Music Monday

You can thank Ed for this week's topic. I think it's a good one with a lot of material good and bad. So here it is my top 5 and bottom 5 songs from movie. Now you all have your own list so don't get mad at me for not putting "In your Eyes" on my list.

Best

1. Gimme Shelter- The Stones

• The Stones don't let groups sample their songs but they let Scorsese use it in almost every film.

2. Don't You Forget About Me-Simple Minds

• You know and I know it's from the Breakfast Club. This song makes me want to raise my fist in defiance.

3. Mr. Robinson-Simon and Garfunkel

• Need I say more

4. The Theme from Shaft-Isaac Hayes
5. Fight the Power-Public Enemy

• From Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing

Worst
1. Circle of Life-Elton John

• From the Lion King. I just really don't like Elton John

2. Wind Beneath my Wings-Bette Midler

• From Beaches. Good Movie Bad bad song.

3. My Heart Will go On- Celine Dion

• This song really had a life of it's own outside of Titanic, a very long annoying life.

4. Footlose-Kenny Logins

• This song is a wealth of bad song and bad dancing except for that guy who does the robot he's cool with me.

5. Unchained Melody

• Ghost

What a Long Strange Trip it's Been 3-D

So now we are to the point where hip hop entered my world. I mentioned before that my parent's wouldn't let me watch MTV. Well now that I think about it maybe they were just too cheap to get cable. However right before I went to college I got a little taste of what I had been missing. The Box music television debut in Fresno. If you don't remember how this station worked here is how it went. It was much like a juke box only with videos and higher prices. Because the mass public paid for the videos you would often see the same video 309 times a day. I always wondered who was the type of person who would pay for these videos I imagine they were young kids who got in trouble for calling 900 numbers. In fact my parents soon blocked all 900 numbers from our phone when the Box came out just in case we were tempted to call.

Again back to the point, it was thank to the Box that I was exposed to the world of hip hop. You might think going to a high school on the west side of Fresno would do that but it didn't. What really sticks out for me during this time was Ice Cube's video for Wicked with Flea and Anthony Keidis in the video. Then came Dr. Dre and Snoop's chronic videos. After that I wanted to be a real G. I loved the video battles between Dr. Dre and Eazy E. I also liked some not so great acts like SVW, Onyx, and Apache. Soon i fell in love with T-Pac. I get around was my guilty pleasure and when I heard Keep your Head Up I decided I wanted to be a psychologist. So thanks for the inspiration Pac. It was a few years until I was exposed to more hip hop and found an appreciation for more underground acts like Public Enemy, Black Star, NWA and a Tribe Called Quest.

Soon after this I went College where most people expirement with lots of things including music. Unfortunately for me right before going to college I had a spiritual awakening. In my misguided religious zeal I trashed all my "secular music" and committed to listening only to Christian music. This could be a whole other topic but I will just say that after a 1 year I just couldn't say no to all the great music out there. What changed me the most was I met Ed and started to chill with his Crew (Tom, Dave, Steve, Justin, Chris, Scott). Even though these chaps had a soft spot for the Christian Music Scene (Tomfest, Tooth n' Nail) they also loved Music in generally. Well Ed has a large influence in my life and when we started dating I started smoking, drinking and listening to "devil music" again. Thanks for saving me Ed.

We're not done yet kids. I've still got to tell you about finding my musical groove (1998-2002) and my transformation into an ageing hipster.

What a Long Strange Trip it's been v 2.0

Okay so I last mentioned that when I was about 14 I started listening to college radio which helped to open my eyes musically. However things really changed when I turned 15 and Fresno's Classic Radio Statiton KKDJ change to The Edge Alternative Radio Station. Even though this station isn't around I still love this radio station because it played so much variety of Alt Music. It wasn't all moody brit music (Smiths, Blur, Morrissey), or all 80's alt (Elvis Costello, B-52's, Ramones) or all grunge. It was a good smattering of Alternative Music. In my open the newFresno Alternative Radio station really sucks! I rarely listen to it. I was also boycotting it for a while because it seemed that they were only playing male vocalist and no female vocalist. But I diagress...

