“Q” Bombs: April 8, 2012

Posted on April 15, 2012 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.

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Luke Bryan places two videos on the bad list. I’m sure that’s happened once before, but it’s very unusual. Train stays at the top for a second week………………
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Worst Videos for the week of April 8, 2012

1. Drive By—Train
2. I Don’t Want This Night to End—Luke Bryan
3. Brokenhearted—Karmin
4. Safe and Sound—Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars
5. Fine By Me—Andy Grammer
6. Part of Me—Katy Perry
7. God Gave Me You—Blake Shelton
8. Drunk on You—Luke Bryan
9. Is There Anybody Out There?—K’naan and Nelly Furtado
10. Alone With You—Jake Owen

1) “Drive By”—I would say much more preparation went into the making of the video than the song, but the song brings the whole effort down………………..
2) “I Don’t Want This Night to End”—I know this “night” is going to end soon because “part two” has now been released, the only question is how fast. I’m sure that CMT will not miss the opportunity to put both parts back to back if not together……………..
3) “Brokenhearted”—This just doesn’t work. Nothing in the video looks good and the pseudo rap part just ruins whatever the song had going for it…………….
4) “Safe and Sound”—I can’t believe the only reason why I have this song above Andy Grammer is because of The Civil Wars………………………….
5) “Fine By Me”—Just an average piece of fluff done a million times before. Andy Grammer is like a boy band without the other boys………………
6) “Part of Me”—I’m sure this video will continue to move up this list. It’s just that in comparison to the others ahead of it, it doesn’t seem that bad……………………
7) “God Gave Me You”—Blake must have good, strong fingertips because this song is taking way too long to fall…………………
8] “Drunk on You”—Part two from Luke Bryan is the best of the three videos that he’s released from his CD. Believe me, that’s not saying much…………………….
9) “Is There Anybody Out There?”—K’naan sounds like K’naan. Nelly Furtado sounds like Nelly Furtado. The two together sound awful. There was no effort made to blend the two styles……………
10) “Alone with You”—Still, the least irritating of all the bad videos…………………. QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

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Phil’s Faves: Songs, April 1, 2012

Posted on April 15, 2012 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.

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Gotye lands on top for a second time and several silly songs make the list for this year’s April Fools Day……..
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Top Ten Songs for the Week of April 1, 2012

1. Somebody That I Used to Know—Gotye with Kimbra
2. We Found Love—Rihanna
3. Lights—Ellie Goulding
4. Banjo—Rascal Flatts
5. Dancin’ Away With My Heart—Lady Antebellum
6. Cough Syrup—Young the Giant
7. Sweeter—Gavin DeGraw
8. Dare to Be Stupid—“Weird” Al Yankovic
9. It Should Have Been Me—Commander Cody
10. Do the Mouse—Soupy Sales

1) “Somebody That I Used to Know”—Gotye claws his way back to the top!
2) “We Found Love”—Believe it or not, I hardly heard this Rihanna song at all this week. What an amazing turnaround from the past few weeks! Did someone flip a switch? I mean, it couldn’t have worn out that fast……………..
3) “Lights”—It keeps sneaking up on me!
4) “Banjo”—There is so much about this song that I like. I particularly like the idea of a place that’s so far off the path that GPS and satellites can’t find it. Ah, but that’s the habitat of …the banjo!
5) “Dancin’ Away with My Heart”—Such a whimsical look at “18.”
6) “Cough Syrup”—This will probably be one of my favorite songs this year!
7) “Sweeter”—This Gavin DeGraw song sounds new and retro at the same time. I appreciate someone who can pull this off. One of the hooks reminds me of the progression in Joe Cocker’s “Woman to Woman.” This one is way better than that!
8) “Dare to Be Stupid”—This is “Weird” Al’s own version of the best song Devo never did! The lyrics are sharp and spot-on!
9) “It Should Have Been Me”—A classic song that makes me laugh everytime I hear it! Taken from an even more classic album—if that’s even possible (“Hot Licks, Cold Steel, & Truckers’ Favorites” by Commander Cody), this is a remake of a classic blues song that gets countrified as only they can do it!
10) “Do the Mouse”—Soupy Sales was a comedian who ocasionally ventured into music recordings. Believe it or not, this was his signature “dance” song. Ironically, it has a pretty good Motown pop feel to it, and this release is mixed incredibly well!
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Phil’s Faves: Videos, April 1, 2012

Posted on April 14, 2012 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.

