Glen Phillips with Jonathan Kingham perform the song I wish I could live by, “Duck and Cover,” live in New York 2008.
For more on my man Glen, go to www.glenphillips.com and/or his official YouTube channel.
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theFiver.net
The Top 5 Blog
October, 2009
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PerformanceKlok: Winter Pays For Summer
Saturday, October 24th, 2009
Top 5 incomprehensible songs that aren’t performed by Bob Dylan
Thursday, October 22nd, 2009
Not too long ago, we paid tribute to some of the lesser-known misheard lyrics. And while you could have an entire blog based on misinterpreting “excuse me while I kiss the sky” as “pardon me, but that gentleman requires me to press my lips upon his,” there are some artists who have made their fortunes thanks to or in spite of lyrics that are partly to severely incomprehensible.
1. “Orinoco Flow,” Enya
New Age founding mother Enya has built her career on trippy/haunting Celtic music in which she uses a lot of overdubbing and reverb. And while some of her other works are more muddled (“Caribbean Blue,” for example), nothing is more fun to try to sing along to than her seminal “Orinoco Flow.”
I can decipher some words. I think there’s a Bob Dickens in there somewhere, whoever he is. During the bridge, she appears to pay tribute to Star Trek: The Next Generation’s Brent Spiner when she repeats, “Data! Data!” Then there’s the cryptic lyric, “Touch Bellini in Tahiti on the Island of Vermouth.” Other times, I think she’s just doing some kind of Irish scatting.
2. “Yellow Ledbetter,” Pearl Jam
I find this song incredibly powerful and sad. This, despite the fact that I can’t understand one single word of what Eddie Vedder’s saying. But maybe that’s not such a bad thing.
3. “Brand New Day,” Sting
Whether he’s with The Police or going solo, there’s one thing you can count on: Sting always sings as if part of him got caught in his fly.
4. “Paranoid,” Black Sabbath
Before Ozzy Osbourne made a second career out of slurring heartfelt fatherly advice, he was equally incomprehensible as the prince of darkness.
5. “Fairytale of New York,” Kirsty MacColl & The Pogues
Again with the Irish! I know there are any number of songs by The Pogues that are made incomprehensible thanks to Shane MacGown’s growling, slurring vocals. But the ballad-ish nature of “Fairytale of New York” only seems to underscore the point when juxtaposed with Kirsty MacColl.
What music do you find incomprehensible?
YouTube to webcast concert by Cold War-era spy plane/Irish rock band
Wednesday, October 21st, 2009
Internet video megalith YouTube will be broadcasting U2’s concert at California’s Rose Bowl Stadium live on Sunday. Based upon the promotional video, it appears to be a very understated affair.
Top 5 Clever Choices of Song During A Hockey Game
Monday, October 19th, 2009Today’s Top 5 comes from frequent contributor Kate. It’s a great post, although some facts such as the existence of a state called “Florida” could not be verified as of press time. This is also a good time to mention that theFiver has an open submission policy, and anyone is welcome to e-mail a Top 5 list.
There are so many wonderful things about a hockey game. The sport itself is fast-paced and exciting, and the crowd tends to get quite involved and boisterous. Oftentimes the things that fans shout out during the game are entertainment in and of themselves. One of my favorites of all time actually belongs to our esteemed Fiver creator, who loudly heckled the Worcester Sharks thusly: “The City of Worcester has no viable economic plan!”
One aspect that might not necessarily be thought of as integral to a hockey game is the music that is used. Music can get us pumped up, encourage us, and make us laugh, all of which is part of the game. During my time in Tampa, I became a devoted Lightning fan (yes, there is hockey in Florida), and had the opportunity to observe through regular attendance how much fun the music chosen can be.
And so, to celebrate the beginning of hockey season, and the extra dimension that music can bring to the game, I present to you:
Top 5 Clever Choices of Song During A Hockey Game
1. “Yakety Sax,” Boots Randolph
There is nothing quite like hearing the theme to “The Benny Hill Show” as the opposing team skates onto the ice for warm-up. Priceless.
2. “Walking On Broken Glass,” Annie Lennox
What happens when two 230-pound men hit the boards simultaneously with momentum from skating across the ice? The glass above the boards shatters and falls out, that’s what. This is a song I would never expect to hear at a sporting event, but it worked quite well in this situation.
