
What they would make of a weird, 42 year old with no abilities whatsoever in the pastrycooking department turning up on their doorstep wanting an apprenticeship?
What they would make of a weird, 42 year old with no abilities whatsoever in the pastrycooking department turning up on their doorstep wanting an apprenticeship?
Rocktober Day Seventeen: El Scorcho
And now for something completely different. Weezer are not the sort of band I should probably like. You know, they're a young people's band, or at least they were. I don't know why I love this song, I just do.
It's funny and silly and adolescent but I love everything about it. Just the thought of singing along to it, driving on a sunny day, is enough to make me instantly happy.
Not much else to say about it. Enjoy... or not.
El Scorcho (official clip from YouTube)
Goddamn you half-Japanese girls
Do it to me every time
Oh, the redhead said you shred the cello
And I'm jello, baby
You won't talk, won't look, won't think of me
I'm the epitome of Public Enemy
Why you wanna go and do me like that?
Come on down to the street and dance with me
I'm a lot like you so please
Hello, I'm here, I'm waiting
I think I'd be good for you
And you'd be good for me
I asked you to go to the Green Day concert
You said you never heard of them
How cool is that?
So I went to your room and read your diary:
"Watching Grunge leg-drop New-Jack through a press table..."
And then my heart stopped: "Listening to Cio-Cio San
Fall in love all over again."
I'm a lot like you so please
Hello, I'm here, I'm waiting
I think I'd be good for you
And you'd be good for me
How stupid is it? I can't talk about it
I gotta sing about it and make a record of my heart
How stupid is it? Won't you give me a minute
Just come up to me and say hello to my heart
How stupid is it?
For all I know you want me too
And maybe you just don't know what to do
Or maybe you're scared to say: "I'm falling for you"
I wish I could get my head out of the sand
'Cause I think we'd make a good team
And you would keep my fingernails clean
But that's just a stupid dream that I won't realize
'Cause I can't even look in your eyes
Without shakin', and I ain't fakin'
I'll bring home the turkey if you bring home the bacon.
I'm a lot like you so please
Hello, I'm here, I'm waiting
I think I'd be good for you
And you'd be good for me
I'm a lot like you.
I'm a lot, and I'm waitin.
I think I'd be good for you
And you'd be good for me
It's funny and silly and adolescent but I love everything about it. Just the thought of singing along to it, driving on a sunny day, is enough to make me instantly happy.
Not much else to say about it. Enjoy... or not.
El Scorcho (official clip from YouTube)
Goddamn you half-Japanese girls
Do it to me every time
Oh, the redhead said you shred the cello
And I'm jello, baby
You won't talk, won't look, won't think of me
I'm the epitome of Public Enemy
Why you wanna go and do me like that?
Come on down to the street and dance with me
I'm a lot like you so please
Hello, I'm here, I'm waiting
I think I'd be good for you
And you'd be good for me
I asked you to go to the Green Day concert
You said you never heard of them
How cool is that?
So I went to your room and read your diary:
"Watching Grunge leg-drop New-Jack through a press table..."
And then my heart stopped: "Listening to Cio-Cio San
Fall in love all over again."
I'm a lot like you so please
Hello, I'm here, I'm waiting
I think I'd be good for you
And you'd be good for me
How stupid is it? I can't talk about it
I gotta sing about it and make a record of my heart
How stupid is it? Won't you give me a minute
Just come up to me and say hello to my heart
How stupid is it?
For all I know you want me too
And maybe you just don't know what to do
Or maybe you're scared to say: "I'm falling for you"
I wish I could get my head out of the sand
'Cause I think we'd make a good team
And you would keep my fingernails clean
But that's just a stupid dream that I won't realize
'Cause I can't even look in your eyes
Without shakin', and I ain't fakin'
I'll bring home the turkey if you bring home the bacon.
I'm a lot like you so please
Hello, I'm here, I'm waiting
I think I'd be good for you
And you'd be good for me
I'm a lot like you.
I'm a lot, and I'm waitin.
I think I'd be good for you
And you'd be good for me
Rocktober Day Sixteen: Closer
OK, let's get a little raunchy here, a bit X-rated. This song blew my tiny mind when I came across it in 1994. I had never heard of Nine Inch Nails or Trent Reznor and to be honest, they don't really float my boat - apart from this one magnificent song.
This isn't deep and meaningful (well, it is for me), this is just hot and sweaty and wrong and good. Barry White's croonings may do it for some but from the first dark beat of this song I'm good to go.
I've occasionally heard the "edited/censored" version of this and it's hilarious. Why bother really? This song is what it is and if people don't like it, don't listen. This isn't commercial radio fodder.
Anyway, you have been warned. If you're not into explicit lyrics don't read any further or watch the clip.
Closer (you have to have a YouTube account and be over 18 to watch this weird, explicit clip - not a clip I like at all actually, a bit too bad David Lynch, even for me)
You let me violate you
You let me desecrate you
You let me penetrate you
You let me complicate you
Help me I broke apart my insides
Help me I’ve got no soul to sell
Help me the only thing that works for me
Help me get away from myself
I wanna fuck you like an animal
I wanna feel you from the inside
I wanna fuck you like an animal
My whole existence is flawed
You get me closer to god
You can have my isolation
You can have the hate that it brings
You can have my absence of faith
You can have my everything
Help me tear down my reason
Help me it's your sex I can smell
Help me you make me perfect
Help me become somebody else
I wanna fuck you like an animal
I wanna feel you from the inside
I wanna fuck you like an animal
My whole existence is flawed
You get me closer to god
This isn't deep and meaningful (well, it is for me), this is just hot and sweaty and wrong and good. Barry White's croonings may do it for some but from the first dark beat of this song I'm good to go.
I've occasionally heard the "edited/censored" version of this and it's hilarious. Why bother really? This song is what it is and if people don't like it, don't listen. This isn't commercial radio fodder.
Anyway, you have been warned. If you're not into explicit lyrics don't read any further or watch the clip.
Closer (you have to have a YouTube account and be over 18 to watch this weird, explicit clip - not a clip I like at all actually, a bit too bad David Lynch, even for me)
You let me violate you
You let me desecrate you
You let me penetrate you
You let me complicate you
Help me I broke apart my insides
Help me I’ve got no soul to sell
Help me the only thing that works for me
Help me get away from myself
I wanna fuck you like an animal
I wanna feel you from the inside
I wanna fuck you like an animal
My whole existence is flawed
You get me closer to god
You can have my isolation
You can have the hate that it brings
You can have my absence of faith
You can have my everything
Help me tear down my reason
Help me it's your sex I can smell
Help me you make me perfect
Help me become somebody else
I wanna fuck you like an animal
I wanna feel you from the inside
I wanna fuck you like an animal
My whole existence is flawed
You get me closer to god
Friday, October 15, 2010
Movie Review: Summer Coda
I won these preview tickets knowing nothing at all about this film.
Having seen it I still know next to nothing about this film.
I feel very sorry for whoever wrote and directed it, everyone involved really, because it is obviously a labour of love. It's just, sadly, a labour of love that is not very entertaining. It is slow as a wet week and boring.
Even the attraction of Alex Dimitriades and Angus Sampson were not enough to save this stinker. For the first half nothing happens at all, just lots of shots of Rachel Taylor looking dull and sad. A little more (emphasis on little) happens in the second half but to be honest we walked out towards the end because we were loosing the will to live so I don't actually know if there was even a conclusion or if everyone in the cast just fell asleep from boredom.
Not an Australian film that will be replacing Muriel's Wedding in my affections, I'm afraid.
Having seen it I still know next to nothing about this film.
I feel very sorry for whoever wrote and directed it, everyone involved really, because it is obviously a labour of love. It's just, sadly, a labour of love that is not very entertaining. It is slow as a wet week and boring.
Even the attraction of Alex Dimitriades and Angus Sampson were not enough to save this stinker. For the first half nothing happens at all, just lots of shots of Rachel Taylor looking dull and sad. A little more (emphasis on little) happens in the second half but to be honest we walked out towards the end because we were loosing the will to live so I don't actually know if there was even a conclusion or if everyone in the cast just fell asleep from boredom.
Not an Australian film that will be replacing Muriel's Wedding in my affections, I'm afraid.
Movie Review: My Year Without Sex
No, this is not a documentary about my life... [Is it mandatory that every married woman around my age pretends she doesn't have sex? At least it's a common theme hinted at amongst the people I know... A little sad I think...]
This is the new-ish film from Sarah Watts who made the wonderful Look Both Ways about five years ago. I was immediately attracted to this because it stars Sacha Horler who I enjoyed so much in the film version of Praise.
This film is so Australian it was almost painful to watch; so close to the bone. Like The Castle in it's honest look at Australian family life but not funny, well a little funny.
It's a look at a very typical Australian family dealing with life and what happens when mum gets sick. It's small, sweet, sad, tender, beautifully written. The entire cast is great but the two child actors are particularly good.
Thumbs up.
This is the new-ish film from Sarah Watts who made the wonderful Look Both Ways about five years ago. I was immediately attracted to this because it stars Sacha Horler who I enjoyed so much in the film version of Praise.
