MY TOP 10: Songs about Songs — 1. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts “I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll”

And, finally, Number 1.

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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 10 is 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)

 

The Executive Life pop quiz — Austin

These guys were featured not too long ago in the very first popolio show pic-olio.  Actually, I reviewed their very first official show here in Austin.  Check out the pics and the review here.  I’ll say this, they’re definitely bringing something a little different to the popolio pop quiz.  There’s definitely some testosterone and punk attitude up in here.

Name:  THE EXECUTIVE LIFE
Genre:   INDIE-POST-PUNK-PROGRESSIVE-GRIND-NOISE-POWER-CORE-EDGE-ICANA 
Latest Release:  Pick Your Poison EP (SELF-RELEASED)
Release Date:   WHEN UR SISTER’S COMING OVER

This, That, or the Other
1. Underground OR Mainstream? UNDERSTREAM
2. Maintain Artistic Integrity and Vision OR Make a lot of Money? (or both)??? MAINTAIN ARTISTIC MONEY
3. Studio or Stage? STAGE=SEX…STUDIO=BONDAGE
4. Spirituality or Hedonism? YES
5. Make Love, Have Sex, OR %$*!? FUCK IN THE ASS

Fill in the Blank
6. Music is my — danger:   girlfriend./travy:  anti-drug./gmoney:   bitch./nova:  escape./mr. edo:  everything.
7. I’m musically inspired by METAL, ALL THE TIME.
8. My favorite old school joint is by MARVIN GAYE.
9. If I was a super hero I’d be NAKED ALL THE TIME.
10. Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll should change to _______, _______, and _______……….SHUT UP…IT’S FUCKING PERFECT AS IT IS

Short Answer
11. I make music because:  I’M A TERRIBLE WAITER.
12. I want my fans to:  MOSTLY TAKE THEIR SHIRTS OFF.
13. If I could share one thing about myself it would be:  CMON….TOOO EZZZZZZ!!!!!!! 
14. Wild Card!  WE LIKE EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL IN OUR TOSSED SALAD.
15. I want my musical legacy to be:  BROWN SUGAR O.D. IN AN AIRPLANE CRASH FLIP WITH MY UNDERAGE COUSIN.
                                                                                                                                                            
Check out “People With Weapons” from their forthcoming EP, Pick Your Poison.  Go to The Executive Life Official MySpace Page to hear more.

The Executive Life’s favorite old school joint!

 

 

The Wong Boys [Frank Ziyanak] pop quiz — SXSW Artist

The Wong Boys are a duo that hails from Denmark  and that will be playing SXSW.  This pop quiz represents one-half of the duo — Frank Ziyanak.  Their SXSW show is next Wednesday, March 18, 2009, at Barcelona (209 East 6th Street) at midnight (12:00 AM).  More 411 at  the SXSW site here.  According to this story they’ve recently signed to a new label and their first single drops today.  How’s that for synchronicity?

March 10, 2009

Name:  Frank Ziyanak [The Wong Boys Singer/Guitarist/Songwriter]
Genre:  Club Rock
Latest Release:  The Wong Boys (Hi Strung Records DK/Sony DK/Tremendous CA/Last Gang CA)
Release Date:  2008

This, That, or the Other
1. Underground OR Mainstream? Don’t matter
2. Maintain Artistic Integrity and Vision OR Make a lot of Money? (or both)??? Got bills to pay & audiences to slay
3. Studio or Stage? Studio — don’t get the stage part…
4. Spirituality OR Hedonism? What does it all mean…
5. Make Love, Have Sex, OR %$*!? Make beautiful children

Fill in the Blank
6. Music is my meal ticket & that’s something you don’t understand.
7. I’m musically inspired by Suicide, Ramones, Velvets, Stooges, Heartbreakers.
8. My favorite old school joint is “Twilight Zone” by 2 Unlimited.
9. If I was a super hero I’d be robbing banks.
10. Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll should change to Blondes, Brunettes, and Redheads.

Short Answer
11. I make music because:  It makes me feel like Bono.
12. I want my fans to:  Do as they are told.
13. If I could share one thing about myself it would be:  I’m a very private person.
14. Wild Card!  No Answer/Left Blank
15. I want my musical legacy to be:  Vast.

 

Enjoy the track, “T.F.D.”  Check out their MySpace Page. 

 

  Frank Ziyanak’s favorite old school joint!

