Book Review - "Just Kids" by Patti Smith

I loved Patti Smith's Just Kids. I love the story she tells, the way she tells it, the people she talks about and the places where she takes us.

The book is Smith's keeping a promise she made to her friend, lover, and muse - artist Robert Mapplethorpe - as he was dying of AIDS in 1989. It's the story of their 22 year friendship, love story and collaboration - a coming of age story set in New York's art and music world. New York City is as much a main character as are Patti and Robert. It's not a pretty New York City - lots of drugs and hustling - but a vibrant art and music scene. And my elusive Shengri-La, the Chelsea Hotel is also a star in the book. They lived there for several years and it was crucial to their development as artists.

I was actually more familiar with Mapplethorpe's work than with Smith's until recently. I've always admired Mapplethorpe's work even as it disturbed me. Reading about how his art evolved as a mirror of his life was fantastic. The name-dropping in the book is fabulous - Smith and Mapplethorpe were in the thick of the Warhol and Chelsea Hotel scene. That's how Smith came to be in the same room as Kris Kristofferson singing "Me and Bobby McGee" to Janis Joplin for the first time - can you imagine!

Smith's writing is beautiful, her love for Mapplethorpe is felt on every page. What started as an accidental meeting, led to a friendship, a love affair and a symbiotic artistic relationship - they fed off each other's creativity. It's really amazing how they each helped the other develop their talent.

While I loved it, I recognize it's not for everyone, the sotry is hardly universal and if you aren't familiar with or curious about this time period, you won't get the same out of it that I did, you might be bored.

Click this link to see Smith's amazing impromptu, a capella performance of "Because the Night" at the 2010 Miami Book Fair.

What songs would make your Top Ten Worst Songs list?

***Disclaimer: I have absolutely no musical talent and therefore have no business criticizing anyone who does. I do not claim nor believe these are *THE* ten worst songs ever – these are merely the ten worst songs for me. Having said that…prepare yourselves for my totally unsolicited opinion.

Hilda’s Ten Worst Songs List (#1 being the worst of the worst)

10 – Achy Breaky Heart – Billy Ray Cyrus – really people? I mean come on!

9 – I Just Called To Say I Love You – Stevie Wonder – I know, I know, Stevie Wonder! He’s a genius! Yes I KNOW, and I loves me my Stevie, but this song bugs me

8 – Seasons in the Sun – Terry Jacks – Oy! Just kill me now. “Goodbye Papa (pronounced PAH PAH) please pray for me I was the black sheep of the family”. I’m a fan of the tragic teenage death songs but this one…just no.

7 – Muskrat Love – Captain and Tennille – It’s about RATS! Or close enough. I so don’t need to know about Muskrat Suzy and Muskrat Sam jitterbugging in Muskrat Land. (shudder)

6 – Escape (The Piña Colada Song) – Rupert Holmes – This is NOT a romantic song people! It’s about a couple who were going out with the specific intention of cheating on each other! That’s horrible.

5 – We Are Family – Sister Sledge – I hate songs that repeat stuff over and over. This song irks me.

4 – Having My Baby – Paul Anka – Just ewwww. Creepiest.Song.Ever. Let’s look at some of the words, shall we?

“Having my baby,
What a lovely way of saying how much you love me, (What, she couldn’t get him a card?)
Having my baby,
What a lovely way of saying what you're thinking of me” (A phone call maybe? Just sayin’)

and

“Oh the seed inside you,
Baby do you feel it growing” (Do you really want to be thinking about Paul Anka’s “seed”?)

3 – My Heart Will Go On – Celine Dion – “Celine Dion” and “Titanic”. ‘Nuff said.

2 – Barbie Girl – Aqua – Worst.Earworm.Ever. Pretty much everything about this song is bad. The lyrics, the voices, the music, the video, the bald guy. All of it.

And the Number 1 Worst Song Ever according to Hilda:

1 - Don’t Worry Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin – OH MY GOD! This song makes me clench. If I never ever ever heard this song again it would be too soon.

***Honorable Mention – And DO NOT JUDGE ME! – Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin.

OK stop.

I KNOW Led Zeppelin is considered by many as the ohmygod best band in the history of everything. Fine. I fully acknowledge their impact and importance and transcendence and influence and the fact they survived the use of unquantifiable amounts of drugs. And I love love love the Robert Plant/Alison Krauss collaboration Raising Sand. But Stairway… is just sooooooo long and pompous and that interminable guitar solo from hell.

I just don’t get it. So sue me.