This film is so Australian it was almost painful to watch; so close to the bone. Like The Castle in it's honest look at Australian family life but not funny, well a little funny.
It's a look at a very typical Australian family dealing with life and what happens when mum gets sick. It's small, sweet, sad, tender, beautifully written. The entire cast is great but the two child actors are particularly good.
Thumbs up.
Rocktober Day Fifteen: She Talks To Angels
I discovered The Black Crowes around 1990 when their first album Shake Your Money Maker came out. The single Hard To Handle (didn't realise it was a Tom Jones cover at the time) attracted my attention and I was quickly hooked. That album, as well as their second release The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion, are two of my favourite albums of all time. There's nothing better for driving than sticking some Crowes in the old CD stacker.
They toured Australia around 1991 and that hot, sweaty show at the old Hordern Pav was one of the best live gigs I've ever seen. Raw rock and roll of the best kind. Seeing them live last year was a very different story. Rubbish. Not altogether their fault.
Anyway, this song stands out because it is accoustic and beautiful and it tells a story that those who know someone with a drug addiction can relate to. A life lost to drugs and the pain that brings to the loved ones.
She Talks To Angels (wonderful live version from YouTube)
She never mentions the word addiction
In certain company
Yes, she'll tell you she's an orphan
After you meet her family
She paints her eyes as black as night now,
Pulls those shades down tight
Yes, she gives a smile when the pain comes,
The pain gonna make everything alright
Says, she talks to angels,
They call her out by her name
Oh yeah, she talks to angels,
Says they call her out by her name
She keeps a lock of hair in her pocket
She wears a cross around her neck
Yes, the hair is from a little boy,
And the cross is someone she has not met, not yet
Says she talks to angels,
Says they all know her name
Oh yeah, she talks to angels,
Says they call her out by her name
She don't know no lover,
None that I ever seen,
And to her that ain't nothing
But to me, it means, means everything.
She paints those eyes as black as night now
She pulls those shades down tight
Oh yeah, there a smile when the pain comes,
The pain gonna make everything alright, alright yeah
She talks to angels,
Says they call her out her name
Oh yeah-eah-eah, angels
Call her out by her name
Oh-ooh-oh-oh, angels
They call her out by her name
Oh-oh, She talks to angels
They call her out
Yeah-eah-eah, call her out
Don't you know that they call her out by her name?
They toured Australia around 1991 and that hot, sweaty show at the old Hordern Pav was one of the best live gigs I've ever seen. Raw rock and roll of the best kind. Seeing them live last year was a very different story. Rubbish. Not altogether their fault.
Anyway, this song stands out because it is accoustic and beautiful and it tells a story that those who know someone with a drug addiction can relate to. A life lost to drugs and the pain that brings to the loved ones.
She Talks To Angels (wonderful live version from YouTube)
She never mentions the word addiction
In certain company
Yes, she'll tell you she's an orphan
After you meet her family
She paints her eyes as black as night now,
Pulls those shades down tight
Yes, she gives a smile when the pain comes,
The pain gonna make everything alright
Says, she talks to angels,
They call her out by her name
Oh yeah, she talks to angels,
Says they call her out by her name
She keeps a lock of hair in her pocket
She wears a cross around her neck
Yes, the hair is from a little boy,
And the cross is someone she has not met, not yet
Says she talks to angels,
Says they all know her name
Oh yeah, she talks to angels,
Says they call her out by her name
She don't know no lover,
None that I ever seen,
And to her that ain't nothing
But to me, it means, means everything.
She paints those eyes as black as night now
She pulls those shades down tight
Oh yeah, there a smile when the pain comes,
The pain gonna make everything alright, alright yeah
She talks to angels,
Says they call her out her name
Oh yeah-eah-eah, angels
Call her out by her name
Oh-ooh-oh-oh, angels
They call her out by her name
Oh-oh, She talks to angels
They call her out
Yeah-eah-eah, call her out
Don't you know that they call her out by her name?
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Rocktober Day Fourteen: It Just Came To Pieces In My Hands
The Style Council were a big part of my musical world as I emerged from the skinhead scene around 1984/5. I saw them play live at The Hordern Pavillion around that time and standing on a milk crate in the front row, reaching out to touch Paul Weller's sweat t-shirt is one of the great memories of my life (yes, I am that shallow, but you know that by now).
They had a truck load of great songs. Apart from churning out many great pop songs they also had a lot of political songs, Paul Weller being a leftie from way back. At the time I was all fist waving bravado, now I'm just middle class soft.
When I put on their Best Of... this is the song I always want to listen to over and over. From the great "tu tu tu..." intro to the brilliant lyrics this song is genius songwriting. It talks about humility, about thinking you own the world and how easily that can get kicked out from under you.
It Just Came To Pieces In My Hands (Live YouTube clip from 1984, how sweet and young is Paul? - go to the 5:30 mark for this song, starts with You're The Best Thing)
I stood as tall as a mountain
I never really thought about the drop
I trod over rocks to get there
Just so I could stand on top
Clumsy and blind I stumbled
As I crawled through desert sands
I didn't stop to think about the consequences
As it came to pieces in my hands
Tu tu ru, tu tu ru, tu tu ru, tu
Tu tu ru, tu tu ru, tu tu ru, tu
I thought I was a maritime marvel
I believed that I ruled the waves
All I could say is time is motion
And every effort others made I would save
I was a shit stained statue
School children would stand in awe
I truly believed I was a ceiling of sky
Never thought about having flaws
Tu tu ru, tu tu ru, tu tu ru, tu
Tu tu ru, tu tu ru, tu tu ru, tu
I felt as reverent as Jesus
The sanctimony stunk
I thought I was admiral of the missing fleet
I couldn't see that I was sunk
I roared my pride in the darkness
I scratched away at the stars
I thought I was lord of this crappy jungle
I should have been put behind bars
Tu tu ru, tu tu ru, tu tu ru, tu
Tu tu ru, tu tu ru, tu tu ru, tu
But now I sit with my head in my hands
And wail to the weeping wall
The avalanche of my emotions
Holds the audience of one enthralled
I'm learning the lesson the hard way
Like a fall from command
I thought I was king of the whole wide world
But it just came to pieces in my hands
They had a truck load of great songs. Apart from churning out many great pop songs they also had a lot of political songs, Paul Weller being a leftie from way back. At the time I was all fist waving bravado, now I'm just middle class soft.
When I put on their Best Of... this is the song I always want to listen to over and over. From the great "tu tu tu..." intro to the brilliant lyrics this song is genius songwriting. It talks about humility, about thinking you own the world and how easily that can get kicked out from under you.
It Just Came To Pieces In My Hands (Live YouTube clip from 1984, how sweet and young is Paul? - go to the 5:30 mark for this song, starts with You're The Best Thing)
I stood as tall as a mountain
I never really thought about the drop
I trod over rocks to get there
Just so I could stand on top
Clumsy and blind I stumbled
As I crawled through desert sands
I didn't stop to think about the consequences
As it came to pieces in my hands
Tu tu ru, tu tu ru, tu tu ru, tu
Tu tu ru, tu tu ru, tu tu ru, tu
I thought I was a maritime marvel
I believed that I ruled the waves
All I could say is time is motion
And every effort others made I would save
I was a shit stained statue
School children would stand in awe
I truly believed I was a ceiling of sky
Never thought about having flaws
Tu tu ru, tu tu ru, tu tu ru, tu
Tu tu ru, tu tu ru, tu tu ru, tu
I felt as reverent as Jesus
The sanctimony stunk
I thought I was admiral of the missing fleet
I couldn't see that I was sunk
I roared my pride in the darkness
I scratched away at the stars
I thought I was lord of this crappy jungle
I should have been put behind bars
Tu tu ru, tu tu ru, tu tu ru, tu
Tu tu ru, tu tu ru, tu tu ru, tu
But now I sit with my head in my hands
And wail to the weeping wall
The avalanche of my emotions
Holds the audience of one enthralled
I'm learning the lesson the hard way
Like a fall from command
I thought I was king of the whole wide world
But it just came to pieces in my hands
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Movie Review: The Girl... the Hornet's Nest
Poo.
Not much more to say. If you're a fan of the books stay away from this rubbish.
Given it is a very dense book with lots of characters and lots of stuff going on I think this is a poor translation to screen. The book was a wonderful rollercoaster ride, the movie is a cobbled together piece of crap.
If I hadn't read the book I would have made no sense of it at all.
Also, very bad translation. Not only were there spelling mistakes but even I, with my non-existent knowledge of Swedish, knew that the translation did not match what was being said. Also numerous instances when white type appeared on pale or white backgrounds making it impossible to read.
Piss poor effort.
PS I have to give it to the Swedes though. I love that they use actors who look like real people, i.e. not perfect. They actually look like normal people, bad hair, bad skin, wobbly body bits. They haven't been polished and air brushed till they sparkle. How wonderful!
Not much more to say. If you're a fan of the books stay away from this rubbish.
Given it is a very dense book with lots of characters and lots of stuff going on I think this is a poor translation to screen. The book was a wonderful rollercoaster ride, the movie is a cobbled together piece of crap.