 

MY TOP 10: Videos/Songs You Wouldn’t Think I Would Like — 2. Juliette & The Licks “Got Love To Kill”

2. Juliette & The Licks “Got Love To Kill”

I love Juliette & The Licks.  I never was a big Juliette Lewis fan as just an actor.  I liked her enough and I thought she gave above-par performances.  Okay, she was a little different, weird, interesting, and really killed her performances,  actually.  Definitely, fun to watch.

But, I’m a sucker for performers who like to be Renaissance Women.  I love actresses who try to delve into the music scene.  So, once I knew she was an actress trying to do the music thing that made her more appealing to me.  I don’t know what it is about multi-media queens; they just do it for me.

I picked up the EP,…Like A Bolt of Lightning, liked it.  Then, I picked up the debut, You’re Speaking My Language, and loved it.  Second album, Four on the Floor, is okay, but I really love the first.  

What’s fun about Juliette is that most actresses-turned-singers try to do the pop thing.  And I grativate to the pop girls, normally.  But, Juliette is really trying to do the rock-and-roll/punk/band thing and she’s doing it well.   They’ve been cutting their teeth touring in Europe for years now.  I saw them live here in Austin in 2007 and they’re pretty damn good.

She’s not the typical actress and doesn’t pick the typical roles, so why would she do music typically?  She wouldn’t!  There’s actually a lot of soulfulness to the music on the first album and I love the raspiness to her voice.  I wouldn’t have liked the first album, otherwise.

Number 2 is my favorite song from the debut release and as a BONUS I’m throwing in another catchy ditty, “Hot Kiss,” the debut video/single from Four on the Floor.  

 

MY TOP 10: Videos/Songs You Wouldn’t Think I Would Like — 4. blink-182 “I Miss You”

I’m back biotches!  Seriously, though, I’ll be trying to play catch-up here in the next hours before Christmas Day.  That was my goal.  So, let the countdown continue…

4. blink-182 “I Miss You”

I loved this song since I first heard it.  To me, it’s one of those songs that just transcends all genres and formats and is just an instant classic.  I felt the same way when I heard Macy Gray’s “I Try.”  In the case of the latter, I knew it was a song for the pop annalls.  I know people like to make fun because of her voice and I have a friend who does an amusing impression, but it’s a good song and Macy is doin’ her thing.

In the case of the former, I bought the whole CD, their self-titled 2003 release, because of Number 4.  Well, it was partly because I loved the song, but it was also because every now and again I try to expand my musical horizons by purchasing a CD I wouldn’t otherwise have purchased.  I try to expand my pop bubble or  maybe even pop my pop bubble.

Sometimes a new CD takes and I have a new artist to add to my pantheon of divas.  Other times, not so much.  In the case of blink-182, I can’t say I was playing the CD out or that any of the other songs spoke to me.  Doesn’t take away from how much “I Miss You” spoke to me and how much I like it.

As a BONUS, I’ll mix things up a bit, and throw in Macy Gray’s video for “I Try.”  Enjoy both!

 

popolio podcast: Interview with The Shondes

November 30, 2008 UPDATE:  I’m re-presenting this popolio podcast because I don’t want this one slept on either (like yesterday’s R&R re-post). 

I wanted to add that I did go see their Sunday, October 5, 2008, show at Emo’s here in town.   There were other bands.  I saw part of one set of one band and then one other complete set, but even though there was yet another band behind The Shondes, they shone as a true pros.  (I talked to the violin-player after, but left shortly thereafter as I had to work the next day and I was there to see The Shondes.)

I really enjoyed their show.  Their were 20-plus people there.  Remember, this was a Sunday in Austin.  They played like it didn’t matter whether they where in their home borrough of New York or Austin or playing to a sell-out of hundreds or the 20-plus in Austin.  Their audience interaction was especially enjoyable.  They just talked to us, but I liked the way they did it.

In speaking to Elijah after the show, he intimated they some bands had dropped out and the venue was going to cancel the show initially, but that they, The Shondes, made sure the show went on by getting recommendations from the drop-out bands and doing some leg-work on MySpace. 

I found their drive, professionalism, sincerity on stage and off, and talent inspiring.  I mean they did all this work for a show at Emo’s on a Sunday in Austin.  To me, that showed their passion, that they like to play live, and that they just have the need to play.

Anyway, please check out the popolio podcast below, previously posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2008.

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Freddie Beat speaks with Elijah Oberman, violinist/vocalist with the punk rock outfit, The Shondes.

Song snippets included in the show are “Let’s Go” and “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” from The Red Sea.  Listen to more music from the band at their MySpace Page.