MUSIC: My Favorite Song of the Day (That I Haen't Mentioned Already) - Feb 11, 2007 –“The Time Warp (Remix)” from The Rocky Horror Picture Show

This is from me, not some reprinted article. - OlderMusicGeek

This is an 1989 remix of the song that was on the version of the cd that I found at my local library.

There are about 10 million cd’s with different versions of the soundtrack to the movie. I’m not exactly sure which one I have!

But I should admit from the start here that I am, more or less, a virgin. It’s a sad thing to admit in your mid-40’s – especially considering that I’ve been married and have a kid!

Although I’ve had seen the movie, I haven’t been to one of the wild and proper shows. I’ve seen it on tv twice and went to see it in the theater once but there was hardly anyone there so no one did the performances.

And now in my mid-40’s, I’d feel a little awkward going to one of the shows. Maybe I’ll go to one of the anniversary showings – when there will be older folks like myself there. Go with my daughter and embarrass her or something.


Well, what can I say about “The Time Warp”? Anyone who’s been to the movie knows what a great tune it is. But since I have a job here to do, I’ll try to describe it.

First off, there’s that guitar that sounds like a train careening down a hill to a bridge that has collapsed.

Then of course we have that rough voice coming in talking about how madness is taking its toll but he somehow has to keep control. And he’s joined by a vampirella voice, hers slowly drawn out complementing his biting style.

Then suddenly he whips into a heavy metal scream over this wonderful boogie-woogie piano, giving it an almost 50s feel. And on the remix, there’s this wonderful, syncopated snare drum added. Then a chorus of dominantly females joyously singing about doing the time warp again.

This is followed by the contradiction of a stuffy professor type telling us that it’s only a jump to left, while a rowdy chorus of gals in a 50’s style yell that it’s then step to the ri-i-i-ight.

Then after another exchange between Mr 70’s-Rock Word-Biting Singer and Vampirella, we bring in the 40s with a fun nasally singer – apparently mixing the 50s and 70s in one song isn’t enough. Plus, what’s a little tap dancing too?!

This remix adds a few quotes from the movie, without overdoing it and dragging it out too long.

Then the professor and the chorus bring us into the wonderful run out of energy finish!

Beautiful and too much fun!

A link to the Rocky Horror website

A link to My Favorite Song of the Day posts

MUSIC: My Favorite Song of the Day (That I Haven't Mentioned Already) - Feb 10, 2007 – “I’m Waiting for the Man” by The Velvet Underground

This is from me, not some reprinted article. - OlderMusicGeek

My older brother had been a Velvet Underground fan for quite some time, and although I liked them, they didn't do much for me. I guess that they were a little too weird and different for my taste back then.

But in college, as I heard what an influence that they were on so many of the alternative music artists I liked, I went back to them, and found them very appealing.

The Velvet Underground was a band so many years ahead of their time that it’s not even funny. They were doing stuff that Joy Division and other bands would be doing 10 years later. The Velvet Underground were contemporaries of The Beatles and Beach Boys, for the god’s sake! And bands like Jesus and the Mary Chain, Stereolab and The Raveonettes owe a big debt to them!

Funny enough, “I’m Waiting for the Man” is one of their more poppy songs. Of course, talking about one of The Velvet Underground’s more poppy style songs is like talking about one of Picasso’s more conventional paintings – it would still be pretty different and weird.

The song, though a bit bizarre sounding, is really quite simple.

Starts off with this great, discordant piano, riffing on a short string of notes, with a guitar picking away on accompanying riff.

Then we got Lou Reed easing in with his unique vocal style.

I have to admit that I didn’t know for a number of years that Lou was singing about a guy waiting for his drug dealer. I just thought it was about a guy in a bad neighborhood wishing his friend would hurry up and show. – I can be very naïve. I don’t deny it! –

But as the song goes on, the piano picks up power and is join by a great jangly rhythm guitar. And Lou begins to slowly add tension to his voice, while still letting his voice just slowly pull the song along.

Then we close with this really discordant piano to a fade.

Very simple, but so extremely effective. Different and weird, but catchy and riffy. And just plain amazing!


A Velvet Underground web site

A link to My Favorite Song of the Day posts

MUSIC: My Favorite Song of the Day (That I Haven't Mentioned Already) - Feb 9, 2007 - "Love You More" by Buzzcocks

This is from me, not some reprinted article. - OlderMusicGeek

I have to admit that until recently that I'd never heard that much of Buzzcocks' stuff.

I mean I always liked what I heard. I just, for some reason, never got around to listening to more of their stuff. I don't why since I really liked the stuff I had heard.

But finally, I downloaded their singles collection, Singles Going Steady. - I know, I love the title too! -

And I loved everything I've heard so far. - And no, I haven't listened to the whole cd. Sorry, people, but I love shuffle, and I love hearing a whole variety of music. That's why I got a 30 gig mp3 player. And will get a 80 gig one of these days! -

So this song actually isn't one of their great tunes. Which, of course, brings up why is it on My Favorite Song of the Day. What can I say? I had a busy day and didn't listen to much music this Saturday, so this was the best song I heard.