If I hadn't read the book I would have made no sense of it at all.
Also, very bad translation. Not only were there spelling mistakes but even I, with my non-existent knowledge of Swedish, knew that the translation did not match what was being said. Also numerous instances when white type appeared on pale or white backgrounds making it impossible to read.
Piss poor effort.
PS I have to give it to the Swedes though. I love that they use actors who look like real people, i.e. not perfect. They actually look like normal people, bad hair, bad skin, wobbly body bits. They haven't been polished and air brushed till they sparkle. How wonderful!
Rocktober Day Thirteen: Nobody's Baby Now
Just in case things were getting a little warm and fuzzy, light and airy, around here... I thought it's time to bring the mood down a notch or two (it is day thirteen after all). And who better to bring the mood down than my dark god Mr Nick Cave.
To quote Salt'n'Pepa "what a man, what a man, what a mighty good man". Nick Cave is a mighty good man. I cannot imagine what he's like in real life because he seems so much largerer than life to me but his intellect is awesome. During the recent Australian elections Nick Cave was voted the musician most people wanted to be Prime Minister (see here if you don't believe me) and I would surely vote for him over the given alternatives. Nick Cave for PM I say!
I have many favourite songs of his; Into My Arms was our wedding song and The Ship Song is gorgeous but for beauty of lyrics I couldn't go past this one. It touches on his usual obsessions: religious imagery, lost love, passionate, dangerous realtionships.
Nobody's Baby Now (live YouTube clip from the Bizarre Festival, how apt)
I've searched the holy books
I tried to unravel the mystery of Jesus Christ, the saviour
I've read the poets and the analysts
Searched through the books on human behaviour
I travelled this world around
For an answer that refused to be found
I don't know why and I don't know how
But she's nobody's baby now
I loved her then and I guess I love her still
Her's is the face I see when a certain mood moves in
She lives in my blood and skin
Her wild feral stare, her dark hair
Her winter lips as cold as stone
Yeah, I was her man
But there are some things love won't allow
I held her hand but I don't hold it now
I don't know why and I don't know how
But she's nobody's baby now
This is her dress that I loved best
With the blue quilted violets across the breast
And these are my many letters
Torn to pieces by her long-fingered hand
I was her cruel-hearted man
And though I've tried to lay her ghost down
She's moving through me, even now
I don't know why and I don't know how
But she's nobody's baby now
She's nobody's baby now
Nobody's baby now
She's nobody's baby now
To quote Salt'n'Pepa "what a man, what a man, what a mighty good man". Nick Cave is a mighty good man. I cannot imagine what he's like in real life because he seems so much largerer than life to me but his intellect is awesome. During the recent Australian elections Nick Cave was voted the musician most people wanted to be Prime Minister (see here if you don't believe me) and I would surely vote for him over the given alternatives. Nick Cave for PM I say!
I have many favourite songs of his; Into My Arms was our wedding song and The Ship Song is gorgeous but for beauty of lyrics I couldn't go past this one. It touches on his usual obsessions: religious imagery, lost love, passionate, dangerous realtionships.
Nobody's Baby Now (live YouTube clip from the Bizarre Festival, how apt)
I've searched the holy books
I tried to unravel the mystery of Jesus Christ, the saviour
I've read the poets and the analysts
Searched through the books on human behaviour
I travelled this world around
For an answer that refused to be found
I don't know why and I don't know how
But she's nobody's baby now
I loved her then and I guess I love her still
Her's is the face I see when a certain mood moves in
She lives in my blood and skin
Her wild feral stare, her dark hair
Her winter lips as cold as stone
Yeah, I was her man
But there are some things love won't allow
I held her hand but I don't hold it now
I don't know why and I don't know how
But she's nobody's baby now
This is her dress that I loved best
With the blue quilted violets across the breast
And these are my many letters
Torn to pieces by her long-fingered hand
I was her cruel-hearted man
And though I've tried to lay her ghost down
She's moving through me, even now
I don't know why and I don't know how
But she's nobody's baby now
She's nobody's baby now
Nobody's baby now
She's nobody's baby now
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Rocktober Day Twelve: You Just Like Me 'Cos I'm Good In Bed
When my family left the former USSR and brought me to Australia, via Israel and Italy, in 1976 they thought they were bringing me to a better life. Little did they know they were bringing me to the land of Skyhooks.
As an eight year old starting a new life in Sydney, Australia I was a sponge for all things new and all things Australian. The music shows Countdown and Sounds were my cultural bibles. Popular music was my drug and I couldn't get enough. Obviously I was always drawn to the "peculiar" because Skyhooks were certainly that. They were plain, garden variety WEIRD and I loved them. Their strange clothes, make up and crazy songs were magical to my impressionable, young eyes and ears.
Imagine my parent's horror when their little girl started listening to songs like this one. Most of their songs had funny/cool titles: All My Friends Are Getting Married, Living in the Seventies, Horror Movie, Ego (Is Not A Dirty Word).
Skyhooks were fun and wild and out there and they were definitely a band of the 70s. Graeme "Shirley" Strachan was their singer and he was hilarious, a great guy by all accounts. He died in a helicopter accident in 2001. RIP Shirl.
I requested this song at my big 40th bash a couple of years ago and dancing to it, slightly tipsy after a couple of cheap champagnes, brought back a lot of blurry memories. God only knows what the 8 year old me would have made of these lyrics.
You Just Like Me 'Cos I'm Good In Bed (YouTube clip from their first reunion concert)
You just like me 'cos I'm good in bed (X 4)
You just like me 'cos I'm good in bed
Yeah that's what your girlfriend said
You just like me 'cos I give you some head
You just like me 'cos I'm good in bed
Well I'll meet you in the pub at two minutes to ten
You're all ready to go
Six bottles of beer and a sneer on your face
I'd run but I'm much too slow
You just like me 'cos I'm good in bed (X 4)
At half past one I'm flat on the floor
Caught like a rat in a trap
Fifteen times a week and you still want more
God you talk such crap
You just like 'cos I'm good in bed (X 4)
You imagine yourself as Mick Jagger's girlfriend
He wouldn't even spit in your eye
I bet you he don't get raped every weekend
I feel so weak I could die
You just like me 'cos I'm good in bed (X 4)
You just like me 'cos I'm good in bed
Yeah that's what your girlfriend said
You just like me 'cos I'm good in bed
You just like me 'cos I'm good in bed
As an eight year old starting a new life in Sydney, Australia I was a sponge for all things new and all things Australian. The music shows Countdown and Sounds were my cultural bibles. Popular music was my drug and I couldn't get enough. Obviously I was always drawn to the "peculiar" because Skyhooks were certainly that. They were plain, garden variety WEIRD and I loved them. Their strange clothes, make up and crazy songs were magical to my impressionable, young eyes and ears.
Imagine my parent's horror when their little girl started listening to songs like this one. Most of their songs had funny/cool titles: All My Friends Are Getting Married, Living in the Seventies, Horror Movie, Ego (Is Not A Dirty Word).
Skyhooks were fun and wild and out there and they were definitely a band of the 70s. Graeme "Shirley" Strachan was their singer and he was hilarious, a great guy by all accounts. He died in a helicopter accident in 2001. RIP Shirl.
I requested this song at my big 40th bash a couple of years ago and dancing to it, slightly tipsy after a couple of cheap champagnes, brought back a lot of blurry memories. God only knows what the 8 year old me would have made of these lyrics.
You Just Like Me 'Cos I'm Good In Bed (YouTube clip from their first reunion concert)
You just like me 'cos I'm good in bed (X 4)
You just like me 'cos I'm good in bed
Yeah that's what your girlfriend said
You just like me 'cos I give you some head
You just like me 'cos I'm good in bed
Well I'll meet you in the pub at two minutes to ten
You're all ready to go
Six bottles of beer and a sneer on your face
I'd run but I'm much too slow
You just like me 'cos I'm good in bed (X 4)
At half past one I'm flat on the floor
Caught like a rat in a trap
Fifteen times a week and you still want more
God you talk such crap
You just like 'cos I'm good in bed (X 4)
You imagine yourself as Mick Jagger's girlfriend
He wouldn't even spit in your eye
I bet you he don't get raped every weekend
I feel so weak I could die
You just like me 'cos I'm good in bed (X 4)
You just like me 'cos I'm good in bed
Yeah that's what your girlfriend said
You just like me 'cos I'm good in bed
You just like me 'cos I'm good in bed
Monday, October 11, 2010
Rocktober Day Eleven: Lover You Should Have Come Over
It's back-to-school Monday so I need a no-brainer to kick off the week.
My love of Jeff Buckley's music is a well documented fact. His voice is heaven. Marianna's middle name is Grace after his first (and only) studio album (and because I liked the idea of having my own Will and Grace - I am so very shallow).
I love this song because the lyrics take me on an emotional journey. Some of the phrases are true perfection. Regret is not an emotion I'm keen on but this song is about regret; about letting someone go and holding onto those unresolved feelings.
Strangely enough one of my few true regrets is not seeing Jeff Buckley live. He would have been magical. Rest in peace, beautiful man.