The Judgement Day/Rapture/End of the World Musical Score!

Well, I didn't get "raptured" on Saturday May 21 , did you? If you did and you answer, that'll resolve the "is there Internet in Heaven?" question. I guess it's still possible that the end game has begun and the whole things blows on October 21, 2011.

I had started drafting this playlist post before the ending that never came, so since it can still happen, I'll go ahead and post it.

Rapture - Blondie - Well, duh! This is obvious - maybe the video will make sense now. Yeah, no.

It's the End of the World As We Know It - R.E.M. - a classic! Have some coffee before you try to sing this one...

End of the World - The Cure - I love them! I know - soooo not me, but still.

The End of the World - The Carpenters - yes it was originally done by Skeeter Davis, but this is my Apocalyptic playlist, and I like this version better, so there!

Dance Me To The End Of Love - Leonard Cohen - What? The end of love is the end of the world, right? So let's dance! Plus, it's Leonard Cohen - again this is *my* end-of-days soundtrack.

Until the End of the World - U2 - Of course Bono would have to have at least one end of the world song. He seems so serious, but I've seen him in interviews and stuff and he has a great self-deprecating (I know! Surprise!) sense of humor. Anyway - this is a great song. Edge totally rocks it.

Apocalypse Please - Muse - Yes I know they lost all credibility when they sold out for the Twilight soundtrack, but theyr'e really not half-bad.

There you have it...what do you think?

Songs from Lolaish - The Earth Hour Edition

So...Saturday March 26th at your 8:30 p.m. - turn off the lights. The link explains the whys and wherefores and important information - I'm here to offer suggestions as to what you can do with that dark hour...

• Well, there's the obvious...ñaca ñaca - woo hoo!
• Light all the candles in your house - the ones that are too pretty to use in an emergency situation (hurricanes, power outages, late on your electric bill, etc.) because in an emergency situation you won't appreciate the pretty. We all have them, beautiful candles given to us as gifts that sit there looking pretty but never get lit...now is the time. Put them all around the room and just sit back and enjoy them.
• Play shadow puppets.
• Wear anything you have that's "glow-in-the-dark".
• You can go over an hour if you want, so you can watch a really creepy, scary movie - LOOK OUT HE'S IN THE HOUSE! AIIIIIIEEEEEE!
• Depending on whether or not you're alone, play either swaying romantic belly-rubbin' music, or up-beat fun "dance like nobody's watching" music and then do some (wait for it - you know it's coming) dancing in the dark! Hahaha (well it amused me).

Maybe this week's "it's all about the dark" song list can be your soundtrack...

1. Dancing in the Dark - Bruce Springsteen - What? Like I wasn't going to include this? It's THE BOSS! Bruuuuuuuuuuuce!
2. Dark Road - Annie Lennox - Her voice is sooo cool and haunting. This is a great song...sad.
3. Darkest Hour - Arlo Guthrie - Appropriate and Arlo! Woooo! His voice makes me smile.
4. Dark Lady - Cher - Remember this one? It's all about a duplicitous fortune teller - Oy, the drama!
5. Piano in the Dark - Brenda Russell - mmmmm...slinky and sexy...this is a good one for the belly-rubbin' dancing
6. By the River's Dark - Leonard Cohen - Cohen is so the man! All his songs - amazing poetry. If you don't know this one, check it out.
7. Darkness Darkness - Robert Plant - This song was covered by many people but Plant's version is quite beautiful and haunting. At one point, during the Vietnam war, it was considered by some almost an anthem for the soldiers describing what it felt like in the jungle..."Darkness, darkness, long and lonesome, Is the day that brings me here I have felt the edge of sadness, I have known the depths of fear..."
8. Dark End of the Street - Eva Cassidy - Another song that has been covered by everyone from Bruce Springsteen to Courtney Love to Aretha Franklin to The Flying Burrito Brothers - but as with everything she sings, Eva Cassidy's version highlights the power of this song.
9. I Will Follow You Into the Dark - Death Cab for Cutie - Yeah, not the happiest song in the lot. It's really...well...dark.
10. Coming Out of the Dark - Gloria Estefan- I still get goose bumps when I hear this song!This is the first song she both performed and recorded after her near fatal accident, when she was able to come out of that darkness. Yay Gloria!

So there you have it...some music to listen to during that dark hour...just remember to come out of the dark eventually.

Have a wonderful weekend!