3. “Song from M*A*S*H (Suicide Is Painless),” Johnny Mandel and Mike Altman
Hockey can be kind of like war, right? And those boys certainly need to be stitched up sometimes. So why not use this classic theme during the announcement of scratches and injuries?
4. “The Waiting,” Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
When a goal goes under review in an NHL game, the refs skate over to the sidelines and call the War Room in Toronto. So while the folks up there take another look at the play and hand down the verdict, the fans sit and … well, wait. It is, indeed, the hardest part. Except if you’re a Lightning fan, in which case the hardest part is hearing that Toronto has screwed you over again.
5. “Hook,” Blues Traveler
Oops! Someone got called for a hooking penalty. Now he’s got to go in the box, all by himself, for two minutes, and feel shame.
PerformanceKlok: Big Haired Cowgirl
Saturday, October 17th, 2009Cowboy Junkies perform “Sweet Jane”
A-ha to break up (didn’t know they were still together)
Friday, October 16th, 2009A-ha, best known in the US for the seizure-inducing video (not really) for their hit “Take On Me” has announced that they’re breaking up after 27 years, following a UK comeback. The band reportedly announced that its members will now pursue “other meaningful aspects of life.” Read the story here.
In other news, Leona Lewis is reportedly all right after being punched in the head at a book signing.
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Top 5 songs sung a cappella
Thursday, October 15th, 2009The idea for today’s Top 5 comes from a good friend and singer/song-writer Janine Talbot. It should be noted that she thought of it way before “Glee” premiered.
A cappella. A force for evil? Probably. But there’s just something about it that brings out our inner geek, and it seems to be undergoing a renaissance. Ben Folds recently released versions of his music performed by university a cappella groups, and Fox’s “Glee” appears to be making waves.
What’s the reason for this (dare we call it) fad? Who knows. What made swing music so popular briefly in the late ’90s? Much like what goes on inside the head of Glenn Beck, it’s a mystery.
Top 5 songs sung a cappella:
1. “Star Wars (John Williams Is The Man),” John Williams; performed by Corey Vidal
There’s a lot of these multitrack videos circulating on YouTube, but Vidal seems to have struck gold by singing dialogue from the original Star Wars films to the melodies of the better-known John Williams scores.
2. “Spider Pig,” Hans Zimmer; performed by the Dordt College Concert Choir
How else could you possibly improve one of the best parts of “The Simpsons Movie”?
3. “Bitches Ain’t Shit,” Dr. Dre; performed by UC Berkeley’s DeCadence
“Bitches Ain’t Shit” began life as a salvo in the ongoing feud between West Coast rappers Dr. Dre and Easy E. In 2005 Ben Folds released a more melodic version, but it’s only when performed by UC Berkeley’s DeCadence that “Bitches Ain’t Shit” achieves its fullest flower. Warning: The following contains some very bad words.
4. “Stacy’s Mom,” Fountains of Wayne; performed by the Colby College Blue Lights
There is an unsettling number of YouTube videos of college a cappella groups performing this Fountains of Wayne tune, likely as part of some conspiracy that will lead to the destruction of western civilization. Enjoy!
5. Themes to “Speedracer,” “Underdog,” performed by The Blanks
One of the more charming recurring gags in the sitcom “Scrubs” was The Blanks, Ted’s a cappella group which started out singing cartoon themes before moving on to other genres.
What songs do you dig, instrument-less?
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Romantic crooner Martino dead at 82
Wednesday, October 14th, 2009Al Martino, who hit is big with songs such as “Spanish Eyes,” and was also known for playing Johnny Fontane in “The Godfather,” died Tuesday. Read the story in the New York Times.
This is … a Paul Anka song?
Wednesday, October 14th, 2009“This Is It,” the song that is heralding the Michael Jackson film of the same name, was written in 1983 by crooner Paul Anka, the BBC reports. The current version of the song is available for streaming on the Jackson website, and features Jackson’s brothers on backing vocals.
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The most metal and non-metal moments in ‘Some Kind of Monster’
Tuesday, October 13th, 2009Today’s post is in conjunction with our sister blog, Bed Time Movies. See the way Metallica brings families together?