I can't list all the bands I grew found of during this musical "awakening" but I will give a special mention to my friend Shawn who introduced me to The Smiths and Morrissey and for that I am forever grateful.

So during my sophomore and junior year of high school I expirement with various forms of music. From classic rock (Steve Miller Band, Pink Floyd, Bad Company) to Britt Mod Rock (Radiohead, Blur, Neds Atomic Dust Bins, Charlatan's UK, XTC) to great american acts (Jullian Hatefield, The Lemonheads, The Pixies, The Breeders, Belly) and to classic alternative (David Bowie, Iggy Pop, B-52s, Joe Jackson).

Then in I believe in my Junior year a new passion began and it started with the TV station named The Box. Next time my departure into the world of hip-hop

A Very Special Message from Bart

I'm sure to go to hell for this one but I couldn't stop myself.Bart, a lovable terrier, misses his owner Charlie, who has just died. But Bart's grief is complicated by the silence that surrounds Charlie's death. Sad and puzzled, Bart gradually comes to understand that Charlie has committed suicide.

Bart has written a book for children age 4-12.Bart gives children an opportunity to explore suicide openly--to resolve their grief by breaking through the barriers of shame and secrecy that typically cloud this subject. Following Bart in the days after Charlie's suicide, children learn to separate the person from the way he or she died. Workbook exercises dispel myths about suicide, provide age-appropriate facts and explanations, and show children how to express their feelings and focus on positive memories.

Oh did I mention there is a Bart Puppet?

What a Long Strange Trip it's Been Part 1

Gustav's Groupie asked his readers to share their personal musical taste evolution. It made me think about my own journey with it's ebbs and flows. Well without further ado here is my best attempt to describe my own musical evolution. It's a lengthy history so I thought I'd share it in parts.

I grew up listening to whatever my dad listened to. He ordered a lot of greatest hits albums from one of those music catalogs. So my childhood music memories are filled with vision of Dire Straits, Hall n Oates, Huey Louis and the News, Billy Joel, Steve Winwood and Peter Gabriel. I also remember calling a radio station when I was young to request Say Say Say by Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney. We were not allowed to watch MTV so I didn't really know much about music during the 70's and 80's.

Once I got a little older (10 years old) my dad started to let me pick out some albums from the music catalog. Even though I loved my Tiffany, Debbie Gibson, Expose', New Edition, Bobby Brown, INXS, and Jet's albums I'd say with the exception of INXS they weren't the most intelligent of picks.

I continued to live in the "Dark Ages" musical knowledge throughout Junior High and into High School. My musical taste included whatever Dick Clark told me was on the countdown this week. I don't think I purchased many albums during this Dark Period. But don't despair dear Heather a Renaissance is about to occur.

When I was 14 I started to listen to the college radio station. For the first time in my life I heard about groups like REM, Sonic Youth and The Smashing Pumpkins. Things are about to change. More to come.

Music Monday

Okay, It's not quite Monday, but I couldn't wait. This week's topic is Best/Worst songs talking about a true event.

Best
1. Oliver's Army-Elvis Costello
I couldn't decide on this song or the Monty Python song about Oliver Cromwell but I think this is a better song.

• Oliver's Army is a song written by Elvis Costello, originally performed by Elvis Costello and the Attractions and appearing on the album Armed Forces in 1979.Written after the author visited Belfast in Northern Ireland, it criticizes the British Army for targeting disadvantaged young men leaving secondary school (when the song was written in the late 1970s, England had a high unemployment rate). The title refers to Oliver Cromwell, who as Protector of the CommonwealthNew Model Army, an earlier version of the modern British Army. The song also mentions specific "trouble spots" in the world, such as South Africa (at the time experiencing turmoil over Apartheid), Palestine, Cyprus, and most prominently Northern Ireland. In reference to the latter country, Costello included the controversial lyric "Only takes one itchy trigger/One more widow, one less white nigger", referring to the Irish, as they have historically been oppressed by the English, much as black people have been oppressed in many countries. Costello is himself of Irish descent.
  