Lover You Should Have Come Over (Live clip from YouTube - personally I prefer the polished version from Grace)
Looking out the door
I see the rain fall upon the funeral mourners
Parading in a wake of sad relations
As their shoes fill up with water
Maybe I'm too young
To keep good love from going wrong
But tonight, you're on my mind so
You never know
Broken down and hungry for your love
With no way to feed it
Where are you tonight?
Child, you know how much I need it.
Too young to hold on
And too old to just break free and run
Sometimes a man gets carried away,
When he feels like he should be having his fun
Much too blind to see the damage he's done
Sometimes a man must awake to find that, really,
He has no-one...
So I'll wait for you... And I'll burn
Will I ever see your sweet return?
Oh, will I ever learn?
Oh, Lover, you should've come over
Cause it's not too late.
Lonely is the room the bed is made
The open window lets the rain in
Burning in the corner is the only one
Who dreams he had you with him
My body turns and yearns for a sleep
That won't ever come
It's never over,
My kingdom for a kiss upon her shoulder
It's never over,
all my riches for her smiles when I slept so soft against her...
It's never over,
All my blood for the sweetness of her laughter...
It's never over,
She's a tear that hangs inside my soul forever...
But maybe I'm just too young to keep good love
From going wrong
Oh... lover you should've come over...
Yes, and I feel too young to hold on
I'm much too old to break free and run
Too deaf, dumb, and blind
To see the damage I've done
Sweet lover, you should've come over
Oh, love, well I'll wait for you
Lover, you should've come over
'Cause it's not too late.
My love of Jeff Buckley's music is a well documented fact. His voice is heaven. Marianna's middle name is Grace after his first (and only) studio album (and because I liked the idea of having my own Will and Grace - I am so very shallow).
I love this song because the lyrics take me on an emotional journey. Some of the phrases are true perfection. Regret is not an emotion I'm keen on but this song is about regret; about letting someone go and holding onto those unresolved feelings.
Strangely enough one of my few true regrets is not seeing Jeff Buckley live. He would have been magical. Rest in peace, beautiful man.
Lover You Should Have Come Over (Live clip from YouTube - personally I prefer the polished version from Grace)
Looking out the door
I see the rain fall upon the funeral mourners
Parading in a wake of sad relations
As their shoes fill up with water
Maybe I'm too young
To keep good love from going wrong
But tonight, you're on my mind so
You never know
Broken down and hungry for your love
With no way to feed it
Where are you tonight?
Child, you know how much I need it.
Too young to hold on
And too old to just break free and run
Sometimes a man gets carried away,
When he feels like he should be having his fun
Much too blind to see the damage he's done
Sometimes a man must awake to find that, really,
He has no-one...
So I'll wait for you... And I'll burn
Will I ever see your sweet return?
Oh, will I ever learn?
Oh, Lover, you should've come over
Cause it's not too late.
Lonely is the room the bed is made
The open window lets the rain in
Burning in the corner is the only one
Who dreams he had you with him
My body turns and yearns for a sleep
That won't ever come
It's never over,
My kingdom for a kiss upon her shoulder
It's never over,
all my riches for her smiles when I slept so soft against her...
It's never over,
All my blood for the sweetness of her laughter...
It's never over,
She's a tear that hangs inside my soul forever...
But maybe I'm just too young to keep good love
From going wrong
Oh... lover you should've come over...
Yes, and I feel too young to hold on
I'm much too old to break free and run
Too deaf, dumb, and blind
To see the damage I've done
Sweet lover, you should've come over
Oh, love, well I'll wait for you
Lover, you should've come over
'Cause it's not too late.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Rocktober Day Ten: Born With A Tail
While we're on "something different" I remembered how much I used to love this song around '95 when I first heard it on Triple J (when I was young and hip, not old and befuddled).
Being an athiest I did enjoy the anti-religious aspects of this song. It's just a bit of an "up yours" anthem really and I just loved singing along at the top of my lungs on that long, daily drive up and down the F3.
It's not everybody's cup of tea but I enjoyed re-visiting it just now, it's still a rip-roaring fun song... and you gotta love a band whose singer is called Eddie Spaghetti.
Born With A Tail (click here for the clip, you know the drill by now)
I’d rather choose my soul to lose
Than leave around just one confused
And lose desire
Don’t know if I’ll ever learn
Can’t wait ‘til I get my turn
To burn in the infernal hell fire
I’m waiting for my last drive
While the bugle of my backside
Blows a losing beat
Hope I don’t run out of gas
Bet my sacrelicious ass
Ain’t nothing down there that scares me
(Chorus)
Oh yeah!
And you know!
I’m in league with Satan
And you know
There can’t be no debatin’
My hell-bound trail
I was born with a tail!
I’m evil!
Yeah, and I run free
There’s molten lead in me
So let’s get the hell
Got the goods
Brother bring it on
My mother done brought me up wrong
And you can use my dick
As a walkin’ stick as well
(Chorus)
It’s time to fly the finger
Yeah, that middle digit brings your point
And it drives it home
On my head there’s no crown of thorns
This evil scalp has earned its horns
I’m on a highflying time with your mom before I go .
Being an athiest I did enjoy the anti-religious aspects of this song. It's just a bit of an "up yours" anthem really and I just loved singing along at the top of my lungs on that long, daily drive up and down the F3.
It's not everybody's cup of tea but I enjoyed re-visiting it just now, it's still a rip-roaring fun song... and you gotta love a band whose singer is called Eddie Spaghetti.
Born With A Tail (click here for the clip, you know the drill by now)
I’d rather choose my soul to lose
Than leave around just one confused
And lose desire
Don’t know if I’ll ever learn
Can’t wait ‘til I get my turn
To burn in the infernal hell fire
I’m waiting for my last drive
While the bugle of my backside
Blows a losing beat
Hope I don’t run out of gas
Bet my sacrelicious ass
Ain’t nothing down there that scares me
(Chorus)
Oh yeah!
And you know!
I’m in league with Satan
And you know
There can’t be no debatin’
My hell-bound trail
I was born with a tail!
I’m evil!
Yeah, and I run free
There’s molten lead in me
So let’s get the hell
Got the goods
Brother bring it on
My mother done brought me up wrong
And you can use my dick
As a walkin’ stick as well
(Chorus)
It’s time to fly the finger
Yeah, that middle digit brings your point
And it drives it home
On my head there’s no crown of thorns
This evil scalp has earned its horns
I’m on a highflying time with your mom before I go .
Rocktober Day Nine: Sweet Transvestite
And now for something completely different...
Seeing Rocky Horror Picture Show for the first time around 1981 or '82 was like opening the door on a brand new world. It blew my mind. I sent me into sensory overload. I fell in love with every little thing about it and have never looked back. I really couldn't say how many dozens of times I have watched this film. I've seen it twice on stage. Watching it today fills me with as much pleasure and kooky joy as it did that first time.
Before I saw it I don't think I could have imagined that such characters were possible. Yet it is such characters which draw me; I am drawn like a moth to a flame to weird and off the wall, which is quite weird because I come across as very vanilla to the untrained observer.
Anyhow, Sweet Transvestite was the song which made me fall in love with the mammoth talent which is Tim Curry. That voice, those legs, that sneer. There are better songs in the show but to me this is THE song of RHPS, what it's all about.
From the moment Brad and Janet start backing out of the ballroom, the elevator slowly descending behind them, I start to tingle with (consta)anticipation.
Sweet Transvestite (poor quality YouTube clip, sorry couldn't find a better one)
How d'you do, I see you've met my faithful handyman
He's just a little brought down because when you knocked
He thought you were the candyman.
Don't get strung out by the way that I look,
Don't judge a book by its cover
I'm not much of a man by the light of day,
But by night I'm one hell of a lover
I'm just a Sweet Transvestite from Transexual, Transylvania.
So let me show you around, maybe play you a sound
You look like you're both pretty groovy
Or if you want something visual that's not too abysmal
We could take in an old Steve Reeves movie.
[Brad] I'm glad we caught you at home, could we use your phone?
We're both in a bit of a hurry.
We'll just say where we are, then go back to the car
We don't want to be any worry.
So you got caught with a flat, well, how about that?
Well babies, don't you panic.
By the light of the night when it all seems alright
I'll get you a satanic mechanic.
I'm just a Sweet Transvestite from Transexual, Transylvania.
So why don't you stay for the night? Or maybe a bite?
I could show you my favourite obsession.
I've been making a man with blond hair and a tan
And he's good for relieving my tension.
I'm just a Sweet Transvestite from Transexual, Transylvania.
So come up to the lab. And see what's on the slab.
I see you shiver with antici... pation!
But maybe the rain isn't really to blame
So I'll remove the cause, but not the symptom.
Seeing Rocky Horror Picture Show for the first time around 1981 or '82 was like opening the door on a brand new world. It blew my mind. I sent me into sensory overload. I fell in love with every little thing about it and have never looked back. I really couldn't say how many dozens of times I have watched this film. I've seen it twice on stage. Watching it today fills me with as much pleasure and kooky joy as it did that first time.
Before I saw it I don't think I could have imagined that such characters were possible. Yet it is such characters which draw me; I am drawn like a moth to a flame to weird and off the wall, which is quite weird because I come across as very vanilla to the untrained observer.