American Idol - Top 13 - Their Musical Idols

OK, I didn't watch American Idol in any significant way last season, therefore I didn't Blog about it. I swore I wouldn't watch it this season, but I caught part of one of the audition shows - which I never watch and on which I have never commented - and I was impressed with Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez as well as with the talent. So...I'm gonna give it a whirl.

First my usual disclaimer: (I am copying this with minimal amendment from the last Top 13 post I Blogged in 2009).

If you haven't read my recaps before here's the deal - these are my wholly subjective, thoroughly meaningless, untrained musings on the "I don't want to watch but somehow I watch" TV phenomenon that is American Idol. I have absolutely no business judging any of these people because I have no musical training or talent *whatsoever* - not that this lack of knowledge or ability stops me from singing often and loudly - but hey! they put themselves up there, so I judge them and mock them. It amuses me.

Because it's the first recap first of the season I'll give you my opinion of them based on first impression and then after the double-dash " - - " and song title, I'll comment specifically on Wednesday night's performances and give them a "grade" on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the worst. In the upcoming weeks I'll only comment on and grade the performances. Here we go...

Lauren Alaina – GAH Outfit! She seems too fluffy - - Any Man of Mine – Great song that she made boring; her voice is fine but she had zero sex appeal, which this song calls for; Meh…Score – 3

Casey Abrams – Needs a haircut and beard trim right now! He might be handsome, but we can’t tell through the “Grizzly Adamness” - - With a Little Help From My Friends – Good song but has been overdone; great voice!; good outfit; good performance but too manic – I think he was channeling Joe Cocker and it wasn’t pretty. Score - 8.

Ashthon Jones – Beautiful girl, fabulous dress - - When You Tell Me That You Love Me – I don’t know this song; her voice was uneven but seems like it could be good; too shriek; I think the song was too difficult; not a good performance. Score – 3.

Paul McDonald – cute, quirky, I want to like this guy - - Come Pick Me Up - I don’t know the song; where was his voice?; husky is fine but this was none existent; oh no he’s “dancing”? Well, he was twitching around on stage and it wasn’t good – he needs to never dancing again; that was pretty much awful. Score – 4.

Pia Toscano – she’s gorgeous! - - All By Myself – great song but she went with Celine Dion shriekeramic arrangement! I mean come on! Just do it like Eric Carmen wrote it and dial the volume down by like a million; great dress except for the Superman cape; between shrieks I heard a good voice, I could probably like her singing; good stage presence. Score – 7.

James Durbin – cute guy; I read he suffers from Tourette’s Syndrome and is Autistic – good for him that’s he’s doing this - - Maybe I'm Amazed – great song and he totally nailed it! Wow! Loved the voice, loved the performance; great high notes with no yelling – imagine that! I found nothing wrong with it, so he gets a perfect score! Score 10.

Haley Reinhart – she said “a lot more better” – HA! I like her - - Blue – this was a hard song and she did well; looks good; great dress; she got better as the song went on. Score – 8.

Jacob Lusk – Meh, he’s OK seems nice enough - - I Believe I Can Fly – I hate this song! Oy with the yelling; does he always do this Revival Preacher thing. Score - 4.

Thia Megia – beautiful girl, seems sweet - - Smile – I don’t love the song; great dress; great voice; she did the best she could with a boring song, not a good choice. Score - 7.

Stefano Langone – cute guy, a nice Italian boy - - Lately – I don’t know the song; good voice but he was uneven; he got better towards the end, but I’m not sure what he was trying to do with it. Score - 6.

Karen Rodriguez – How cute is she? Pretty girl, I like her - - I Could Fall in Love – Great song; she looks gorgeous, great dress; she’s clearly working the Hispanic angle, that could get old real quick, we’ll see; she did well with the song. Score – 7.

Scotty McCreery – What me worry? Hello Alfred E. Newman! - - The River – Great song, I love that he kept the original arrangement; umm Wow! Where did that voice come from? It totally doesn’t match his looks but I love it; I liked his look, he looked comfortable on stage; I wonder how he’ll do with non-country music; again nothing I didn’t like, so perfect score! Score – 10.

Naina Adedapo – So this is this season’s “quirky chick”; she’s beautiful but might be flakey - - Umbrella – Great song! Loved loved loved the reggae/rap thing; look! She can dance!; her voice was a bit uneven, maybe because of the dancing but I loved this performance. Score – 9.

Who I Think *Should* Go: Lauren Alaina

Who I Think *Will* Go: Ashthon Jones

So, what do you think? Who do you like? What aboout the judges - good, bad, indifferent.

