Since we missed last week’s chance to post some Wonderful Wednesday tunes, we’re having a double dip in recompense. To kick it off, a slight sampler of ode’s to America. First, a well known tune by those Violent Femmes we all love. It turns out they love American Music. Who the hell doesn’t? We’re awesome.
10-American-Music.mp3
The Violent Femmes – American Music
Our second song about America is, to put it simply, weird as hell. For starters, the song is the theme song to a show titled “Ali and His Gang vs. Mr. Tooth Decay.” What’s even stranger is the lyrical content. The entire song is filled with acts occurring during the Revolution being attributed to Muhammed Ali (i.e. “Who knocked the crack in the Liberty Bell?). These lines are followed by the non-sequitur chorus: “Ali’s always getting blamed for things he didn’t do, just because he likes to scrap and maybe sometimes do. People want to blame the man even though he wasn’t there. The blame could well be shared.” Which is it, Cassius? Did you do these things or not? Enjoy the odd paradox. Nothing is more paradoxical than these United States.
11-Theme-from-Ali-and-His-Gang-Vs.-M.mp3
Theme Song from Ali an his Gang vs. Mr. Tooth Decay
On to the second part, Michael Jackson….
Unless you’ve been avoiding the world for the past few days, you know Michael Jackson died. He was kind of a big deal, so it’s been splashed across the news outlets for several days now and surely you’ve been inundated with a MJ overload. I, however, felt that the focus has largely been on his groundbreaking work in the 80s, i.e. Thriller. Of course I’m rather a contrarian and much prefer the early Jackson 5 stuff. Since this is the case, I present to you three of my favorite MJ songs of all-time.
To start the list, give a listen to their first single, Big Boy. Released in January of 1968 on the Steeltown label, Big Boy is a precocious tune about how grown up MJ is now. He doesn’t have any more use for skate boards, fairty tales, or toys because he’s a “big boy now” and he’s looking for someone to love. Though it’s a bit odd to hear such an obviously young child wishing for someone his dreams, it is a great tune.
04-Big-Boy.mp3
Jackson 5 – Big Boy
The discrepancies between age and maturity continue on the next song, “I Want You Back.” Instead of the song I’ve embedded a video of the performance from Soul Train. It is a magnificent display of garish clothes, slick dance moves, and exactly how much innocence was lost…and how much damage Michael did to his body. Even with these recognitions, you can’t escape the vibrancy of this special tune.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8Qko5m8oAw
(For an additional bit of novelty, take a look at the pure pop confection of “Rockin’ Robin’” here.)
It’s tough to listen to a song like “Goin’ Back to Indiana” in the wake of MJ’s death. There is so much innocent yearning. The entire song is dedicated to leaving Hollywood, dropping the trappings of fame, just so he can be back with his baby. Though it is quite upbeat, in retrospect, it is impossible not to see it as a lost covenant of sorts. Michael was a star at the time but had yet to enter that other stratosphere brought on by Thriller, etc…He never found that connection with a special person. Instead of going back to Indiana, he was fated to become a lonesome shell of a person.
Going-Back-To-Indiana.mp3
Jackson 5 – Going back to Indiana
Wonderful Wednesday: America and MJ
Since we missed last week’s chance to post some Wonderful Wednesday tunes, we’re having a double dip in recompense. To kick it off, a slight sampler of ode’s to America. First, a well known tune by those Violent Femmes we all love. It turns out they love American Music. Who the hell doesn’t? We’re awesome.
10-American-Music.mp3
The Violent Femmes – American Music
Our second song about America is, to put it simply, weird as hell. For starters, the song is the theme song to a show titled “Ali and His Gang vs. Mr. Tooth Decay.” What’s even stranger is the lyrical content. The entire song is filled with acts occurring during the Revolution being attributed to Muhammed Ali (i.e. “Who knocked the crack in the Liberty Bell?). These lines are followed by the non-sequitur chorus: “Ali’s always getting blamed for things he didn’t do, just because he likes to scrap and maybe sometimes do. People want to blame the man even though he wasn’t there. The blame could well be shared.” Which is it, Cassius? Did you do these things or not? Enjoy the odd paradox. Nothing is more paradoxical than these United States.
11-Theme-from-Ali-and-His-Gang-Vs.-M.mp3
Theme Song from Ali an his Gang vs. Mr. Tooth Decay
On to the second part, Michael Jackson….
Unless you’ve been avoiding the world for the past few days, you know Michael Jackson died. He was kind of a big deal, so it’s been splashed across the news outlets for several days now and surely you’ve been inundated with a MJ overload. I, however, felt that the focus has largely been on his groundbreaking work in the 80s, i.e. Thriller. Of course I’m rather a contrarian and much prefer the early Jackson 5 stuff. Since this is the case, I present to you three of my favorite MJ songs of all-time.
To start the list, give a listen to their first single, Big Boy. Released in January of 1968 on the Steeltown label, Big Boy is a precocious tune about how grown up MJ is now. He doesn’t have any more use for skate boards, fairty tales, or toys because he’s a “big boy now” and he’s looking for someone to love. Though it’s a bit odd to hear such an obviously young child wishing for someone his dreams, it is a great tune.
04-Big-Boy.mp3
Jackson 5 – Big Boy
The discrepancies between age and maturity continue on the next song, “I Want You Back.” Instead of the song I’ve embedded a video of the performance from Soul Train. It is a magnificent display of garish clothes, slick dance moves, and exactly how much innocence was lost…and how much damage Michael did to his body. Even with these recognitions, you can’t escape the vibrancy of this special tune.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8Qko5m8oAw
(For an additional bit of novelty, take a look at the pure pop confection of “Rockin’ Robin’” here.)
It’s tough to listen to a song like “Goin’ Back to Indiana” in the wake of MJ’s death. There is so much innocent yearning. The entire song is dedicated to leaving Hollywood, dropping the trappings of fame, just so he can be back with his baby. Though it is quite upbeat, in retrospect, it is impossible not to see it as a lost covenant of sorts. Michael was a star at the time but had yet to enter that other stratosphere brought on by Thriller, etc…He never found that connection with a special person. Instead of going back to Indiana, he was fated to become a lonesome shell of a person.
Going-Back-To-Indiana.mp3
Jackson 5 – Going back to Indiana