2. I'll Stick Around-Foo Fighters

• It is largely believed to be a song about Courtney Love, widow of former Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain, in response to Love's alleged mishandling of the legacy of Cobain and Nirvana.

3. Hurricane-Bob Dylan
This is the story of Ruben "Hurricane" Carter
4. Sunday Bloody Sunday -U2
Okay so this isn't the U2 video, but I think it's funnier

• Bloody Sunday (Irish: Domhnach na Fola) is the term used to describe an incident in Derry, Northern Ireland, on 30 January 1972 in which 26 civil rights protesters were shot by members of 1st Battalion of the British Parachute Regiment, during a Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association march in the Bogside area of the city. Thirteen people, six of whom were minors, died immediately, while the death of another person 4½ months later has been attributed to the injuries he received on the day. Two protesters were injured when run down by army vehicles.[1] Many witnesses including bystanders and journalists testify that all those shot were unarmed. Five of those wounded were shot in the back.

5. Vincent-Don McLane
I've always loved this song

• Don McLean wrote Vincent in 1971 after reading a book about the life of artist Vincent Van Gogh. In the 1970s, the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam played the song daily and a copy of the sheet music, together with a set of Van Gogh's paint brushes, is buried in a time capsule beneath the museum.

Worst

1. Candle in the Wind-Both Versions

• I hated the orginal version about Marilyn Manroe and I despise the Dianna version. I feel like Elton John really wussed out when he just changed the lyrics and called it a "new song." I hate this song as much as I hate Wind Beneth my wings.

2. The Night Chicago Died-Paper Lace

• "The Night Chicago Died" is a song by the British group Paper Lace, written by Peter Robin Callander and Mitch Murray, that reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for one week in 1974. The single reached number 3 in the UK charts. The subject matter is a fictional gang shootout in Chicago between gangsters tied to Al Capone and Chicago Police. The narrator retells his mother's anguish in awaiting news of the fate of her husband, a Chicago cop.

Okay it's not really about a true event, but it's still a terrible song

3. I don't like Mondays-Boomtown Rats

• On 29 January 1979, 16-year-old Brenda Ann Spencer opened fire on children arriving at Cleveland Elementary School in San Diego from her house across the street, killing two men and wounding eight students and a police officer. Principal Burton Wragg was attempting to rescue children in the line of fire when he was shot and killed, and custodian Mike Suchar was slain attempting to aid Wragg.Spencer used a rifle her father had given her as a gift. As to what impelled her into this form of murderous madness, she told a reporter,''I don't like Mondays. This livens up the day.''

I guess it's not a terrible song, but it is inspired by true events

4. I'll be missing you-Sean Combs, Faith Evans

I just hate this song and wish that Sting hadn't allowed them to steal his song. I mean really if I die and one of my friends is so broken up they want to write a song I hope they also take the time to write some music. Come On!!

Thank You Uncle Adam

Gloden Globes Best & Worst Dress

So Monday was the Gloden Globes and even though I didn't watch the awards
I did watch the 3 hours of arivals and over an 1 hour of fashion reviews. So without further delay here is my Best/Worst list

The Best

She is Little Miss Sunshine and she get's my vote for overall best dressed

She always looks great and I love this dress, but somebody said it was "too old-fasion" I don't agree.

This is a nice change from the oxford shirts and khakis she wears on The Office

I don't like her but damn she always looks great.

I don't know who she is but I love her dress.

You go girl! You totally out-shined Beyonce

The Worst

Ladies and Gentelmen, the Solid Gold Dancers.

Hey you, girl on the left. Isn't it enough that you wore that god aweful dress? Do you have to have that sour puss on too?

Yuck!

Yeah, I don't know what to say except bad taste seems to run in the family.

Music Monday

Welcome to Music Monday. Justin suggested we look at commercial jingles this week and I aim to please. So, without further delay here is my list of the five best and five worst commercial jingles in no particular order. Please share your lists with me.

