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Friday, September 18, 2009
Mary Travers, an icon of the protest-with-flowers-and-guitars movement, died two days ago. And there is one song I put on repeat all day yesterday, and you can guess: it's not about white doves sailing and times a-changing: "Puff the Magic Dragon" is about--besides the obvious--nostalgia. More specifically, the death of childhood, growing up and remembering playing on Cherry Lane. This is exactly what America is about. America is nostalgic. Everyone these days is having parties themed by decade, writing books about small towns and small-town politicians, and referencing old toy commercials. They even just released a video game about The Beatles. Why is such a young country stuck in a fleeting past? Britain has been the same empire for a thousand years with only a few minor coups, civil wars, and political beheadings, so they have a right to be nostalgic. Us? We're barely over 200, and we're already calling the new democracies "whippersnappers," even though they, just like us, only like a good roadside fireworks show. After the Soviets gave up and the walls tumbled nearly two decades ago, weren't we supposed to bring about a New World Order, sans Hulk Hogan? America, why are we so stuck in the past? It's because they don't make cartoons like this anymore: Labels: America, History, Midwestern Values, Music, Mythology, Tribute
Sunday, March 01, 2009
 And I would upload an MP3 of "Still Alive" from the Jon Coulton concert last night, but I definitely didn't record anything there. Labels: Music
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Ironic that The Day the Music Died led directly to the most popular karaoke song in history. And c'mon: "American Pie" has to be cut to fit TIME CONSTRAINTS for the radio. How did the music DIE? I guess you have to just understand the song, they say. Of course, everyone has to tell you where they were that Day. I wasn't hatched yet, but I'm pretty sure with glasses I look just like Buddy Holly. And as for Andy, he wasn't born yet, but Buddy was 22 when his plane went down. Same age as Andy right now. What a downer. (RIMSHOT.) So we don't have a real story. But Andy tells me his mom went to the very last show before fateful Clear Lake. The kind of story that gives adults a glazed-over look and silence following. He promises he'll ask about it later. That's my story then. (Editorial Note: only one Weezer reference. Good.) Labels: Music
Saturday, December 06, 2008
I want this pop culture quiz of a T-shirt, worn by John Flansburgh of THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS Andy, I'm looking at you and your bank account, I don't CARE if the economy is down and you're laid off. ROBOTS! Labels: Beyond Nerdiness, Music
Friday, December 05, 2008
Also, for my birthday, Andy's taking me with friends tonight to see THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS, as heard in this video: Plucky Duck is an early hero of mine. Labels: General Nerdiness, Music
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
The second-to-last Beatle, Paul McCartney, wants to release a 14-minute experimental track that the Fab Ones made while still together and alive. I feel this might just be McCartney looking to make a buck and cash in on the Beatles fad. I kid: of course I will buy it, but will this finally be a Beatles purchase that will NOT pay off Michael Jackson legal debts? Labels: Music
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Hey, we could be celebrating in a few hours after a climactic Cubs win! Or maybe after an anti-climactic Brewers loss! But all in all, we ARE heading dangerously close to an Apocalypse, but probably the best kind: two Cubs division titles in the same number of years and a few more things (detailed as the Aviary's new site description). Oh, and our new Apocalyptic anthem, from Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder. (Of course the End comes with a folk song: did you expect anything less?) And the obligatory MySpace to a low-quality version of the song is here. And yes, there are less reputable versions of the song, up for download. But I suggest you search for those yourself: the less links to them, the longer they'll stay online.
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Guess you didn't realize I was at Loolapalooza this weekend! Though I should clarify that I was not actually INSIDE Lollapalooza, due to cheapness and lack of interest in losing my wallet. I was downloading the songs the old fashioned way... on the lawn across the street, just within earshot. Music piracy needs to get back to its lounging roots, seriously.
That's it for my Lolla-Blogging. Maybe another year I'll Twitter it! Labels: Music
Saturday, July 05, 2008
This song seems appropriately anti-British for this weekend, but actually, Oxford commas are more frequent in American usage. Though its other name is a serial comma, which is MUCH more American, especially if you think of it as a Kellog's comma. Enjoy the song: (The band Vampire Weekend is at http://www.myspace.com/vampireweekend.) Labels: Music
Saturday, April 05, 2008
This Weezer video illustrates three points about fame: 1. You know you've made it in life when you perform with Muppets. 2. You know you've made it in life when you are publicly hit on by Miss Piggy. 3. You know you've made it in comedy when you hide as a lamp with a shade over your head. (Found at Cute Overload in this post's comments section. Thanks, Mary.) Labels: Music, Science/Technology, Truly Misc.
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Just testify, sister! You're preaching to the choir, all these useless links, breaking pages! Testify! Testify! (First link from The Onion sidebar, second link noted by Chicago Burdman, third link is from wherever you want it to be from.) Labels: Music
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
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