I sat down, laptop open, earbuds in, at a few minutes before midnight, trying to decide what to write about tonight. I've got several ideas brewing, but all will take longer than a few minutes, so while Toni Braxton's "You Mean the World to Me" plays, I am thinking...
...Toni. I loved Toni Braxton in the 90s. Well, I mean, I guess I love her now too, but back in the day, she had this perfection trifecta, this trio of amazing songs that went 1-2-3... "Another Sad Love Song"... then "You Mean the World To Me"... then "Breathe Again". If you add in "Love Shoulda Brought You Home" from the "Boomerang" soundtrack to the beginning of that list, it gets even better. She was amazing.
What you have to know about me is sometimes I revel in nostalgia. More than I should, but it's true. I think I'm like most people in saying that music... more than movies, more that TV shows, more than books... but music, takes me back.
I hear Toni Braxton and one of the aforementioned songs, suddenly I'm sitting in the Adams Student Center, talking to Ginny Kochan over cold pizza during lunch, or I'm sitting on the couch by Bobby Black, playing Mike Tyson's Punch Out on my Nintendo in my dorm room...
...so back to my ideas for a blog. Heck, it's already after midnight, and I still have no idea what to blog about. I wrote a comment on my friend Writer Chris Holmes' blog, and it was a pretty good stream of thought, so maybe I'll type that out. But that's too deep for tonight. Maybe tomorrow night...
...right now, Vertical Horizon's "Everything You Want" is on. I mean, that song? Just cool. I don't know anything else the band has ever done, not sure I want to know, but this one song is so good. It's one of The Lovely Steph Leann's favorite songs, like, ever. It's also fun to sing too--and that's important. A song has to be fun to sing to really make it enjoyable.
Come on, sing it with me... "I am everything you want! I am everything you need! I am everything inside of you that you wish you could be! I say all the right things at exactly the right time, but I mean nothing to you and I don't know why!" ...
...back to the blog. Just read an article that a house was built on the wrong lot. A dream home for a couple, to the tune of $680,000, on a lot that cost 135K when they bought it, but now appraises for 355K in the neighborhood... and it's not on that lot, it's one lot over. Cause the builders messed it all up...
...there's this movie called "Mo Money", starring Damon Wayans, Marlon Wayans, a pre-Clueless but still just as fine Stacey Dash, and a few other people you may not know. Circa 1993, it's silly and stupid, but I freakin' love that movie. My friend Tonya Windham and I traveled to Panama City Beach for the day (my hometown was 1 hour and 10 minutes from the beach, so this wasn't a long trip) during my senior year of high school... it rained some during the day, so during the rain delay, we caught a flick... and yes, it was this one. We laughed quite a bit, and for whatever reason, it stuck with me.
The only reason I bring up? The soundtrack is absolutely incredible... Janet Jackson, Luther Vandross, Ralph Tresvant, Color Me Badd and the song I'm listening to now, MC Lyte's "Ice Cream Dream." Yep, I just said "MC Lyte" and "Ice Cream Dream". Now that I'm older, I listen to the lyrics, and realize it's a little racy. Or a lot racy. But I still love it...
...
...
...
..
...oh, sorry about that. OutKast's "BOB" video just came on. It's done now. Next up on the random playlist, Extreme's "Hole Hearted", which is one of my favorite 90s tunes. That takes me back to 10th grade, hanging out with my few friends back then. Of course, I had just joined the band, so I had just become a band geek.
I wasn't a popular kid in junior and high school. I mean, I wasn't un-popular, but I think I was like, second tier. You know, you had the more popular kids on top, the cheerleaders like Stephanie Phillips and the beauties of the class like Jennifer Lambert and the athletes like Michael Creech and Daniel Stephenson and even that one guy that just everyone likes, like Chris McCall.
And one level below that, you have the... the popular runner-ups, where if the popular kids can't fulfill their duties, those of us on the 2nd tier would step right in. If we are all going to a party together, I'm the guy that would get picked over some of the lesser bottom feeders in the serf group, but I'd easily get left in favor of Rodney Hornsby or Jason Smith.
By the way, Kid Rock's "Cowboy" is on right now.
Anyway, I'm okay with where I ended up in the hierarchy. It allowed me to make more friends, because I wasn't just sticking with one single group. And I still consider my closest friends, at least in my grade, to be Tonya, Chris and my buddy Greg... I was also good friends with two different Ryans in a different grade, and Jason Howell a few grades back.
"Light My Candle" from the Rent Soundtrack. Spike Lee is shooting down the street.
Then, of course, there was Julie Wise, or as I should call her, The Clouds In My Coffee Official High School Crush Julie Wise. I would imagine there are more and more newer readers to the blog, and are seeing the name "Julie Wise" for the first time here... nearly everyone has that one person that they kinda like, or kinda love for the better part of their high school years. Julie Wise was mine. More on that later...
...since I have nothing to blog about tonight, I guess I can start talking about #40forForty... or maybe it's #Fortyfor40? No, #40for40? #40440? No, that last one is just confusing.
Anyway, as Old Crow Medicine Show strums along to "Wagon Wheel", I'll just tell you that #40forForty is coming very soon. In one month.
...and I'm sorry I have nothing to blog about tonight. I failed in my writing challenge. Off to bed, I'll try again tomorrow.
Showing posts with label OutKast. Show all posts
Showing posts with label OutKast. Show all posts
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Friday, January 17, 2014
a playlist for hustla's
My driving record is not very exemplary... actually, its kinda bad. In the last three or four years, I've had no problems, but prior, there have been a few tickets here and there.
Maybe it was this post's content's fault. Today, on The Facebooky Thing, I got a challenge to list my favorite "Hustle Songs"... meaning, what songs pump me up and get me moving?
Well, when I'm writing or Pixie-deep in Magical planning and training, I seldom listen to anything, or might have some random music playing, but its more of a distraction... but when I'm working out, or running, or both (and yes, I'm starting to do this)... or when I'm in The Cabana, getting my de-clutter on in the garage or the back junk bedroom, I do have a list of music that I stinkin' love... fast paced, loud music that makes me drive fast and work hard.
(Disclaimer... I am by no means telling you to buy these songs. I like them, some for the songs themselves, some for the purposes of this entire post... so please do not download a hip hop song and then be offended when Luda tells you he wants to give you a hicky.)
So, here are 21 of my favorite Drive Fast Ger 'Er Done tunes...
"Bombs Over Baghdad" by OutKast... 1... 2.. 1 2 3 yeah... I love OutKast, I think Andre3000 is fantastic, and I love the Big Boi line "Have you evah seen a pimp rocka micrah-fone..." I also love the fact his name is Big Boi... Avril Lavigne tried to use "Boi" in a title (Sk8tr Boi) and it failed miserably. You have to be ubercool to pull off Boi, and few of us can. From the album "Stankonia"
"Heavy" by Collective Soul... I like the split audio at the beginning, so when it comes on, I hear it first in my left ear, then my right, then my left, then my right... Not a great song, but nice and loud and kinda cool. From the album "Seven Year Itch: Greatest Hits"
"La Grange" by ZZ Top... Made famous in many movies, most notably the training scene in "Armageddon", its just cool... great guitar, great tune. Sure, the lyrics are strange, but are fun to imitate anyway. From the 1973 album "Tres Hombres"
"Calling Baton Rouge" by Garth Brooks... From the album "In Pieces", its a remake of the classic Oak Ridge Boys song... and only my favorite country song, ever. I know its a remake, but its loud, and I have to sing it as such... "OOOOOOOPERATOR WON'T YOU GET ME ON THROUGH GOTTA SEND MY LOVE DOWN TO BATON ROUGE HURRY UP WON'T YOU PUT HER ON THE LINE GOTTA TALK TO MY BABY ONE MORE TIME...
WHOA OH OH... SWEET BATON ROUGE...
(in fact, I'm going to listen to it right stinkin' now)
"Miss You Much" by Janet Jackson... from one of my top 20 albums of all time, "Rhythm Nation 1814", this is a funky beat of love, missing someone and awesome. Just as an aside, "Love Will Never Do (without you)" is by far my favorite Janet Jackson song, and I can run to it too... but it wouldn't really qualify for an open list such as this one.
"Slide" by The Goo Goo Dolls... I looked at these lyrics not too long ago... think song might be a little more innuendous that I thought. I don't care, its still one of the most fun songs I've ever heard... From one of my Top 50 albums all time, "Dizzy Up the Girl"
"Crazy On You" by Heart... Oh, that Ann and Nancy Wilson. This, along with "Barricuda" and "Magic Man" make up my Heart 70s Trifecta, and "Crazy on You" is the one that gets the slight nod... so good. From their 1976 debut album, "Dreamboat Annie" (incidentally, this song was actually their first single ever)
"Sin Wagon" by The Dixie Chicks... Yes. Yes. Yes. Absolutely yes. Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition, give me more of that 12oz nutrition.. though, I mean, I don't know what she's talking about. Mattress dancing? Must be bed seizures. Yeah, that's it. Also, the banjo pickin in this absolutely rules. From one of my Top 10 Albums of All time, "Fly"
"Real Love" by Mary J. Blige... Probably not as loud and fast paced as the other songs on this list, but I carry a special affection for it from high school... bought the cassette single, learned every word and would walk the halls of Samson High School singing it. The folk of the not my color would always laugh at me. And then join in. What can I say, I'm diverse. From the 1992 album, "Whats the 411?"
"When I Looked At Him" by Expose. Not a workout song. Not a drive fast song. Just the song that's on my iPod at this second, and I'm quietly singing along. Just worth mentioning. From the 1989 album "What You Don't Know"
"Some Kind of Zombie" by Audio Adrenaline... When then-lead singer's family did missions in Haiti when he was younger, they experienced the voodoo doctors that you often hear about in that area of the world. He said they would make these potions in an attempt to make the dead move, becoming slaves to their masters, zombies. And this song makes that comparison to our Walk... becoming slaves, zombies for Christ, ready to do His will upon command, without even thinking about it. And this song is loud and strong and cool. From the album of the same name.
"Stand Up" by Ludacris... if you choose to download this song, please, please, PAH-LEEZE go for the edited version. Do NOT get the album version. Edited. I beg of you. You know what, forget this one, and let's move on. From the hilariously titled album "Chicken-n-Beer"
"You Belong With Me" by Taylor Swift... Driving to my house in the middle of the night I'm the one who makes you laugh when you know you about to cry I know your favorite songs and you tell me about your dreams I think I know where you belong I think oh its with me...
If you want to know the truth, this video depicts EXACTLY how The Lovely Steph Leann and I got together.
Hey.
Don't judge.
I frickin' love this song, her "Fearless" album and this video.
"Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley... Everyone likes this song. Why wouldn't you? Cee Lo Green at his best, with Danger Mouse (who decides thats a good name? And yet, it works!!)... the album, "St Elsewhere" isn't all that great, but this song is amazing.
"Yeah!" by Usher, feat (Lil' Jon with Ludacris)... This one of those songs (YEA-AH) that will be around forever (OH-KAAAY), due not only to its (WHAT!?) infections (WHAT!?) groove from the very beginning, its (OH-KAAY) got catchy lyrics, even if all you can sing is YEA-AH. Its also good to go into the gym and say, "Watch out my outfit's ridiculous in the gym looking so conspicuous..." From his album "Confessions"
"Two Tickets to Paradise" by Eddie Money... A little softer (but not by much) but a 70s classic and sa staple in my Top 50 Most Played on my iPod... and its easy to learn and sing along to, which is important when you are running and focusing. From the 1977 album "Eddie Money"
"Shakedown" by Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band... There's a more than good chance that most of you will have never even heard of this song. From the Beverly Hills Cop II soundtrack, its one of Bob Seger's last big hits, and its a doozy... its catchy, its fast, its full of electric guitar and 80s synth sound and yes, you will want to drive fast.