Anyhow, Sweet Transvestite was the song which made me fall in love with the mammoth talent which is Tim Curry. That voice, those legs, that sneer. There are better songs in the show but to me this is THE song of RHPS, what it's all about.
From the moment Brad and Janet start backing out of the ballroom, the elevator slowly descending behind them, I start to tingle with (consta)anticipation.
Sweet Transvestite (poor quality YouTube clip, sorry couldn't find a better one)
How d'you do, I see you've met my faithful handyman
He's just a little brought down because when you knocked
He thought you were the candyman.
Don't get strung out by the way that I look,
Don't judge a book by its cover
I'm not much of a man by the light of day,
But by night I'm one hell of a lover
I'm just a Sweet Transvestite from Transexual, Transylvania.
So let me show you around, maybe play you a sound
You look like you're both pretty groovy
Or if you want something visual that's not too abysmal
We could take in an old Steve Reeves movie.
[Brad] I'm glad we caught you at home, could we use your phone?
We're both in a bit of a hurry.
We'll just say where we are, then go back to the car
We don't want to be any worry.
So you got caught with a flat, well, how about that?
Well babies, don't you panic.
By the light of the night when it all seems alright
I'll get you a satanic mechanic.
I'm just a Sweet Transvestite from Transexual, Transylvania.
So why don't you stay for the night? Or maybe a bite?
I could show you my favourite obsession.
I've been making a man with blond hair and a tan
And he's good for relieving my tension.
I'm just a Sweet Transvestite from Transexual, Transylvania.
So come up to the lab. And see what's on the slab.
I see you shiver with antici... pation!
But maybe the rain isn't really to blame
So I'll remove the cause, but not the symptom.
Friday, October 08, 2010
Rocktober Day Eight: Fidelity
I discovered this song late one night in 2006 as I was staying up way past my bedtime to flick around Foxtel channels. I was captivated by the very memorable music and the gorgeous, black and white (mostly) film clip and by the beautiful Regina Spektor. It was like being slapped in the face by a wet fish, but in a good way. Just a wake up call to wonderful, new music.
When I rushed off to find out about Regina I discovered her life paralleling my own in some ways. She is a Russian Jewish refugee from Soviet Russia, like me. Like my own family in 1972, her family escaped Russia in 1989 and travelled to Austria and Italy (we went to Israel and Italy) before they settled in the US (we finally settled in Australia in 1976).
That's where the similarities end. She is an insanely talented musician and brilliant song writer and ... well, I'm not. She is amazingly beautiful and ... well, I'm not. Nevermind... the silver lining is that I found her music and I love it.
Fidelity is perfection in musical form. The words are so apt for me. I feel so much like I don't love properly, not like other people. I keep one foot on the ground, as Regina says. Maybe I did love that way, a long time ago. When I was young I certainly remember loving fully and dear Neil, my gorgeous Welsh boyfriend circa 1984/5, is the last person I think I really felt that way about. Maybe breaking up with him broke me in the loving department. Maybe I'm just putting 2 and 2 together and coming up with 27. Who knows... either way, this song strikes giant chords with me.
Fidelity (official clip on YouTube)
I never loved nobody fully
Always one foot on the ground
And by protecting my heart truly
I got lost in the sounds
I hear in my mind all of these voices
I hear in my mind all of these words
I hear in my mind all of this music
And it breaks my heart
And it breaks my heart
And it breaks my heart
When it breaks my heart
And suppose I never ever met you
Suppose we never fell in love
Suppose I never ever let you
Kiss me so sweet and so soft
Suppose I never ever saw you
Suppose we never ever called
Suppose I kept on singing love songs
Just to break my own fall
Just to break my fall
Just to break my fall
Just to break my fall
Break my fall
Break my fall
All my friends say that of course
It's gonna get better
Gonna get better
Better better better better
Better better better!
I never love nobody fully
Always one foot on the ground
And by protecting my heart truly
I got lost in the sounds
I hear in my mind all of these voices
I hear in my mind all of these words
I hear in my mind all of this music
And it breaks my heart
And it breaks my heart
I hear in my mind all of these voices
I hear in my mind all of these words
I hear in my mind all of this music
And it breaks my heart
And it breaks my heart
It breaks my heart
When it breaks my heart
When it breaks my heart
When it breaks my heart
Breaks my heart
When it breaks my heart
When it breaks my heart
When it breaks my heart
When it breaks my heart
When I rushed off to find out about Regina I discovered her life paralleling my own in some ways. She is a Russian Jewish refugee from Soviet Russia, like me. Like my own family in 1972, her family escaped Russia in 1989 and travelled to Austria and Italy (we went to Israel and Italy) before they settled in the US (we finally settled in Australia in 1976).
That's where the similarities end. She is an insanely talented musician and brilliant song writer and ... well, I'm not. She is amazingly beautiful and ... well, I'm not. Nevermind... the silver lining is that I found her music and I love it.
Fidelity is perfection in musical form. The words are so apt for me. I feel so much like I don't love properly, not like other people. I keep one foot on the ground, as Regina says. Maybe I did love that way, a long time ago. When I was young I certainly remember loving fully and dear Neil, my gorgeous Welsh boyfriend circa 1984/5, is the last person I think I really felt that way about. Maybe breaking up with him broke me in the loving department. Maybe I'm just putting 2 and 2 together and coming up with 27. Who knows... either way, this song strikes giant chords with me.
Fidelity (official clip on YouTube)
I never loved nobody fully
Always one foot on the ground
And by protecting my heart truly
I got lost in the sounds
I hear in my mind all of these voices
I hear in my mind all of these words
I hear in my mind all of this music
And it breaks my heart
And it breaks my heart
And it breaks my heart
When it breaks my heart
And suppose I never ever met you
Suppose we never fell in love
Suppose I never ever let you
Kiss me so sweet and so soft
Suppose I never ever saw you
Suppose we never ever called
Suppose I kept on singing love songs
Just to break my own fall
Just to break my fall
Just to break my fall
Just to break my fall
Break my fall
Break my fall
All my friends say that of course
It's gonna get better
Gonna get better
Better better better better
Better better better!
I never love nobody fully
Always one foot on the ground
And by protecting my heart truly
I got lost in the sounds
I hear in my mind all of these voices
I hear in my mind all of these words
I hear in my mind all of this music
And it breaks my heart
And it breaks my heart
I hear in my mind all of these voices
I hear in my mind all of these words
I hear in my mind all of this music
And it breaks my heart
And it breaks my heart
It breaks my heart
When it breaks my heart
When it breaks my heart
When it breaks my heart
Breaks my heart
When it breaks my heart
When it breaks my heart
When it breaks my heart
When it breaks my heart
Thursday, October 07, 2010
Rocktober Day Seven: Tower of Song
I've been thinking about old age a lot lately and this song sums up a lot of my thoughts and feelings. The words hurt my heart but they also give me strength to look ahead and get a mental grip on what the future has in store for all of us. I think this song talks about our bodies giving up but our emotions and desires hanging in there, and I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing.
This song also talks about the legacy we leave and I have to admit to a tiny bit of jealousy that Mr Cohen's intellectual legacy is so very vast and mine is zilch [how do I even dare write such a sentence?!]. As a writer (of sorts) I have fostered tiny ambitions of touching people with my words and when I hear songs like this I can only kneel at the feet of a master and not dare raise my eyes.
I think Leonard Cohen is a songwriting genius. He's not the best singer in the world but his words are second to none. I prefer the Martha Wainwright version of this song from the I'm Your Man CD and DVD and from the Came So Far From Beauty concerts. The way she sings it gives the song a different perspective; a young woman singing an old man's song.
I have spent some time grappling with what I can say about this song, but the feelings lay in the pit of my stomach and don't easily form into sensible words. I hope the lyrics give you some idea but if you take a moment to listen to Martha's gorgeous version you may feel a little of what I do when I hear this song.
Tower of Song (Martha Wainwright's version at The Basement, YouTube clip)
My friends are gone and my hair is grey.
I ache in the places where I used to play.
And I'm crazy for love but I'm not coming on.
I'm just paying my rent every day in the tower of song.
I said to Hank Williams: “How lonely does it get?”
Hank Williams hasn't answered yet,
but I hear him coughing all night long,
a hundred floors above me in the tower of song.
I was born like this, I had no choice.
I was born with the gift of a golden voice,
and twenty-seven angels from the great beyond,
they tied me to this table right here in the tower of song.
So you can stick your little pins in that voodoo doll
- I'm very sorry, baby, doesn't look like me at all.
I'm standing by the window where the light is strong.
They don't let a woman kill you not in the tower of song.
Now you can say that I've grown bitter but of this you may be sure:
The rich have got their channels in the bedrooms of the poor,
and there's a mighty judgement coming, but I may be wrong.
You see, you hear these funny voices in the tower of song.
I see you standing on the other side.
I don't know how the river got so wide.
I loved you, I loved you way back when -
And all the bridges are burning that we might have crossed,
but I feel so close to everything that we lost-
We'll never, we’ll never have to lose it again.