International Women's Day Centennial

YAY Us!

Happy Birthday IWD! 100! You don't look a day over 25.

I was going to Blog some disheartening news about women in the US, but I'll wait for another time - today we celebrate.

In honor of International Women's Day we have a very special Lola's Lady Shuffle...let's see what we get!

1. La Vie en Rose -Edith Piaf (France) - Great start Lola! A perennial classic. It doesn't get better.


2. Emabhaceni - Miriam Makeba (South Africa) Mama Africa...wasn't she awesome?


3. The Lucky One - Alison Krauss (USA) & Union Station - I love her voice, so powerful yet soft.


4. Heaven's What I Feel - Gloria Estefan (Cuba) My home girl - Cubanita made good. I'm so proud of her - succesful career, seemingly happy family, no scandals, no rehab, and remarkable recovery from a horrible accident. She's da' bomb.


5. Travelin' Soldier - Dixie Chicks (USA) -Love them, love this song!


6. Chasing Pavements - Adele (England) - I love this young singer, her voice is so emotive...


7. Shut Up and Drive - Rihanna (Barbados) - How far she's come in a relatively short time, and so pretty. This is a fun song!


8. Fergalicious - Fergie (USA) - Did you think the pretty girl in Black Eyed Peas would blow up like this? And how much fun is this song?


9. Give Me One Reason - Tracy Chapman (USA) - From her early years - this song is fabulous as is Tracy - you "hear" the soul in her voice.


10. Whenever, Whatever - Shakira (Colombia) - Wooo...shake it! Great song, outrageously beautiful woman and a brain behinmd the pretty face.

If you're a woman celebrate your day...if you're a man, celebrate the women in your life.

The Lola Shuffle - The "Woodstock 40th Anniversary" Edition

This weekend commemorates the 40th anniversary of Woodstock. Woodstock is now the age against which the attendees were rebelling.

What a weekend, huh? What a lineup - here are just some of them, the ones that I would have wanted to see:

• Melanie
• Arlo Guthrie
• Joan Baez
• John Sebastian
• Santana
• Grateful Dead
• Creedence Clearwater Revival
• Janis Joplin (!)
• Sly and the Family Stone
• The Who (they sang 25 songs starting at 4 a.m.)
• Jefferson Airplane
• Joe Cocker
• The Band
• Blood, Sweat and Tears
• Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
• Neil Young
• Jimi Hendrix

Except for the mud and the whole being outside thing - I would have loved to have been there. Since then we've had events like Live Aid and other multi performer events, but the aura of Woodstock was never recaptured. There have been attempts, but they've failed because the world is so different now. Things were far from perfect then, and the festival had it's dark side - but I think there was a level of sincerity and innocence that isn't as prevalent. I think those kids really believed in their hearts as well as in their LSD and pot infused brains that they were going to change the world - and to be honest they did in a lot of ways.

Despite the turmoil and problems of the era, IMO for one weekend in upstate New York it was a magical moment. Sadly, we may need to wait 100 years like Brigadoon, or perhaps wait for "when the moon is in the seventh house and Jupiter aligns with Mars and peace guides the planet" before the zeitgeist produces another Woodstock moment.

OK Lola, give us a Woodstock worthy shuffle - who knows we may get a ghost of rock festivals past...

1. Crazy - Willie Nelson (Don't start Dixie!)
2. I Wanna Be Your Lover - Prince
3. I'm in You - Peter Frampton
4. I Only Want To Be With You - Dusty Springfield
5. God Only Knows - The Beach Boys
6. Un Poquito De Tu Amor - Desi Arnaz
7. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) - Green Day
8. Pinball Wizard - The Who (WOO HOO - Woodstock sighting!)
9. Mercy - Duffy
10. Crazy Little thing Called Love - Queen

So this weekend, stay cool, have a glass or two of Mateus or Lancers - maybe listen to a little Hendrix, some Joplin or some Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Send out good vibes so that some day we will again know the pleasures of peace, love and rock and roll.

But keep out of the mud and most importantly stay away from the brown acid.

One Love

Just watch the whole thing...it'll make you smile.

Then check out the Playing for Change site for more smiles.

The Lola Shuffle - The "Good Friday" Edition

image source

Wow! Doing the Lola Shuffle on Good Friday! I realize I've done a couple of these already and I never made the connection of music and Good Friday before today.

When I was growing up I was raised by my beloved, very Catholic, very old-school , very pre-Vatican II, Spanish grandmother. This meant that on Good Friday not only was there no meat - there was also no TV, no playing, and no music - there was pretty much no fun at all, because well, Jesus Christ died for us that day and the least we could do was be miserable.

