Phil’s Faves: September 22, 2013

Posted on September 22, 2013 by PhilMaq

This will be a personal weekly Top Ten list of what I consider to be the best songs that I listened to the previous week. Most songs will be current, but there are no boundaries. I’ve already stated on this web site that I am obsessed with music. I am constantly hunting it down whether it’s online, on CD, from my personal collection, from a library (Yes, I think the library is a great source of music–especially for music that you aren’t sure about.), TV, or radio. Since most of these sources mostly emphasize new music, the odds are pretty good that most of the songs on this list will be new. But in my search, I don’t use any boundaries for the other sources. I am just looking for good music that I haven’t heard, or happened to forget about. Everyone, including myself, has forgotten way more great music than they can ever remember-even if they are also music fanatics.
Also, there will be no rules concerning songs on this list. A song can show up or drop off a number of times. This will be the most volatile of my lists. It all depends on how much music I am exposed to during the week and what I find interesting. On really obscure stuff, I will try to include the source, if I know it.

QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

Top Ten Songs for the Week of September 22, 2013

1. Tu Mochila Esta Abierta—Dan Sheehan Conspiracy
2. Back to School—Joanie Leeds & The Nightlights
3. Baked Potatoes—Mick Clarke
4. Safe and Sound—Capital Cities
5. Monkey Man—The Rolling Stones
6. Backseat Blues—Mick Clarke
7. Rollin’ Over—Skinny Lister
8. Still IntoYou–Paramore
9. Oseh Shalom—Joanie Leeds & Matthew Check
10. Pirate’s Life—Josh & The Jamtones
QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

Posted in Phil's Faves: Songs | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Phil’s Faves: Videos, September 22, 2013

Posted on September 22, 2013 by PhilMaq

This will be a personal weekly Top Ten list of what I consider to be the best videos currently available on TV. I don’t, as a rule, go searching for old music videos, so that’s why it will focus mostly on current or recent videos. For this category, I am also going to include any live performances on talk or variety shows that I see during the week.

QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

Top 10 Videos and Performances for the Week of September 22, 2013

1. Still Into You—Paramore
2. All Over the Road—Easton Corbin
3. I Need Your Love—Calvin Harris & Ellie Goulding
4. Safe and Sound—Capital Cities
5. Red—Taylor Swift
6. Point at You—Justin Moore
7. When I See This Bar—Kenny Chesney
8. True Love—P!nk and Lily Allen
9. See You Again—Carrie Underwood
10. Roar—Katy Perry

1)  Still Into You

2)  All Over the Road

3)  I Need Your Love

4)  Safe and Sound

5)  Red

6)  Point at You

7)  When I See This Bar

8)  True Love

9)  See You Again

10)  Roar

QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

Posted in Phil's Faves: Videos | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Q” Bombs: September 22, 2013

Posted on September 22, 2013 by PhilMaq

A “Q” Bomb, like an “H” bomb, will be my term for a music video that I consider to be subpar in music, video, or both. This will be a recurring weekly list that will focus on the worst videos that are currently on TV. I don’t, as a rule, go searching for old music videos, so that’s why it will focus on solely on current or recent videos.
I hate to be so negative about music, but when an artist takes a “bad” song and then brings more attention to it by creating a “bad” video to support it, it will appear on this list. I honestly hope, and it could happen, that this list will be less than 10 items, but I have serious doubts that that possibility will happen. We are, after all, talking about an industry that uses art for huge profits. The companies can’t help themselves.
However, at this point, I will not do a 10 worst music list. I see absolutely no reason to waste time reemphasizing bad music. Once is enough.

QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

Worst Videos for the Week of September 22, 2013

1. We Can’t Stop—Miley Cyrus
2. Summer Sadness (Remix)—Lana Del Rey vs Cedric Gervais
3. Hey Girl—Billy Currington
4. Clarity—Zedd with Foxes
5. Let Her Go–Passenger
6. Royals—Lorde
7. That’s My Kind of Night—Luke Bryan
8. Treasure—Bruno Mars
9. Southern Girl—Tim McGraw
10. Best I Ever Had—Gavin DeGraw

1) “We Can’t Stop”—

2) “Summer Sadness (Remix)”—

3) “Hey Girl”—

4) “Clarity—

5) “Let Her Go”—

6) “Royals”—

7) “That’s My Kind of Night”—

8) “Treasure”—

9) “Southern Girl”—

10) “Best I Ever Had—Gavin DeGraw

QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

Posted in "Q"bombs | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Peace and Pirates: Nanci Griffith, Nick Lowe and Nile Rogers, Norah Jones, and Skinny Lister!!!!

