5.319/365: November song challenge — day 15

A song about driving someone crazy.

This one was hard because I’m trying to stick with only artists I like and I’m for sure not picking some people. So, I might as well pick a song that was leaked from a fake version of an album so people would be confused with the leaks of the real album. Confused? Good.

Let’s go back to 2008 when Ben Fold was releasing Way to Normal and it was beginning to be leaked online. Ben, being The Man, wrote and recorded a “fake” album of songs with the real song titles to leak — in one day. Some of the songs are better that the real ones, including “Bitch Went Nutz.” Any song about a girl who goes to a conservative company Christmas party and yells “fuck Dick Cheney” is a 1000 out 100.

Here is “Bitch Went Nutz.”

5.317/365: November song challenge — Day 13

A song about hanging out in a park (perhaps on Sunday).

I bet you thought I’d pick “MacArthur Park” or “Saturday in the Park,” didn’t you. Maybe even “Down in the Park” by Foo Fighters — but no. I’m not going to miss an opportunity to give you one of the three top songs in the history of theme songs. I’d say it’s number one. It gives me chills and makes me tear up when I hear it because I am THAT PERSON.

“The Jurassic Park Theme” by John Williams.

5.316/365: November song challenge — day 12

A song about putting on makeup or a wig to go out.

There is no question. The answer has been, since 1984, and will always be “The Men All Pause” by Klymaxx. Did I buy this cassette tape when I was 10 years old? Yes, I did. Did mother allow it, seeing that the group’s name was Klymaxx? Yes. Does that explain a lot? Yes.

Klymaxx is pretty much the female Morris Day and the Time.

“I know I was lookin’ good
I had my Kenneth Cole shoes on
My Gianni Versace blue leather suit
My nails were done and my hair was fierce
And I was riding in a Cooper’s limousine
Don’t you want to rideI was at home feelin’ sleazy
So I went down to the speak easy
As soon as my feet hit the door
I had all attention from the dance floor”

And the best part, “Slap me
No, somebody slap me
‘Cause I know I’m lookin’ good
I’m givin’ attitude all over the room
People are starin’ at me
And I just look too good for these people”

The video is pure art.

You’re welcome!

5.315/365: November song challenge day 10

A song by an artist who inspired their own musical.

I have to go with one of my favorite singers because she’s utterly amazing. She survived a hard childhood and an unbearably hard marriage. All through that she managed to accumulate an impressive music catalog, especially before women — let along black women — were making rock music. I watched her biopic at our AMC theater on my birthday with my friend Rhonda and I fell more in love with Tina Turner.

The difference between the Broadway musical, Tina, and the film What’s Love Got to Do with It is that there’s less Ike and more of her later music.

Here’s my favorite song that came out after the film and made it into the musical — “Simply the Best.”