"Fergalicious" by Fergie... Hey, we said we weren't going to judge, remember? I mean, its not like I own her dumb CD, right, especially not the enhanced version with videos and extra tracks? (whistles, looks away)
"A World Away" by Avalon... No, that's not a typo. From one of my Top 30 albums of all time, "A Maze of Grace", CCM group Avalon and their song about where we were in Christ, and where we are now... I love love love this song, because it speaks to me. And for whatever reason, I love this song on my iPod when I'm on the move. Like, I'm listening to it right now, and its awesome. And it also helps make up for...
"Right Round" by Flo Rida... Though I've never actually heard anything else from his album "R.O.O.T.S.", (which I just found out stands for "route of overcoming the struggle... I wonder how long they spent on that acronym), I really dig this song.. mostly because he discusses "My Perelli's on hold", which is a pretty big endorsement to the high priced tire company, and then later he talks about his quantity of $100 bills, aka, "Ben-ja-min Frank-ah-lins". That makes me happy. If I get rich, I'm going to go into church, with a stack of $100 and make it rain, singing about my "Ben-ja-min Frank-ah-lins". I had a Ben-ja-min Frank-ah-lin once. I miss it. Where were we?
At what point do I start really considering that one day, Campbell Isaiah will read some of this, possibly take my recommendations and load up Flo Rida on his own iPhonepodtouch 7.0 thing? Hmm... let's not ask such uncomfortable questions right now, okay? Good.
"Basic Instructions" by Burlap to Cashmere... I almost finished this post, and realized I had not mentioned this tune... holy jeebers this song is great. Make sure, though, you get the live version from the EP "Live at the Bitter End". The album version is okay, but the live version is where.its.at... so musically talented, these guys were. Are. Am. Right? Right!
"Everything Zen" by Bush... Perhaps my favorite drive-fast song of all time. Starts out strong, continues and finishes even stronger, with reference to Elvis, sex, violence, sex in your violence (and the fact there is none) and "my (expletive deleted) brother." d$ digs it. From the album "Sixteen Stone"
Quick honorable mentions... I've said this before online, but it's worth repeating--two movie themes that I think are awesome include "Gonna Fly Now (Rocky's theme)" from Rocky, and "The Gael", which is the ending song from "The Last of the Mohicans". Also, "Duel of the Fates" by John Williams, from "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace", but you really want the version with the dialogue. That makes it cool.
So there ya go. There is a whole host of songs I could have put on this list, most notably "Learn to Fly" by The Foo Fighters, which was on this list but came off at the very last minute to make it a nice, even list of 21, and I certainly am not going to mention Big Punisher (ft Fat Joe) and their song "Don't Wanna Be a Playa"
What do you think? What are some of your drive fast, getcha moving songs?
(15,101 words written in #500Word Challenge... 4899 to go in #20KWordsinJanuary)
Maybe it was this post's content's fault. Today, on The Facebooky Thing, I got a challenge to list my favorite "Hustle Songs"... meaning, what songs pump me up and get me moving?
Well, when I'm writing or Pixie-deep in Magical planning and training, I seldom listen to anything, or might have some random music playing, but its more of a distraction... but when I'm working out, or running, or both (and yes, I'm starting to do this)... or when I'm in The Cabana, getting my de-clutter on in the garage or the back junk bedroom, I do have a list of music that I stinkin' love... fast paced, loud music that makes me drive fast and work hard.
(Disclaimer... I am by no means telling you to buy these songs. I like them, some for the songs themselves, some for the purposes of this entire post... so please do not download a hip hop song and then be offended when Luda tells you he wants to give you a hicky.)
So, here are 21 of my favorite Drive Fast Ger 'Er Done tunes...
"Bombs Over Baghdad" by OutKast... 1... 2.. 1 2 3 yeah... I love OutKast, I think Andre3000 is fantastic, and I love the Big Boi line "Have you evah seen a pimp rocka micrah-fone..." I also love the fact his name is Big Boi... Avril Lavigne tried to use "Boi" in a title (Sk8tr Boi) and it failed miserably. You have to be ubercool to pull off Boi, and few of us can. From the album "Stankonia"
"Heavy" by Collective Soul... I like the split audio at the beginning, so when it comes on, I hear it first in my left ear, then my right, then my left, then my right... Not a great song, but nice and loud and kinda cool. From the album "Seven Year Itch: Greatest Hits"
"La Grange" by ZZ Top... Made famous in many movies, most notably the training scene in "Armageddon", its just cool... great guitar, great tune. Sure, the lyrics are strange, but are fun to imitate anyway. From the 1973 album "Tres Hombres"
"Calling Baton Rouge" by Garth Brooks... From the album "In Pieces", its a remake of the classic Oak Ridge Boys song... and only my favorite country song, ever. I know its a remake, but its loud, and I have to sing it as such... "OOOOOOOPERATOR WON'T YOU GET ME ON THROUGH GOTTA SEND MY LOVE DOWN TO BATON ROUGE HURRY UP WON'T YOU PUT HER ON THE LINE GOTTA TALK TO MY BABY ONE MORE TIME...
WHOA OH OH... SWEET BATON ROUGE...
(in fact, I'm going to listen to it right stinkin' now)
"Miss You Much" by Janet Jackson... from one of my top 20 albums of all time, "Rhythm Nation 1814", this is a funky beat of love, missing someone and awesome. Just as an aside, "Love Will Never Do (without you)" is by far my favorite Janet Jackson song, and I can run to it too... but it wouldn't really qualify for an open list such as this one.
"Slide" by The Goo Goo Dolls... I looked at these lyrics not too long ago... think song might be a little more innuendous that I thought. I don't care, its still one of the most fun songs I've ever heard... From one of my Top 50 albums all time, "Dizzy Up the Girl"
"Crazy On You" by Heart... Oh, that Ann and Nancy Wilson. This, along with "Barricuda" and "Magic Man" make up my Heart 70s Trifecta, and "Crazy on You" is the one that gets the slight nod... so good. From their 1976 debut album, "Dreamboat Annie" (incidentally, this song was actually their first single ever)
"Sin Wagon" by The Dixie Chicks... Yes. Yes. Yes. Absolutely yes. Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition, give me more of that 12oz nutrition.. though, I mean, I don't know what she's talking about. Mattress dancing? Must be bed seizures. Yeah, that's it. Also, the banjo pickin in this absolutely rules. From one of my Top 10 Albums of All time, "Fly"
 |
| The cover of the cassette single that kept me hearing--and singing--this song for a decade or more. And I still don't really know all the lyrics, or at least all the right lyrics. I kinda make 'em up. |
"When I Looked At Him" by Expose. Not a workout song. Not a drive fast song. Just the song that's on my iPod at this second, and I'm quietly singing along. Just worth mentioning. From the 1989 album "What You Don't Know"
"Some Kind of Zombie" by Audio Adrenaline... When then-lead singer's family did missions in Haiti when he was younger, they experienced the voodoo doctors that you often hear about in that area of the world. He said they would make these potions in an attempt to make the dead move, becoming slaves to their masters, zombies. And this song makes that comparison to our Walk... becoming slaves, zombies for Christ, ready to do His will upon command, without even thinking about it. And this song is loud and strong and cool. From the album of the same name.
"Stand Up" by Ludacris... if you choose to download this song, please, please, PAH-LEEZE go for the edited version. Do NOT get the album version. Edited. I beg of you. You know what, forget this one, and let's move on. From the hilariously titled album "Chicken-n-Beer"
"You Belong With Me" by Taylor Swift... Driving to my house in the middle of the night I'm the one who makes you laugh when you know you about to cry I know your favorite songs and you tell me about your dreams I think I know where you belong I think oh its with me...
If you want to know the truth, this video depicts EXACTLY how The Lovely Steph Leann and I got together.
Hey.
Don't judge.
I frickin' love this song, her "Fearless" album and this video.
"Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley... Everyone likes this song. Why wouldn't you? Cee Lo Green at his best, with Danger Mouse (who decides thats a good name? And yet, it works!!)... the album, "St Elsewhere" isn't all that great, but this song is amazing.
"Yeah!" by Usher, feat (Lil' Jon with Ludacris)... This one of those songs (YEA-AH) that will be around forever (OH-KAAAY), due not only to its (WHAT!?) infections (WHAT!?) groove from the very beginning, its (OH-KAAY) got catchy lyrics, even if all you can sing is YEA-AH. Its also good to go into the gym and say, "Watch out my outfit's ridiculous in the gym looking so conspicuous..." From his album "Confessions"
"Two Tickets to Paradise" by Eddie Money... A little softer (but not by much) but a 70s classic and sa staple in my Top 50 Most Played on my iPod... and its easy to learn and sing along to, which is important when you are running and focusing. From the 1977 album "Eddie Money"
"Shakedown" by Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band... There's a more than good chance that most of you will have never even heard of this song. From the Beverly Hills Cop II soundtrack, its one of Bob Seger's last big hits, and its a doozy... its catchy, its fast, its full of electric guitar and 80s synth sound and yes, you will want to drive fast.
"Fergalicious" by Fergie... Hey, we said we weren't going to judge, remember? I mean, its not like I own her dumb CD, right, especially not the enhanced version with videos and extra tracks? (whistles, looks away)
"A World Away" by Avalon... No, that's not a typo. From one of my Top 30 albums of all time, "A Maze of Grace", CCM group Avalon and their song about where we were in Christ, and where we are now... I love love love this song, because it speaks to me. And for whatever reason, I love this song on my iPod when I'm on the move. Like, I'm listening to it right now, and its awesome. And it also helps make up for...
"Right Round" by Flo Rida... Though I've never actually heard anything else from his album "R.O.O.T.S.", (which I just found out stands for "route of overcoming the struggle... I wonder how long they spent on that acronym), I really dig this song.. mostly because he discusses "My Perelli's on hold", which is a pretty big endorsement to the high priced tire company, and then later he talks about his quantity of $100 bills, aka, "Ben-ja-min Frank-ah-lins". That makes me happy. If I get rich, I'm going to go into church, with a stack of $100 and make it rain, singing about my "Ben-ja-min Frank-ah-lins". I had a Ben-ja-min Frank-ah-lin once. I miss it. Where were we?
At what point do I start really considering that one day, Campbell Isaiah will read some of this, possibly take my recommendations and load up Flo Rida on his own iPhonepodtouch 7.0 thing? Hmm... let's not ask such uncomfortable questions right now, okay? Good.
"Basic Instructions" by Burlap to Cashmere... I almost finished this post, and realized I had not mentioned this tune... holy jeebers this song is great. Make sure, though, you get the live version from the EP "Live at the Bitter End". The album version is okay, but the live version is where.its.at... so musically talented, these guys were. Are. Am. Right? Right!
"Everything Zen" by Bush... Perhaps my favorite drive-fast song of all time. Starts out strong, continues and finishes even stronger, with reference to Elvis, sex, violence, sex in your violence (and the fact there is none) and "my (expletive deleted) brother." d$ digs it. From the album "Sixteen Stone"
Quick honorable mentions... I've said this before online, but it's worth repeating--two movie themes that I think are awesome include "Gonna Fly Now (Rocky's theme)" from Rocky, and "The Gael", which is the ending song from "The Last of the Mohicans". Also, "Duel of the Fates" by John Williams, from "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace", but you really want the version with the dialogue. That makes it cool.
So there ya go. There is a whole host of songs I could have put on this list, most notably "Learn to Fly" by The Foo Fighters, which was on this list but came off at the very last minute to make it a nice, even list of 21, and I certainly am not going to mention Big Punisher (ft Fat Joe) and their song "Don't Wanna Be a Playa"
What do you think? What are some of your drive fast, getcha moving songs?
(15,101 words written in #500Word Challenge... 4899 to go in #20KWordsinJanuary)
Saturday, December 03, 2011
100 Greatest Songs of the 2000s (Part II)
(Preface... this was written on Monday and Tuesday of this week. Wednesday, the Lovely Steph Leann was admitted to the hospital for labor pains, essentially, and I didn't get to finish tweaking this for posting. So here I am on the 6th floor of the Brookwood Women's Center, the new one, in a quiet room, and I wanted to finish it up... so here ya go...)
