Category: videos

sunday rewind: Split Enz

I was reminded of one of my faves this week by a post about Neil Finn on a friend's Facebook wall and it dawned on my that I haven't featured Split Enz on the '80s Sunday Rewind.  My omission is your Sunday treat.  

New Zealand's Split Enz is a difficult band to describe, but I'll try.  Their 1970s era would best be described as progressive rock (think early Genesis with Peter Gabriel) when Tim Finn when was the front man, then Tim's brother Neil took over front man duties and the band received critical acclaim as a new wave band from 1980 until their break-up in 1984.  I'm not a progressive rock girl, so we're going to explore the new wave Neil Finn-led version of the Enz today.

And because Neil Finn is one of the cutest front men ever.  You'll remember Neil from Crowded House.  Love me some Crowded House, don't you?

The Neil Finn era of the Enz started with the album True Colours and was quite a departure from their previous work.  This era of the Enz coincided with the birth of MTV and the two were a perfect pair – let's go to the videos!

"Message to My Girl" from 1984 is my second favorite Enz song, probably because it sounds a good bit like Crowded House.

"I Walk Away" is the last single from the Enz from the album See Ya 'Round – appropriate titles, don't you think?  Oh, and you'll see the late Paul Hester from Crowded House on drums (the short-haired drummer).

I hope you enjoyed today's '80s Sunday Rewind.  If you have a suggestion for next week, leave it in the comments (if they're working).

sunday rewind: Scritti Politti

Woo-hoo!  It's the return of '80s Sunday Rewind!  Let's talk about Scritti Politti.  This is a band I loved in the late '80s and looking back and watching the video "Boom! There She Was," I suspect it is because the lead singer, Green Gartside, reminds me of Prince.  Only white.  And how could I not love a band with a song called "Pray Like Aretha Franklin"?

Scritti Politti has been around since the late '70s and made their last album in 2006, but I have to say, I had no idea.  I'm not sure if y'all remember Scritti Politti.  Let's refresh your memory.  

Here's there hit, "Perfect Way" from 1985.  This song could be redone by the Jonas Brothers today and go to number one.  Not that I'm suggesting it.

Y'all, this is "Boom! There She Was."  Inspired by Prince?  You be the judge.  Maybe Morris Day, because someone brings Green a drink on stage and a giant book (wtf?).  And the dancing in this video is hot, white hot.  I think the guitars are for show, because this is all keyboards and synthesizers, but I love that hot pink guitar.  You're not fooling me, Green.

Are you ready for bizarre?  I'm only including this one because it's one of the most bizarre vids I've ever seen. "Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)" not only features Green and company singing on a giant bed in their jammies – no, that's not all – we have a a ballet dancer, bee keeping, fencing, Green as an astronaut, and Green as Olympian.  For no reason.  

Seriously.  That is fresh off the train from Crazy Town.  

More '80s next Sunday.  Suggestions?

sassy gay friend

When I find something on the interwebs that makes me laugh, cry, or choke on my own spit, I feel it is my duty as your faithful redheaded blogger to report back here and post.  

This is one of those posts, y'all.  I came across the second video on Huffington Post and found the first video on You Tube.  This is Second City's "Sassy Gay Friend."

Y'all.  I need this to be a television show.  "Save it Patty Hearst!  I'm not buying any Stockholm Syndrome today!"  OMG.  "Instead of drowning yourself, you're going to write a sad poem in your journal and move on."  

I would write more about "Sassy Gay Friend," but I'm off to craft and email to NBC, Bravo, and Logo about optioning it as a series in which our hero saves another doomed damsel from literature each week, because HELLO – Lady Macbeth — out, out damn'd spot!  This SO needs to happen.

for your valentine

Never let it be said that I'm not one to help a sistah out.  Do you still need an idea for your Valentine?  Well, look no further, my friend.  

First, my favorite scene from Anchorman.

Ladies, now you can buy Sex Panther for your Valentine.  That's right, the cologne that stings the nostrils…in a good way and is illegal in nine countries.  It's made of bits of real panther, so you know it's good.  And for you men, remember — 60% of the time, it works EVERY time.  

P2291_main

Rrrrr.

sunday rewind: level 42

Do you remember Level 42?  Sure you do.  I know you do.  They were a British pop band with a lead singer who played slap-bass.  Don't remember?  "Lessons in Love"  and "Something About You" were their two hits.  AH, now you're with me, aren't you?  

