Allow me a personal moment here, at the end of the day, as it is Tori Amos’s 48th birthday. I figured, since I gave Madonna a birthday post last week, and I really don’t care about Madonna ALL THAT MUCH, that I should do the same for Tori. She’s got a new record coming out in a few weeks, and I started last week’s Random Ten with one of the songs from that. But I think that, for her birthday, I’d rather post a couple of the songs that have meant the most to me over the years, starting with the one I heard at age eleven, and that has carried me many times over the years, “Silent All These Years.” I think many of us can relate to that title, and to this song.
“Putting the Damage On” has meant a lot to me this year.
And how about a couple covers? Playing Tom Waits’ “Time” on Letterman just after 9/11.
And I was just listening to this last night. Tori’s beautiful cover of “Landslide.”
It’s the end of the day on Friday, and I’m still working on a long, fun piece on the 2012 clown car GOP presidential contenders, which should be up either sometime tonight or tomorrow, but we usually do music of some sort at the end of the week, so here’s something!
The Tori Amos song “Riot Poof” marked a seminal moment in my life, and is starting to find new relevance for me. If I were making an autobiographical mix CD, first of all, it would be a ten disc box set, but this song would feature prominently. So listen to it.
I haven’t been around much today because I’m working on a long piece that you all will see Monday-ish, but the Random Ten kind of happens randomly and automatically, so it’s music time! And then it’s the weekend! This week we’re starting with two bands. I got to see Wye Oak live the other night, and though the lead singer was sick, everybody banded together and made it work and I can’t wait to see them when they’re in their best form. Their song “I Hope You Die” is one of my very favorite songs I’ve heard in the past year. So we’ll start with that, and also the amazing Big Star song “Life Is White.” If you don’t know Big Star, please understand that they wrote some of the greatest pop songs ever written, and that half the people you listen to now got their inspiration from people who got their inspiration from Big Star. They’re that good. So Wye Oak, Big Star, hit shuffle on the iTunes machine, see where we are ten songs later, and see ya. More videos after the jump.
1. Lalaland – “Over Again”
2. Jane Siberry – “Narrow Bridge/Millenium”
3. Le Loup – “Le Loup (Fear Not)”
4. Nina Nastasia – “Superstar”
5. Josh Groban – “Love Only Knows”
6. Santigold – “L.E.S Artistes”
7. Cry Cry Cry – “The Ballad Of Mary Magdalen”
8. Wilson Phillips – “Next To You (Someday I’ll Be)”
9. Bizet: Carmen Suite, #1 – “Intermezzo” [English Festival Orchestra]
10. Tori Amos – “Pink and Glitter”
Wow, we’ve got Jesus, Mary Magdalene, the Montagues and the Capulets all playing roles in this. Not sure what that means, but those are some fierce archetypes. ”The Ballad of Mary Magdalen” is one of my very favorite songs of all time. Here goes: (Read More)
Music time, and it’s a cheesy one. The other night in trivia, the following question was asked: What band had a 1990′s hit with the song “How Do You Talk To An Angel”? The answer, which several of us knew immediately, was THE HEIGHTS. Oh yes, if you’re in a certain age group, you remember. And then for some reason, that reminded me of the [also cheesy] Friends soundtrack that came out around the same time, which included a stellar, and not at all cheesy, cover of “Angel of the Morning” by The Pretenders. So that’s where we’re starting this week. The Heights, The Pretenders, hit shuffle on the old iTunes, see where we are ten songs later, and then it’s the weekend. Go!
1. Antony and the Johnsons – “Aeon”
2. Nina Simone – “Turn Me On”
3. Ben Folds – “Doc Pomus” [lyrics by author Nick Hornby]
4. Chris Beland – “Weather Man”
5. Cher – “The Star Spangled Banner” [oh, how phenomenally embarrassing]
6. Angus Andrew & Annie Clark – “New Sensation” [INXS cover]
7. Kaki King – “Falling Day”
8. Tori Amos – “Space Dog”
9. Etta James – “I Want To Be Loved (But Only By You)”
10. Tori Amos – “A Silent Night With You” (Read More)
Music time, and then weekend time! This week the song we’re starting with is one of, in my opinion, the most beautiful songs ever written. I was reminded of it this week when it popped up in my iTunes shuffle on Wednesday and I ended up listening to it about nine times. The song always hits me, but it hit me a little extra this time around. [As I said, I listened nine times...] Many people who are familiar with “The Valley” know it as a k.d. lang song, and she does make it her own, but it was originally written and performed by the wonderful Jane Siberry. If you are not familiar with her, get to work changing that please. For a couple of reasons, this song seems even more appropriate to me today than it did on Wednesday, particularly this stanza:
“you walk through the shadows
uncertain and surely hurting
deserted by the blackbirds and the staccato of the staff
and though you trust the light towards which you wend your way
sometimes you feel all that you wanted has been taken away
you will walk in good company”
So, let’s start with a performance of the song from Jane, and then one from k.d.; then we’ll hit shuffle, see where we are ten songs later, and then we go! Take care of yourselves and the people close to you.
1. Kings of Convenience – “I’d Rather Dance With You”
2. Corelli: Concerto Grosso No. 8 in G Minor, Op. 6, “Christmas Concerto”: II. Allegro, performed by the Moscow Conservatory Chamber Orchestra [Full recording: Parts I and II]
3. Dar Williams – “The Tide Falls Away”
4. Tori Amos – “Raspberry Swirl” [Lip Gloss Version]
5. Dosh – “Call The Kettle”
6. Stereophonics – “Is Yesterday, Tomorrow, Today?”
7. Wilco – “I’m The Man Who Loves You”
8. Coolio – “Gangsta’s Paradise”
9. Brandi Carlile – “Looking Out”
10. Dar Williams – “Go To The Woods”
Wow, lots of Dar lately. I like that. And yeah, that says “Gangsta’s Paradise,” it’s in my iTunes, stuff it.