And we continue with our countdown... first, a few reminders--this is a five part Vh1 show, I've already covered Hours 1, 2 and 3 (which you can read here), I've got Hours 4 and 5 coming up below, and just so you know, I'm seeing each song on the countdown for the first time... meaning, I haven't seen the list and know what's coming. I write it as I watch it appear.
Let's keep moving, with the 40th greatest song of the 2000s decade, according to Vh1...
40... "Sugar, We're Goin' Down" by Fall Out Boy (2005)
I cannot tell you for certain that I could name any song by Fall Out Boy... and I keep thinking of "Number One With a Bullet"... wait? That's this song? (the song is playing on the tv and they just got to the "blah blah something merry go round something number one with a bullet")
So this song is not called "Number One With a Bullet"? Its called "Sugar, We're Goin' Down"? Perhaps I should have had my late teens in this decade, and I'd probably know more. Personally, I like "Flagpole Sitta" by Harvey Danger.
Incidentally, one of the guys in this band, Pete Wintz, is the host of this entire countdown show. And he's terrible with a bullet. His hosting career is going down, down... see what I did there? Good one, d$!
39... "Chasing Pavement" by ADELE (2008)
Man this chick can sing. Actually, I didn't discover her until "Rollin' in the Deep", which freakin' rules. And ADELE is amazing, because she has this special quality that not alot of pop stars have nowadays... talent and a good voice.
But though I know what a pavement is, I am unclear as to why you'd need to chase it. It doesn't move much.
38... "Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus (2009)
Um...
No, I don't know all the words, why would you ask such a foolish question as that? You silly.
So I won't.
But what I will say is this: This song, this video, is a pre-death eulogy. Cash had a successful, but at the same time hard and even horrible, life. He did this song after his wife, June Carter, had passed, and he passed not too long after. The video is crushing. Film clips of a younger him, celebrating, not knowing that some of his life would be so wasted, clips of June Carter and their relationships, so happy yet so stormy and rocky... and the lyrics are so, so moving. This is truly one of the few songs out there that I would classify as "painful" on so many levels, and I don't even have a connection to the song, other than I have a soul and am not dead inside.
Hurricane Rhett would make fun of this entire piece.
32... "This Love" by Maroon 5 (2004)
I really, really wanted to not like this song. I wanted to hate this song, and as a result, hate Maroon 5... but I can't help it. This song is kinda fun, kinda catchy. And Maroon 5's music is actually not bad. It's not revolutionary, but it does stick with you.
Sing it with me... This... love... has... taken its toll on me... she says goodbye too many times before (oh-whoa-oh)... everybody!
And Adam Levine gets some major play... at least in his videos.
31... "Rehab" by Amy Winehouse (2007)
Okay... "Amy shoulda gone to Rehab! Ha!" There, I said it. Oh, and, "We tried to make her to go to rehab, and she said No! No! No!" See what I did there? I kill me.
30... "Hollaback Girl" by Gwen Stefani (2005)
Fine. I'll admit it. I love the dang fool out of this song. Its addicting, Gwen is awesome, its stupid, its catchy, its poppy, its ridiculous and it forever changing our mental processes when it comes to fruit.
Much like any mention of a chick named Stacy, you'll think about how going on her mom has it, a mention many times of a banana will elicit this thought: Its bananas! B-A-N-A-N-A-S!
Were I a chick, a cheerleader, gay or all three, this might be my anthem. I frikkin' love this song.
Still unclear as to what a "Hollaback" girl is, and what makes one "hollaback". Not sure.
29... "Best of You" by The Foo Fighters (2005)
I guess while I was making time with Gwen and hollering back, I missed this entirely, because I've never even heard this song, like ever in my life.
Don't get me wrong, I dig the Foo Fighters, and "Learn to Fly" is in my Top 100 all time, I think Dave Grohl is awesome, and hearing a snippet of this song, I like it too... but I've never heard it. Maybe I should have listened to 107.7 the X more often.
28... "Music" by Madonna (2000)
This song sucks. So does Madonna any time after 1998.
That is all.
27... "Yeah!" by Usher, feat. Lil Jon and Ludacris (2004)
Another ridiculous, stupid, moronic song with no redeeming value that I just simply love and sometimes will blast out of the Red Robin, making sure my speaker colored thumping lights are thumping like a twitchy ninja, when it comes on.
YEEAAAHH!! OOOHKAAYYYY!!!
Gotta tell ya, Usher... underrated talent. I know, I know, he's sold a bajillion records, though like Nickleback CDs, I don't know anyone that owns one... but Usher doesn't get a ton of mentions when discussing great voices. He's good. He's really good.
Then you toss in thestupid stoopid Lil Jon, who says, "The chorus of this was easy. You just say Yeah... then Yeah... then Yeah... and Yeah again. We kind of ad-libbed it." And finally, Ludacris in a cleaner form, at least in his lyrics, and you've got a legendary dance hit.
26... "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes (2003)
Yes, I have heard of them. I just feel like I'm not hipster enough to like The White Stripes. She & Him, sure. Ingrid Michelson, yep. The White Stripes? I've not only not heard this song, I've never heard OF this song.
25... "Hot In Herre" by Nelly (2002)
This made me laugh loud. Serriously. I've trried to tell my darrling wife, "hey, its getting hot in herre, so take off all yourr clothes", and in the real worrld, it doesn't worrk. Sorrry.
Let's be rreal herre... I didn't go to a ton of parrties in college, and even less in high school, so I'm not what you'd call, "A Parrty Going Experrt", but I can tell you this from my limited experrience... Chicks that tell you "I am gettin' so hot I'm gonna take my clothes off" are few and farr between. But when you do stumble acrross such a chick, you might be tempted to think, "Awesome!", and perrhaps at 19, I would have thought that. Howeverr, I'm old enough to know now that if such a statement is spoken by said chick, its a good bet she has done this beforre, lest you think you arre the test case for this scenarrio. And in thinking she's prrobably done this beforre, its not a long leap to assume she prrobably has an STD. And although chicks with venerreal diseases arre still people too, that would be someone you want to be fully clothed. I'm just sayin'.
24... "Get Ur Freak On" by Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott (2001)
As much as a I hate this song, its a good reminder that I am a total music hypocrite, and even snob. As much as I dig on "When the taxi man turned on the radio and a Jay-Z song was on... a Jay-Z song was on... a Jay-Z song was on!" and goofy lyrics as such, sometimes the lyrics are just too stupid for even me. And when they are forced together to make a rap, its bad.
Like this song. Man, do I hate this song. I hate everything about it. I hate that beat. I hate that she hocks a loogie in the middle of it. I hate that in the video, she spits in a man's mouth... "In yo' face... open yo' mouth, get you a tays..." I hate the fact it uses "Ur" for "Your". I hate the video. I hate the fact I heard this song 3813 times in 2001.
Let's move on before I throw this nearby Katy Perry CD through the window. I wish I were kidding.
23... "Get the Party Started" by P!nk (2001)
I can't say I hate this song. I really can't say I like it, either. I actually could just take it or leave it. I'm not sure that apathy is what P!nk was going for.
However, I am considering changing my name to dav!d. Its a thought.
22... "Fallin'" by Alicia Keys
Okay, I have several things to say about this song, but first, I must tell you that I do really like this song. It think its a career-defining masterpiece. And I did use the word "Masterpiece" because that's how its performed.
However comma
Have you ever heard the expression "Could sing the phone book and still sound amazing"? That's what this song reminds me of. Allow me to put on my lyrical snobbery hat again, and just tell you, I'm bothered by how simple some of the lyrics are. "Sometimes I love you, sometimes you make me feel blue"? Really? "I never felt this way. How do you give me so pleasure, and cause me so much pain"? Each verse is only, like, two lines! Am I being overly dramatic in wanting a little deeper meaning in my lyrics?
No matter... Keys is amazing in this tune. You know what, forget I said all that. I love this song.
21... "99 Problems" by Jay-Z (2003)
If you having girl problems, I feel bad for you soon, I got 99 problems but a (crude term for someone of the female persuasion) ain't one...
How is this okay? Isn't this song a little misogynistic? Am I being overly critical here?
20... "Toxic" by Britney Spears (2003)
Ugh.
Really? Really? 10,000 songs in a decade and this is the 20th best of all? Seriously?
19... "Bootylicious" by Destiny's Child (2001)
Sigh.
And they just keep getting better, don't they? Okay, so this song is fun, and by far better than "Toxic" will ever be, and for the record, I pick Kelly Rowland over Beyonce any day, but I can't put this in my own personal Top 20. Or 50. Or 100. "I don't think you ready for this jelly..." is a fun line, though.
By the way, because of this song, the term "Bootylicious" was added to the dictionary. This is why the terrorists hate us.
18... "Beautiful" by Christina Aguilera (2002)
Two things:
First... it is a good song. Yes, we've heard it a thousand times, and in 2002, that was per day, but when it comes down to it, it really is a great tune.
Second... I'm happy she beat out "Toxic". Unlike Britney, Christina has a great non-studio produced voice. Love it.
(sidebar... I'm reviewing this part of the list with The Lovely Steph Leann, getting any feedback, and with Maroon 5, she simply said, "Oh, I like that song"... but with this one, the floodgates freakin' opened... "Oh my gosh, I hate that Aguilera song! I hate it! Hate it!" She then proceeds to sing it in a horrible mocking screeching tone, accenting the word "beautiful" in a terrible pitch. She then ends her tirade by saying, "Hate it." Don't hold back, Steph, tell me how you feel.)
17... "Clocks" by Coldplay (2002)
Who doesn't like this song? Seriously? And if they do a 100 Greatest Songs Intros of Like, Ever, you'd have to see this song up there somewhere.
But let's be clear--I, you, maybe even them, have no idea what this song even means.
16... "Single Ladies (put a ring on it)" by Beyonce (2008)
All the single ladies! All the single ladies!
All the single ladies! All the single ladies!
All the single ladies! All the single ladies!
All the single ladies! All the single ladies!
All the single ladies! All the single ladies!
All the single ladies! All the single ladies!
All the single ladies! All the single ladies!
All the single ladies! All the single ladies!
All the single ladies! All the single ladies!
All the single ladies! All the single ladies!
Excuse me Taylor, Imma letcha finish... but Beyonce had one ada greatest videos of all time!
14..."Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley
And we continue with our countdown... first, a few reminders--this is a five part Vh1 show, I've already covered Hours 1, 2 and 3 (which you can read here), I've got Hours 4 and 5 coming up below, and just so you know, I'm seeing each song on the countdown for the first time... meaning, I haven't seen the list and know what's coming. I write it as I watch it appear.
Let's keep moving, with the 40th greatest song of the 2000s decade, according to Vh1...
40... "Sugar, We're Goin' Down" by Fall Out Boy (2005)
I cannot tell you for certain that I could name any song by Fall Out Boy... and I keep thinking of "Number One With a Bullet"... wait? That's this song? (the song is playing on the tv and they just got to the "blah blah something merry go round something number one with a bullet")
So this song is not called "Number One With a Bullet"? Its called "Sugar, We're Goin' Down"? Perhaps I should have had my late teens in this decade, and I'd probably know more. Personally, I like "Flagpole Sitta" by Harvey Danger.
Incidentally, one of the guys in this band, Pete Wintz, is the host of this entire countdown show. And he's terrible with a bullet. His hosting career is going down, down... see what I did there? Good one, d$!
39... "Chasing Pavement" by ADELE (2008)
Man this chick can sing. Actually, I didn't discover her until "Rollin' in the Deep", which freakin' rules. And ADELE is amazing, because she has this special quality that not alot of pop stars have nowadays... talent and a good voice.
But though I know what a pavement is, I am unclear as to why you'd need to chase it. It doesn't move much.
38... "Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus (2009)
Um...
Maybe you should listen to the song about 114 times, and maybe that's the breaking point. That's the threshold. After that, you like it.
Uh...
Did you know that this song had a resurgence on the charts when Osama bin Laden was killed? To me, that's the final insult... you are this powerful leader for decades, causing fear, death and destruction in your reign, and your death is celebrated by your enemies with a Miley Cyrus song. Ha!
Me? Oh, well, I, uh... I hate this song.
