Some Day We'll Evaporate Together

There may not be much difference

Between Chairman Mao and Richard Nixon

If we strip them naked

There may not be much difference

Between Marilyn Monroe and Lenny Bruce

If we check their coffins

There may not be much difference

Between White House and Hall of People

If we count their windows

There may not be much difference

Between Raquel Welch and Jerry Rubin

If we hear their heartbeat

We're all water from different rivers

That's why it's so easy to meet

We're all water in this vast, vast ocean

Someday we'll evaporate together

There may not be much difference

Between Eldrige Cleaver and Queen of England

If we bottle their tears

There may not be much difference

Between Manson and the Pope

If we press their smile

There may not be much difference

Between Rockefeller and you

If we hear you sing

There may not be much difference

Between you and me

If we show our dreams

We're all water from different rivers

That's why it's so easy to meet

We're all water in this vast, vast ocean

Someday we'll evaporate together

What's the difference?

Song #37: Yoko Ono and the Plastic Ono Band - We're All Water

The High (And Low) Priestess of Soul

Nina Simone never liked to be categorized, so I wont do too much of that, but I will say she is one of the most authentic artists and overall public figures of the 1900's (except for her name, ahem Eunice Kathleen Waymon ahem). The lasting legacy of Nina Simone seems to be intertwined with her volatile attitude both on and off the stage. One of her most adored qualities was her ability to drift from an upbeat, happy number, into a slower, more soulful, melancholy one. Also, as black woman during the Civil Rights period, she was labeled as short tempered, aggressive and difficult to work with, but Good Lord, could she sing.

It was not until after her exile in France (evading a US Tax Charge) and her death in 2003 that it was revealed that she had been in a lifelong struggle with Bipolar Disorder. It is interesting to hear a condition referred to as a Psychological Ailment on one hand, and one of her most attractive performance qualities but in the other. Its almost as if every album is a standoff between Mania and Depression, but then isn't that what art, in it's most basic sense, really is?

While her high energy, lengthy renditions of her classics like, "Sinnerman" and "Mississippi Goddamn" help you bob your head on the subway, her ballads such as "Four Women" and "Ne Me Quitte Pas" contain such a painful longing that keeps you a Nina fan for the rest of your life. What kind of person would I be if I didn't include one example of both. Here she is performing in Berlin in 1967 wearing some sort of Clothes Hamper, and directly below it, a studio version of one of her most sultry songs, off her first RCA album, Nina Simone Sings The Blues.

Stick around for the conclusion of Ladies Week this weekend. May we all have a little sugar in our respective utensils by then.

Song #36: Nina Simone - What You Gonna Do


Bonus Song!: Nina Simone - I Want a Little Sugar In My Bowl

Peaks and Troughs

A little gem of wisdom from Ricky Gervais, star and creator of The Original The Office, from the BBC.



She's not, in fact she's one of our country's national treasures, but it does segue us nicely into today's song...

Song #36: Dolly Parton - Jolene

The First Hippie Pinup Chick

In college I took a class called The History of American Popular Music. From the second I looked at the syllabus, I knew it was going to be unlike any other. Instead of  being divided up into sections like, The Cell Membrane, or The Golden Age of the Mongolian Empire, it had sections about Robert Johnson, Tupac Shakur and today's subject. My amazing Professor, Dr. Barry Shank, proceeded to blow my mind, twice a week for an entire OSU trimester with the stories behind the Musical trends that shaped American Society.  Look out for his new book, tentatively called Silence, Noise, Beauty: The Political Agency of Music. It wont be out for over a year, but I will definitely be keeping an eye (and an ear) out for it.

Anyway, continuing with our week long celebration of the Ladies here at Every Day, Another Song, today I take a crack at one of America's Eternal Music Icons.

Janis Joplin

Janis Joplin grew up in a very rigid, small town in Texas where she felt that nobody understood her. Maybe it was that rough experience that gave her voice its remarkable grit and bluesy ethos. As soon as she had the chance, she moved up to Austin to attend the University of Texas, where she felt she could find some like-minded people among the 20,000 students. She was wrong. In 1963, a UT Fraternity ran a campaign that successfully had Janis voted the "Ugliest Man on Campus." She promptly hitchhiked to San Francisco where her legend was born.

This was her car, a Porsche 356 Convertible that looks like it was painted by the Electric Mayhem.