Earlier this week, my favorite record of all time somehow turned fifteen years old. That would, of course, be Tori Amos’s “Boys for Pele.” It’s truly stunning to me that that record has been with me for fifteen years [and that her first will be twenty next year], but there you have it. So, the two songs from that record that I’m feeling the most right now are “Doughnut Song” and “Putting the Damage On,” so we’ll start with those, hit shuffle on the iTunes machine and see where we end up ten songs later. More videos after the jump. Go!
1. Owen Pallett – “Keep The Dog Quiet” [Simon Bookish remix]
2. Radiohead – “How To Disappear Completely”
3. Robert Randolph and the Family Band – “Dry Bones” [psst! Free download of live recording there!]
4. Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballé – “Barcelona”
5. Chris Bell – “Speed of Sound”
6. Snowden – “No One In Control”
7. Whiskeytown – “A Song For You” [Gram Parsons cover]
8. Sting – “Why Should I Cry For You?”
9. Nina Simone – “Who Am I?”
10. Low – “In Silence”
I must say, this is one of the most epic and synchronistic Random Tens I’ve ever had. For instance, we’ll start with the Snowden song “No One Is In Control,” which includes these lyrics early on:
“Middle of a summer night you just go / for a ride / and get high / and sing / Nina Simone…”
Music time! Starting with a couple from Ryan Adams, just because. “Come Pick Me Up” and “La Cienega Just Smiled.” And then at the bottom, I’m putting Tori Amos’s “Hey Jupiter.” Just listen. More videos after the jump!
“What Sarah Said” is the one of the most painfully beautiful, poignant songs I have ever heard, so don’t miss that one. And the live version of Tori’s “Iieee” below is delightfully weird and wonderful, especially with the story at the beginning.
Music time! I’ve been listening to a lot of Beth Orton this week. I’ve always been a big fan, so when she came up in the rotation, I decided to stick with her for a few days. Being the completely indecisive human I am [you should see me with a menu at an Asian restaurant], I couldn’t pick just one song to start the shuffle with, so I picked three instead. All three songs hit me this week, in various ways, so here are “Live As You Dream,” “Someone’s Daughter,” and “Couldn’t Cause Me Harm.” Then we hit shuffle, find out where we are ten songs later, and then it’s the weekend! More videos after the jump.
Music time, and I literally have no idea what I want to start the Random Ten with this week. Not a clue. So I guess we’ll start with this really, really great song I rediscovered this week by the Crash Test Dummies, who my mom used to make fun of mercilessly, which, you know, not cool, yo. ”God Shuffled His Feet” is a seriously amazing song and people should recognize. And then, okay fine, it’s Christmas, fine fine fine. My favorite Christmas song is “Little Drummer Boy,” hands down, and my two favorite versions come from Josh Groban and from Tori Amos. Two very, very different takes on the song. So there you have it, Crash Test Dummies, some Christmas, hit shuffle, listen to songs, find out where we are ten songs later, goodbye. Ready set go! More videos after the jump.
N.B. I know our readers are of a lot of faiths or none at all, but if you have a problem with me posting Christmas songs, just know that you’re either supporting Christmas, or you’re part of the War on Christmas! No, I am kidding. Goodness, I’m an atheist. But feel free to post songs that mean something to you this time of the year in the comments and stuff!
I also love Tori’s “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.” Totally makes me cry, but you know. So here’s that, too. Then the shuffle.
1. Nine Inch Nails – “Something I Can Never Have”
2. Aimee Mann – “She Really Wants You”
3. Annuals – “Hot Night Hounds”
4. Leonard Bernstein: Arias and Barcarolles – 8. Nachspiel (Postlude)
5. The Cinematic Orchestra ft. Fontella Bass – “Breathe”
6. Jill Sobule – “Someone’s Gonna Break Your Heart”
7. Joan Osborne – “Dracula Moon”
8. RENT, Original Broadway Cast – “Halloween”
9. Lucinda Williams – “Blue”
10. Katie Herzig – “Shovel”
Yay, Katie Herzig again! Seriously, she’s one of my favorite discoveries of the past year. Also remember, just because I don’t post all the videos doesn’t mean the links above aren’t awesome. I’m talking about the Annuals song, and the Nine Inch Nails song [that one's Christmassy], and the Lucinda Williams song.
Music time! Another one of those weeks where I had the song I wanted to start with all planned and ready, but then I started listening to Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” last night and found it so newly poignant that I had to use it. But I’m going to use the other one too, because I’ve been listening to a lot of wintry/holiday music, and I ran across this incredible thing by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson called “Winter Song,” and it’s too beautiful not to post. So “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” “Winter Song,” hit shuffle on the iTunes Jukebox Machine, see where we are ten songs later, and then I have an art opening to go to, so see ya. More videos after the jump:
1. Brandi Carlile – “Dying Day”
2. Ferraby Lionheart – “A Bell And Tumble”
3. Deer Tick – “Baltimore Blues No. 1″
4. The Posies [ft. Kay Hanley] – “The Glitter Prize”
5. Patty Griffin – “Poor Man’s House”
6. Katie Herzig – “I Want To Belong To You”
7. The Corin Tucker Band – “Doubt”
8. Tori Amos – “Flavor”
9. Cale Parks – “Every Week Ends”
10. Leonard Bernstein – Suite from the opera A Quiet Place: Postlude to Act I
That Brandi Carlile song comes up all the time, but that’s fine. It can come up as much as it wants, as far as I’m concerned. Don’t miss the Katie Herzig song under any circumstances.