I mean it's a good song and a fun song. It's got all of the Buzzcocks' great sound going for it. That speed driven punk guitar work, the usual hard slapping punk bass, and the pound-pound throw-in-a-few-cymbals punk drumming. Along with Peter Shelley's fun lyrics and singing. And some nice melodies and harmonies going for it too.

The ending is kind of annoying, because it sounds like your cd player died.

But like, I said, the main problem with this song is that Buzzcocks have better tunes. This song only gives you a taste of what Buzzcocks are capable of. So if you like this song, I strongly recommend that you try some of their other stuff.




A link to the Buzzcocks web site

A link to My Favorite Song of the Day posts

MUSIC: My Favorite Song of the Day (That I Haven't Mentioned Already) - Feb 8, 2007 - “Common People” by William Shatner feat. Joe Jackson

This is from me, not some reprinted article. - OlderMusicGeek

This is so embarrassing. I'm already on Day 2, and I have to list William Shatner! At least, if I'm going to be honest.... And it's not like I didn't hear any good songs – there was “Ghost Riders in the Sky” by Johnny Cash, “The Leaving of Liverpool” by the wonderful Irish band Gaelic Storm, among others.

But I can't deny it, I love this song!

It originally started as a new wave-y type hit in Europe by a band called Pulp. I have the Pulp version, and it's good, but it really doesn't do that much for me. It's a bit of a ponderous, organ-driven piece. And I must admit that been a huge fan of the organ.



But Ben Folds, producing William Shatner with the assistance of Joe Jackson, turns this song into quite the rocker. In fact, Adrian Belew is listed as a guitar player! And corny as it is, William Shatner's vocals, along with Joe Jackson growling out the chorus, captured the anger and aggressiveness of the song better than Pulp's lead singer's lackadaisical approach.


And I guess the song speaks to me because I come a fairly well off middle class background and even went to college. Now, I live in a one bed-room apartment with my daughter. Just finally digging out the emotional and financial hole that my divorce caused.

[Jackson]
She just smiled and held my hand.

Rent a flat above a shop.
Cut your hair and get a job.
Smoke some fags and play some pool.
Pretend you never went to school.

But still, you'll never get it right.
When you're lying in bed at night
watching roaches climb the wall,
if you called your Dad he could stop it all.
Yeah.

[Shatner]
You'll never live like common people
You'll never do whatever common people do.
You'll never fail like common people.
You'll never watch your life slide out of view,
and dance and drink and screw

[Jackson and Shatner]
because there's nothing else to do.

Unfortunately even when my dad was alive, there was nothing he could have done to help me. He was didn't have a lot of extra money. I mean he loaned me and my ex some money to buy a car when she was pregnant with our daughter, but we had to pay him back because he needed the money!

And my mom has helped me out occasionally with loans and buying some things after the divorce, but it's not she has the money to come in and rescue me.


This song would also be good one for Peace Corps volunteers to hear...

[Shatner and Chorus]
Sing along with the common people.
Sing along, and it might just get you through.

[Chorus]
Laugh along with the common people.

[Shatner and Chorus]
Laugh along, even though they're laughing at you

[Shatner]
and the stupid things that you do
'cause you think that poor is cool.

[Jackson]
Like a dog lying in a corner,
they'll bite you and never warn you.
Look out.

[Shatner]
They'll tear your insides out
'cause everybody hates a tourist.

[Jackson]
'Cause Everybody hates a tourist,
especially one who thinks
it's all such a laugh.

[Shatner]
Yeah, and the chip stains' grease
will come out in the bath.

[Shatner and Jackson]
You will never understand
how it feels to live your life
with no meaning or control
and with nowhere left to go.

You're amazed that they exist
and they burn so bright,
while you can only wonder why.

I'm not saying that the locals – or “host country nationals” in Peace Corps jargon – resent the Peace Corps volunteers. Most seem to be grateful to have us there to help them. At least, they did to me.

But some volunteers did bring out resentments, acting better than the locals and telling them what they needed to do, instead of suggesting.

And some used their status as exotic and strange foreigners to make use of some of the woman there. In fact there was apparently a joke in Botswana...

How do you know when the last Peace Corps volunteer was there?
By how old the mixed race kids are.


And some Peace Corps volunteers did try go a little native. And were laughed at by the volunteers and locals both. :)


But in the end, I have to take pity on people like that, because don't we all...

...want to sing with common people, like you.
I want to sing with common people, like you.
I want to sing with common people, like you.



A link to the William Shatner web site

A link to My Favorite Song of the Day posts

MUSIC: My Favorite Song of the Day (That I Haven't Mentioned Already) - Feb 7, 2007 - "Boys Don't Cry" by The Cure

This from me, NOT some reprinted article. - OlderMusicGeek

This was always one of my favorite songs in college! And whenever I hear it, it takes me back to those days.

