Oldschool Monday: I'm feeling rawther moon-y.

Whenever I was feeling lovelorn (pshaw, as a kid, really!) I'd sit around and listen to songs like these and moon.  (Many people don't know the definition of 'moon' in this context. According to Merriam Webster, it originated in 1836, and means, 'to spend in idle reverie : dream—used with away.') The songs still conjure up delicious feelings of unrequited luuuuuuuurve.  Haha!

SVW (or Sisters With Voices), "Weak," 1992
Just some solid, early '90s R&B gold.

The Bangles, "Eternal Flame," 1989
I know, a bit earlier than the parameters of this series.  But oh-so-good.  I always thought it would make a good prom theme, but people thought it sounded too much like burning in the fiery pit of you-know-where.  It should have a place on tender mixtapes everywhere.

And, this sweet song from Expose released in 1990 - "I'll Never Get Over You (Getting Over Me)"

I can't wait for Lisa Hannigan's album.

I did a little digging around to find out who was that haunting, ethereal voice next to Damien Rice's in 9 crimes.  Apparently she collaborated with him on his whole first album (they have since broken up professionally).  She's an Irish singer just about 2 weeks older than I am.  She's lovely and amazing, and she's touring with Jason Mraz starting in October.  Anyone want to catch them with me?

Check out her myspace--I especially like her newest demo, 'Sea Song.'  She seems like she would make an amazing actress, too.


About Lisa Hannigan (from her MySpace): Hello, I am a singer. I often hum away without realising it until I get funny looks on camden street. I'm good at roasting potatoes and sewing on buttons, but not good at voice mails and competitive sports. I get a little rush of excitement when i pass through airport security without beeping. I only recently realised that pipe cleaners are used for cleaning pipes and not making lopsided farm animals out of. I love a good festival, and would happily live at the electric picnic if Bren Berry would let me (and keep the pie shop open). I am very bad at all things computer related so my best friend Una is keeping the keys to this site (She has a terrible sense of direction but is brilliant at everything else, especially voice mails). We'll be putting up bits and bobs over the next few months, some live songs and demos. I'm in the middle of making my first record and I want it to come out as soon as possible so I can sing in venues more socially acceptable than superquinn and the luas station.

The best '9 Crimes' covers on YouTube.

There are a heck of a lot of covers to be found on YouTube of Damien Rice's spiritually bankrupt and hopeless, but nevertheless hauntingly beautiful song, '9 Crimes.'  I think Damien Rice is pretty hella whiny and angsty, but I do like this song a lot--I like how it gives rise to a lot of different interpretations, on piano or guitar, by men and women, boys and girls, some terrible, some wonderful.

I originally wanted to post on all the homegrown talent on YouTube doing covers of popular songs in their bedrooms/living rooms, but it's practically old news, especially with the rise of Marie Digby and her debut album (I love how she's singing in front of a white pleather couch on one of her early videos, and a dog wanders into the room on another). 

But then I realized many of my favorites did some version of '9 Crimes.'  Interesting.  So here are some of them:

Sleeve
By far my favorite.  Yes it looks like they're a couple of goofball ass-clowns (is that a towel on his head?), but the second they start playing you're hushed by the very masterful fingering and even the boys' voices.  Awesome.

Kiersten Holine
I love this girl's voice, even if it's a bit jazzy for this song.  Fabulous control, just a sprinkling of vibrato, effortless and lovely.  Her guitar isn't bad.  I first found her through her rendition of Ingrid Michaelson's "The Way I Am," which is just fantastic.

Almond96
Ignore the skull cap and beer gut, and you'll find a really sensitive and nuanced rendition.  Love it.

Jennifer & John Yi
Super young twin sister and brother, as easy on the eyes as they are on the ears.  Their interpretation is very deliberate, correct, almost choral.  One might say it kind of strips the original meaning from the song, but it's still enjoyable.  Check out Jennifer's rendition of U2's "With or Without You" also.

Here's the original:
Definitely creepy.

The Best of the Rest:

1. Captain Burrito - They get props for adding "impromptu" tributes to Vanilla Ice, Salt n Pepa's "Shoop," and Bone Thugs n Harmony's "Crossroads" at the end.
2. Matteo Cocconcelli - I can't really take him srsly because he's so silly making love to the mic like that, plus he pronounces all his i's like ee's.  But that's some lovely guitar-pickin'.
3. CSandman - Lovely piano, and she gets her voice to sound like she's about to cry, which is perfect for the song.  Plus she's pretty. Timing's a bit off, but not bad!

Back with a vengeance: Early 90s Monday

Took a vacation last week for Labor Day.  Now we're back!

Janet Jackson, "Love Will Never Do Without You."
This is the sunny, smiling JJ we all knew and loved--before she lost all that weight for Janet. and got all weird and kinky in The Velvet Rope.  I love this video also because it features a gloriously muscled, charmingly dimpled Antonio Sabato Jr. (here's to you, Karin!) AND Djimon Honsou.

Another Bad Creation, "Iesha," 1990
I love these pocket-sized proteges of New Edition.  Who knew 11 could look so badass?

Previous Entries:

5. Paperboy, "Ditty" and En Vogue, "Giving Him Something He Can Feel"
4. Mariah Carey, "Vision of Love" and Color Me Badd, "I Adore Mi Amor"
3. Mr. Big, "Be With You" and Mint Condition, "Breaking My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)"
2. PM Dawn, "Die Without You" and Mista Grimm, "Indo Smoke
1. Boyz II Men, "Motownphilly" and Paula Abdul, "Opposites Attract"

Early 90s Monday: Givin' the Paperboy Something to Feel

The goodness continues!

Paperboy, "Ditty," 1993
Talk about a one-hit wonder.  I remember two guys from our sixth grade class danced to this song in front of all the sixth graders during PE and they were sooooooooooooo coooooooooooooool.

En Vogue, "Giving Him Something He Can Feel," 1992
I really love this video--classic, sexy, and some beautiful vocal styling.  En Vogue is one of my favorite girl groups ever.  They are true originals. 



Previous Entries:

4. Mariah Carey, "Vision of Love" and Color Me Badd, "I Adore Mi Amor"
3. Mr. Big, "Be With You" and Mint Condition, "Breaking My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)"
2. PM Dawn, "Die Without You" and Mista Grimm, "Indo Smoke
1. Boyz II Men, "Motownphilly" and Paula Abdul, "Opposites Attract"

One of the best things I brought back from London in 1999

I spent all of 2.5 days in London as part of a cheesy 10-day tour around Europe after my senior year of high school.  This meant grievously mediocre food and barely any chances to stray off the beaten path.  We did get one afternoon to ourselves though, and while most everyone else in my group headed to Harrod's, I went by myself to Covent Garden, where I wandered around and came across Bebeto, this very exuberant string quartet with scrappy instruments and a lot of attitude. 

I loved them so much that I bought one of their tapes (yes, of the cassette variety...apparently they hadn't been able to record onto CDs back then) and brought it back home with me.  Definitely one of the best purchases I could ever have made on any travels, because I can listen to it an remember the time fondly. 

My senior year of college, I converted to DVD format and I have now ripped it for your listening pleasure.  Also throwing in a few pictures taken by Ray Pettit (I am totally using these without permission, and I hope he doesn't mind, because they are very excellent photos).