You can imagine what that was like for a kid all day at home on vacation from school who loved TV! It was awful. It was made worse because, while we couldn't listen to music, my grandmother would turn all the radios in the house to one of the local Cuban radio stations who on Good Friday would only air the reading of the Sermon of the Seven Words on a continuous loop - all day. So my grandmother, and therefore I, would listen to it ALL DAY, EVERYWHERE.

But that was then and this is now. Today Lola shuffles and I'm pretty sure Jesus is cool with that.

1. Movin' On - Elliott Yamin
2. Love Affair - Erasure
3. Behind the Wall - Tracy Chapman
4. Rock and Roll Dreams - Meatloaf (By the way did anyone see Meatloaf last Monday on the awesomest episode of "House" ever? He wasn't in the main story, but he was good...)
5. Get the Party Started - P!nk (Sorry Abi! - that's what I called my grandmother)
6. When I Come Around - Green Day
7. Babe - Styx
8. I Kissed a Girl - Katy Perry (Yeah, Lola seems intent on giving Abi a hard time today...)
9. Don't Stop - Fleetwood Mac
10. Clumsy - Fergie

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. If you celebrate Easter, then have a blessed, happy holiday. I hope you get lots of easter candy, and remember - always, always, always, eat the chocolate bunny ears first!

I Just Want To Be Mad

image source

This song by Terri Clark has been around for a while, and the other day in the midst of a full Lola shuffle (that's where I shuffle all the songs on my iPod and listen to everything) it came up and I was reminded how fantastic a song this is.

I think every woman who loves someone feels like this every now and then. You definitely love your partner - there's no question about that. You know this person is without a doubt the person you want to be with - but damnitalltohell they can pizz you off!

Most of the time it's just a quick kerfuffle, everybody yells, stay away from each other for a bit and then carry on normally. But other times, you don't get over it right away, your angry and frustrated and don't want to deal with your beloved - you just wanna be mad for a while. So, when your partner comes around and tries to be normal, or extra nice you're just not ready yet and sometimes it lasts for more than a day.

This song captures that emotional state brilliantly and in a way validates it. Like, it's OK if you're still angry when the other person is over it - it doesn't mean you don't love them it just means you're still pissed!

Here are the lyrics - seriously how perfect are they?

I Just Want To Be Mad

Terri Clark

Last night we went to bed not talkin',

'Cause we'd already said too much.

I faced the wall, you faced the window

bound and determined not to touch.

We've been married seven years now,

Some days it feels like 21.

I'm still mad at you this mornin'.

Coffee's ready if you want some.

I've been up since five, thinkin' bout me and you.

And I've got to tell you the conclusion I've come to.

I'll never leave, I'll never stray.

My love for you will never change,

but I ain't ready to make up, we'll get around to that.

I think I'm right, I think you're wrong.

I'll prob'ly give in before long.

Please don't make me smile.

I just wanna be mad for a while.

Well, now you might as well forget it.

Don't run your fingers through my hair.

Yeah, that's right, I'm bein' stubborn.

No, I don't wanna go back upstairs.

I'm gonna leave for work without a goodbye kiss.

But as I'm drivin' off, just remember this.

I'll never leave, I'll never stray.
My love for you will never change,
but I ain't ready to make up, we'll get around to that.
I think I'm right, I think you're wrong.
I'll prob'ly give in before long.
Please don't make me smile.
I just wanna be mad for a while.

I'll never leave, I'll never stray.
My love for you will never change,
but I ain't ready to make up, we'll get around to that.
I think I'm right, I think you're wrong.
I'll prob'ly give in before long.
Please don't make me smile.
I just wanna be mad for a while.

I just wanna be mad for a while.
I just wanna be mad for a while.
I just wanna be mad for a while.

The Leader of the Band

As some of you know my husband and I spent a week in the Philadelphia area for my Hubby's baby sister's wedding. As some of you also know, we've had a rough couple of months after my husband's illness and hospitalization - for a while it looked like we might not be able to make it to the wedding!

Because of this, and maybe because I've been more introspective than usual for who knows what reason, several things during the wedding and its preparations caught my attention and I'll probably write about them periodically.

Today I'm writing about the Father-Daughter dance at the wedding. First a little background about my father-in-law. He - like Hubby's entire family - is a musician. He's also a retired music teacher. Throughout his career he taught all ages and directed school bands and chorales, and even today he is the choir director at his church. In short, he's always been, in one way or another, the "Leader of the Band"., which is the song my SIL chose for the father-daughter dance.