I have to admit, though, I’m not a big Cure fan and a lot of their music doesn’t do that much for me. But I love their “hits” – if I can really call them that, since they were never that big here in the States. Well, at least not outside of the new wave/punk crowd.

But this is just so fun! Kind of strange to say about a sad, break up song, but it’s true.

There’s that great jangling guitar going through the song, with that wonderful riff coming in every once and a while. And although there’s nothing fantastic about the drumming, it works for the song, keeps it going along and to quote American Bandstand dancers, it’s got a great beat to dance to. And I love a funky bass line!


And this song was rather important to me in my college days. Although it is supposed to be a break up song, and I knew it was a break up song, I still kind of reinterpreted it as an unrequited love song.

I would tell you
That I loved you
If I thought that you would stay
But I know that it's no use
That you've already
Gone away

Unfortunately, it’s pretty much only the chorus that can be reinterpreted that way. But as I never even had a girlfriend until after college – yeah, yeah, I know – it was about the only way I could relate to the song.

And it was just as well that I made into an unrequited love song. I listened to mostly on this mixed tape a friend, Will, made of the music of our other friend, Jan. And Will and I both had a big crush on Jan, but she liked both of us only as friends.

But it was a good friendship and the 3 of us saw a lot great shows together in college. And this song reminds me of those good times. How can I resist a great song to dance with wonderful great parts that reminds me of happy days?


But before I finish this piece, I should talk about the role this song played after I asked my ex for divorce. Things were rather bitter – I wanted the divorce and she didn’t. And she felt used, abused and discarded after putting so much effort in the marriage. I felt exhausted, tired and frustrated at making something that wasn’t working well work at all.

So anyway, I heard this song – and I guessed it finally let me look a little more understanding at what my ex was going through and why she was so upset. And although she wasn’t a boy, she was tough and didn’t like showing her emotions.

Misjudged your limits
Pushed you too far
Took you for granted
I thought that you needed me more

Now I would do most anything
To get you back by my side
But I just
Keep on laughing
Hiding the tears in my eyes
'cause boys don't cry
Boys don't cry
Boys don't cry


A link to My Favorite Song of the Day posts

A link to The Cure web site

MUSIC: My Favorite Song of the Day (That I Haven't Mentioned Already) - My Challenge to Myself

This from me, NOT some reprinted article. - OlderMusicGeek

I don't exactly where this idea came from - even though I just thought of it today - shows you what kind of memory I got. But I got all sorts of crazy ideas going through my head all the time - I can't keep track of them all - I'm like the Micheal Keaton character in the movie, Night Shift (IMDb link to Night Shift) - * starts singing Jumping Jack Flash*

But I remember that I kept reading and hearing about these different challenges for artists. In November, there's a challenge to writers to write a whole novel in that month. I had also heard ofa 48-hour challenge for film makers to write and film a short within 48 hours. And comic book creators have a once-a-year challenge to do a 24-page comic story in 24 hours. And in this month of February there is the RPM challenge, for musicians to write and record a cd of 10 songs or 35 minutes of music within this month.

And I wanted a challenge for myself.

I was trying to think of a way to show my love of music. I felt that I wasn't showing or explaining how much and what music means to me. After all, I am the OlderMUSICGeek. And by that, I meant that I am an older geek of MUSIC, all music, NOT a geek of just older music.

And somehow or another I remember hearing on NPR how one of the guys from Mystery Science Theatre 3000 saw one movie a day for a year and wrote a book about it.

I thought of listening to one album a day for a year and writing a blog post on it each day. It wouldn't be too difficult for me to do since I can listen to music at work. I have a 30 gig mp3 player I listen to at work with over 5000 songs on it - and I do a bit of rotating every two or three weeks. But then I thought of something that was more meaningful and would give a better reflection of me. I decided that I would write about my favorite song that I heard that day - and why I like it and why it holds meaning for me and touches me.

So I thought about it, mulled it over in my mind and even discussed it with my daughter, who told me if I wrote all 366 posts - it's a leap year - that she would give me $10. So, woo hoo, I've got to do it now!

I can't promise that I will write a piece everyday. But I will keep track of what what was my favorite song I heard that day and play catch up when I can. All the posts will be at this site, OlderMusicGeek's Stupid Entertainment Stuff, which is at http://oldermusicgeekentertainment.blogspot.com/.

I should warn you though, most of the songs will probably be alternative rock or punk rock. And a lot will probably come from the 70's and 80's. But I listen to a wide range of music besides alternative, punk and electronica - I also enjoy big band and swing, oldies, classic rock, world music, folk, bluegrass, Irish, reggae, cajun/zydeco, African, Indian, movie scores among other types. So there should still be a good bit of variety. And I won't include any song twice. If my favorite song of some day was a favorite song before, I'll just go with #2 - or #3 or whatever!

So if you don't see as many posts at this site, I hope you'll understand why. I'm a man on a mission! - to educate, explain and spread my love of music.