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“Banjo” polevaults to the top of the list this week! And this must be backwards week because Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, Jason Derulo, AND Gavin DeGraw all make my good list and they are NOT favorite artists of mine! But hey! That’s not backwards. That’s what happens when you get it right! Let’s keep ‘em comin’…………………..
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Top 10 Videos and Performances for the week of April 1, 2012

1. Banjo—Rascal Flatts
2. Somebody That I Used to Know—Gotye with Kimbra
3. Dancin’ Away With My Heart—Lady Antebellum
4. Good Girl—Carrie Underwood
5. Breathing—Jason Derulo
6. You Gonna Fly—Keith Urban
7. Detroit Rock City—Kiss on “Jimmy Kimmel Live”
8. Cough Syrup—Young the Giant
9. Endless Love—Lionel Richie and Shania Twain
10. Sweeter—Gavin DeGraw

1) “Banjo”—The back lighting of the see-through banjo in that open door played by that beautiful woman is “sheer” poetry!
2) “Somebody That I Used to Know”—Still a strong video, but it might not be long before it’s time to say goodbye to “somebody that I used to know.”
3) “Dancin’ Away With My Heart”—This Lady A video isn’t a great one, but the song puts it ahead of most of the others.
4) “Good Girl”—This is a MONSTER song and video! It might be the best thing Carrie Underwood’s ever done!
5) “Breathing”—I think this video is peaking, but I think this is the best video Jason Derulo’s ever done! Nice special effects!
6) “You Gonna Fly”—I know this Keith Urban video has been around for a long time, but it’s a quality video and song and deserves some recognition! Good job, Keith!
7) “Detroit Rock City”—I can’t help this selection. I have always liked this song and I thought Kiss still made it sound fresh on Jimmy Kimmel’s show—even though they’ve been on their final tour for something like ten years!
8) “Cough Syrup”—Well, the cold and flu season is over for most areas of the country, so there isn’t much use for cough syrup anymore—but I will miss it when it’s gone……
9) “Endless Love”—I’ve always felt that “Endless Love” by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross is probably the best duet ever made if not one of the best songs ever made. The version of this song will not change my mind, but Lionel must be doing some kind of Dorian Gray thing because he doesn’t look like he’s changed much at all—and it’s thirty years later! (?) And I am absolutely for anything that keeps Shania Twain coming back. The acting is kind of hammy, but Shania gets to reprise some of her classic video shots (including that hat), and she looks like she hasn’t aged a bit either—but the timeframe for her isn’t nowhere near as long. All in all, I like this video and song a lot!
10) “Sweeter”—I know it’s hard to believe but Gavin DeGraw appears on the second of my good lists this week! This video is pretty easy on the eyes and it supports the song perfectly!
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“Q” Bombs: April 1, 2012

Posted on April 10, 2012 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.

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Train moves into the top spot with a song and video that’s actually more boring than The Civil Wars. How is that possible……………………………….
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Worst Videos for the week of April 1, 2012

1. Drive By—Train
2. Safe and Sound—Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars
3. I Don’t Want This Night to End—Luke Bryan
4. Fine By Me—Andy Grammer
5. God Gave Me You—Blake Shelton
6. Better Than I Know Myself—Adam Lambert
7. Part of Me—Katy Perry
8. Brokenhearted–Karmin
9. Alone With You—Jake Owen
10. Set Fire to the Rain—Adele

1) “Drive By”—The song is like a “drive by,” except this time it’s done with notes instead of bullets………………………
2) “Safe and Sound”—Taylor looks pretty in her retro dress but the song is awful…….
3) “I Don’t Want This Night to End”—Believe me, it won’t end. Part two is starting to raise its ugly head. Save yourself if you can…………….
4) “Fine By Me”—Is this guy cute or something? That’s the only reason I can think of to explain why this video and song are popular because I don’t see it………………..
5) “God Gave Me You”—It looks like he’s finally ready to take this song back…………..
6) “Better Than I Know Myself”—I honestly don’t know if he truly does know himself…….
7) “Part of Me”—Divorce “tainted” Katy Perry goes all “Private Benjamin” and “G.I. Jane” in her most recent video. It seems like a pretty harsh reaction to spotting her boyfriend making moves on a co-worker to go and join the Marines. She even cuts her own hair! Gosh almighty! Too bad the video still doesn’t create any excitement. Even my teenage daughter finds it boring. However, I’m sure it will do just fine for Miss Perry. She has her own army of fans……………………..
8] “Brokenhearted”—Ah, the new youtube flavor of the week. Karmin supposedly generated so much interest through social media that they earned a record contract. Wow, was that a mistake……………………..
9) “Alone with You”—Boy, those last two videos almost make this one look good. I said, almost……………………
10) “Set Fire to the Rain”—Well, the fire has now sucked all of the oxygen from the room, and I think Adele’s fire is ready to go out—for the moment…………….
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Phil’s Faves:Songs, March 25, 2012

Posted on April 9, 2012 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.