Besides being a talented musician and beloved teacher, my FIL is one of the kindest men I know. He welcomed me into his family from day one, and has always made me feel loved and cared for, I am very, very lucky. Yet another reason the song choice was perfect!

As for the dance itself, it was beautiful but I can't fathom how SIL managed to not bawl her eyes out! I am so impressed by people who can do that. I of course was crying like the dork I am along with a bunch of other people, but FIL and SIL kept it together, although I think FIL got a little misty...it was, after all, his little girl, his only daughter.

I don't know how my SIL came to choose this song, as it was popular when she was very young, but it is really apropos for FIL and the family since all of them are musicians and music is such an important part of thier lives.

It is one of my all-time favorite songs by one of my all-time favorite singers, Dan Fogelberg. Because the words are so beautiful, I wanted to share them with you, and wish that you all have at least one "leader of the band" in your life.


Leader of the Band
Dan Fogelberg

An only child
Alone and wild
A cabinet makers son
His hands were meant
For different work
And his heart was known
To none --
He left his home
And went his lone
And solitary way
And he gave to me
A gift I know I never
Can repay

A quiet man of music
Denied a simpler fate
He tried to be a soldier once
But his music wouldn't wait
He earned his love
Through discipline
A thundering, velvet hand
His gentle means of sculpting souls
Took me years to understand.

The leader of the band is tired
And his eyes are growing old
But his blood runs through
My instrument
And his song is in my soul --
My life has been a poor attempt
To imitate the man
I'm just a living legacy
To the leader of the band.

My brothers lives were
Different
For they heard another call
One went to Chicago
And the other to St. Paul
And I'm in Colorado
When I'm not in some hotel
Living out this life Ive chose
And come to know so well.

I thank you for the music
And your stories of the road
I thank you for the freedom
When it came my time to go --
I thank you for the kindness
And the times when you got tough
And, papa, I don't think I
Said I love you near enough --

The leader of the band is tired
And his eyes are growing old
But his blood runs through
My instrument
And his song is in my soul --
My life has been a poor attempt
To imitate the man
I'm just a living legacy
To the leader of the band
I am the living legacy
To the leader of the band.

At my wedding my father-daughter song was "Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong - what was yours?

Fun with Your MPG player

I got this from Amy's Facebook page...



1. Put Your mp3 player on Shuffle.
2. For each question below, type the title of the song playing and the artists in (parenthesis) and any comments in [brackets].
3. Press the forward/next button to get the answer to the next question.
4. You must write down the name of the song no matter how silly it sounds!
5. If you want to play, please me know in my comments.

1. What do you think of your parents? Sex Bomb (Tom Jones) [Oh God!]
2. What do you think about very often? Someone To Watch Over me (Rod Stewart
3. What is 2+2? Because The Night (10,000 Maniacs)
4. What do you think of your best friend? Anticipation (Carly Simon)
5. What do you think of the person you love? Moonglow (Rod Stewart)
6. What is your life's story? The Sound of Freedom ("Sarafina" soundtrack)
7. What's your dream job? Could It Be Magic? (Barry Manilow)
8. What do you think of when you see the person you love? Anyone Else But You ("Juno" soundtrack)
9. What will you dance/should you have danced to at your wedding? Over My Head (Fleetwood Mac)
10. What will they play at your funeral? Every Morning (Sugar Ray)
11. What is your hobby/interest? Crazy (Patsy Cline)
12. What is your biggest fear? Separate Ways (Journey)
13. What is your biggest secret? Concrete Angel (Martina McBride)
14. What do you think of your friends? Mary's Place (Bruce Springsteen)
15. How would you describe yourself? Don't Stop the Music (Rihanna)

Your turn!

Miriam Makeba Has Died

Miriam Makeba - "Mama Afrika", as she was lovingly known, died this week after collapsing on stage while performing. She had just finished singing her international hit "Pata Pata".

The world has lost a wonderful singer and a beautiful spirit who bravely fought through her art for her country, and who because of that fight was banned from her homeland for 30 years, not allowed to return even for her mother's funeral.

From her hit "I Shall Sing" (written by Van Morrison)

"I shall sing, sing my song
Be it right, be it wrong
In the night, in the day
Anyhow, anyway"

There'll be joyful "clicking" in heaven today...Uhambe kakuhle (have a good journey in xhaso) Miriam...