No, I don't know all the words, why would you ask such a foolish question as that? You silly.
Um. No, I don't put my hands up when they are singing my song, and the butterflies fly away (butterfly fly away). Uh, no, I don't have the video. Why would... check my iPod? No, that's private. Why would you want to do that?
I think I just saw Chris Hanson, so let's move on.
37... "Oops!... I Did It Again" by Britney Spears (2000)
"Baby, One More Time..."? Absolutely. "Sometimes"? Heck ya. "You Drive Me Crazy"? Sure, why not?
"Oops!... I Did It Again"? No way. Terrible song. And was a terrible entry in the Christina vs. Britney battle. I mean, who likes crappy, catchy pop junk like this? (why are you scrolling up to re-read #38? Come back)
36... "Bye Bye Bye" by *NSync (2000)
Dude. This song flippin' rules. I ain't even joking.
Get past the boy-band part of it, and JT, Joey, Chris, Kirkpatrick and NancyLancey could own it. And this song was awesome. As a guy, liking the Backstreet Boys was straight-cred destruction. However, liking *NSync was just normal, cause we all like them.
However, my affection for this song may not be so much the song itself but the redux done a few years back by the cover band *NStynk...
35... "Daughters" by John Mayer (2004)
Fathers, be good to your daughters, don't let them near John Mayer.
I like John well enough--I really dig "Gravity", "Clarity", "No Such Thing" and of course, "Your Body Is a Wonderland"--but this song not so much. I think its about ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
34... "All For You" by Janet Jackson (2001)
Yeah! Love me some Janet! At least, Janet before the infamous Wardrobe Malfunction at the Super Bowl. I think she's more of a punchline now, but back in the day, especially back in the 90s, you had "Rhythm Nation" and "Miss You Much" and "Control" and one of my all time favorite songs ever, "Love Will Never Do (without you)"... she's fantastic.
And this song is pretty good too. A little dirty, though, so don't really study the lyrics. Have you ever read the lyrics to "If"? Great song, sounds awesome, and it frustrated me that she sang so fast, I couldn't understand them... so I looked them up. Holy crap. I blushed. I mean, its like, down and freaky. Wow. So now you know.
33... "Hurt" by Johnny Cash (2003)
Wow. So, I feel like cracking wise about this particular song, and Johnny Cash at the time he sang it would be akin to making fun of the opening battle scene of "Saving Private Ryan", or the ending to "Schindler's List" or anything serious and depressing like that. Not that "Hurt" compares historically to those particular times in our nation's history itself, but you get my drift.So I won't.
But what I will say is this: This song, this video, is a pre-death eulogy. Cash had a successful, but at the same time hard and even horrible, life. He did this song after his wife, June Carter, had passed, and he passed not too long after. The video is crushing. Film clips of a younger him, celebrating, not knowing that some of his life would be so wasted, clips of June Carter and their relationships, so happy yet so stormy and rocky... and the lyrics are so, so moving. This is truly one of the few songs out there that I would classify as "painful" on so many levels, and I don't even have a connection to the song, other than I have a soul and am not dead inside.
Hurricane Rhett would make fun of this entire piece.
32... "This Love" by Maroon 5 (2004)
I really, really wanted to not like this song. I wanted to hate this song, and as a result, hate Maroon 5... but I can't help it. This song is kinda fun, kinda catchy. And Maroon 5's music is actually not bad. It's not revolutionary, but it does stick with you.
Sing it with me... This... love... has... taken its toll on me... she says goodbye too many times before (oh-whoa-oh)... everybody!
And Adam Levine gets some major play... at least in his videos.
31... "Rehab" by Amy Winehouse (2007)
Okay... "Amy shoulda gone to Rehab! Ha!" There, I said it. Oh, and, "We tried to make her to go to rehab, and she said No! No! No!" See what I did there? I kill me.
30... "Hollaback Girl" by Gwen Stefani (2005)
Fine. I'll admit it. I love the dang fool out of this song. Its addicting, Gwen is awesome, its stupid, its catchy, its poppy, its ridiculous and it forever changing our mental processes when it comes to fruit.
 |
| What with the number one song be, Gwen? Ah! You are keeping yourself from blurting out the answer! Good job, girly! |
Were I a chick, a cheerleader, gay or all three, this might be my anthem. I frikkin' love this song.
Still unclear as to what a "Hollaback" girl is, and what makes one "hollaback". Not sure.
29... "Best of You" by The Foo Fighters (2005)
I guess while I was making time with Gwen and hollering back, I missed this entirely, because I've never even heard this song, like ever in my life.
Don't get me wrong, I dig the Foo Fighters, and "Learn to Fly" is in my Top 100 all time, I think Dave Grohl is awesome, and hearing a snippet of this song, I like it too... but I've never heard it. Maybe I should have listened to 107.7 the X more often.
28... "Music" by Madonna (2000)
This song sucks. So does Madonna any time after 1998.
That is all.
27... "Yeah!" by Usher, feat. Lil Jon and Ludacris (2004)
Another ridiculous, stupid, moronic song with no redeeming value that I just simply love and sometimes will blast out of the Red Robin, making sure my speaker colored thumping lights are thumping like a twitchy ninja, when it comes on.
YEEAAAHH!! OOOHKAAYYYY!!!
 |
| Kick that, rewind it back, Lil Jon, Luda and Ur-shure got the beat that make yo' booty go boom! |
Then you toss in the
26... "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes (2003)
Yes, I have heard of them. I just feel like I'm not hipster enough to like The White Stripes. She & Him, sure. Ingrid Michelson, yep. The White Stripes? I've not only not heard this song, I've never heard OF this song.
25... "Hot In Herre" by Nelly (2002)
This made me laugh loud. Serriously. I've trried to tell my darrling wife, "hey, its getting hot in herre, so take off all yourr clothes", and in the real worrld, it doesn't worrk. Sorrry.
Let's be rreal herre... I didn't go to a ton of parrties in college, and even less in high school, so I'm not what you'd call, "A Parrty Going Experrt", but I can tell you this from my limited experrience... Chicks that tell you "I am gettin' so hot I'm gonna take my clothes off" are few and farr between. But when you do stumble acrross such a chick, you might be tempted to think, "Awesome!", and perrhaps at 19, I would have thought that. Howeverr, I'm old enough to know now that if such a statement is spoken by said chick, its a good bet she has done this beforre, lest you think you arre the test case for this scenarrio. And in thinking she's prrobably done this beforre, its not a long leap to assume she prrobably has an STD. And although chicks with venerreal diseases arre still people too, that would be someone you want to be fully clothed. I'm just sayin'.
24... "Get Ur Freak On" by Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott (2001)
As much as a I hate this song, its a good reminder that I am a total music hypocrite, and even snob. As much as I dig on "When the taxi man turned on the radio and a Jay-Z song was on... a Jay-Z song was on... a Jay-Z song was on!" and goofy lyrics as such, sometimes the lyrics are just too stupid for even me. And when they are forced together to make a rap, its bad.
Like this song. Man, do I hate this song. I hate everything about it. I hate that beat. I hate that she hocks a loogie in the middle of it. I hate that in the video, she spits in a man's mouth... "In yo' face... open yo' mouth, get you a tays..." I hate the fact it uses "Ur" for "Your". I hate the video. I hate the fact I heard this song 3813 times in 2001.
Let's move on before I throw this nearby Katy Perry CD through the window. I wish I were kidding.
23... "Get the Party Started" by P!nk (2001)
I can't say I hate this song. I really can't say I like it, either. I actually could just take it or leave it. I'm not sure that apathy is what P!nk was going for.
However, I am considering changing my name to dav!d. Its a thought.
22... "Fallin'" by Alicia Keys
Okay, I have several things to say about this song, but first, I must tell you that I do really like this song. It think its a career-defining masterpiece. And I did use the word "Masterpiece" because that's how its performed.
However comma
Have you ever heard the expression "Could sing the phone book and still sound amazing"? That's what this song reminds me of. Allow me to put on my lyrical snobbery hat again, and just tell you, I'm bothered by how simple some of the lyrics are. "Sometimes I love you, sometimes you make me feel blue"? Really? "I never felt this way. How do you give me so pleasure, and cause me so much pain"? Each verse is only, like, two lines! Am I being overly dramatic in wanting a little deeper meaning in my lyrics?
No matter... Keys is amazing in this tune. You know what, forget I said all that. I love this song.
21... "99 Problems" by Jay-Z (2003)
If you having girl problems, I feel bad for you soon, I got 99 problems but a (crude term for someone of the female persuasion) ain't one...
How is this okay? Isn't this song a little misogynistic? Am I being overly critical here?
20... "Toxic" by Britney Spears (2003)
Ugh.
Really? Really? 10,000 songs in a decade and this is the 20th best of all? Seriously?
19... "Bootylicious" by Destiny's Child (2001)
Sigh.
And they just keep getting better, don't they? Okay, so this song is fun, and by far better than "Toxic" will ever be, and for the record, I pick Kelly Rowland over Beyonce any day, but I can't put this in my own personal Top 20. Or 50. Or 100. "I don't think you ready for this jelly..." is a fun line, though.
By the way, because of this song, the term "Bootylicious" was added to the dictionary. This is why the terrorists hate us.
18... "Beautiful" by Christina Aguilera (2002)
Two things:
First... it is a good song. Yes, we've heard it a thousand times, and in 2002, that was per day, but when it comes down to it, it really is a great tune.
Second... I'm happy she beat out "Toxic". Unlike Britney, Christina has a great non-studio produced voice. Love it.
(sidebar... I'm reviewing this part of the list with The Lovely Steph Leann, getting any feedback, and with Maroon 5, she simply said, "Oh, I like that song"... but with this one, the floodgates freakin' opened... "Oh my gosh, I hate that Aguilera song! I hate it! Hate it!" She then proceeds to sing it in a horrible mocking screeching tone, accenting the word "beautiful" in a terrible pitch. She then ends her tirade by saying, "Hate it." Don't hold back, Steph, tell me how you feel.)
17... "Clocks" by Coldplay (2002)
Who doesn't like this song? Seriously? And if they do a 100 Greatest Songs Intros of Like, Ever, you'd have to see this song up there somewhere.
But let's be clear--I, you, maybe even them, have no idea what this song even means.
16... "Single Ladies (put a ring on it)" by Beyonce (2008)
All the single ladies! All the single ladies!
All the single ladies! All the single ladies!
All the single ladies! All the single ladies!
All the single ladies! All the single ladies!
All the single ladies! All the single ladies!
All the single ladies! All the single ladies!
All the single ladies! All the single ladies!
All the single ladies! All the single ladies!
All the single ladies! All the single ladies!
All the single ladies! All the single ladies!
All the single ladies! All the single ladies!
All the single ladies! All the single ladies!
All the single ladies! All the single ladies!
All the single ladies! All the single ladies!
All the single ladies! All the single ladies!
All the single ladies! All the single ladies!
All the single ladies! All the single ladies!
All the single ladies! All the single ladies!
(is it in your head yet? yes? mission accomplished)
Excuse me Taylor, Imma letcha finish... but Beyonce had one ada greatest videos of all time!
(and yes, I do like this song. its fun. even the lovely steph leann likes it)
15... "Beautiful Day" by U2
Dear Bono,
That's enough. You've had your run, and its been a great one. U2 is one of the biggest bands in the history of the world, and we all know it. Your music will live forever, and transcends generations. Your album "The Joshua Tree" is immaculate. Songs like "With or Without You" and "Streets Have No Name" and "New Years Day" and even later stuff, lesser known stuff like "Mysterious Ways", is music I am excited to let Campbell Isaiah and/or Lorelei Addison experience. [which we now know as Campbell Isaiah only]
But Bono, its 2011. Apparently you put an album out recently, and no one even knew about it. Its time to step away. Its time for you to free up more time for Darfur or the rain forests or Ensley or whatever, and allow Larry Mullen and Adam Clayton time to do more music for Mission Impossible movies, and to say, "Hey, The Edge, its time for us to part." Let it go, Bono. Its time
Signed,
d$
 |
| Not sure if this is a performance of "Crazy", and I'm not sure if that is Danger Mouse in the trooper outfit, but either way, the picture is cool. |
Holy crap this song is awesome. Like, every beat, every second, every minute detail, every word of this song rulz to the maximum allowance of ruling. "Crazy" is fan-flippin-tastic.