Here is "Lessons in Love," a great one for your '80s playlist.

http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x71ja

And it doesn't get much better than this.  I cannot tell you how much I adore "Something About You" and have since the first time I heard it on the radio in 1985.  This song still makes me melt. The alliteration, the way he sings "million," and the sense of desperation.  Good music makes you feel.  It's not that music is supposed to make you feel good, it's that good music is supposed to make you feel.  

http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/k4PZVC5S1tyJ5A2icZ&related=1

I do love the first part of this song, so here are the lyrics for you. 

now
how can it be
that a love
carved out of caring
fashioned by fate
could suffer so hard
from the games
played once too often
but making mistakes
is a part
of life's imperfections
born of the years
is it so wrong
to be human after all?

soundtrack to this mood

I've been in a mood all week.  As with everything in my life, there has been a soundtrack to this mood.  It's been generally an angry mood, and that's not necessarily a bad thing.  More on that later in another post.  

Usually angry moods are good for Ben Folds for some reason.  Maybe it's the cursing, I'm not sure.  Not all Ben's songs have cursing, but they're not to be listened to with the kids present.  What I love about Ben is that he can write emotionally, he can write harshly, he can say things in ways you don't often hear.  He also plays a mean piano.  Love that.  

I should have made it Ben Week on the blog.  I've done two Ben Folds posts.  I could have done a Ben Lee post, profiled my favorite Ben Affleck movie (Chasing Amy), and put up a recipe featuring Uncle Ben's rice!

This song is called "Zak and Sara," which Ben Folds has said is about about a boy in 1984 playing guitar and writing songs for his girlfriend, who sits on his amp all day watching him play, and in her head is discovering techno – not the music the boyfriend is playing at all. This is why I love Ben Folds. The video is typography set to "Zak and Sara." Shut up, someone took my two loves, music and graphic design and made a video. This is the kind of stuff that makes me happy, people. And the colors! If hot pink does nothing for you, I'm sorry, check your pulse. Something's wrong wit ya. The font is Helvetica. Yes, I know it on sight. Hel-to-the-vetica!


"Dr. Yang" is about all the alternative medicine voodoo witch doctor psychics out there. Coolness. I like the yelling.


Finally, "All U Can Eat," which sums up America in a sarcastic tone. Now, I am an American all-you-can-eat, never been camping kind of girl, but I totally get it. If you have sensitive ears, please move along. Nothing to see here.


P.S. Here's "Rockin' The Suburbs." Just because Ben Folds got an audience to yell "Preperation-H" and the F-word and he's the man. Goes without saying, They yell the F-word. Deal.


I'll have a real post with words later.


because I forgot it was Tuesday

I forgot it was Tuesday.  

How does one forget Tuesday?  

In lieu of a proper Tunes Tuesday post, here are some of my favorite Ben Folds songs.  First up is "Annie Waits" because I love it.  Because the clock never stops, never stops, never stops, never waits, she's growing old, and it's getting late.  And that's why.

Here's a much younger Ben with Ben Folds Five singing "Selfless, Cold, and Composed."  Love the lyric "you just smile like a bank teller, blankly telling me 'have a nice life.'"  It's a break-up song.  A bad break-up song.

And now for something completely different, this clip is from a real British morning show that obviously didn't know what kind of guy Ben was.  Ben and band lipsynched to the album track, a roadie sat in on drums, the drummer was a back-up singer, and Ben was awesomely cheesetastic.  Love it, makes me laugh.

And for those of you who may not be big Ben Fold Fans, there is one special song, a song you have to hear live.  Fortunately for you, it's on the You Tubes.  You see, Ben plays live A LOT.  Once in Chicago in 2001, a fan yelled out "Rock this bitch!" and being Ben, he busted out a song improv-style called "Rock This Bitch," and it became a running thing at his concerts for years until he retired it.  Here is the masterpiece with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra.  

I’m in a mood, so here’s your early Sunday rewind

I'm in a mood and I've been listening to the smiths all day, which is usually good music for working in Photoshop, but I can't get anything accomplished today due to my foul mood.  I'm also working on another post for later, but for now — here are a few videos I don't believe I've put on the blog before.  Y'all know I love my Morrissey.  

"Shoplifters of the World Unite" is a great song.  I picked this video because the smiths original vids where you actually see Johnny Marr playing guitar are few and far between and I do love the guitar in this song, although the audio is not the best.  As always, Morrissey's lyrics are fantastic: "learn to love me and assemble the ways, now, today, tomorrow, and always."

Next up is "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish."  Love this one, but you know — typical me, typical me, typical me.

Can we talk about how much I love a man in a velvet blazer?  Don't judge me.  I'm not having it.