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Rihanna vaults to the top spot while six new entries join the list including (?) Gavin DeGraw????? What is happening? I think Mercury is still in retrograde…………………..
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Top Ten Songs for the Week of March 25, 2012

1. We Found Love—Rihanna
2. Cough Syrup—Young the Giant
3. Somebody That I Used to Know—Gotye with Kimbra
4. I Heard the Bluebirds Sing—The Browns
5. Lights—Ellie Goulding
6. Candle of Life—The Moody Blues
7. Dancin’ Away With My Heart—Lady Antebellum
8. Personal Growth—Cindi R. Maciolek
9. Banjo—Rascal Flatts
10. Sweeter—Gavin DeGraw

1) “We Found Love”—Believe it or not, I heard this Rihanna song even more in the past week! I like it and I can’t wait for that rising synthesizer hook where the song really takes off!
2) “I Heard the Bluebirds Sing”—It is even hard for me to imagine the power of this simbie that was recorded by legendary country group The Browns. I haven’t heard this song in at least twenty years but for some reason my brain has decided to play it over and over for me. I like the song and maybe it has something to do with the arrival of spring. But it’s never happened before. Do you understand what I’m saying??!! This song keeps playing constantly in my mind without me prompting it!
I tried to find a copy of it so I can hear it again. It’s not available as an MP3 file and a CD that it’s on has become “temporarily available” on Amazon. ODWITS!
I guess it could be worse. At least I like this one………………………………
3) “Somebody That I Used to Know”—The instrumental sections of this song reminds me of “Song of The Nairobi Trio.” (Why do I know this stuff????)
4) “Cough Syrup”—I think we’re getting out of cold & flu season, so Young the Giant’s song starts to fall………………………
5) “Lights”—I think I like the video more than the song, but the song is catchy enough………….
6) “Candle of Life”—One of my favorite Moody Blues songs! This very atmospheric simbie has been stuck in my brain many times before! Justin Hayward’s haunting vocal is perfect for a song that refers to someone who’s lonely yet still wants the “candle of life” to burn slowly!
7) “Dancin’ Away with My Heart”—The usual stuff from Lady A that works so well: Great harmonies with a good melody!
8) “Personal Growth”—This isn’t so much a song as it is a spoken meditation over peaceful instrumental music. Cindi R. Maciolek uses the buildup of waves on the ocean as an analogy for personal growth. This is just one of ten on her “Java Jems” CD, available at grandarborpress.com, amazon, or CD Baby. It might be just what you need to get you through the day!
9) “Banjo”—Rascal Flatt’s powerful tribute to the banjo makes another good list!
10) “Sweeter”—My eyes must be deceiving me! How did Gavin DeGraw end up on a good list? Hey I might not be a fan but I do respect good songs. This one is a piano pounder about thinking that some other girl is better than the one you have. Not an original idea, but he does a good job on it.
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Phil’s Faves:Videos, March 25, 2012

Posted on April 8, 2012 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.

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Bruce Springsteen’s appearance on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” accounts for the top two performances of the week! Other than that, Rascal Flatts, Jason Derulo, and Carrie Underwood all show up on one of my “faves” lists! What is going on?! Did I slip into an alternate universe………………………….
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Top 10 Videos and Performances for the week of March 25, 2012

1. Jack of All Trades—Bruce Springsteen on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”
2. Death to My Hometown—Bruce Springsteen on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”
3. Somebody That I Used to Know—Gotye with Kimbra
4. Banjo—Rascal Flatts
5. Dancin’ Away With My Heart—Lady Antebellum
6. Cough Syrup—Young the Giant
7. Breathing—Jason Derulo
8. Gold on the Ceiling—The Black Keys
9. Good Girl—Carrie Underwood
10. The Man I Want to Be—Chris Young