So I bid you farewell, I don't know when I'll be back.
They’re moving us tomorrow to that tower down the track.
But you'll be hearing from me, baby, long after I'm gone.
I'll be speaking to you sweetly from my window in the tower of song.
My friends are gone and my hair is grey.
I ache in the places where I used to play.
And I'm crazy for love but I'm not coming on.
I'm just paying my rent every day in the tower of song.
This song also talks about the legacy we leave and I have to admit to a tiny bit of jealousy that Mr Cohen's intellectual legacy is so very vast and mine is zilch [how do I even dare write such a sentence?!]. As a writer (of sorts) I have fostered tiny ambitions of touching people with my words and when I hear songs like this I can only kneel at the feet of a master and not dare raise my eyes.
I think Leonard Cohen is a songwriting genius. He's not the best singer in the world but his words are second to none. I prefer the Martha Wainwright version of this song from the I'm Your Man CD and DVD and from the Came So Far From Beauty concerts. The way she sings it gives the song a different perspective; a young woman singing an old man's song.
I have spent some time grappling with what I can say about this song, but the feelings lay in the pit of my stomach and don't easily form into sensible words. I hope the lyrics give you some idea but if you take a moment to listen to Martha's gorgeous version you may feel a little of what I do when I hear this song.
Tower of Song (Martha Wainwright's version at The Basement, YouTube clip)
My friends are gone and my hair is grey.
I ache in the places where I used to play.
And I'm crazy for love but I'm not coming on.
I'm just paying my rent every day in the tower of song.
I said to Hank Williams: “How lonely does it get?”
Hank Williams hasn't answered yet,
but I hear him coughing all night long,
a hundred floors above me in the tower of song.
I was born like this, I had no choice.
I was born with the gift of a golden voice,
and twenty-seven angels from the great beyond,
they tied me to this table right here in the tower of song.
So you can stick your little pins in that voodoo doll
- I'm very sorry, baby, doesn't look like me at all.
I'm standing by the window where the light is strong.
They don't let a woman kill you not in the tower of song.
Now you can say that I've grown bitter but of this you may be sure:
The rich have got their channels in the bedrooms of the poor,
and there's a mighty judgement coming, but I may be wrong.
You see, you hear these funny voices in the tower of song.
I see you standing on the other side.
I don't know how the river got so wide.
I loved you, I loved you way back when -
And all the bridges are burning that we might have crossed,
but I feel so close to everything that we lost-
We'll never, we’ll never have to lose it again.
So I bid you farewell, I don't know when I'll be back.
They’re moving us tomorrow to that tower down the track.
But you'll be hearing from me, baby, long after I'm gone.
I'll be speaking to you sweetly from my window in the tower of song.
My friends are gone and my hair is grey.
I ache in the places where I used to play.
And I'm crazy for love but I'm not coming on.
I'm just paying my rent every day in the tower of song.
Wednesday, October 06, 2010
Rocktober Day Six: Come Undone
My love affair with Robbie Williams didn't start until I saw him play live at the Sydney Football Stadium in December 2003. Before that he was just some ex-boy band drongo with a couple of catchy songs. I can't remember exactly why I went to that concert but it blew me away. I was hooked.
I love a lot of Robbie's songs, old and new, but Come Undone would have to be the all time favourite. First of all the lyrics are funny and clever. I love the way he lists his own personal contradictions which I think apply to most of us (at least myself) in some ways.
It's also the name - Come Undone - which hits a chord with me. It's such a simple phrase, two basic words, but together so meaningful. I often feel so close to coming undone, not in Robbie's take-drugs-sleep-with-countless-groupies-behave-badly sort of way, but just in a dealing with life way. I have clear moments of feeling like I'm just playing pretend with this being an adult thing and it would only take one false move to come undone, show that I'm just faking it.
The other theme of this song is unconditional love, familial love; being bad, feeling unworthy and wanting your family to still love you, accept you. What a universal theme that is.
Then, of course, the final verse. What a corker! It just sums up the life of a singer, a celebrity, in a few simple sentences. Beautiful! To me it hints at something else as well. How sincere are any of our lives? What do we hide, surpress, disguise, ignore to get along in life, at work, in our relationships? We all play roles to some degree, don't we?
Come Undone (click here for YouTube clip - this clip is awesome but don't watch it with children around, definitely for adults only - love it! - Robbie looking young, bad and hot!)
So unimpressed, but so in awe
Such a saint, but such a whore
So self-aware, so full of shit
So indecisive, so adamant
I'm contemplating, thinkin' about thinkin'
It's overrated, just get another drink and
Watch me come undone
They're selling razor blades and mirrors in the street
I pray when I'm coming down, you'll be asleep
If I ever hurt you, your revenge will be so sweet
Because I'm scum, and I'm your son
I come undone
I come undone
So rock 'n' roll, so corporate suit
So damn ugly, so damn cute
So well-trained, so animal
So need your love, so fuck you all
I'm not scared of dying, I just don't want to
If I stop lying, I'll just disappoint you
Come undone
They're selling razor blades and mirrors in the street
Come undone
I pray when I'm coming down, you'll be asleep
Come undone
If I ever hurt you, your revenge will be so sweet
Because I'm scum, and I'm your son
I come undone
So write another ballad, mix it on a Wednesday
Sell it on a Thursday buy a yacht on Saturday
It's a love song, a love song
Do another interview, sing a bunch of lies
Tell about celebrities that I despise
And sing love songs, we sing love songs so sincere
So sincere
Come undone
They're selling razor blades and mirrors in the street
Come undone
I pray when I'm coming down, you'll be asleep
Come undone
The young pretend you're in the clouds above the sea
I come undone
I am scum
Love your son
You've gotta love your son
Come undone
You've gotta love you son
Come undone
Love your son
I am scum
I am scum
I am scum
I am scum
I am scum
I am scum
I love a lot of Robbie's songs, old and new, but Come Undone would have to be the all time favourite. First of all the lyrics are funny and clever. I love the way he lists his own personal contradictions which I think apply to most of us (at least myself) in some ways.
It's also the name - Come Undone - which hits a chord with me. It's such a simple phrase, two basic words, but together so meaningful. I often feel so close to coming undone, not in Robbie's take-drugs-sleep-with-countless-groupies-behave-badly sort of way, but just in a dealing with life way. I have clear moments of feeling like I'm just playing pretend with this being an adult thing and it would only take one false move to come undone, show that I'm just faking it.
The other theme of this song is unconditional love, familial love; being bad, feeling unworthy and wanting your family to still love you, accept you. What a universal theme that is.
Then, of course, the final verse. What a corker! It just sums up the life of a singer, a celebrity, in a few simple sentences. Beautiful! To me it hints at something else as well. How sincere are any of our lives? What do we hide, surpress, disguise, ignore to get along in life, at work, in our relationships? We all play roles to some degree, don't we?
Come Undone (click here for YouTube clip - this clip is awesome but don't watch it with children around, definitely for adults only - love it! - Robbie looking young, bad and hot!)
So unimpressed, but so in awe
Such a saint, but such a whore
So self-aware, so full of shit
So indecisive, so adamant
I'm contemplating, thinkin' about thinkin'
It's overrated, just get another drink and
Watch me come undone
They're selling razor blades and mirrors in the street
I pray when I'm coming down, you'll be asleep
If I ever hurt you, your revenge will be so sweet
Because I'm scum, and I'm your son
I come undone
I come undone
So rock 'n' roll, so corporate suit
So damn ugly, so damn cute
So well-trained, so animal
So need your love, so fuck you all
I'm not scared of dying, I just don't want to
If I stop lying, I'll just disappoint you
Come undone
They're selling razor blades and mirrors in the street
Come undone
I pray when I'm coming down, you'll be asleep
Come undone
If I ever hurt you, your revenge will be so sweet
Because I'm scum, and I'm your son
I come undone
So write another ballad, mix it on a Wednesday
Sell it on a Thursday buy a yacht on Saturday
It's a love song, a love song
Do another interview, sing a bunch of lies
Tell about celebrities that I despise
And sing love songs, we sing love songs so sincere
So sincere
Come undone
They're selling razor blades and mirrors in the street
Come undone
I pray when I'm coming down, you'll be asleep
Come undone
The young pretend you're in the clouds above the sea
I come undone
I am scum
Love your son
You've gotta love your son
Come undone
You've gotta love you son
Come undone
Love your son
I am scum
I am scum
I am scum
I am scum
I am scum
I am scum
Monday, October 04, 2010
Rocktober Day Five: God of Thunder
Obviously a KISS song had to make it into Rocktober but I surprised myself with this particular choice. I've recently written about Beth and my feelings for that song, so I didn't think it necessary to revisit it so soon. Other "big" songs like Detroit Rock City and Shout It Out Loud came to mind but it was God of Thunder which jumped out at me as I was listening to Double Platinum on the iPod while I was driving home from Port Macquarie on Friday.
This song was sung by Gene Simmons, which is reasonably uncommon with Paul Stanely being the main singer. Over the years they all had a go at singing and even came out with their own Solo Albums (Ace's song 2,000 Man being a favourite of mine).
