Vacuity

Yes, I still respect these songs in the morning…

Buon’ Giorno! Hope you slept well. I’ve got a kink in my neck, but I’ll live.

Okay…second cup of coffee is at hand and steamy, and I’m ready to talk Shuffle.

These Are The Days: 10000 Maniacs
How can you not feel good when this song is playing? I mean, really. Natalie Merchant and that voice? You’d have to be a cynic with a tiny, frozen Brussels Sprout for a heart. Speaking of Brussels Sprouts – I haven’t made those in forever. I seem to remember Liam (2.5 yo son) liking them, but I can’t remember the recipe I used. Anybody got one? Ooooh, wait – this looks good…

Ingrid Bergman: Billy Bragg & Wilco
This is from the album “Mermaid Avenue”, wherein Billy Bragg wrote music for undiscovered lyrics written by the late great Woodie Guthrie at the request of Guthrie’s daughter, Nora. Bragg asked Wilco and Natalie Merchant to join him. So cool and quirky – I love it. The lyrics to this song were written in 1950…the same year Ingrid Bergman scandalized the world by having an adulterous affair with Director Roberto Rosselini and getting knocked up. Sounds like ol’ Woodie had a thing for her, no? (Oh, and I love Billy Bragg.)

Casimir Pulaski Day: Sufjan Stevens
Gotta thank Liz Lemon for this one. (I’ll let you all work that one out in your head…) I love it – such a soothing melody, juxstaposed with heartwrenching lyrics. If music doesn’t move you – physically, emotionally or intellectually – well then, THAT would be vacuity of sound, as far as I’m concerned. This is not that. Listen and be moved.

There is a Light That Never Goes Out: The Smiths (but, not…)
Okay, wtf, playlist.com? It clearly said “The Smiths” on the tag. Who the hell is this woman, and why is she singing and not Morrissey? You’re messing with my High School memories, man! Oh, well – I’m clearly too lazy to go back and change it, so we’ll give her a shot. No way does she convey the misery that Morrissey does, but I suppose it’s a passable rendition. Sorry to give you an inferior substitute.

Badge: Cream
Ah, Sir Eric Clapton, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. No, that would take too long. This one is on my “Songs to Clean the House By” playlist. It just FEELS good – right from that cool opening. And, considering how old it is, that’s saying something. Y’know, it was written by Clapton and George Harrison, who played rhythm guitar on the track. And George was always my favorite Beatle. So…yeah.

Life By the Drop: Stevie Ray Vaughan
Oh, Stevie. *sigh* You kicked all kinds of ass. Such a shame. “No wasted time, we’re alive today….” Gah.

And, if you scroll all the way to the bottom, you’ll find some Bonus Tracks. Hey, it was late…I was tired, and evidently I had a happy clicker finger while I cruised playlist.com, because inexplicably the following got added, too:

Levi Stubb’s Tears: Billy Bragg
And, Levi Stubbs just died earlier this year. RIP.

Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key: Billy Bragg and Natalie Merchant
Have I mentioned I love Billy Bragg?

Burning Down the House: Talking Heads
I have a specific memory from High School for this one. Heh. *long pause…*

Yeah. That one is nunya.