I’m a day late, but not a dollar short: Bessie Smith makes me so damn happy with her crazy blues with attitude.
Two Tune Tuesday: Bessie Smith
Two Tune Tuesday: Neko Case
This one’s for Betty, and Women’s History Month:
Her voice is like spun gold, thick and honeyed and sweet.
Two Tune Tuesday: Joe Hill
Madison’s protests meet Women’s History Month, but how could I resist Paul Robeson’s version of “Joe Hill”, too? Damn: that one gives me shivers.
Still, folk singers of two generations: : Joan Baez’s “Joe Hill” was a huge deal at Woodstock, and Michelle Shocked performed at the Madison protests a couple of weekends ago. Here’s her “Quality of Mercy” (and you can read the lyrics here).
Honestly, I almost choked when I saw the images of Joe Hill at the first rally I went to; seeing his image was like going backwards & forwards in time at the same time.
Two Tune Tuesday: Marianne Faithfull
It IS Women’s History Month, so we’ll be hearing only from the ladies this month. That said, I’m not sure Ms. Faithfull would want to be called a lady, either.
Still, “Working Class Hero” is a classic (and hereby dedicated to the ongoing protests in Madison). It’s been covered by Green Day, too.
And then there’s “Why’d Ya Do It?” which is probably the angriest song ever: “why’d you betray my little oyster for such a low bid” is one of the nastiest, most poetic accusations ever put to music.
Yikes. Barbed Wire Pussy, indeed.
Two Tune Tuesday: To Madison’s Protesters
How could I not? Billy Bragg, modern labor troubador, at your service. (He’s damned good live, if you get the chance.)
For those labor geeks out there, there’s a recording of the original Florence Reece song “Which Side Are You On?” on YouTube. You can listen to Billy Bragg’s studio version of that song, too, which is one of my all-time favorites.
(thanks to my friend Cleo of the band Alright Alright for reminding me of the 2nd track!)
Two Tune Tuesday: Devotchka
Two Tune Tuesday: Bright Eyes
In honor of his new one, People’s Keys (which you can hear over at NPR), here’s two tracks by Bright Eyes, Conor Oberst both quiet & loud:
Two Tune Tuesday: What You (Didn’t) Say
I heard the Toby Lightman on an episode of Bones the other day & the lyrics leapt out at me — as lyrics will when they are so close to what you’re already feeling. In looking for a song to go with it, I wanted Elvis Costello’s cover of “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” and found instead Via Tania’s — and I’d never heard of her before but was pretty stunned with how gorgeous and different her cover was.
Everyday is a struggle between what I wanna say
And what I should keep to myself
And the words that manage to leave my lips
Don’t hurt me, but they hurt everyone else Continue reading “Two Tune Tuesday: What You (Didn’t) Say”
Two Tune Tuesday: Amanda Palmer Shows Off Her Bush
By god this is brilliant:
Amanda Palmer & The Young Punx – “Map of Tasmania” Music Video from Amanda Palmer on Vimeo.
She’s Neil Gaiman’s wife, and formerly of The Dresden Dolls. It’s kinda hard not to hate her, except that I can’t, exactly because of songs like this — and there is way too much Ants style going on (& maybe some Ari Up, too).
Two Tune Tuesday: Cage the Elephant
Wow do I hate their name, but I heard this “wicked” track on the radio the other day & thought they had an interesting thing going on. I can’t make up my mind where it’s coming from: I alternately think of Aerosmith, early Beck, the Pistols (there’s some John Lydon in his voice) & Nirvana.
Hugely derivative, yet still entertaining.