To me this song IS Gene Simmons: dark, arrogant, a little creepy, sexual, powerful. The words alone don't really give you a full picture because it is Gene's menacing vocals which really give this song it's style and presence.
Gene symbolises charisma to me (if you look up the word in the dictionary I'm sure there's a photo of Gene learing at you); I'm sure he could sell ice to the Eskimos. It's funny because KISS had a song called Charisma and I used to giggle when I heard it as an 11 year old because I thought the word "charisma" was rude.
Speaking of rude, KISS symbolise my innocent sexual awakening as a pre-teen. I would listen to the albums over and over in the semi darkness of our spooky attic as an 11 and 12 year old and I knew I wanted to do something with Paul Stanley but I wasn't quite sure what it was I wanted to do.
God of Thunder (live clip from YouTube)
You've got something about you
You've got something I need
Daughter of Aphrodite
Hear my words and take heed
I was born on Olympus
To my father a son
I was raised by the demons
Trained to reign as the one
God of thunder and rock and roll
The spell you're under
Will slowly rob you of your virgin soul
I'm the lord of the wastelands
A modern day man of steel
I gather darkness to please me
And I command you to kneel
Before the
God of thunder and rock and roll
The spell you're under
Will slowly rob you of your virgin soul
I am the lord of the wastelands
A modern day man of steel
I gather darkness to please me
And I command you to kneel
Before the
God of thunder and rock and roll
The spell you're under
Will slowly rob you of your virgin soul
This song was sung by Gene Simmons, which is reasonably uncommon with Paul Stanely being the main singer. Over the years they all had a go at singing and even came out with their own Solo Albums (Ace's song 2,000 Man being a favourite of mine).
To me this song IS Gene Simmons: dark, arrogant, a little creepy, sexual, powerful. The words alone don't really give you a full picture because it is Gene's menacing vocals which really give this song it's style and presence.
Gene symbolises charisma to me (if you look up the word in the dictionary I'm sure there's a photo of Gene learing at you); I'm sure he could sell ice to the Eskimos. It's funny because KISS had a song called Charisma and I used to giggle when I heard it as an 11 year old because I thought the word "charisma" was rude.
Speaking of rude, KISS symbolise my innocent sexual awakening as a pre-teen. I would listen to the albums over and over in the semi darkness of our spooky attic as an 11 and 12 year old and I knew I wanted to do something with Paul Stanley but I wasn't quite sure what it was I wanted to do.
God of Thunder (live clip from YouTube)
You've got something about you
You've got something I need
Daughter of Aphrodite
Hear my words and take heed
I was born on Olympus
To my father a son
I was raised by the demons
Trained to reign as the one
God of thunder and rock and roll
The spell you're under
Will slowly rob you of your virgin soul
I'm the lord of the wastelands
A modern day man of steel
I gather darkness to please me
And I command you to kneel
Before the
God of thunder and rock and roll
The spell you're under
Will slowly rob you of your virgin soul
I am the lord of the wastelands
A modern day man of steel
I gather darkness to please me
And I command you to kneel
Before the
God of thunder and rock and roll
The spell you're under
Will slowly rob you of your virgin soul
Sunday, October 03, 2010
Treats
Rainy Sunday afternoon at home. Tired hubby on the lounge suffering from a Rugby League induced stupor. Will watching back to back movies (currently Where The Wild Things Are). Miss Stroppy Pants and I have been in cupcake heaven, trying out my new Kuhon Rikon icing set.
Rocktober Day Four: If The Kids Are United
This Sham 69 song was released in 1978 but I didn't discover it until my punk stage of the early 80s, probably around 1982. Wow, this song blew me away. It was the anthem to my teenage defiance.
At this point in my life, around the age of 14, I really did know everything and felt the injustice of adult and parental control and power very strongly. I was bitter that adults seemed hell bent on ruining the world and, more importantly, ruining my life. I knew what I was about and no-one could tell me differently. This song put those feelings into words and I could not sing it loud enough.
Listening to it today is like going back in time. Maybe when my children are rebellious teenagers I will have to listen to this song and try and remember how the pain of teenage angst really feels.
If The Kids Are United (click here for a YouTube clip)
For once in my life I've got something to say
I wanna say it now for now is today
A love has been given so why not enjoy
So let's all grab and let's all enjoy
If the kids are united then we'll never be divided
If the kids are united then we'll never be divided
Just take a look around you
What do you see
Kids with feelings like you and me
Understand him, he'll understand you
For you are him, and he is you
If the kids are united then we'll never be divided
If the kids are united then we'll never be divided
If the kids are united then we'll never be divided
If the kids are united then we'll never be divided
I don't want to be rejected
I don't want to be denied
Then its not my misfortune
That I've opened up your eyes
Freedom is given
Speak how you feel
I have no freedom
How do you feel
They can lie to my face
But not to my heart
If we stand together
It will just be the start
If the kids are united then we'll never be divided
If the kids are united then we'll never be divided
At this point in my life, around the age of 14, I really did know everything and felt the injustice of adult and parental control and power very strongly. I was bitter that adults seemed hell bent on ruining the world and, more importantly, ruining my life. I knew what I was about and no-one could tell me differently. This song put those feelings into words and I could not sing it loud enough.
Listening to it today is like going back in time. Maybe when my children are rebellious teenagers I will have to listen to this song and try and remember how the pain of teenage angst really feels.
If The Kids Are United (click here for a YouTube clip)
For once in my life I've got something to say
I wanna say it now for now is today
A love has been given so why not enjoy
So let's all grab and let's all enjoy
If the kids are united then we'll never be divided
If the kids are united then we'll never be divided
Just take a look around you
What do you see
Kids with feelings like you and me
Understand him, he'll understand you
For you are him, and he is you
If the kids are united then we'll never be divided
If the kids are united then we'll never be divided
If the kids are united then we'll never be divided
If the kids are united then we'll never be divided
I don't want to be rejected
I don't want to be denied
Then its not my misfortune
That I've opened up your eyes
Freedom is given
Speak how you feel
I have no freedom
How do you feel
They can lie to my face
But not to my heart
If we stand together
It will just be the start
If the kids are united then we'll never be divided
If the kids are united then we'll never be divided
Saturday, October 02, 2010
Rocktober Day Three: Jersey Girl
I didn't actually realise this was written by Tom Waits until quite recently. I've always know this as a Bruce Springsteen song.
For me this song means long weekend afternoons spent at the Thurless Castle Hotel in Cleveland Street, Chippendale circa 1986/7. It was on the juke box and I played it so many times it's a wonder I didn't wear out the record (yes, kiddies, it would have been a round vinyl disc known as a "record" back then).
It speaks to that dark romantic side of me referred to earlier (and many times in the future) but it also evokes images of exotic yet familiar working class America. It's realistic love, a little sad, a little bleak but a bright spot in a dreary life. I adore this song and it tugs at my heart each and every time I hear it.
It's also the only, sorry Kevin, positive thing about Kevin Smith's awful film Jersey Girl. Hearing it played over the closing titles at least gave me something to smile about after sitting through an hour and half of cinematic shit.
Jersey Girl (click here to see a YouTube clip)
I got no time for the corner boys
Down in the street making all that noise
Or the girls out on the avenue
`cause tonight i wanna be with you
Tonight i'm gonna take that ride
Across the river to the jersey side
Take my baby to the carnival
And i'll take her on all the rides
`cause down the shore everything's all right
You and your baby on a saturday night
You know all my dreams come true
When i'm walking down the street with you
Sha la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la
Sha la la la i'm in love with a jersey girl
You know she thrills me with all her charms
When i'm wrapped up in my baby's arms
My little girl gives me everything
I know that some day she'll wear my ring
So don't bother me man i ain't got no time
I'm on my way to see that girl of mine
`cause nothing matters in this whole wide world
When you're in love with a jersey girl
Sha la la la...
I see you on the street and you look so tired
I know that job you got leaves you so uninspired
When i come by to take you out to eat
You're lyin' all dressed up on the bed baby fast asleep
Go in the bathroom and put your makeup on
We're gonna take that little brat of yours and drop her off at your mom's
I know a place where the dancing's free
Now baby won't you come with me
`cause down the shore everything's all right
You and your baby on a saturday night
Nothing matters in this whole wide world
When you're in love with a jersey girl
For me this song means long weekend afternoons spent at the Thurless Castle Hotel in Cleveland Street, Chippendale circa 1986/7. It was on the juke box and I played it so many times it's a wonder I didn't wear out the record (yes, kiddies, it would have been a round vinyl disc known as a "record" back then).
It speaks to that dark romantic side of me referred to earlier (and many times in the future) but it also evokes images of exotic yet familiar working class America. It's realistic love, a little sad, a little bleak but a bright spot in a dreary life. I adore this song and it tugs at my heart each and every time I hear it.
It's also the only, sorry Kevin, positive thing about Kevin Smith's awful film Jersey Girl. Hearing it played over the closing titles at least gave me something to smile about after sitting through an hour and half of cinematic shit.