Were I to give my own 2000s list, its easy to put this Top 25, maybe even Top 15. Cee-Lo Green has this unusual, cool as grits voice, and Danger Mouse is just cool for having the nickname Danger Mouse.
13... "American Idiot" by Green Day (2004)
I knew this song would come up, and I was dreading it, mostly because I hate it when I throw up in my mouth. And I just did.
These are the same guys that had an album called "Dookie", and sang about going to a shrink and being told that lack of sex will bring you down. Yes, people can, and do, change. I get that. But really, BJ Armstrong, can you just sing your fun songs and quit telling me that liberals are awesome and conservatives suck?
Sorry... just threw up in my mouth again.
12... "I Gotta Feeling" by The Black Eyed Peas (2009)
The first time I ever heard this song, all I could think of, "This is going to be a party anthem and/or a sports anthem and/or a celebration anthem for ages to come." When B-list celebrities in 1981 were sitting around and discussing the best songs of the decade just completed, I'm sure that someone was saying about "Rock and Roll Part 1" by Gary Glitter the same things they are saying about "I Gotta Feeling"... "Party song..." and "This song is the ultimate going-out song" and "I gotta feeling..." and such.
Personally, I'm a little flabbergasted that "My Humps" hasn't shown up yet... however, we have 11 more to go...
11... "Umbrella" by Rihanna feat. Jay-Z
My main issue with Rihanna? How her name is spelled. When I hear her name, I automatically think Fleetwood Mac's classic "Rhiannon", which was an outside consideration for my kid's name (thought I never shared it with The Lovely Steph Leann. Probably a good thing.)
She's very talented, though through no fault of her own, its a little disconcerting that all of her songs keep breaking all sorts of sales and chart records, and I'm bothered by this. Why should Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" fall to whatever getting-it-on tune Rihanna is blathering out?
That said, this is an addicting song. You know, Umbrella-ella-ella-ella-ella-ella-ella-ella-ella-hey-hey-hey-hey-hey-ella-ella-ella-ella-ella-ella-ella-ella-hey-hey-hey-hey-hey-ella-ella-ella-ella-ella-ella-ella-ella-hey-hey-hey-hey-hey...
If this doesn't get stuck in your head, I have this to say:
All the single ladies! All the single ladies! All the single ladies! All the single ladies!
Your welcome.
AND NOW, Vh1's TOP TEN OF the 2000s...
10... "In Da Club" by 50 Cent (2003)
Really? Like, really?
9... "We Belong Together" by Post-Skank Mariah Carey (2005)
I have often referenced my inclination to Pre-Skank Mariah and how awesome she was over Post-Skank Mariah, so I won't go into it.. but I will say that everything after 1997's "Butterfly" album is pure skank. Notably, the song "Honey" is where it all took a turn for the ho.
This song brought her back around again for me. While not my favorite Mariah (that's a tie between "Vision of Love", "Dreamlover" and "Always Be My Baby"... or maybe "Fantasy"), its vintage. Its a throwback, yet just hip enough to be in the 2000s. Ah, pre-skank Mariah, may we see you again soon.
8... "Empire State of Mind" by Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys (2009)
This is a quite a love letter to a city... a New York City Anthem, and I'm not sure why the city itself hasn't adopted it as its City Anthem.
And Alicia Keys is awesome, as always. I can listen to this song over and over and over, and have. Great, great song.
7... "Sexyback" by Justin Timberlake (2006)
Oh no he di'nt! Oh no he di'nt! This song is my jam, y'all, MY Jam!
Okay, not really... but I can see a few of these songs listed on this countdown not necessarily for their artistic merit, but more for their importance, and this song was a monster. Timberlake had broken free from *NSync, and was on his way to superstardom, had some huge hits, and then a few years later, released "Future.Love.Sex.Sounds", and this was the lead-off single. And a catch phrase was born.
Its not even so much that "Sexyback" is cool, it is more that Justin Timberlake singing this is cool. And how many people do you know have used the term "I'm bringing sexy back..."
6... "Gold Digger" by Kanye West feat. Jamie Foxx (2005)
Dude. This song. Like, this song. Can't help it. For all the punk that Kanye is and can be, this song is fantastic.
Here's the scene... 2005 Video Music Awards.. I was watching (don't ask me why) and out of the floor of the stage rises one Kanye West and one Jamie Foxx, looking all cool and sleek, posed and frozen. Suddenly, Jamie starts into a "She takes my money... when I'm in need..." then the beat kicks in, and I watch one of the coolest live performances I've ever, ever seen. And its this song.
I ain't sayin' she's a gold digger... she ain't messin' with no broke (broke)
Do me a favor... holla "We want pre-nupt!" (we want pre-nupt!)
I love love love this song
5... "Since U Been Gone" by Kelly Clarkson (2004)
Everyone likes this song. Some people love it, some only like it a little, but to some degree, everyone likes this song. How can you not? Its infectious like the basement of the CDC...
The Lovely Steph Leann has joined the room for the Top Ten, and she's over on the couch bobbing her head, watching with total interest. And when this song comes on the radio, I sing along. And so do you. Kelly might never have been better before or since... though I do enjoy "Behind These Hazel Eyes". Love me some Kelly Clarkson.
4... "Lose Yourself" by Eminem (2002)
We've now hit the first song on this entire countdown that I could make an argument for being the #1 song of the decade. This song... amazing. And he even won a stinkin' Oscar for it.
Now, my favorite Eminem song is quite simply "Without Me", a totally hilarious, yet quite incredible rhyme... but "Lose Yourself" might be his actual best work. I saw "8 Mile" not too long ago, and its not that bad.
And when Em sings, you believe it. He's blowing the mic away, he's jamming, he's just rapping and singing with so much ferocity, and you really get into it. And if you knew the words, you'd sing along, though you probably don't know the words.
3... "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga (2008)
Sigh.
I have come to accept that Gaga is here to stay. Perhaps in 1982, fuddy duddies like me were saying the same thing about that new Madonna chick that just came up on the scene... and now, here's Lady Gaga.
Okay, she's got a great voice. And "Bad Romance"? I'm a sucker for it. And yes, this song is pretty good. It's catchy. But #3? Really?
2... "Hey Ya!" by Outkast (2003)
Now... if I had to list a "Greatest Songs of the 2000s" and "My Favorite Songs of the 2000s", this song would be #1 on the former list, #2 on the latter list. "Hey Ya!" is one of the best songs ever performed, crossing all genres of awesome. Even The Lovely Steph Leann likes it, and she don't go for the blasted rappin' crappin music! She says, "Its not rap, its pop. I like pop."
The video? Best of the 2000s, in my Top Five All Time. There are EIGHT different Andre 3000s on the stage, and he even manages to slip in a few scandalous lines towards the end (don't read the lyrics if you don't want to know, though its nothing too terrible) but the song is so fun, you don't even notice.
It shows a Beatle-type frenzied performance by the band Andre 3000 and The Love Below, consisting of eight members: Possum Jenkins on bass... Johnny Vulture on guitar (yes ladies, he's still single)... Benjamin Andre (on keyboard)... Dookie on drums... Andre (ice cold) 3000 on lead vocals... and, of course, The Love Haters on backup vocals. And all are played by Andre 3000 himself.
It shows a Beatle-type frenzied performance by the band Andre 3000 and The Love Below, consisting of eight members: Possum Jenkins on bass... Johnny Vulture on guitar (yes ladies, he's still single)... Benjamin Andre (on keyboard)... Dookie on drums... Andre (ice cold) 3000 on lead vocals... and, of course, The Love Haters on backup vocals. And all are played by Andre 3000 himself.
And yes, the song asks you to shake it (you can determine what "it" is) like a Polaroid Picture, and Polaroid had to come out with a statement that said, "Hey ya, you used to coulda shaken our pics, but don't do it anymore, you don't have to."
I love this song, man. I really do.
And finally...
1... "Crazy in Love" by Beyonce feat. Jay-Z (2003)
This song? Beyonce singing along with her babydaddy?
Uh-oh uh-oh uh-oh
No no no
I'm conflicted... while I don't think it should have been the top song of the entire decade, I can't make much of an argument against it--heck, I sing this song sometimes at work.
As Vh1 shows clips from the video, I can only surmise one observation... well, two. First, she jiggles alot. And honestly, I'm not sure I'm ready for that jelly. Secondly, there must have been a heckuva lot of double-sided tape used in those particular outfits.
Great song. Great choice.
And there you go. The Top 100 Songs of the 2000s... agree, disagree, its not my list, its Vh1. What's my list? That's a great question... perhaps soon...
Sunday, April 10, 2011
The 100 Coolest Things of 2010... #70 to 61
The Coolest Things of 2010, 100 to 91
The Coolest Things of 2010, 90 to 81
The Coolest Things of 2010, 80 to 71
70... Facebook DeFriended
Sometimes, you just want to be narcissistic. Sometimes you get on Facebook and you notice that you have 2 less friends than you had yesterday. And then, another day later, you gain a friend. Could it be that people have dropped you? Could it be that people deleted their account, then recovered their accounts? If you delete your account, can you recover that account again?
Either way, Facebook Defriended will take care of your narcissistic needs. Buy the app for a buck, and you can hook it up to your account. Then go into Facebook Defriended, and it will tell you your friend list activity over the last few days... who dropped you, who added you and so on.
Why do I need this? I don't. Its a ridiculous app meant to only feed my ego and fuel my wonder of why someone would drop someone as awesome as I am (I say that with a smile and a wink), but still, I check it a couple of times per week. Because I'm me.
69... "Love the Way You Lie"
Overall, I'm not a fan of Eminem. I respect what he does, and his mastery of wordplay and how he sings/raps, because if you just listen to how he does what he does, he's amazing. What he actually says, however, is quite alarming and discouraging, because he has a ton of pent up anger and aggression in his lyrics, many times towards his own ex-wife.
Sometimes, though, he does get one out there that really makes me smile, one that I really enjoy. "Without Me" was one a decade ago, while "Lose Yourself" is one that everyone likes. And in 2010, a collaboration with Rhianna led to "Love the Way You Lie", which has this infectious, memorable opening riff--"Just gonna stand there and watch me burn... that's alright... I like the way it hurts..."
And the video, starring Megan Fox and Dominic Monaghan (Charlie from LOST), is just awesome.
Note... Eminem is not a clean guy, so please don't take this as an endorsement of his music. As in, if you go and download this song, at least the explicit version, and are offended by the language, then don't blame me. Listen at your own risk. The album version of this song is not Emmy Turnbow Safe.
68... Danno Gets a Reboot
I was never a fan of "Hawaii Five-O" in its original inception, not because it wasn't a good show, but because when it when it came on in 1968, I was a few years away from life. When it ended in 1980, I was five. When I saw re-runs in syndication, I barely remembered it.
So, when CBS decided to reboot the television show for the 2010-2011 television season, I had low expectations for the show. Truth in advertising, I have low expectations for many shows when they premiere, because networks now rarely give most shows a chance to catch on... both Seinfeld and Cheers were low rated when they first appeared, but after catching on, they were awarded further seasons, and both went on to become television classics.
The Lovely Steph Leann and I chose three shows to watch this time around, trying to watch them week by week via DVR, and those would be "No Ordinary Family", "The Event" and "Hawaii Five-O". All three shows were good, but to me, "Hawaii Five-O" was exceptional. It was funny, it was well written, and the cast is well placed. Alex O'Loughlin and Scott Caan lead, with Daniel Dae Kim (Jin from LOST, and its hard to see him as anything beyond that) and Grace Park, and it also stars, of course, the Hawaiian coast line, the volcanoes and the culture.
