Rob Thomas “Her Diamonds” Released: April 27, 2009 From Forthcoming Release: cradlesong ♫♪1/2 I like it. Can see it becoming a bit of a mini-anthem. Charming with a folk quality and a bit of fireside spiritual. A slow-burning grower kind-of-song.
Kristinia DeBarge “Goodbye” Released: April 28, 2009 From Forthcoming Release: TBD ♫♪ Even the interpolation of the 1969 Steam classic “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” into the chorus doesn’t save it. It’s satisfactory overall, but from a DeBarge, I’d expect more.
Bat For Lashes “Pearl’s Dream” Released: May 28, 2009
From Latest Release: Two Suns ♫♫ I already mentioned this was a favorite in our Just Picked Up feature here. The choruses are sweet and the double-meanings fun. And, I swear that under beat is the Pussycat Doll’s “Don’t Cha.” Even, if it isn’t, it reminds me of it and makes me like it even more. Mash-up anyone?
* * * I’ve been wanting to do a countdown featuring songs about songs (you know, songs about music, dancing, and/or a certain genre). I have my 10 songs, but even as I posted Number 10, I wasn’t sure about the order. So, this one will form as I go. I normally have my list ready to go before I start. MY TOP 10is a music video countdown, but with some songs (maybe two in particular) occuring before the MTV era, I will have to improvise and pull something from Dailymotion or YouTube. Here goes.
1. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts “I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll”
Joan Jett cemented her place in music history with this cover of The Arrows’ 1975 original; she could have done nothing before with The Runaways and nothing since with The Blackhearts. As the first single of her first solo album, it jump-started her career. Probably the greatest ode to any musical genre, you could replace “rock ‘n’ roll” with any other and it would still resonate as strongly. The sentiment is translatable and universal. You get the color version as a BONUS.
***BONUS*** Joan Jett & The Blackhearts “I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll” (color version)
Part 2 of your three-fer: This is the first time I’ve repeated a song from a previous countdown, but I had to include it on this countdown, too. This was Number 7 on MY TOP 10: Video Cameos with Ali G. here. So, you get the 2001 Grammy performance version instead. CheckLil’ Bow Wow opening the car door.
* * * I’ve been wanting to do a countdown featuring songs about songs (you know, songs about music, dancing, and/or a certain genre). I have my 10 songs, but even as I posted Number 10, I wasn’t sure about the order. So, this one will form as I go. I normally have my list ready to go before I start. MY TOP 10is a music video countdown, but with some songs (maybe two in particular) occuring before the MTV era, I will have to improvise and pull something from Dailymotion or YouTube. Here goes.
2. Madonna “Music”
At the time, this became Madonna’s biggest universal dance hit since “Vogue.” It had been awhile, but Madonna got us on the dance floor again and had everyone singing ”Music” from clubs to karaoke bars. Really the funkiest thing on the Music album with nothing else sounding quite like it. “Music makes the people come together.” ‘Nuff Said.
You get a 3-for-1 special today! Here’s the first. Enjoy.
* * * I’ve been wanting to do a countdown featuring songs about songs (you know, songs about music, dancing, and/or a certain genre). I have my 10 songs, but even as I posted Number 10, I wasn’t sure about the order. So, this one will form as I go. I normally have my list ready to go before I start. MY TOP 10is a music video countdown, but with some songs (maybe two in particular) occuring before the MTV era, I will have to improvise and pull something from Dailymotion or YouTube. Here goes.
3. Jennifer Lopez “Play”
This is the jam that you want to “play” over and over. And what person who loves to dance (like me!) cannot relate to the line about making your request to the DJ over and over before s/he finally decides to play it? That’s the line I like to talk along to at the top of my lungs. This is the highlight of the J.Lo album. It does have other delights, but this is definitely a standout. “Play” becomes that song that “Play” is about.
I wanted to apologize for the delays on the latest edition of MY TOP 10 Countdown. Things have been poppin’ (no pun intended) a little more than usual at popolio.com, lately. That’s a good thing. Having more to do than not enough is never a bad thing, but because of that I haven’t been able to post in a timely manner.