Great Lyrics of the 80s

Many of you may know that there is a huge part of the 80s that I don't remember - not due to chemical enhancement, I swear - it was just a difficult time in my life and apparently my brain has graciously helped me block most of it out. And I'm fine with that.

This situation however, has not overridden my freakish memory for lyrics. The minute the song starts to play I know all the words regardless of how wretched I think the song is and despite the fact that I can't tell most of the 80s bands apart. I pretty much think - and don't hate me for this people! - that with some significantly notable exceptions 80s pop music was pretty much dreck.

However, even within said dreck there are occasional lyric jewels to be found. I recently sat through a video of Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam with Full Force (I mean really people, WTF?), it was the one for All Cried Out. Apparently the song has been remade several times, but the *real* one is Lisa Lisa'a.

ANYWAY, in this most ridiculously over-the-top song there is a lyric that I think is fantastic. See, Lisa Lisa is singing (I'm using the term loosely) about how this guy who she totally loved cheated on her and treated her badly, blah, blah, blah, and apparently the guy has now offered some lame-azzed apology (as sung by one of the Cult Jammers with Full Force). But Lisa Lisa is having none of that nonsense and she delivers THE line:

"Apology not accepted, add me to the broken hearts you've collected"

Seriously - brilliant! She used the "accepted-collected" rhyme! Can you do that with so much conviction? I think not! And, if you listen to the song, the melody even changes - it's all syncopated with emphasis on certain syllables, giving the statement even more conviction:

a-POLOGY-not-acc-CEP-ted-add-me-TO-the-bro-ken-HEARTS-you've-col-LEC-ted

Oh well, I think it's cool.

Do you have any specific lyrics that really stick with you- in a good way? I have tons. I'll try and think of more, meanwhile, tell me yours!

"Show and Tell" by Al Wilson

Al Wilson , who sang "Show and Tell" in the 70s, died yesterday.

When I was in third grade I fell in love with a boy named Aristides (stop laughing! we called him Artie) and we were on and off *going steady* between 3rd and 8th grade - even after he left my school to go to public school! This was "our song". Thanks Al!

Artie, this one's for you...

Show and Tell (as sung by Al Wilson)
These are the eyes that never knew how to smile
Till you came into my life (do-do-do-do-do)
And these are the arms
That long to lock you inside every day
And every night (do-do-do-do-do)
Girl, and here is the soul of which you've taken control
Can'tcha see I'm tryin' to show love is right
Whoa, oh, oh, oh show and tell
Just a game I play
When I wanna say "I love you"
Girl, so show me and tell me
That you feel the same way too
Say you do, baby
These are the hands
That can't help reaching for you
If you're anywhere in sight(Anywhere in sight)
And these are the lips
That can't help callin' your name
In the middle of the night (Middle of the night)
Whoa, and here is the man
Who needs to know where you stand
Dontcha know I've done all I can, so decide
Whoa, oh, oh, oh show and tell
Just a game I play
When I wanna say "I love you" (I love you)
Girl, so show me and tell me
That you feel the same way too
Say you do, say you do, baby, baby, baby
Ahh, here is the soul
Of which you've taken control
Can't you see I'm tryin' to show love is right
Ooh, girl, show and tell
Just a game I play
When I wanna say "Oh, I love you"
Girl, so show me and tell me
That you feel the same way too
Say you do, say you do, baby
Whoa, oh, oh, oh show and tell
Just a game I play
When I wanna say "Oh, I love you"
Girl, so show me and tell me
That you feel the same way too
Say you do, baby, baby...

Soundtrack for My Life - Music Meme!

I was over at The Geek Inside and read a comment from Seven that mentioned a meme. Of course Sari was the one being tagged, not me - Seven's never heard of me, but I don't care - you know me and memes!

So, here are the instructions per Seven:

1. Open your music library (iTunes, winamp, media player, iPod, whatever)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question below, type the song that’s playing
5. New question — press the next button
6. Don’t lie and try to pretend you’re cool