1) “Jack of All Trades”—Bruce Springsteen ended the week long celebration of his new “Wrecking Ball” CD with three amzing live performances on a Friday—two of which I placed on this list! This was my favorite! It’s kind of a folk song that probably could have easily fit on an updated “Nebraska” CD.
2) “Death to My Hometown”—On this one, Bruce picks up the theme that he covered so well on Born in the USA’s “My Hometown.” The lyrics are in absolute contrast to the singalong feel of the music. The live performance this night nailed it perfectly!
3) “Somebody That I Used to Know”—I think Gotye’s song may still be gaining steam, but the Springsteen performances were exceptional.
4) “Banjo”—I like this video more everytime I see it! And the song rocks—with attitude!
5) “Dancin’ Away With My Heart”—The black and white photography gives it a timeless look!
6) “Cough Syrup”—I still get a kick watching the band members hit ballons filled with paint with rackets against a white backdrop!
7) “Breathing”—I think the line “I only miss you when I’m breathing” sums this video up. You can’t get anymore dramatic than that!
8) “Gold on the Ceiling”—I don’t think this video will get much airplay, but I love the scenes where the band is preparing their equipment for the show!
9) “Good Girl”—OK. This selection surprised me, too. I think this is the best song that Carrie Underwood has done since “Jesus, Take the Wheel!” What a contrast!
10) “The Man I Want to Be”—NOTICE TO ALL COUNTRY ARTISTS WHO THINK THEY CAN ACT:WATCH THIS VIDEO! This new video by Chris Young starts out with him talking to an elderly African American about his “problems.” He doesn’t accept any of Chris’ excuses as he keeps telling him he needs to make a phone call. The video wraps up nicely!
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“Q” Bombs: March 25, 2012

Posted on March 31, 2012 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.

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The Civil Wars…and Taylor Swift stay on top for a second week, Bruce Springsteen finds himself on two lists this week—one good, one bad, and a couple of new entries replace the awful video by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood. You know. The song called…Wait. I know it…Don’t remind me. I can figure this out……………………
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Worst Videos for the week of March 25, 2012

1. Safe and Sound—Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars
2. Drive By—Train
3. I Don’t Want This Night to End—Luke Bryan
4. Fine By Me—Andy Grammer
5. God Gave Me You—Blake Shelton
6. Better Than I Know Myself—Adam Lambert
7. It All Belongs to Me—Monica and Brandy
8. Alone With You—Jake Owen
9. Set Fire to the Rain—Adele
10. Wrecking Ball—Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”

1) “Safe and Sound”—Still top 10 on CMT. I’m worried that the release of “The Hunger Games” this week, which this song is from, will push Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars back up the list……………………….
2) “Drive By”—Not much heart in either the video or the song……………..
3) “I Don’t Want This Night to End”—I think it’s getting closer to the end of this Luke Bryan video………………………..
4) “Fine By Me”—This Andy Grammer song sounds exactly like his last one! Have I said that before or something?………………………
5) “God Gave Me You”—This Blake Shelton entry is starting to fall fast…………….Yay!!!!
6) “Better Than I Know Myself”—I never understand what Adam Lambert is trying to convey. It’s like he has a chip on his shoulder about his own situation………………
7) “It All Belongs to Me”—I don’t get this one either. Why would you make a static video when you have two beautiful singers in it?
8] “Alone With You”—This one’s falling fast…………………………
9) “Set Fire to the Rain”—And this one fell off a cliff………………………..
10) “Wrecking Ball”—Bruce Springsteen is my second favorite musical artist, second only to The Beatles. I have seen him so many times I can’t even remember what the number is, so it pains me to have to write this. He and the band kicked off a week’s celebration of his new CD, “Wrecking Ball” by appearing twice on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.” However, the opening performance of this song was marred by off key vocals and basic straining to reach the notes. I’m particularly referring to the backup singing. The song is good, but the band could have used a little more practice.
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Phil’s Faves:Songs, March 18, 2012

Posted on March 31, 2012 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.

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Young the Giant uses their “cough syrup” to innoculate themselves against a St. Patrick’s Day Irish invasion! Well done, boys!
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Top Ten Songs for the Week of March 18, 2012

1. Cough Syrup—Young the Giant
2. Somebody That I Used to Know—Gotye with Kimbra
3. Heart and Soul—Wolfstone
4. We Found Love—Rihanna
5. Lights—Ellie Goulding
6. Scientists in Japan—Sara Groves
7. Brazil—Rich Ridenour
8. Carolina Reel/Ladies Pantalettes—The Chieftains with Imelda May
9. Gleanntain Ghlas Ghaoth Dobhair—Altan
10. My Wild Irish Rose—John Gary