Tonight, I went to the ¡Pachanga! Fest to take pics of the artists that were featured in pop quizzes this week. So, stay tuned for pics of Maneja Beto, David Garza, and Charanga Cakewalk. Tomorrow, I have a phone interview scheduled for a forthcoming popolio podcast. Shhh. Not saying who the artist is. I have to prep for it, so I will post the last 3 MY TOP 10 videos tomorrow after that.
And, I have a Questions with local band, The Ugly Beats, coming on Monday. It was scheduled to post yesterday, but with all the ¡Pachanga! fare going on, I didn’ t want to take shine away from them.
Don’t worry. Your frazzled editor will keep his shhh together.
As a mini-countdown to the ¡Pachanga! Latino Music Festival THIS SATURDAY popolio is featuring 3 ¡Pachanga! Artists in pop quizzes Wednesday through today.
* * * Last, but certainly not least, is Charanga Cakewalk. This Austin-based artist (néMiguel Ramos) brews various distinct Latin rhythms (Tejano, merengue, and , prominently, cumbia), throws in a dash of lounge, and sprinkles in some electronic beats to create a jambalaya of sound. And that’s just for starters. Yesterday’s pop quizzer, David Garza, has guested on his work. His lyrical content adds to an experience that becomes somewhat of a sonic stream of consciousness. He plays the Plaza Stage at 8:15PM (at Fiesta Gardens). Check the ¡Pachanga! Fest site here for more 411.
This, That, or the Other
1. Underground OR Mainstream? Mainstream?
2. Maintain Artistic Integrity and Vision OR Make a lot of Money? (or both)???Maintain Artistic Integrity and Vision and make a good living. 3. Studio or Stage? Studio is my favorite. 4. Spirituality or Hedonism? Spirituality 5. Make Love, Have Sex, OR %$*!? Well…Fuck of course.
Fill in the Blank 6. Music is mylife.
7. I’m musically inspired bypassion and emotion.
8. My favorite old school joint is“In the Midnight Hour”by Wilson Pickett.
9. If I was a super hero I’d be Underdog.
10. Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll should change toBump and Grind.
Short Answer 11. I make music because: There is nothing else. 12. I want my fans to: Know I love them. 13. If I could share one thing about myself it would be: I love sports. 14. Wild Card! Editor’s Note: N/A 15. I want my musical legacy to be: That I always did my best.
Listen to “Dirty Cumbia” from Charanga Cakewalk’s forthcoming third release. Go to the MySpace Page for more.
As a mini-countdown to the ¡Pachanga! Latino Music Festival THIS SATURDAY popolio is featuring 3 ¡Pachanga! Artists in pop quizzes yesterday through tomorrow.
* * * Next up is David Garza. This local rocker cut his performance teeth in Dallas’ Deep Ellum and has been through UT, to LA, and back to the ATX again. Sometimes billed as DAHVEED, the indie singer-songwriter has shared the stage with the likes of Fiona Apple, Sleeper Car/Sparta/At The Drive In’s Jim Ward, and Clay Pendergrass (this multi-project-moving Dallasite provided our most creative pop quiz here). He plays the Niños Rock ¡Pachanga! at 3:30PM and the main ¡Pachanga! Plaza Stage at 6:45PM (at Fiesta Gardens). Check the ¡Pachanga! Fest site here for more 411.
May 28, 2009
Name: David Garza
Genre: David Garza
Forthcoming Release: Dream Delay (Cosmica Recordz & Cassettes)
Release Date: July 14, 2009
This, That, or the Other
1. Underground OR Mainstream? I’m so underground I can’t even find myself.
2. Maintain Artistic Integrity and Vision OR Make a lot of Money? (or both)??? Maintain art 3. Studio or Stage? Studio and Stage 4. Spirituality or Hedonism? Hedonism is Spirituality 5. Make Love, Have Sex, OR %$*!? Have & give love
Fill in the Blank 6. Music is myoxygen.
7. I’m musically inspired bydancing humans.
8. My favorite old school joint is“El Vagabundo”by Los Panchos.
9. If I was a super hero I’d be my mama.
10. Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll should change toSex, Drugs, and Gigs.
Short Answer 11. I make music because: I got skills. 12. I want my fans to: Keep having kids. 13. If I could share one thing about myself it would be: Backstage beer. 14. Wild Card! Tucson tuff guys rule. 15. I want my musical legacy to be: Decade of hits. Listen to “Dead French Dudes” from David Garza’s forthcoming release (previously digitally released), Dream Delay. Find out more at the official site and MySpace Page.
