Choon of the Month: Pressure to Party

Original video located here. Accessed 28th January 2019

Song title: Pressure to Party

Artist: Julia Jacklin

Year: 2019

Why I like this song:

Something about these lyrics hit a little too close to home.

It seems songs that are of an anxious nature are becoming more commonplace. Sure that's nothing new in pop music (Beatles' 'Help!' anyone?) but this new breed of anxiety seems to ramp up the uncertainty and questioning of why one bothered to leave their bedroom. And thus concerns are raised not about what is being said but how this makes such a connection with it's audience.
It begs the additional question of where we go from here...

Explorations: The Mummers' Dance

Original video located here. Accessed 25th January 2019

Song title: The Mummers' Dance

Artist: Loreena McKennitt

Year: 1997

Why I like this song:

Recently I've listening to the music of one Loreena McKennitt.

A story:
The year was 1995. My father decided to upgrade his aging sound system and got a CD player. And the very first CD he got for it was Mask and the Mirror by Loreena McKennitt. I had no idea who this woman was and I doubt that my father knew either. But he played it constantly - to a point where he drove the rest of us nuts ("A hey ho and me bonny o!"). And naturally, it led to a disdain borne of over-exposure.

So why I am warming up to this material over two decades later? I have no idea.
Was it a certain Ghibli AMV?
Was it through one Todd in the Shadows?
Has years of being acquainted with different music genres softened me? I mean, on paper a Canadian woman singing traditional English literature set to a hybrid of Celtic and Middle Eastern music sounds bizarre - but somehow it works.
Was it it viewing, and discovering, this materiel on my own terms?
Or was it the realization that this woman does indeed have the voice of a goddess?

I personally am leaning towards the last one XD

Got It Covered: The Day You Went Away

Original video located here. Accessed 9th January 2019

Song title: The Day You Went Away

Artist: Wendy Matthews

Originally Done By: Soul Family Sensation

Year: 1992

Why I like this song:

And i thought that it would rain....

We Are Live: West Country Girl

Original video located here. Accessed 17th November 2023

Song title: West Country Girl

Artist: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Year: 1997

Why I like this song:

So I went with my girlfriend to see Nick Cave's solo show. Granted I had already seen Nick live before but that was with the Bad Seeds. This time it will be solo. After all, his tour, where Nick promised to take questions for the audience in between songs, was too good to pass up.

And that's what happened: Nick began the show by explaining what he wanted to accomplish: He will take questions (through runners with mikes in the audience) that he will answer to build a solid connection with the audience. He will also take requests but, as it turned out, he turned down a lot of them.

It was interesting to see Nick without the Bad Seeds in tow and how his songs become when it's Nick's voice and his piano. Certainly it will mean that he will have to selective about what he will play but when it works, it works: Mercy Seat still has power and his piano ballads (Love Letter, Ship Song) are still swoon-worthy - perhaps moreso.

All in all, a great show and a lovely date night

Nineties Revisited: Maria

Original video located here. Accessed 4th January 2019

Song title: Maria

Artist: Blondie

Year: 1999

Why I like this song:

Now this is how you do a comeback.

An irresistible pop song that shows a veteran act coming out swinging. And it seems the time away did Debbie Harry and her cohorts did a world of good as it produced a gem such as this. 

We Are Live: Fake That Emotion

Original video located here. Accessed 6th December 2022

Song title: Fake That Emotion

Artist: Tex, Don and Charlie

Year: 1993

Why I like this song:

Happy New Year!

As part of the New Years celebration I went to the Hobart Waterfront for the Taste. And as part of it, we were graced with the presence of some live acts. 

I did see Mo'Ju perform and thought they did great. It was interesting to hear their rendition of a Michael Jackson song.
This then led into Tex Perkins. I will admit: he appeared ageless as he looks very similar to how he did back in the early nineties. I do remember distinctly that he performed Feelin' Good (a song I only know through Muse's rendition of it) and he nailed it, bombast and all. 

All in all, not a bad way to see in the new year