Well, we stopped watching all three show on DVR, just because we got too far behind... and I'm quite alright with that for now, because "The Event" and "No Ordinary Family" are gone. The former is in EW's "Danger Zone" and the latter is just scrubbed (which is sad, because it was also a good show). However, "Hawaii Five-O" made the cut... and we'll put it in a category with "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and "Grey's Anatomy"... watch it on DVD and get through a season in a few days.
67... The Fury Goes Crazy
Anyone who reads this blog for longer than a few days will know I'm a big Stephen King fan. And in the early 80s, there was a "Quad-fecta" of novels that I really, really enjoy. "Firestarter", "Cujo", "Pet Semetary" and "Christine", about a car, a '58 Plymouth Fury with a mind of its own, and evil side, one that cannot be stopped and is raging with jealousy and anger.
Arnie Cunningham is a loser in high school, best friends with Dennis, who happens to be kinda cool, and important enough at school to keep Arnie from getting beat up daily. This, however, begins to change when Arnie "meets" Christine, a rusty old 1958 red and white Plymouth Fury sitting in a junk yard. The car has many secrets, a horrible, evil past and slowly begins to change Arnie's life--for the worse, especially when Leigh Cabot, this beautiful chick who moves into town, goes out with him... enraging the car. Yep, I said that and meant it.
The book is a quick read, its well written and though not overly frightening, has its creepy moments. I do remember when I was a kid, having just seen the movie when it premiered on network television, walking home from a football game (we lived two blocks from the high school) and being creeped out at 10 at night because some old truck was sitting on the side of the road, staring at me. I kept waiting for the headlights to pop on.
Good book.
66... We Figure Out The Tip
I've got over 140 apps on my iPhone, with games and weather and news and email and interweb capabilities and so on, but one of my favorites, one of most useful apps I have ever purchased is one called "The Tipulator".
Its quite simple. You type in the amount of your bill, say $32.89. It will automatically tell you your tip amount, then give you a total. If you have good service, and want to leave 15%, then it will tell you that you should leave $4.93, and you should pay $37.82. They give really good service? You can adjust your percentage from 15% all the way up to 50% (which must be incredible service). If you wanted to leave 18%, then The Handy Dandy Tipulator will tell you your tip is $5.92. Poor service, but you still want to leave a tip? You can knock it down to 13%, which is $4.60. Or 1%, which is 33 cents.
Other settings include the ability to round your tip up or down to the nearest dollar, or your total amount to the nearest dollar, you can split the check from 2 people to 50. I have mine set to round the total amount to the nearest dollar, with the tip set at 15% or more. The price is a mere 99 cents, and I would definitely recommend it if you ever eat out.
65... Denzel Carries The Word
When movies come out in January, they are usually considered "throw away movies", that is, movies that are dumped into the post-holiday season when most people aren't going to the theaters because they spent too much money during the Christmas season.
But every now and then, they dump a movie into January that turns out to be darn good. I give you "The Book of Eli". Denzel is the title character, wandering on a mission through a post-apocalyptic United States carrying what, at that time, is a very valuable and rare artifact--a King James Bible.
This is part of my review on the film:
We see right away that Eli is not a guy to be messed with... he's got somewhere to be, and he's headed that way. And when people try to stop him, he stops them from trying to stop him in the most convincing "don't bother me" way possible. Trouble comes when he drifts through a town and its discovered by the town's "ruler", Carnagie (played by Gary Oldman, who excels in this type of role), that Eli is carrying with him last copy of the Bible.
The film is bleak in color, as many of the movies with this setting are, and language pervades throughout. The sexual moments are very few, with only a couple of allusions to it, mostly within the context of the town's danger. Violence is also heavy in this film, so expect lots of knives and gunshots and big armored vehicles. All that is to say that this movie is NOT for kids. I dare say its not Emmy Turnbow safe, but at the same time, I think Emmy Turnbow would like this movie--at least, an edited version that might come on the USA Network in June of 2012 or something.
Written on June 6th, you can read the full review here.
64... Norah Gets a Duet
Norah Jones is only for certain tastes, because the argument is that "all her stuff sounds alike"... and yeah, thats kinda true. But if you like that sound, you'll love this album. In her career, she's done several solo albums and has also done lots of work as a part of other bands like The Little Willies, or projects with other artists, like Ryan Adams or Willie Nelson.
Released in November of 2010, "...Featuring" is a compilation CD of Norah Jones and. Norah Jones and... the Foo Fighters. Norah Jones and... Ray Charles. Herbie Hancock. Q-Tip from a Tribe Called ?uest. And several, several others.
My favorite tracks on the CD are a cover of "More Than This" with Charlie Hunter, a cover of the 80s rock song, and a "Take Off Your Cool" with OutKast, as featured on the OutKast album "The Speakerboxxx/The Love Below".
And if you think I wanted to mention OutKast's album "The Speakerboxxx/The Love Below" because I wanted to seem a slight bit cooler, then... you may be right.
63... Bruno Loves His Woman
Bruno Mars has had quiet a year... among many of the hits he's helped pen, Cee Lo's "Forget You" was a massive hit, as was Flo Rida's "Right Round", and had a couple of hits of his own, including "Grenade" and my 63rd Coolest Thing of 2010, "Just the Way You Are".
Its a fun little song about loving a woman just... well, just like she is. She's perfect. He tells her that, "when I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change, cause you're amazing, just the way you are."
And in interviews, I liked the idea that he doesn't try to go too deep, he just simply says, "I'm a big fan of songs like Joe Cocker's 'You Are So Beautiful' and Eric Clapton's 'Wonderful Tonight' - songs that go straight to the point. You know, there's no mind-boggling lyrics or twists in the story - they just come directly from the heart. And to me 'Just The Way You Are' is one of those songs. There's nothing mind-blowing about it. I'm just telling a woman she looks beautiful the way she IS - and, let's be honest, what woman doesn't wanna hear those lyrics?"
62... The Candlelight Processional
One of our several trips to Walt Disney World found us there in December, actually getting a chance to spend a little time with one of my best friends, Melanie, and her family, that being Chris Z (the hubs), and the kids, Special K, Jay Z and The Zach Attack. And because it was Christmas time, The Lovely Steph Leann was very adamant that we see The Candlelight Processional.
What is it? Well, at Epcot, its a special Christmas presentation featuring a choir, awesome Christmas music and a reading of the Christmas story--yes, the one from The Bible--by a celebrity. The small amphitheater, near the American Pavilion, was decorated beautifully, with bright reds and greens all around, and at least a hundred poinsettias adorning the stage and spaces between choirs.
The Lovely Steph Leann saw The Candlelight Processional in 2009, and just missed Steven Curtis Chapman and ended up witn Anika Noni Rose, voice of Tiana from "The Princess & the Frog"... and this year? We still missed Steven Curtis Chapman. He was reading later in the month, but our reader was none other than Ariel herself, Jodi Benson, who I believe is a Christ Follower.
After the choirs filed in, they sang a few Christmas hymns, then Jodi took the stage. Over the next thirty minutes, music was interspersed with reading from Matthew, and at the end, she spoke briefly on the birth and eventual death of Christ. And yes, this was all at Walt Disney World, a magical place, but still quiet secular.
61... "Kick-A**"
Here's what I had to say in June of 2006:
Okay... so, for every reason I shouldn't, I thought this movie was hilarious. Absolutely hilarious. Its title that I feel very uncomfortable saying (and don’t, especially on a website that I like to keep PG), its got the same language you’d find in equally as funny movies like “Superbad”, its got comic-book style violence that still produces blood spatter like crazy, and it’s got a bunch of teenagers trying to get some. There is no redeeming quality to this movie.
Let's be clear here... this movie is NOT for children. As a Christ-Follower, this movie is a prime example of the topic of "what do you place in front of your eyes?", which is another conversation for another day. I've tried to give you the rundown on the film as best I can, so now its up to you as to whether to see it. Cindy Jo is probably not going to see this film. Hurricane Rhett might go out tonight and catch it.
Read the whole post, including the full review, by clicking here.
Coming up... A great indictment of the NCAA Postseason (what?)... keeping my head and hands warm... and later, hide yo' kids, hide yo' wife
The Coolest Things of 2010, 90 to 81
The Coolest Things of 2010, 80 to 71
70... Facebook DeFriended
Sometimes, you just want to be narcissistic. Sometimes you get on Facebook and you notice that you have 2 less friends than you had yesterday. And then, another day later, you gain a friend. Could it be that people have dropped you? Could it be that people deleted their account, then recovered their accounts? If you delete your account, can you recover that account again?
Either way, Facebook Defriended will take care of your narcissistic needs. Buy the app for a buck, and you can hook it up to your account. Then go into Facebook Defriended, and it will tell you your friend list activity over the last few days... who dropped you, who added you and so on.
Why do I need this? I don't. Its a ridiculous app meant to only feed my ego and fuel my wonder of why someone would drop someone as awesome as I am (I say that with a smile and a wink), but still, I check it a couple of times per week. Because I'm me.
69... "Love the Way You Lie"
Overall, I'm not a fan of Eminem. I respect what he does, and his mastery of wordplay and how he sings/raps, because if you just listen to how he does what he does, he's amazing. What he actually says, however, is quite alarming and discouraging, because he has a ton of pent up anger and aggression in his lyrics, many times towards his own ex-wife.
Sometimes, though, he does get one out there that really makes me smile, one that I really enjoy. "Without Me" was one a decade ago, while "Lose Yourself" is one that everyone likes. And in 2010, a collaboration with Rhianna led to "Love the Way You Lie", which has this infectious, memorable opening riff--"Just gonna stand there and watch me burn... that's alright... I like the way it hurts..."
And the video, starring Megan Fox and Dominic Monaghan (Charlie from LOST), is just awesome.
Note... Eminem is not a clean guy, so please don't take this as an endorsement of his music. As in, if you go and download this song, at least the explicit version, and are offended by the language, then don't blame me. Listen at your own risk. The album version of this song is not Emmy Turnbow Safe.
68... Danno Gets a Reboot
I was never a fan of "Hawaii Five-O" in its original inception, not because it wasn't a good show, but because when it when it came on in 1968, I was a few years away from life. When it ended in 1980, I was five. When I saw re-runs in syndication, I barely remembered it.
So, when CBS decided to reboot the television show for the 2010-2011 television season, I had low expectations for the show. Truth in advertising, I have low expectations for many shows when they premiere, because networks now rarely give most shows a chance to catch on... both Seinfeld and Cheers were low rated when they first appeared, but after catching on, they were awarded further seasons, and both went on to become television classics.
The Lovely Steph Leann and I chose three shows to watch this time around, trying to watch them week by week via DVR, and those would be "No Ordinary Family", "The Event" and "Hawaii Five-O". All three shows were good, but to me, "Hawaii Five-O" was exceptional. It was funny, it was well written, and the cast is well placed. Alex O'Loughlin and Scott Caan lead, with Daniel Dae Kim (Jin from LOST, and its hard to see him as anything beyond that) and Grace Park, and it also stars, of course, the Hawaiian coast line, the volcanoes and the culture.
Well, we stopped watching all three show on DVR, just because we got too far behind... and I'm quite alright with that for now, because "The Event" and "No Ordinary Family" are gone. The former is in EW's "Danger Zone" and the latter is just scrubbed (which is sad, because it was also a good show). However, "Hawaii Five-O" made the cut... and we'll put it in a category with "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and "Grey's Anatomy"... watch it on DVD and get through a season in a few days.
67... The Fury Goes Crazy
Anyone who reads this blog for longer than a few days will know I'm a big Stephen King fan. And in the early 80s, there was a "Quad-fecta" of novels that I really, really enjoy. "Firestarter", "Cujo", "Pet Semetary" and "Christine", about a car, a '58 Plymouth Fury with a mind of its own, and evil side, one that cannot be stopped and is raging with jealousy and anger.
Arnie Cunningham is a loser in high school, best friends with Dennis, who happens to be kinda cool, and important enough at school to keep Arnie from getting beat up daily. This, however, begins to change when Arnie "meets" Christine, a rusty old 1958 red and white Plymouth Fury sitting in a junk yard. The car has many secrets, a horrible, evil past and slowly begins to change Arnie's life--for the worse, especially when Leigh Cabot, this beautiful chick who moves into town, goes out with him... enraging the car. Yep, I said that and meant it.
The book is a quick read, its well written and though not overly frightening, has its creepy moments. I do remember when I was a kid, having just seen the movie when it premiered on network television, walking home from a football game (we lived two blocks from the high school) and being creeped out at 10 at night because some old truck was sitting on the side of the road, staring at me. I kept waiting for the headlights to pop on.
Good book.
66... We Figure Out The Tip
I've got over 140 apps on my iPhone, with games and weather and news and email and interweb capabilities and so on, but one of my favorites, one of most useful apps I have ever purchased is one called "The Tipulator".
Its quite simple. You type in the amount of your bill, say $32.89. It will automatically tell you your tip amount, then give you a total. If you have good service, and want to leave 15%, then it will tell you that you should leave $4.93, and you should pay $37.82. They give really good service? You can adjust your percentage from 15% all the way up to 50% (which must be incredible service). If you wanted to leave 18%, then The Handy Dandy Tipulator will tell you your tip is $5.92. Poor service, but you still want to leave a tip? You can knock it down to 13%, which is $4.60. Or 1%, which is 33 cents.
Other settings include the ability to round your tip up or down to the nearest dollar, or your total amount to the nearest dollar, you can split the check from 2 people to 50. I have mine set to round the total amount to the nearest dollar, with the tip set at 15% or more. The price is a mere 99 cents, and I would definitely recommend it if you ever eat out.
65... Denzel Carries The Word
When movies come out in January, they are usually considered "throw away movies", that is, movies that are dumped into the post-holiday season when most people aren't going to the theaters because they spent too much money during the Christmas season.
But every now and then, they dump a movie into January that turns out to be darn good. I give you "The Book of Eli". Denzel is the title character, wandering on a mission through a post-apocalyptic United States carrying what, at that time, is a very valuable and rare artifact--a King James Bible.
This is part of my review on the film:
We see right away that Eli is not a guy to be messed with... he's got somewhere to be, and he's headed that way. And when people try to stop him, he stops them from trying to stop him in the most convincing "don't bother me" way possible. Trouble comes when he drifts through a town and its discovered by the town's "ruler", Carnagie (played by Gary Oldman, who excels in this type of role), that Eli is carrying with him last copy of the Bible.
The film is bleak in color, as many of the movies with this setting are, and language pervades throughout. The sexual moments are very few, with only a couple of allusions to it, mostly within the context of the town's danger. Violence is also heavy in this film, so expect lots of knives and gunshots and big armored vehicles. All that is to say that this movie is NOT for kids. I dare say its not Emmy Turnbow safe, but at the same time, I think Emmy Turnbow would like this movie--at least, an edited version that might come on the USA Network in June of 2012 or something.
Written on June 6th, you can read the full review here.
Norah Jones is only for certain tastes, because the argument is that "all her stuff sounds alike"... and yeah, thats kinda true. But if you like that sound, you'll love this album. In her career, she's done several solo albums and has also done lots of work as a part of other bands like The Little Willies, or projects with other artists, like Ryan Adams or Willie Nelson.
Released in November of 2010, "...Featuring" is a compilation CD of Norah Jones and. Norah Jones and... the Foo Fighters. Norah Jones and... Ray Charles. Herbie Hancock. Q-Tip from a Tribe Called ?uest. And several, several others.
My favorite tracks on the CD are a cover of "More Than This" with Charlie Hunter, a cover of the 80s rock song, and a "Take Off Your Cool" with OutKast, as featured on the OutKast album "The Speakerboxxx/The Love Below".
And if you think I wanted to mention OutKast's album "The Speakerboxxx/The Love Below" because I wanted to seem a slight bit cooler, then... you may be right.
63... Bruno Loves His Woman
Bruno Mars has had quiet a year... among many of the hits he's helped pen, Cee Lo's "Forget You" was a massive hit, as was Flo Rida's "Right Round", and had a couple of hits of his own, including "Grenade" and my 63rd Coolest Thing of 2010, "Just the Way You Are".
Its a fun little song about loving a woman just... well, just like she is. She's perfect. He tells her that, "when I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change, cause you're amazing, just the way you are."
And in interviews, I liked the idea that he doesn't try to go too deep, he just simply says, "I'm a big fan of songs like Joe Cocker's 'You Are So Beautiful' and Eric Clapton's 'Wonderful Tonight' - songs that go straight to the point. You know, there's no mind-boggling lyrics or twists in the story - they just come directly from the heart. And to me 'Just The Way You Are' is one of those songs. There's nothing mind-blowing about it. I'm just telling a woman she looks beautiful the way she IS - and, let's be honest, what woman doesn't wanna hear those lyrics?"
62... The Candlelight Processional
One of our several trips to Walt Disney World found us there in December, actually getting a chance to spend a little time with one of my best friends, Melanie, and her family, that being Chris Z (the hubs), and the kids, Special K, Jay Z and The Zach Attack. And because it was Christmas time, The Lovely Steph Leann was very adamant that we see The Candlelight Processional.
What is it? Well, at Epcot, its a special Christmas presentation featuring a choir, awesome Christmas music and a reading of the Christmas story--yes, the one from The Bible--by a celebrity. The small amphitheater, near the American Pavilion, was decorated beautifully, with bright reds and greens all around, and at least a hundred poinsettias adorning the stage and spaces between choirs.
 |
| The choir itself consists of mostly Cast Members who auditioned, and local talents, as well as the orchestra |
The Lovely Steph Leann saw The Candlelight Processional in 2009, and just missed Steven Curtis Chapman and ended up witn Anika Noni Rose, voice of Tiana from "The Princess & the Frog"... and this year? We still missed Steven Curtis Chapman. He was reading later in the month, but our reader was none other than Ariel herself, Jodi Benson, who I believe is a Christ Follower.
After the choirs filed in, they sang a few Christmas hymns, then Jodi took the stage. Over the next thirty minutes, music was interspersed with reading from Matthew, and at the end, she spoke briefly on the birth and eventual death of Christ. And yes, this was all at Walt Disney World, a magical place, but still quiet secular.
 |
| Jodi Benson reads the Christmas Story. We almost had Susan Lucci, but they moved her around and gave us Jodi, and I was cool with that. |
61... "Kick-A**"
Here's what I had to say in June of 2006:
Okay... so, for every reason I shouldn't, I thought this movie was hilarious. Absolutely hilarious. Its title that I feel very uncomfortable saying (and don’t, especially on a website that I like to keep PG), its got the same language you’d find in equally as funny movies like “Superbad”, its got comic-book style violence that still produces blood spatter like crazy, and it’s got a bunch of teenagers trying to get some. There is no redeeming quality to this movie.
Let's be clear here... this movie is NOT for children. As a Christ-Follower, this movie is a prime example of the topic of "what do you place in front of your eyes?", which is another conversation for another day. I've tried to give you the rundown on the film as best I can, so now its up to you as to whether to see it. Cindy Jo is probably not going to see this film. Hurricane Rhett might go out tonight and catch it.
Read the whole post, including the full review, by clicking here.
Coming up... A great indictment of the NCAA Postseason (what?)... keeping my head and hands warm... and later, hide yo' kids, hide yo' wife
Sunday, May 09, 2010
The 100 Coolest Things of 2009... #10 thru 6
We inch closer to telling you the things of all of 2009...
The 10th Coolest Thing of 2009... "Bombs Over Baghdad" by OutKast
Sometimes I come a little late to the party when it comes to pop culture--especially music... in fact, I heard my first Lady GaGa song the other night. "Alejandro"... it was so-so. I think I fast forwarded through the last half of it.
So, since 2009 was the end of the decade, we had loads of "End of..." and "Best of the 2000s" lists, much of which included music. I'm goofing around on Google, and I ran across Pitchfork Media online, which had a list of the Top 100 Songs of the Decade. #2 was "Hey Ya" by OutKast... and #1 was "B.O.B. (bombs over baghdad)" by OutKast, as featured on the 2000 album "Stankonia". I was like, "What the hey is B.O.B.?", so I went onto YouTube and found the video and watched it. And was hooked instantly.
This is a PG-13 rated video... there are wiggly booties and an N-word in here somewhere, just so you know. Beware.
You know those songs that, no matter how loud the radio or your iPod is turned up, you need to edge up the volume just a little more when they come on? "La Grange" by ZZ Top, "Loungin" by LL Cool J, "Crazy on You" by Heart and "Everything Zen" by Bush are songs like that. And just with one single "don't need to bang less you plan to hit something..." this song was added to the rotation.
Here's what Pitchfork Media had to say about it: I'm not even covering all of its turf when I list that it contains: the reverbed drums of first-wave hip-hop (played at the tempo of booty hip-hop), organs suggesting "The House of the Rising Sun", futro blips, George Clinton freakouts, choral gospel, rave-up drum-n-bass, Prince funk-metal, speed-scratching, and an extended roller-rink outro. I tell curious people who have never heard it to imagine that Public Enemy handed Side 2 of Fear of a Black Planet over to Southerners.
And yes, Andre 3000 and Big Boi... I do believe a pimp can rock a microphone.
The 9th Coolest Thing of 2009... "Up"
From July 9th, 2009... If there is any issue with Pixar movies, it is this… one day, they are going to make a bad movie. One day, they are going to release flick that is just… well, not good at all. So far, we’ve been entertained by the 9th Coolest Thing of 2008, a friendship between a cowboy and a Space Ranger, a bunch of ants with four legs, some monsters in the closet, talking cars, cooking rats, a lost fish and ranking 20th on TheDave 100, a family of superheroes. So, could this be it? A movie about an old man and a Wilderness Scout who fly in a house to South America? Could this be the inevitable misstep?
No.
“Up” is magnificent in every way possible. The story is fun and sweet, and somehow, the theater gets a little dusty after the first fifteen minutes. The music is fantastic, especially in that first fifteen minutes. The characters are likable, even lovable, from a dorky Scout who is deeper than a dork, to a goofy talking dog, who doesn’t talk by normal Disney standards, but through an inventive collar. Perhaps the least likable character is the actual bad guy, who is really only unlikable because you don’t see much of who he is, other than a jerkface. The main character though, is Carl, who seems cantankerous and miserly, but you’ll discover has his reasons.
How can an animated film make you feel so emotional? That's the power of this early scene right here.
The color is marvelous. The scene when the roof comes off and the balloons fill the sky is incredible, a feast of color and animation brilliance. My recommendation is see this movie in 2-D, not 3-D. The 3-D glasses tend to dim the color slightly, and you don’t want that diminished in any way.
Enjoy the splendor, enjoy the color, enjoy the story, grab a hanky for the first few minutes of exposition between Carl & Ellie, and start worrying that maybe the next Pixar movie—Toy Story 3 in 3-D—will be the misstep. (ps... I heard that last week, Toy Story 3 is completely finished and in the can. And the early buzz on it is fantastic)
The 8th Coolest Thing of 2009... The Lovely Steph Leann's Class Reunion
Excerpts from September 1st, 2009... One of the best (or worst, depending on who you are) parts about a class reunion, be it five, ten, fifteen or beyond, is seeing people that you hadn't seen in a long, long time. Friends you had, chicks you crushed on, people you didn't care for (but can't remember quite why), people you just knew and were used to seeing every day for years and years and suddenly, strangely, they are completely out of your life in every way possible.
When it comes to my own reunion back in 2002, for my 10th year anniversary of the Class of 1993, I saw some faces I welcomed like Chris McCall, Tonya Windham, Greg Avant, Stephanie Phillips, Tammy Thomas... now, I can keep up with them via Facebook. Some people, like my 4th grade crush Misty Kimble, I haven't actually seen since we walked off the football field around 8:30pm graduation night.
I think anyone who had been to a high school reunion will relate to some of this... just like The Lovely Steph Leann and DeLisa, who were attending their 15th anniversary of the Baker High School (Mobile, AL) Class of 1994.