Jersey Girl (click here to see a YouTube clip)
I got no time for the corner boys
Down in the street making all that noise
Or the girls out on the avenue
`cause tonight i wanna be with you
Tonight i'm gonna take that ride
Across the river to the jersey side
Take my baby to the carnival
And i'll take her on all the rides
`cause down the shore everything's all right
You and your baby on a saturday night
You know all my dreams come true
When i'm walking down the street with you
Sha la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la
Sha la la la i'm in love with a jersey girl
You know she thrills me with all her charms
When i'm wrapped up in my baby's arms
My little girl gives me everything
I know that some day she'll wear my ring
So don't bother me man i ain't got no time
I'm on my way to see that girl of mine
`cause nothing matters in this whole wide world
When you're in love with a jersey girl
Sha la la la...
I see you on the street and you look so tired
I know that job you got leaves you so uninspired
When i come by to take you out to eat
You're lyin' all dressed up on the bed baby fast asleep
Go in the bathroom and put your makeup on
We're gonna take that little brat of yours and drop her off at your mom's
I know a place where the dancing's free
Now baby won't you come with me
`cause down the shore everything's all right
You and your baby on a saturday night
Nothing matters in this whole wide world
When you're in love with a jersey girl
Rocktober Day Two: Romeo and Juliet
I guess you would call me a reluctant romantic. I despise the notion of romance and yet I yearn for it. I know it's a sham and a mirage but I still have a spot in my black rotting heart which craves it. Go figure! Human nature or social conditioning... I can't tell. Would I get rid of it altogether or hang onto that tiny speck of light... I can't tell that either.
The reality of romantic love is much more about lust, pain and loss, bitterness, jealousy and regret, than about happiness and fulfilment which is why I love Dire Straits' Romeo and Juliet. It may be a corny old 80s song but it rips my heart out every time I hear it.
Romeo and Juliet (click here for a YouTube clip - very daggy 80s clip, sorry!)
A lovestruck romeo sings the streets a serenade
laying everybody low with a lovesong that he made
finds a streetlight steps out of the shade
says something like you and me babe how about it?
Juliet says hey it's romeo you nearly gave me a heart attack
he's underneath the window she's singing hey la my boyfriend's back
you shoudn't come around here singing up at people like that
anyway what you gonna do about it?
Juliet the dice were loaded from the start
and I bet and you exploded in my heart
and I forget I forget the movie song
when you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong juliet?
Come up on different streets they both were streets of shame
both dirty both mean yes and the dream was just the same
and I dream your dream for you and now your dream is real
how can you look at me as I was just another one of your deals?
Well you can fall for chains of silver you can fall for chains of gold
you can fall for pretty strangers and the promises they hold
you promised me everything you promised me thick and thin
now you just say oh romeo yeah you know I used to have a scene with him
Juliet when we made love you used to cry
you said I love you like the stars above I'll love you till I die
there's a place for us you know the movie song
when you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong?
I can't do the talk like the talk on the tv
and I can't do a love song like the way its meant to be
I can't do everything but I'd do anything for you
can't do anything except be in love with you
And all I do is miss you and the way we used to be
all I do is keep the beat the bad company
all I do is kiss you through the bars of Orion
julie I'd do the stars with you any time
Juliet when we made love you used to cry
you said I love you like the stars above I'll love you till I die
there's a place for us you know the movie song
when you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong?
A lovestruck romeo sings the streets a serenade
laying everybody low with a lovesong that he made
finds a convenient streetlight steps out of the shade
says something like you and me babe how about it?
The reality of romantic love is much more about lust, pain and loss, bitterness, jealousy and regret, than about happiness and fulfilment which is why I love Dire Straits' Romeo and Juliet. It may be a corny old 80s song but it rips my heart out every time I hear it.
Romeo and Juliet (click here for a YouTube clip - very daggy 80s clip, sorry!)
A lovestruck romeo sings the streets a serenade
laying everybody low with a lovesong that he made
finds a streetlight steps out of the shade
says something like you and me babe how about it?
Juliet says hey it's romeo you nearly gave me a heart attack
he's underneath the window she's singing hey la my boyfriend's back
you shoudn't come around here singing up at people like that
anyway what you gonna do about it?
Juliet the dice were loaded from the start
and I bet and you exploded in my heart
and I forget I forget the movie song
when you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong juliet?
Come up on different streets they both were streets of shame
both dirty both mean yes and the dream was just the same
and I dream your dream for you and now your dream is real
how can you look at me as I was just another one of your deals?
Well you can fall for chains of silver you can fall for chains of gold
you can fall for pretty strangers and the promises they hold
you promised me everything you promised me thick and thin
now you just say oh romeo yeah you know I used to have a scene with him
Juliet when we made love you used to cry
you said I love you like the stars above I'll love you till I die
there's a place for us you know the movie song
when you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong?
I can't do the talk like the talk on the tv
and I can't do a love song like the way its meant to be
I can't do everything but I'd do anything for you
can't do anything except be in love with you
And all I do is miss you and the way we used to be
all I do is keep the beat the bad company
all I do is kiss you through the bars of Orion
julie I'd do the stars with you any time
Juliet when we made love you used to cry
you said I love you like the stars above I'll love you till I die
there's a place for us you know the movie song
when you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong?
A lovestruck romeo sings the streets a serenade
laying everybody low with a lovesong that he made
finds a convenient streetlight steps out of the shade
says something like you and me babe how about it?
Rocktober Day One: Soul to Squeeze
Was there ever any question that I would start with a Red Hot Chili Peppers' song? Surely not.
I can't say this is my favourite of their songs but it's a song that I love so much I have included it on my Funeral Playlist.
As with most Chili Pepper songs the lyrics are open to interpretation but to me this song is about finding your personal peace of mind, your good place; coming to terms with yourself. That's a lifelong project for me and I guess for most people. Just when you find what you think is that place things happen in your life that make you question yourself, in tiny and huge ways.
This is where this song takes me and it ends on a positive, or at least hopeful, note - which is how I tend to view life.
Soul to Squeeze (click here to go to video clip on YouTube)
I've got a bad disease
But from my brain is where I bleed
Insanity it seems
Has got me by my soul to squeeze
Well all the love from thee
With all the dying trees I scream
The angels in my dreams (yeah)
Have turned to demons of greed that's mean
Chorus
Where I go I just don't know
I got to got to gotta take it slow
When I find my piece of mind
I'm gonna give you some of my good time
Today love smiled on me.
It took away my face say please
All that you had to free
You gotta let it be oh yeah
Chorus
Oh, so polite indeed
Well I got everything I need
Oh make my days a breeze
And take away my self destruction
It's bitter baby
And it's very sweet
I'm on a rollercoaster
but I'm on my feet
Take me to the river
Let me on your shore
I'll be coming back baby
I'll be coming back for more
Doo doo doo doo dingle zing a dong bone
Ba-di ba-da ba-zumba crunga cong gone bad
I could not forget
But I will not endeavor
Simple pleasures aren't as special
But I wont regret it never
Chorus
Where I go I just don't know
I might end up somewhere in Mexico
When I find my piece of mind
I'm gonna keep you for the end of time
I can't say this is my favourite of their songs but it's a song that I love so much I have included it on my Funeral Playlist.
As with most Chili Pepper songs the lyrics are open to interpretation but to me this song is about finding your personal peace of mind, your good place; coming to terms with yourself. That's a lifelong project for me and I guess for most people. Just when you find what you think is that place things happen in your life that make you question yourself, in tiny and huge ways.
This is where this song takes me and it ends on a positive, or at least hopeful, note - which is how I tend to view life.
Soul to Squeeze (click here to go to video clip on YouTube)
I've got a bad disease
But from my brain is where I bleed
Insanity it seems
Has got me by my soul to squeeze
Well all the love from thee
With all the dying trees I scream
The angels in my dreams (yeah)
Have turned to demons of greed that's mean
Chorus
Where I go I just don't know
I got to got to gotta take it slow
When I find my piece of mind
I'm gonna give you some of my good time
Today love smiled on me.
It took away my face say please
All that you had to free
You gotta let it be oh yeah
Chorus
Oh, so polite indeed
Well I got everything I need
Oh make my days a breeze
And take away my self destruction
It's bitter baby
And it's very sweet
I'm on a rollercoaster
but I'm on my feet
Take me to the river
Let me on your shore
I'll be coming back baby
I'll be coming back for more
Doo doo doo doo dingle zing a dong bone
Ba-di ba-da ba-zumba crunga cong gone bad
I could not forget
But I will not endeavor
Simple pleasures aren't as special
But I wont regret it never
Chorus
Where I go I just don't know
I might end up somewhere in Mexico
When I find my piece of mind
I'm gonna keep you for the end of time
Rocktober
In an effort to be a better blogger (and inspired by my friend Kath, who regularly comes up with a full month of daily blogging under such memorable titles as Snappy September) I have decided to borrow the corniest of all corny terms and make October Rocktober. Over the next 31 days, ladies and gentlemen, I will bore you silly with my favourite songs, including lyrics, YouTube links and, but of course, my comments on why these songs are important to me.
These are in no particular order and will appear in the order they pop into the great empty void I like to call my mind.
You have been warned.
These are in no particular order and will appear in the order they pop into the great empty void I like to call my mind.
You have been warned.
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