Favorite Holiday Tunes
Vodkapundit has posted a list of "
50 Things You Ought to Have on Your Christmas Playlist." Yes, it's that time of year to dig deep into your CD/Vinyl/Cassette/iPod collection and play your favorites-- I'll say "holiday" in case anyone has a favorite Hannukah/Kwanzaa/general Wintertime song they like to hear this time of year (I'll hear no "PC" complaints).
Aside from some obvious chestnuts (get it?), I have a few offbeat suggestions:
"
I Wish it Could be Christmas Everyday" by Roy Wood. This was a big hit in Britain (a #1 I think), not so much in the US, but a great piece of Phil Spector-style "Wall of Sound" pop by one of the founders of ELO.
"
What Will Santa Claus Say (When He Finds Everybody Swingin'?" by Louis Prima-- for the swingers (as in swing music-- I know what you are thinking, Optimist!) in the crowd.
"
Christmas at the Zoo" by the Flaming Lips. Just something about that song makes me smile.
Suggestions?
Tom Cruise is still cool
Okay, I am going to take a contrary view to most of the media now and say that Tom Cruise is still cool. He still makes great movies. And really, beyond that who gives a rats ass what he does in his personal life.
Scientology: So what. Whatever gets him through the day.
Dominating over Katie Holmes: Hey, maybe she just thinks like him. Unless you have a camera in their home, you have no idea what they are really like. So shhhhh.
Overreacting to interviewers: Hey, Matt Lauer is sometimes very smug and needs to be shushed. And some jerk squirts water in my face I would have beaten on him, instead of chastising him.
Jumping on Oprah's couch: hey, that looked like a very jumpable couch.
Tom's movies are still loads of fun. War of the Worlds was just all sorts of excellent. Mission Impossible is a fun franchise. And I still quote Top Gun.
Tom Cruise = Cool.
Frank Black is overrated
Okay, so the Pyxies are a good group and Frank Black is really interesting and writes some great stuff. But this cult of Frank Black that has formed around him is fairly odd. Just enjoy the Pyxies and Mr. Black and stop being so damned serious about what is essentially just a really good band with a really good lead singer.
Black Eyed Peas versus Sir Mixalot
And now, a dramatic reading from two of the most fun songs ever made. Please read in your best Richard Burton voice, and then vote on which song speaks to your soul more. And now, Black Eyed Peas "My Humps" vs Sir Mixalots "Baby Got Back."
My Humps:
What you gon’ do with all that junk?
All that junk inside your trunk?
I’ma get, get, get, get, you drunk,
Get you love drunk off my hump.
My hump, my hump, my hump, my hump, my hump,
My hump, my hump, my hump, my lovely little lumps. (Check it out)
Baby Got Back:
So your girlfriend rolls a Honda,
playin' workout tapes by Fonda
But Fonda ain't got a motor in the back of her Honda
My anaconda don't want none Unless you've got buns, hun
You can do side bends or sit-ups,
But please don't lose that butt
Where have all the rocking women gone
As I was going through my old cassettes and LPs while cleaning out my parents place, I noticed several Go Gos albums, the first Bangles CD and Joan Jett. Which got me to thinking about the Runaways, Patti Smythe and Scandal, Berlin and the Pretenders. And I said to myself, "Self, where have all the rocking women gone?"
I debated internally with myself for quite some time. Are there any female bands or singers that are at all interesting. My curmudgeonee, all the good bands and singers ended on January 1, 1990 Self wanted to say that none are left. The Ashlee Simpsons of the world have taken over.
But then I thought harder. Even though I find most of her stuff sort of bland, Kelly Clarkson has one hell of a voice and Since You Been Gone is a damn good song. And bands like Slunt (interesting name there) could probably kick my butt in a fair fight. Garbage is still putting out interesting stuff. And Liz Phair pretty much rocks out loud.
So I think we are seeing an emergence of female rockers again. Lita Ford, it is now a good time for you to come out of retirements.