Posted on September 18, 2013 by PhilMaq

Two of my favorite songs about peace are by artists who either wrote or performed them first before they became well known by other artists.

First up is Nanci Griffith. Bette Midler had a monster hit with Julie Gold’s “From a Distance.” But if you’ve ever seen Nanci sing this song live, you know that it’s her song. She was singing this song years before Bette ever had a clue it existed. (GSER)* (Hall of Fame Artist)

Even intense music fans are sometimes surprised that Elvis Costello’s “What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace Love and Understanding?” (GSER)* was actually written by Nick Lowe when he was in the Brinsley Schwarz band. Here is a clip that I was very happy to find with Nick tearing it up with Nile Rodgers of Chic fame.
I’m always impressed that he can sing this song as well as play that moving bass line! (Hall of Fame Artist)

Now for two “Pirate” videos:

I never was on the Norah Jones bandwagon. I thought her first two albums, although they had a couple of good songs, were pretty uninteresting. The catchy “Chasing Pirates” changed my mind:

If pirates had to choose a favorite band, Skinny Lister would be on that list. Forge & Flagon, their latest album, is one of the year’s best albums! Here’s one of the best songs from an album filled with best songs:

Posted in Greatest Songs Ever Recorded, Hall of Fame, Video "Q"sings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Phil’s Faves: Songs, September 15, 2013

Posted on September 15, 2013 by PhilMaq

This will be a personal weekly Top Ten list of what I consider to be the best songs that I listened to the previous week. Most songs will be current, but there are no boundaries. I’ve already stated on this web site that I am obsessed with music. I am constantly hunting it down whether it’s online, on CD, from my personal collection, from a library (Yes, I think the library is a great source of music–especially for music that you aren’t sure about.), TV, or radio. Since most of these sources mostly emphasize new music, the odds are pretty good that most of the songs on this list will be new. But in my search, I don’t use any boundaries for the other sources. I am just looking for good music that I haven’t heard, or happened to forget about. Everyone, including myself, has forgotten way more great music than they can ever remember-even if they are also music fanatics.
Also, there will be no rules concerning songs on this list. A song can show up or drop off a number of times. This will be the most volatile of my lists. It all depends on how much music I am exposed to during the week and what I find interesting. On really obscure stuff, I will try to include the source, if I know it.

QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

Top Ten Songs for the Week of September 15, 2013

1. Tu Mochila Esta Abierta—Dan Sheehan Conspiracy
2. Safe and Sound—Capital Cities
3. Back to School—Joanie Leeds & The Nightlights
4. Baked Potatoes—Mick Clarke
5. Unbreak My Heart—Stella!
6. Homework—Well Informed Citizens
7. Surfin’ in Detroit—Howling Diablos
8. Ramdango—Mick Clarke
9. Wake Up (It’s Time to Go to Bed)—Baze and His Silly Friends
10. The Resurrection of Gonzo, Pt.1—Holly and Jon
QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

Posted in Phil's Faves: Songs | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Phil’s Faves: Videos, September 15, 2013

Posted on September 15, 2013 by PhilMaq

This will be a personal weekly Top Ten list of what I consider to be the best videos currently available on TV. I don’t, as a rule, go searching for old music videos, so that’s why it will focus mostly on current or recent videos. For this category, I am also going to include any live performances on talk or variety shows that I see during the week.

QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

Top 10 Videos and Performances for the Week of September 15, 2013

1. Safe and Sound—Capital Cities
2. All Over the Road—Easton Corbin
3. Still Into You—Paramore
4. True Love—P!nk and Lily Allen
5. Red—Taylor Swift
6. I Need Your Love—Calvin Harris & Ellie Goulding
7. When I See This Bar—Kenny Chesney
8. Point at You—Justin Moore
9. See You Again—Carrie Underwood
10. Sunny and 75—Joe Nichols

1)  Safe and Sound

2)  All Over the Road

3)  Still Into You

4)  True Love

5)  Red

6)  I Need Your Love

7)  When I See This Bar

8)  Point at You

9)  See You Again

10)  Sunny and 75

QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

Posted in Phil's Faves: Videos | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Q” Bombs: September 15, 2013

Posted on September 15, 2013 by PhilMaq

A “Q” Bomb, like an “H” bomb, will be my term for a music video that I consider to be subpar in music, video, or both. This will be a recurring weekly list that will focus on the worst videos that are currently on TV. I don’t, as a rule, go searching for old music videos, so that’s why it will focus on solely on current or recent videos.
I hate to be so negative about music, but when an artist takes a “bad” song and then brings more attention to it by creating a “bad” video to support it, it will appear on this list. I honestly hope, and it could happen, that this list will be less than 10 items, but I have serious doubts that that possibility will happen. We are, after all, talking about an industry that uses art for huge profits. The companies can’t help themselves.
However, at this point, I will not do a 10 worst music list. I see absolutely no reason to waste time reemphasizing bad music. Once is enough.

QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

Worst Videos for the Week of September 22, 2013

1. We Can’t Stop—Miley Cyrus
2. Summer Sadness (Remix)—Lana Del Rey vs Cedric Gervais
3. Hey Girl—Billy Currington
4. Clarity—Zedd with Foxes
5. Let Her Go–Passenger
6. Crash My Party—Luke Bryan
7. Blurred Lines—Robin Thicke and Pharrell
8. Treasure—Bruno Mars
9. Royals–Lorde
10. Southern Girl—Tim McGraw

1) “We Can’t Stop”—

2) “Summer Sadness (Remix)”—

3) “Hey Girl”—

4) “Clarity”—

5) “Let Her Go”—

6) “Crash My Party”—

7) “Blurred Lines”—

8) “Treasure”—

9) “Royals”—

10) “Southern Girl”—

QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

Posted in "Q"bombs | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Silly Ylvis Video Asks the Musical Question: “What Does the Fox Say?”

Posted on September 13, 2013 by PhilMaq

A couple of days ago, Jason Didner of Jason Didner & The Jungle Gym Jam sent me a photo of a fox ready to jump over a little puppy. That triggered my memory of this oddball video by Ylvis (The song artist is listed under “Alwiz” on Amazon) that asks a surreal but silly query, “What Does the Fox Say?”

I don’t know what kind of noise a fox makes, but I know it’s not what these guys say. This video makes me laugh and ask myself, “What the Fox?” Yeah. What does a fox say??!!

Posted in Video "Q"sings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Summer’s Last Gasp: Nora Jane Struthers and The Party Line, Bruce Springsteen, and The O’Kaysions

Posted on September 11, 2013 by PhilMaq

An unexpected heat wave has hit most of the country, so let’s have one more blast of summer fun! How about a bike ride? Nora Jane Struthers and The Party Line take us for a ride…in a vintage dress on vintage bikes!

Bruce Springsteen sings about one of the true joys of summer, “The Girls in Their Summer Clothes!” Of course, Bruce doesn’t go for the obvious and keeps everything tasteful:

Here’s a blast from the 60’s, The O’Kaysions doing “I’m a Girl Watcher.”

Posted in Video "Q"sings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Phil’s Faves: Songs, September 8, 2013

Posted on September 8, 2013 by PhilMaq

This will be a personal weekly Top Ten list of what I consider to be the best songs that I listened to the previous week. Most songs will be current, but there are no boundaries. I’ve already stated on this web site that I am obsessed with music. I am constantly hunting it down whether it’s online, on CD, from my personal collection, from a library (Yes, I think the library is a great source of music–especially for music that you aren’t sure about.), TV, or radio. Since most of these sources mostly emphasize new music, the odds are pretty good that most of the songs on this list will be new. But in my search, I don’t use any boundaries for the other sources. I am just looking for good music that I haven’t heard, or happened to forget about. Everyone, including myself, has forgotten way more great music than they can ever remember-even if they are also music fanatics.
Also, there will be no rules concerning songs on this list. A song can show up or drop off a number of times. This will be the most volatile of my lists. It all depends on how much music I am exposed to during the week and what I find interesting. On really obscure stuff, I will try to include the source, if I know it.

QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

Top Ten Songs for the Week of September 8, 2013

1. Tu Mochila Esta Abierta—Dan Sheehan Conspiracy
2. Surfin’ in Detroit—Howling Diablos
3. Safe and Sound—Capital Cities
4. Unbreak My Heart—Stella!
5. Back to School—Joanie Leeds & The Nightlights
6. Baked Potatoes—Mick Clarke
7. Hanging Around—The Stranglers
8. Rollin’ and Tumblin’—George Bedard
9. Teacher I Need You—Elton John
10. Hey Ya—Human Acoustics
QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

Posted in George Bedard, Phil's Faves: Songs | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment