Wednesday Lyric Blogging (Belated)

Well, I seem to have misplaced my mind. A weekend that involved a visit from the mother-in-law, a great wedding with a reception filled too many White Russians (while the wedding was in “nordeast” Minneapolis, I’m talking about the drink), and the end of this new daylight savings time jibber-jabber, bled into a day off of work, and another day of working from home. The net result is that it’s Thursday, not Wednesday. On top of that I can be somewhat forgetful.

As Kyle aptly pointed out, today would be a great day for "Where is My Mind?" Hell yeah. In high school Surfer Rosa was a breathe of fresh air (and a nice album cover or so I thought). So in a nod to forgetfulness and great alternative power pop, here we go.


Where is my Mind?
Performed by Pixies
Written by Chris Thompson/ Black Francis/Frank Black

With your feet in the air and your head on the ground
Try this trick and spin it, yeah
Your head will collapse
But there's nothing in it
And you'll ask yourself

Where is my mind?
Where is my mind?
Where is my mind?

Way out in the water
See it swimmin'

I was swimmin' in the Caribbean
Animals were hiding behind the rocks
Except the little fish
But they told me, he swears
Tryin' to talk to me, coy koi.

Where is my mind?
Where is my mind?
Where is my mind?


Way out in the water
See it swimmin' ?

With your feet in the air and your head on the ground
Try this trick and spin it, yeah
Your head will collapse
If there's nothing in it
And you'll ask yourself

Where is my mind?

Oh
With your feet in the air and your head on the ground
Oh
Try this trick and spin it, yeah
Oh
Oh

Wednesday Lyric Blogging – Wedding Edition

This week’s edition of Lyric Blogging is a fun one – “I Want You To Want Me” by power popsters and my home town heroes Cheap Trick. According to a Diet Coke commercial, this gem is perhaps one of the best pop songs ever recorded. EVER! And who’s going to argue with a commercial for a product that contains phenylalanine and aspertame? Not me, that’s science. For the record, so to speak, the live versions, especially Budokan, are much better than the studio version from In Color. Bun E.'s drums are not well served in the studio on that album.

This song is rumored to be on the band’s set list for the reception celebrating the wedding of Eric & Rin. Best wishes to them for a wonderful, happy, and AWESOME life together.

I Want You To Want Me
Performed by Cheap Trick
Lyrics by Rick Nielsen

I want you to want me.
I need you to need me.
I'd love you to love me.
I'm beggin' you to beg me.

I want you to want me.
I need you to need me.
I'd love you to love me.
I'll shine up my old brown shoes, put on a brand-new shirt.
I'll get home early from work if you say that you love me.

Didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you cryin'?
Oh, didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you cryin'?
Feelin' all alone without a friend, you know you feel like dyin'.
Oh, didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you cryin'?

I want you to want me.
I need you to need me.
I'd love you to love me.
I'm beggin' you to beg me.
I'll shine up my old brown shoes, put on a brand-new shirt.
I'll get home early from work if you say that you love me.

Didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you cryin'?
Oh, didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you cryin'?
Feelin' all alone without a friend, you know you feel like dyin'.
Oh, didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you cryin'?
Feelin' all alone without a friend, you know you feel like dyin'.
Oh, didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you cryin'?

I want you to want me.
I need you to need me.
I'd love you to love me.
I'm beggin' you to beg me.
I want you to want me.
I want you to want me.
I want you to want me.
I want you to want me.

Bob Mould & Radiohead (and Wilco ran away with the Spoon)

There’s a strange and wonderful convergence of pop culture for me today. To celebrate, I’m posting a double dose of lyrics. As I type this early on Tuesday night (like a kid waiting for his Christmas gifts -- if I go to bed now, when I wake up it will be tomorrow), I’m eagerly awaiting my download instructions for Radiohead’s new album In Rainbows. The industry is a buzz regarding Radiohead’s approach to selling the new album. It’s the 10th in the UK already – let’s get some download codes. So, that’s why I’m including Radiohead on today’s post.

Convergence Exhibit A: Bob Mould talking about the Radiohead release on his blog.
Convergence Exhibit B: Radiohead releases new album on October 10, the same day that Bob Mould will be at the Bryant Lake Bowl in Minneapolis.
Convergence Exhibit C: Besides Bob, Wilco (at the Northrop) and Spoon (at First Ave) are in town for shows. Too much. Too much I tell you!!!

Husker Du was one of my favorite bands in high school and college. The first song I ever played on my college radio show was Husker Du’s “59 Times the Pain.” Along with Soul Asylum and The Replacements, Husker Du are a large reason Minneapolis was ever on my radar and some how beat out the Windy City as place to call home. In college (and shortly after) my other favorite bands were Uncle Tupelo/Wilco and Radiohead. Ah favorites, where would we be without lists and a spirit of hierarchy? Without Billboard and half of VH1's programming, that's where!! Perhaps that's why I find this shirt so funny.

Back to Bob at the BLB. He’s doing a solo acoustic set along with a screening of his concert DVD. The BLB holds about 100 people in its theatre (and to add to the convergence, the BLB is about 6 blocks from home). I can’t wait. OK...OK (computer?) enough babble about convergence… What’s that Jesus Christ, George Harrison, Hendrix and Col. Sanders are giving a lecture at the Walker?

So the songs/lyrics I’ve selected for today are Husker Du’s “Chartered Trips” from Zen Arcade and Radiohead’s “Karma Police” From OK Computer. "Chartered Trips," as it’s on the DVD that will be screened and it has one of my favorite post-punk, molar-shaking guitar riff openings. "Karma Police" because it’s one of my favorite songs, the piano riffs evoke elements of The Beatles’ "Sexy Sadie" and OK Computer was released ten years ago.

Chartered Trips
Performed by Husker Du
Lyrics by Bob Mould

I picked up my belongings in a nylon carry-all
I hear the porter call
Said "The sky's the limit on this chartered trip away,"
I guess I'd better stay

Out there on the desert, I see trees on every wall
Nothing's ever solved
Said "The sky's the limit on this chartered trip away,"
Guess I'd better stay away

I thought I owed myself a trip away
I wanted to go to places I have never been away
I looked at the pictures, imagine where they lay
Away on a beach by the sand, where their clothes all lay away

Horizon is oblivious, chartered trip away
Said "There's no returning from this chartered trip away

Karma Police
Performed by Radiohead
Lyrics by Thom Yorke

Karma police, arrest this man
He talks in maths
He buzzes like a fridge
He's like a detuned radio

Karma police, arrest this girl
Her Hitler hairdo is
Making me feel ill
And we have crashed her party

This is what you get
This is what you get
This is what you get when you mess with us

Karma Police
I've given all I can
It's not enough
I've given all I can
But we're still on the payroll

This is what you get
This is what you get
This is what you get when you mess with us

And for a minute there, I lost myself, I lost myself
And for a minute there, I lost myself, I lost myself

For for a minute there, I lost myself, I lost myself
For for a minute there, I lost myself, I lost myself
Phew, for a minute there, I lost myself, I lost myself

Total Eclipse of the Heart

Yes, the '80s smarmy ballad. But, not for the Bonnie Tyler (Grammy nominated?!?!) version of Jim Steinman’s song. It’s simply an excuse to post a video of Norwegian supergroup Hurra Torpedo performing it in an ironic, art house masterful way. Damn, I wish I could play a deep freezer like that. Turn around bright eyes, indeed!

Total Eclipse of the Heart
Performed by Hurra Torpedo
Lyrics by Jim Steinman

Turnaround, every now and then I get a
little bit lonely and you're never coming around
Turnaround, Every now and then I get a
little bit tired of listening to the sound of my tears
Turnaround, Every now and then I get a
little bit nervous that the best of all the years have gone by
Turnaround, Every now and then I get a
little bit terrified and then I see the look in your eyes
Turnaround bright eyes, Every now and
then I fall apart
Turnaround bright eyes, Every now and
then I fall apart

Turnaround, Every now and then I get a
little bit restless and I dream of something wild
Turnaround, Every now and then I get a
little bit helpless and I'm lying like a child in your arms
Turnaround, Every now and then I get a
little bit angry and I know I've got to get out and cry
Turnaround, Every now and then I get a
little bit terrified but then I see the look in your eyes
Turnaround bright eyes, Every now and
then I fall apart
Turnaround bright eyes, Every now and
then I fall apart

And I need you now tonight
And I need you more than ever
And if you'll only hold me tight
We'll be holding on forever
And we'll only be making it right
Cause we'll never be wrong together
We can take it to the end of the line
Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time
I don't know what to do and I'm always in the dark
We're living in a powder keg and giving off sparks
I really need you tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight

Once upon a time I was falling in love
But now I'm only falling apart
There's nothing I can do
A total eclipse of the heart
Once upon a time there was light in my life
But now there's only love in the dark
Nothing I can say
A total eclipse of the heart

Turnaround bright eyes, Every now and
then I fall apart
Turnaround bright eyes, Every now and
then I fall apart

Wednesday Lyric Blogging

Stealing from Elise’s Friday Poetry Blogging, I’m going to start posting lyrics here on Wednesdays. The qualifications? Not much – either things I like and / or am fascinated by…and as most of you know that casts a pretty wide net. The lyrics may be from some poppy, one-hit-wonder earworm; or could simply tell a story; or could be from one of my favorite bands; or all of the above. I will attempt to make this a multimedia affair. If there’s a link to the song’s video, cover art, or other items on the internets, I’ll will try to get you there. Without further ado, let’s start off with this up-beat rocker by the Handsome Family.


"Drunk By Noon" (Lyrics by Rennie Sparks)
From The Handsome Family’s Milk & Scissors

There once was a poodle who thought he was a cowboy,
But he lived in a cage the size of his thumb.
And, though his white horse was a box of toothpicks,
He galloped around until hit by a car.

Sometimes I flap my arms like a hummingbird
Just to remind myself I'll never fly.
Sometimes I burn my arms with cigarettes
Just to pretend I won't scream when I die.

If my life was as long as the moon's,
I'd still be jealous of the sun.
If my life lasted only one day,
I'd still be drunk by noon.

Sometimes I can't wait to come down with cancer.
At least then I'll get to watch TV all day.
And on my deathbed I'll get all the answers
Even if all my questions are taken away.

If my life was as long as the moon's,
I'd still be jealous of the sun.
If my life lasted only one day,
I'd still be drunk by noon.