The reunion was held at The Blue Gill Restaurant over in nearby Spanish Fort, out on the patio. While DeLisa had scrounged around for her 1994 Senior Yearbook, "The Novis", The Lovely Steph Leann had dug in the archives to find a ton of pictures, spirit ribbons, buttons and all sorts of nostalgic memorabilia. We walked through the restaurant to find a girl named Lynn Sprouse (now Kilgore), who quickly became one of my favorites of the night. It seemed that DeLisa and Lynn were part of a larger committee to help plan this shindig, but over time, it became ONLY DeLisa and Lynn planning this shindig, so while friendly enough, Lynn was quick to point out the failings of some other people. And it made me laugh.
The full story of the weekend can be found here... first, a post where DeNick and I went treasure hunting, and a photo essay on all the great finds we came upon... and secondly, the reunion overall, including my photography impersonation of Lesley Foley of Foley Photography, serving the Florida Panhandle and Southern Alabama, contact 850-543-7407, the porn star next door and these things being spoken:
DeNick: That chick's top... not many people can do a top like that, but she managed to pull it off.
Me: I'm sure a few more beers and that's exactly what she'll do
DeNick (leaning over, trying not to choke on his $3 brew)
The 7th Coolest Thing of 2009... Disney with The Rays
The 6th Coolest Thing of 2009... Steven & Calah Ray
These two can be combined into one spot... we were setting up our trip to Disney World for June 2009 early in the year, and actually had a couple that had discussed going with us. That fell through, and The Lovely Steph Leann and I discussed the idea of inviting these two people we'd just met, that being Steven Ray and his wife Calah.
They were fairly new in ourSunday School Life Connection class at Valleydale Baptist Church (an sbc fellowship), and our brief interactions had been... well, pleasant, but brief. We knew he was close to 30, maybe 30ish, she was around 24 or 25... 23? Who knows. Anyway, we had enjoyed chatting with them...
So on a Sunday morning, I sat next to Calah and said, "Hey, you wanna go to Disney World with me and The Lovely Steph Leann? In June. It will be on the cheap..." and her eyes lit up and she said, "Uh... yeah... definitely. Let me talk to Steven, but I think we can do this."
And so we met up a few times, and each time we did we learned more and more about the Rays--and liked them more and more as well--as we planned our trip. We stayed at All Star Music, and the Rays did the right thing... they trusted us and followed our lead in an effort to do as much as possible over the few days we were there. It was go go go for three solid days, much of the time spent with Steven and Calah, and we had a few times apart from them so we could do our own thing. I tell ya, if you want to get to know someone well, spend 10 hours in a Trailblazer, spend a weekend at The Most Magical Place on Earth, and spend another 10 hours in that same Trailblazer...
We got to know them well, and loved them greatly. Steven is a former music minister, so The Lovely Steph Leann relates to him easy because she is a child of music as well... I relate to him because he's a guy my age. Calah is a bit younger, an optometry student, but sometimes more mature that both of us guys... and since our friendship has lasted over a year now, with frequent lunches, frequent dinners and frequent game nights...
...and you know what else we love about Steven and Calah Ray? They call us.
See, The Lovely Steph Leann and I love socializing... we love being around people, we love dinners and having people over and such... but in our busy lives, we don't have time to call people alot. Its nice when people call us every now and then, and to the Rays credit, they've done just that... randomly, I'll get a text that says, "BUFFALO WINGS DINNER?" or "YOU GUYS BUSY? CARDS?" and we'll say "YEAH!" or "YEAH!"
Their marriage is sweet, you can tell just being around them that he adores her and dotes on her constantly, and you can tell that she not only loves him, but admires and respects him as well. I hope that people see that between The Lovely Steph Leann and I when we are together.
Anyway, we loved our weekend vacation with The Rays and we love our friendship with them as well. We think both are extremely cool.
Coming up... what IS the coolest thing of 2009? Is it Disney again? Is it another piece of technology? Is it an unlikely starlet with a catchy tune? Its all Up in the Air... this week, the Top Five Coolest Things of 2009.
The 10th Coolest Thing of 2009... "Bombs Over Baghdad" by OutKast
Sometimes I come a little late to the party when it comes to pop culture--especially music... in fact, I heard my first Lady GaGa song the other night. "Alejandro"... it was so-so. I think I fast forwarded through the last half of it.
So, since 2009 was the end of the decade, we had loads of "End of..." and "Best of the 2000s" lists, much of which included music. I'm goofing around on Google, and I ran across Pitchfork Media online, which had a list of the Top 100 Songs of the Decade. #2 was "Hey Ya" by OutKast... and #1 was "B.O.B. (bombs over baghdad)" by OutKast, as featured on the 2000 album "Stankonia". I was like, "What the hey is B.O.B.?", so I went onto YouTube and found the video and watched it. And was hooked instantly.
This is a PG-13 rated video... there are wiggly booties and an N-word in here somewhere, just so you know. Beware.
You know those songs that, no matter how loud the radio or your iPod is turned up, you need to edge up the volume just a little more when they come on? "La Grange" by ZZ Top, "Loungin" by LL Cool J, "Crazy on You" by Heart and "Everything Zen" by Bush are songs like that. And just with one single "don't need to bang less you plan to hit something..." this song was added to the rotation.
Here's what Pitchfork Media had to say about it: I'm not even covering all of its turf when I list that it contains: the reverbed drums of first-wave hip-hop (played at the tempo of booty hip-hop), organs suggesting "The House of the Rising Sun", futro blips, George Clinton freakouts, choral gospel, rave-up drum-n-bass, Prince funk-metal, speed-scratching, and an extended roller-rink outro. I tell curious people who have never heard it to imagine that Public Enemy handed Side 2 of Fear of a Black Planet over to Southerners.
And yes, Andre 3000 and Big Boi... I do believe a pimp can rock a microphone.
The 9th Coolest Thing of 2009... "Up"
From July 9th, 2009... If there is any issue with Pixar movies, it is this… one day, they are going to make a bad movie. One day, they are going to release flick that is just… well, not good at all. So far, we’ve been entertained by the 9th Coolest Thing of 2008, a friendship between a cowboy and a Space Ranger, a bunch of ants with four legs, some monsters in the closet, talking cars, cooking rats, a lost fish and ranking 20th on TheDave 100, a family of superheroes. So, could this be it? A movie about an old man and a Wilderness Scout who fly in a house to South America? Could this be the inevitable misstep?
No.
“Up” is magnificent in every way possible. The story is fun and sweet, and somehow, the theater gets a little dusty after the first fifteen minutes. The music is fantastic, especially in that first fifteen minutes. The characters are likable, even lovable, from a dorky Scout who is deeper than a dork, to a goofy talking dog, who doesn’t talk by normal Disney standards, but through an inventive collar. Perhaps the least likable character is the actual bad guy, who is really only unlikable because you don’t see much of who he is, other than a jerkface. The main character though, is Carl, who seems cantankerous and miserly, but you’ll discover has his reasons.
How can an animated film make you feel so emotional? That's the power of this early scene right here.
The color is marvelous. The scene when the roof comes off and the balloons fill the sky is incredible, a feast of color and animation brilliance. My recommendation is see this movie in 2-D, not 3-D. The 3-D glasses tend to dim the color slightly, and you don’t want that diminished in any way.
Enjoy the splendor, enjoy the color, enjoy the story, grab a hanky for the first few minutes of exposition between Carl & Ellie, and start worrying that maybe the next Pixar movie—Toy Story 3 in 3-D—will be the misstep. (ps... I heard that last week, Toy Story 3 is completely finished and in the can. And the early buzz on it is fantastic)
The 8th Coolest Thing of 2009... The Lovely Steph Leann's Class Reunion
Excerpts from September 1st, 2009... One of the best (or worst, depending on who you are) parts about a class reunion, be it five, ten, fifteen or beyond, is seeing people that you hadn't seen in a long, long time. Friends you had, chicks you crushed on, people you didn't care for (but can't remember quite why), people you just knew and were used to seeing every day for years and years and suddenly, strangely, they are completely out of your life in every way possible.
I think anyone who had been to a high school reunion will relate to some of this... just like The Lovely Steph Leann and DeLisa, who were attending their 15th anniversary of the Baker High School (Mobile, AL) Class of 1994.
The reunion was held at The Blue Gill Restaurant over in nearby Spanish Fort, out on the patio. While DeLisa had scrounged around for her 1994 Senior Yearbook, "The Novis", The Lovely Steph Leann had dug in the archives to find a ton of pictures, spirit ribbons, buttons and all sorts of nostalgic memorabilia. We walked through the restaurant to find a girl named Lynn Sprouse (now Kilgore), who quickly became one of my favorites of the night. It seemed that DeLisa and Lynn were part of a larger committee to help plan this shindig, but over time, it became ONLY DeLisa and Lynn planning this shindig, so while friendly enough, Lynn was quick to point out the failings of some other people. And it made me laugh.
The full story of the weekend can be found here... first, a post where DeNick and I went treasure hunting, and a photo essay on all the great finds we came upon... and secondly, the reunion overall, including my photography impersonation of Lesley Foley of Foley Photography, serving the Florida Panhandle and Southern Alabama, contact 850-543-7407, the porn star next door and these things being spoken:"Those aren't real."
"I checked her photo. She's pretty hot now, especially since she got her eyebrows under control."
"Time has not been good to him."
"Time has not been good to her."
"Wow... time has been that guy's friend, I think."
"Dude, time has been very, very good to her."
And my favorite exchange of the night:
DeNick: That chick's top... not many people can do a top like that, but she managed to pull it off.
Me: I'm sure a few more beers and that's exactly what she'll do
DeNick (leaning over, trying not to choke on his $3 brew)
The 7th Coolest Thing of 2009... Disney with The Rays
The 6th Coolest Thing of 2009... Steven & Calah Ray
These two can be combined into one spot... we were setting up our trip to Disney World for June 2009 early in the year, and actually had a couple that had discussed going with us. That fell through, and The Lovely Steph Leann and I discussed the idea of inviting these two people we'd just met, that being Steven Ray and his wife Calah.
They were fairly new in our
So on a Sunday morning, I sat next to Calah and said, "Hey, you wanna go to Disney World with me and The Lovely Steph Leann? In June. It will be on the cheap..." and her eyes lit up and she said, "Uh... yeah... definitely. Let me talk to Steven, but I think we can do this."
And so we met up a few times, and each time we did we learned more and more about the Rays--and liked them more and more as well--as we planned our trip. We stayed at All Star Music, and the Rays did the right thing... they trusted us and followed our lead in an effort to do as much as possible over the few days we were there. It was go go go for three solid days, much of the time spent with Steven and Calah, and we had a few times apart from them so we could do our own thing. I tell ya, if you want to get to know someone well, spend 10 hours in a Trailblazer, spend a weekend at The Most Magical Place on Earth, and spend another 10 hours in that same Trailblazer...
We got to know them well, and loved them greatly. Steven is a former music minister, so The Lovely Steph Leann relates to him easy because she is a child of music as well... I relate to him because he's a guy my age. Calah is a bit younger, an optometry student, but sometimes more mature that both of us guys... and since our friendship has lasted over a year now, with frequent lunches, frequent dinners and frequent game nights...
...and you know what else we love about Steven and Calah Ray? They call us.
See, The Lovely Steph Leann and I love socializing... we love being around people, we love dinners and having people over and such... but in our busy lives, we don't have time to call people alot. Its nice when people call us every now and then, and to the Rays credit, they've done just that... randomly, I'll get a text that says, "BUFFALO WINGS DINNER?" or "YOU GUYS BUSY? CARDS?" and we'll say "YEAH!" or "YEAH!"
Their marriage is sweet, you can tell just being around them that he adores her and dotes on her constantly, and you can tell that she not only loves him, but admires and respects him as well. I hope that people see that between The Lovely Steph Leann and I when we are together.
Anyway, we loved our weekend vacation with The Rays and we love our friendship with them as well. We think both are extremely cool.
Coming up... what IS the coolest thing of 2009? Is it Disney again? Is it another piece of technology? Is it an unlikely starlet with a catchy tune? Its all Up in the Air... this week, the Top Five Coolest Things of 2009.
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