• opening credits: “Pavement Cracks” by Annie Lennox
• waking up: "Get the Party Started" by Pink (how cool is that?)
• first day at school: "Let Her Cry" by Hootie and the Blowfish (How did they know?)
• falling in love: “Smile” by Tony Bennett
• breaking up: “Sk8r Boi” by Avril Lavigne (!)
• prom: “Check On It” by Beyonce and Slim Thug
• life’s okay: “Hey Jack Kerouac” by 10,000 Maniacs
• mental breakdown: “Brilliant Disguise” by Bruce Springsteen (wow, that's deep and a bit too close for comfort)
• driving (OK, so I don't drive, let's just pretend): “I'm Still Standing” by Elton John
• flashback: “Night and Day” by Frank Sinatra
• getting back together: “These Are the Days” by 10,000 Maniacs
• wedding: “Say You Love Me” by Fleetwood Mac (that worked out well!)
• birth of child (again, not gonna happen, just work with me here): “The More You Ignore Me” by Morrissey (is it wrong I find this funny?)
• final battle: “Sweet Home Chicago” by The Blues Brothers
• death scene: “Cecilia” by Paul Simon
• end credits: “American Woman” by Lenny Kravitz

That was fun - weird, but fun. Come on...what's the soundtrack to your life?

If you want to play, let me know in my comments.

The angels will be dancing the mambo in heaven tonight...

Cuban musical legend Cachao died this morning.

While Damaso Perez-Prado popularized the mambo world-wide, it is believed that Cachao invented the genre.

He was very popular in Cuba but upon coming to Exile he faded into the woodwork, for years playing backup in Cuban wedding bands and crappy clubs. In the late 80s, early 90s actor Andy Garcia *rediscovered* him and thus began his second life as a musical legend.

I'm lucky to have seen him perform often and even meet him a couple of times. He was always the consummate performer and an old-school gentleman. He was admired and respected by all.

The world will be a sadder place without him, but his legacy will endure.

Buenas noches Cachao.

The Day the Music Died

Today will forever be known as the day the music died.

The event was immortalized in the Don McCLean's song American Pie and in the movie La Bamba.

It's so sad to me when musicians die, especially when they're young and have such promise. Of course any death is sad, but the loss of potential music just gets to me.

So today, while I'm Super Bowl partying with my friends, I'll take a minute and remember Buddy, Richie and the Big Bopper...

The Lola Shuffle - The "I Watched a Disturbing Rap Video This Morning" Edition

I mean really! It involves Snoop and 50 Cent (aka "Fitty") and some other people I don't know but apparently are big in the "Gangsta Rap" world.

This had to be the most blatantly vile, misogynistic, sexist, crude, tacky rap video ever. The song is called P.I.M.P. (Remix). Go ahead and check out the lyrics while I throw up in my mouth a little bit. Be warned, there is nasty language in there, but the "bad" words aren't really the problem - it's the whole point of the song. Y'all know I'm no prude, but come on!

This wouldn't bother me so much except that the video was playing at 7:45 a.m. on one of the digital video channels. Now, yes most of the bad language wasn't heard, but really it was the images that got to me. Of course there a plethora of scantily-clad beautiful girls of all races and sizes writhing all over the men, some of them thrusting their rumps into the camera (?), etc. But at one point there was a guy holding a leash with three attached to it! What the hell?

The worst part is, the beat is awesome. If you don't listen to the words, it's a great party song - which makes it all the more insidious. I guess I'm officially old now...I just don't get it. Oy, vey, the mind wobbles.

OK, that's it now I'll let Lola shuffle up some music that promises to be *pimp free*!

1. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da - The Beatles
2. Me and Julio Down By The School Yard - Paul Simon (Genius! One of my favorite Simon songs)
3. The Chain - Fleetwood Mac
4. Be My Life's Companion - The Mills Brothers (Their voices are like velvet...)
5. Don't Know Why - Norah Jones (Her first hit - rememebr how refreshing she was? Easy, elegant, beautiful voice. Great song.)
6. Let the River Run - Carly Simon (Awesome - probably my favorite Carly Simon song!)
7. My Baby Just Cares For Me - Nina Simone (Lola is on a roll - phenomenal rendition of this song. Again, what a voice!)
8. Whenever, Wherever - Shakira (Wow - this hadn't played in a while - I lke it.)
9. Lonely People - America
10. I Would Die 4 U - Prince (Perfect! I loves me some diminutive purple one! These lyrics are great...and by the way, how many years before text messaging did Prince start writing that way?)

Lola, that was wonderful, it was exactly what I needed! Good job...

Have a wonderful weekend!

Yes, I'm posting about Britney Spears!

I know, I know, I'm shocked too! But here's the thing, the other day I saw Spears' latest video for her single "Piece of Me". See it here on YouTube. Here are the lyrics.

It's really good. The lyrics are spot on about what she probably perceives as her life and they're smartly snarky, it sounds good, she looks great, she's dancing well. YAY Britney!

If only she could get her life together as well.