The Best

1. Shasta-I wanna pop pop pop I wanna Shasta
1. Shasta was the coolest of the generic sodas.
2. Budweiser Select
1. Ad tunes selected this as one of the best jingles of 2006. They say Some companies try to "brand" their television commercials with music. In the case of Budweiser, a campaign of ads ran with a single song: "Galvanize" (iTunes) by The Chemical Brothers. The crown logo of the Budweiser Select commercials backed by the Moroccan string sample in "Galvanize" (with rapping by Q-Tip) was hard to miss. The popular song also made an appearance in the 2006 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. I love Q-Tip and every time I see the commercial I'm singing the song.
3. Hamms
1. I loved this song when I was a kid. I had no idea it was for beer. I always thought it was for that expensive butter with the Indians on it (challenge butter)
4. Mr. Clean
1. What a great song.

The Worst

1. International Dyslexia Association
1. I'm not sure this is an official jingle but it's annoying
   
2. I feel like chicken tonight
1. Chicken Tonight is a Unilever brand (launched in the US in 1992 and the UK and Australia in 1993) of sauce that is added to chicken pieces in a skillet, available in flavors such as Apricot Chicken, Mustard Chicken and Thai Green Curry Chicken.
2. The associated advertising slogan is "I feel like Chicken Tonight". In one series of television ads, these words were sung by actors as they 'flapped' their arms in a movement similar to the chicken dance. This dance and song was performed by The Simpsons family in the episode "Lady Bouvier's Lover", as a parody of the effects on popular culture from persuasive television advertising.
1. The American version of the product quickly failed but it is still popular in Australia, The Netherlands and very popular in the United Kingdom where they even have a spin-off product Beef Tonight.
3. Eastern Motors
   
1. this is a really bad local commercial from LA
   
4. Hi-C.
1. Wow, with a jingle like that no wonder I always begged my mom for these tiny boxes of crap.
5. . Delta
1. We love to fly and our commercial bites hard

IQ Party

Come one, come all. You are all invited to our house on Sunday night 7:00ish for a fun filled night of IQ testing.

Last night Kendal, Ed, Mike and I were inspired by Jay to take the Quiz "how much is your life worth" Let's just say we were all rather upset by how much Jay's life is worth compared to ours. This lead us to ponder "what makes Jay's life worth more than ours?" We thought perhaps he said his IQ was well above average. Then some of us thought "how does he know his IQ is well above average, has he had an IQ test?"

So right then and there we decided that since I am able to I will be administering a real IQ test to all who are interested.

What Puddles didn't get for X-Mas

While I was waiting for Mrs. Puddles in the Vet's office I noticed these two little dandies.

A sleek, organic design, the Lotus is a modern take on cat furniture. Its Zen-like design blends symmetry, functionality, and minimalism into a beautiful, “flowering” tower. This design accents décors with modern flair or those eclectic homes that have incorporated the minimalist movement.

Manufactured in Solid Pine Wood and MDF for strength. Stain and coated with Polyurethane resist scratches. Assembly Required. Tools are included.

The Refined Cat Litter Box™ Cat Litter Box Furniture


This beautiful wood cat litter box is both sturdy and functional. It includes hinged doors, sliding tray for litter removal, top storage drawer, and reversible walls for left or right entry. Constructed in pine wood and MDF. Matches your home décor and hides unsightly litter trays.
Some assembly required.Tools are included.

Maybe if Mrs. Puddles wasn't always getting into fights I could afford to buy these for her.

T.V. Show's Theme Songs

Here is a list of my top five favorite show theme songs
Magnum P.I.
I would always run to the living room when this came on
Hill Street Blues
Never watched the show but I loved the song
Mash
Again, I never really watched the show but the song is good
Twin Peaks
I liked it so much I bought the soundtrack
Fat Albert
The funkiest cartoon

Okay, now for the list of the five worst theme songs
Law and Order
Dunta dun dunna dun
Friends
It was good but I loathe it after hearing it a million times
Perfect Strangers
I love to hate it

Comment FAIL

So about a year and a half ago I ran a post entitled Hair Club for Cat's? Today Puddles received a solicitation via the comments box for hair restoration. Thank God she can't read. Thank God the solicitor did realize she is a cat.



I don't know what recently came over puddles but the other day I caught her trying on various hair pieces. I think she is going with the "Trump Look"