I’ve been wanting to do a countdown featuring songs about songs (you know, songs about music, dancing, and/or a certain genre). I have my 10 songs, but even as I posted Number 10, I wasn’t sure about the order. So, this one will form as I go. I normally have my list ready to go before I start. MY TOP 10is a music video countdown, but with some songs (maybe two in particular) occuring before the MTV era, I will have to improvise and pull something from Dailymotion or YouTube. Here goes.
4. Erykah Badu featuring Common “Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip Hop)”
The theme song to Brown Sugar, the love letter to hip hop in film form, plays like “I Used to Love H.E.R.” Part Deuce (see Number 5) and even features Common. The song is the 2003 Grammy-Winning Best R&B Song and Soul Train Lady of Soul Best Solo R&B/Soul Single. It got a lot of airplay on the radio and TV and exhibits Badu’s potential at its finest. A fun video and a surprise appearance by MC Lyte top it off.
For those who don’t know what the heck this is about click here. If you don’t know, now you know.
CONTEST #1 WINNERS
Winner #1: DDH with 26500
Winner #2: AH with 46050
So, the score on Joust at Bird Barbershop East (1107 East 6th Street) currently stands at 46050.
CONTEST #2 WINNER
The Questions (and Answers) were:
1. Where were the first barbershops located? Ancient Greece
2. What service were barber poles associated with? bloodletting
3. What was the first native tribe that Europeans saw sporting mohawks?
(Editor’s Note: It wasn’t the Mohawks.) The Wendat (also called Huron)
Kevin Schaefer (What's a fish gotta' do with Birds?)
To close, I’d like to give a shout out to Michael Portman and Birds Barbershop for choosing popolio to make their announcement about the Birds East Concert Series Giveaway. Thanks for playing with us and having fun with these other 2 giveaway contests. And to the winners — Enjoy your haircuts, fellas!
As a mini-countdown to the ¡Pachanga! Latino Music Festival THIS SATURDAY popolio is featuring 3 ¡Pachanga! Artists in pop quizzes today through Friday.
* * * First up is, local favorite band, Maneja Beto. Running the gamut from the romantic to the political, they create rock- and pop-tinged Latin/Mexican music that they’ve branded “Indie en Español.” Repping for the band tonight is Bobby Garza. They play the Yerba Stage (at Fiesta Gardens) at 6PM. Check the ¡Pachanga! Fest site here for more 411.
May 27, 2009
Name: Bobby Garza [Maneja Beto percussion/keys/voz/loops]
Genre: Indie en Español
Latest Release: Maneja Beto untitled EP (Self-Released)
Release Date: April 2008
This, That, or the Other
1. Underground OR Mainstream? Underground
2. Maintain Artistic Integrity and Vision OR Make a lot of Money? (or both)??? Is this, like, make-believe or one of those “Choose Your Own Destiny” books? I’ve chosen to go left. What does that mean? Hold, please while I turn to page 47. 3. Studio or Stage? Studio 4. Spirituality or Hedonism? Spiritual Hedonism 5. Make Love, Have Sex, OR %$*!? Spiritual Hedonism
Fill in the Blank 6. Music is myYes, it is.
7. I’m musically inspired byIt’s never one thing or the same thing…
8. My favorite old school joint is“Monk’s Mood”by Thelonious Monk. That’s what it is lately, but it’s never the same. It could anything from Sly to BBD to Serge Gainsbourg or Los Angeles Negros or the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, for that matter.
9. If I was a super hero I’d be Are there fat super heroes?
10. Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll should change toLone Star,Lone Star, and I’m sorry. What was the question?
Short Answer 11. I make music because: It’s not really a question of why. It’s how and to what extent.
12. I want my fans to: Fans? Awesome.
13. If I could share one thing about myself it would be: Besides my name? That seems pretty important.
14. Wild Card! Capybaras are fascinating and I’m told they’re also tasty.
15. I want my musical legacy to be: That the music I make matters to people.
Listen to “Campanera” from Maneja Beto’s latest untitled EP. Find out more at their MySpace Page.