Between the time bassist Jason Newsted left the metal giant Metallica in 2001 and the release of the album St. Anger in 2003, a documentary was made, basically chronicling a band who seemed to have lost its way. Much of the film involved conflict between front man James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, with guitarist Kirk Hammett timidly caught in the middle, like a child watching his parents divorce.
“Metallica: Some Kind of Monster” received a better critical reception than St. Anger, an album undermined by mixing that made a murky and incoherrent soup out of intense rhythms (Metallica would later get back to basics on 2008’s Death Magnetic). Meanwhile, the doc secured a 74 on Metacritic, with the New York Times calling it “a psychodrama of novelistic intricacy and epic scope.” The Washington Post also heaped on the praise: “Absorbing, funny, exhilaratingly entertaining ride through two years in the life of the most successful heavy metal band in history.”
“Some Kind of Monster” brings Metallica’s rock star gods down to a more human level. It’s ridiculous to expect any band except for the most hard-core satanic Scandinavian bands to be metal all the time, but it’s still a little disappointing to see Metallica as so … mortal.
Bed Time Movies and theFiver presents: The most metal and non-metal moments in “Metallica: Some Kind of Monster”
In 2001, Metallica seeks therapy
You don’t talk about your feelings if you’re metal. You only about death.
Lars talks about his paintings
Lars doesn’t paint guts exploding out of a decayed carcass. They’re more abstract. When he auctions off his work, he doesn’t use the proceeds to buy machine guns.
Kirk replaces drinking and drugs with surfing
His surfboard does not contain spikes, nor are the edges razor sharp.
Metallica comes up with a mission statement of what they want to accomplish in therapy
Mission statements are not metal.
Kirk appears wimpy throughout the film
He enjoys horseback riding on his beautiful and pristine ranch. It’s not a death-ranch, and I don’t think he eats the horses.
Lars says he wants James Hetfield to be “the best person he can be”
Former member Dave Mustaine’s teary confessions of inadequacy in a therapy session with Lars
You’re Dave Freakin’ Mustaine! You front a band called Megadeth!
Hetfield comes back from rehab wearing geek glasses
Also complains the documentary makes him feel like he’s “in the spotlight all the time.”
Hetfield attends his daughter’s ballet recital
The ballet isn’t about death, nor is it performed to symphonic metal.
Lars goes running for exercise and enjoyment
No fans are killed during Fan Appreciation Day
Hetfield talks about “abandonment issues”
He complains he cannot “get close” to people.
Kirk gets all zen.
He tries to be “egoless.” You’re the lead guitarist in Metallica, dude. You ought to be wearing giant bat wings and breathing fire. Also, showing off your wang.
Lars complains about getting ostracized by fans after suing Napster
Hetfield performs voice and scale exercises
Ought to have been performing growling and blood-drinking exercises.
The band talks about using “positive energy” to make the album
The album is called “St. Anger.”
The band gets all weepy now that the album is done
You don’t get weepy. You drink awful American beer and do horrible things for which you will need to a powerful defense attorney.
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Newsted quits the band
Quitting the band is so metal!
Hetfield drives a hotrod and gets pulled over
He also rides a big freakin’ chopper.
Hetfield’s vacation photos
He killed a bear while in Siberia. Killing and bears are both metal. Killing a bear is the most metal thing you can do on vacation.
Lars calls Hetfield “a complete dick!”
Metal!
Hetfield storms out of recording studio, slamming door
Also metal!
Lars’ dad
Totally metal! He’s got a long beard, a funny accent, and he hates the new album!
Newsted’s band Echobrain
When his former band mates come to see Echobrain at a club, Newsted completely blows them off, after which, Lars laments, “I’m in f—ng hell.”
The lyrics “My lifestyle determines my deathstyle.”
That’s Metalocalypse-metal.
During a band meeting, Lars complains about “all the f—ing rules!”
Also throws an f-bomb right in Hetfield’s face. Very metal.
Lars makes the best metal face while recording drum tracks
Band hires ugliest bassist they can find to replace Newsted
Image from music blog Stereo Warning
Shot video for new single in a maximum security prison
That’s pretty freaking metal.
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