1) “Cough Syrup”—Young the Giant has the musical remedy for the rest of the list. Great song and video!
2) “Somebody That I Used to Know”—The atmospherics are still working on me, but gravity eventually takes over………………………….
3) “Heart and Soul”—I forgot how good this song is! This rollicking romp by Scotland’s Wolfstone makes four minutes sound like four seconds! Amazingly good!
4) “We Found Love”—I have heard this song everywhere I go lately: in the car—everytime, the party store, web sites. And it’s good!
5) “Lights”—Elle’s fragile whispery vocal seems to suit this song perfectly!
6) “Scientists in Japan”—Unless the scientists come up with a solution, this brilliant Sara Groves song may disaapear soon……………….
7) “Brazil”—Perhaps the final hurrah for this song……………………..
8) “Carolina Reel/Ladies Pantalettes”—This is from The Chieftains’ new CD “Voice of Ages” which celebrates their 50 years in the music business. It is an amazing collection of songs and collaborations with a wide swath of artists to show that they’re growing younger—and better, if that’s even possible! The cool thing about The Chieftains is that they keep their core sound while assimilating and adapting the sound of the person they team up with. This song with Imelda May is a perfect example as The Chieftains sound like they had started out doing rockabilly! This is a very good album—probably one of the year’s best!
9) “Gleanntain Ghlas Ghaoth Dobhair”—Altan’s lead singer, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, gives an incredible, emotional, possibly personal, interpretation of a song that’s about emigrating from Ireland! Breathtaking!
10) “My Wild Irish Rose”—The string arrangement on this Irish standard lifts it above most of the other versions as John Gary’s lilting tenor vocal never falters!
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Phil’s Faves: Videos, March 18, 2012

Posted on March 25, 2012 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.

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Gotye stays firmly anchored to the top spot, Lady A slims down to one video on the list, and Jason Derulo finally makes one of the good lists!
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Top 10 Videos and Performances for the week of March 18, 2012

1. Somebody That I Used to Know—Gotye with Kimbra
2. Cough Syrup—Young the Giant
3. Dancin’ Away With My Heart—Lady Antebellum
4. I Won’t Give Up—Jason Mraz
5. We Are Young—Fun with Janelle Monae
6. Beekeeper’s Daughter—The All-American Rejects
7. Banjo—Rascal Flatts
8. Free—Graffiti6
9. Ours—Taylor Swift
10. Breathing—Jason Derulo

1) “Somebody That I Used to Know”—I don’t know what other insights I expect to find in this one, but it continues to grab my attention!
2) “Cough Syrup”—Not psychedelic, but there’s a lot of color in this video!
3) “Dancin’ Away With My Heart”—Lady A can really weave a spell!
4) “I Won’t Give Up”—I’m not giving up either, but this one may be on the way down………..
5) “We Are Young”—The same goes for this song, too. There’s not a lot here for repeated viewings. I think the song is better than the video…………
6) “Beekeeper’s Daughter”—I guess the camera angle in the video is supposed to simulate the perspective of a bee…………
7) “Banjo”—I like the concept of putting a banjo on trial. It has certainly been an under-appreciated instrument for a number of years!
8) “Free”—Some good old fashioned blue-eyed soul where both the male and female leads are on a comparable good looks level!
9) “Ours”—The revival on this one for me is over…………………….
10) “Breathing”—I like the way that this video looks…and sounds! I knew Jason Derulo had it in him to make something better than he had been making!
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“Q” Bombs: March 18, 2012

Posted on March 25, 2012 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.

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Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gavin DeGraw is finally gone. That left the door open for Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars to move into the dreaded top spot………………..
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Worst Videos for the week of March 18, 2012

1. Safe and Sound—Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars
2. I Don’t Want This Night to End—Luke Bryan
3. Drive By—Train
4. God Gave Me You—Blake Shelton
5. Fine By Me—Andy Grammer
6. Remind Me—Brad Paisley & Carrie Underwood
7. Don’t Stop (Colors on the Wall)—Foster the People
8. It Will Rain—Bruno Mars
9. Alone With You—Jake Owen
10. Set Fire to the Rain—Adele

1) “Safe and Sound”—It took a big drop this week on CMT, but I don’t trust it………
2) “I Don’t Want This Night to End”—More importantly, when will its time on the list ever end………….
3) “Drive By”—The song is soooooooooooooooooo boring. It does not help the video………
4) “God Gave Me You”—I’m waiting for a recall……………………….
5) “Fine By Me”—Another boring song and video from Andy Grammer…………
6) “Remind Me” —The end is in sight for this one…………….
7) “Don’t Stop (Colors on the Wall)”—This one is also on life support………
8] “It Will Rain”—And this one has had its oxygen supply removed……………..
9) “Alone With You”—I prefer a chaperone when I’m surrounded by crazy people……
10) “Set Fire to the Rain”—Gravity is taking over. It’s falling faster…………
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