In a way, Janis' musical legacy is cut into 3 different parts. First, as the lead singer of Big Brother and The Holding Company, she stole the show from performers like Jimi Hendrix and Otis Redding at The Monterrey Pop Festival, and before long she was a figurehead for the hippie counterculture of the time. By Woodstock, only a few years later, she had outgrown the Psych-Rock sounds of Big Brother and was performing with the Kozmic Blues Band, a more Soul influenced outfit reminiscent of the Hornier (Ha) Stax R&B records of the time. Her performance at Woodstock was noticeably impaired by various substances and she later left Kozmic due to creative differences. Her third and final group was her own baby, the Full Tilt Boogie Band, an Organ driven (also Ha) combination of Canadians (The Band?) that received mostly positive reviews. She died of an overdose of unusually strong heroin (apparently 8 of the dealer's other users died that weekend) while recording her only album with Fult Tilt, Pearl. Released 4 months after her death, it became her most successful album. It showcased her extremely raw and emotional singing style as well as her unique world view and attitude in a timeless light. Not saying it's better than any of her other works, in fact I rather like her work with Big Brother and Kozmic Blues, but my absolute favorite Janis track comes off her posthumous release. Sadly, it serves as a foreshadowing anthem to her (and all) overindulgence. If you are still looking to learn more about Janis Joplin, read the best biography written about her, Scars of Sweet Paradise.

Song #35: Janis Joplin - Get It While You Can

No Seriously... Go to Rehab

Say what you will about Amy Winehouse, but she may have the best voice of the millennium. Unfortunately for her (and her fans), she is currently going down a similarly destructive path as some of the other contributors to Every Day, Another Song who are no longer with us.

Look at the punim on that beautiful Jewish girl on the right, then look at that horrible stick figure of a bag lady on the left. No one said "Musician" was the healthiest profession, but in this day of 24/7 paparazzi coverage why do we have to wait until something worse happens before we help her. I'm hoping she can pull herself together, put down the crack pipe, and get Back (to Black) in the studio.


Song #34: Amy Winehouse - Love is a Losing Game

Sausage Fest

So looking through the rapidly growing archives here at EDAS, I noticed that my blog is a complete and utter Sausage Fest. Like a Freshman Year Frat Party, this blog is basically a group of 32 dudes flanking one hot girl, that being Sharon Jones (No, not Freddie Mercury). But this ends TODAY! Women have had an equally big impact on music as their wang-ed counterparts, so they will also have an equally important role in this blog. It is with great pleasure that I present to you the first weekly theme here at Every Day, Another Song...

LADIES NIGHT!

I love female singers, I went through a phase where I listened exclusively to the Queens of Reggae. So today, Rasta Mon-Day becomes Rasta Woman-Day. Today's song is from one of my all-time favorite talents, Marcia Griffiths. I saw Marcia in January of 2007 at the previously mentioned Alrosa Villa and she completely blew me away. At that point I was only familiar with the work she had done with my personal Reggae Hero, Bob Andy, and her work replacing the Wailers as one of Bob Marley's I-Threes, but seeing her solo was a whole other story. Even in her older years, Ms. Griffiths possessed such a raw soulful power and natural sexiness (see the album cover below) that is rarely attained for a Woman of such talent and class. She quickly became one of my favorite singers. Today's song is the title track from her 1974 Masterpiece, Sweet Bitter Love, a record that I needed to have so badly that I ended up buying it on Ebay from a seller Japan. It took like 10 weeks to arrive, but it was worth every penny, as you can see...

Tune in tomorrow for more of Every Day, Another Song Ladies Week. 

Song #33: Marcia Griffiths - Sweet Bitter Love

Still in the FUTURE!!!

Something about that newest Significant Digit makes everything still seem so Futurey. So far in 2010 (Twenty Ten) even the most mundane everyday tasks, seem like futurustic, mundane everyday tasks. So on this first Biggie Sunday, while you are enjoying your Space Brunch with Mars Milk and Saturn Rings (Bagels), listen to this amazing track from Long Island's Finest, De La Soul.

I was able to find this ridiculous picture by Googling "Space Bagels"

De La Soul occupies a special place among my favorite rappers. One of the premier groups from (Greater) New York City, De La emphasizes education over violence and building over destroying, especially in their 2004 album, The Grind Date. In fact, that album came at a rather fluid stage at my life, and it helped inspire me to stop being such an aimless bum and become the diligent and hard working man I am today. *cough* *cough*  In a way, De La Soul is Chinua Achebe, and this album is the Things Fall Apart of rap (except for the last section). Anyway, much like the book, the song takes about a minute and a half to really get started, but once it does... You'll know. Oddly enough, they both also feature appearances by Flava Flav.

Song #32: De La Soul - The Future

BUCK-CESS

I don't know if I mentioned this earlier, but I went to THE Ohio State University, so I bleed Scarlet with an unusual Gray streak in it (Also I poop Pride Stickers). Yesterday, the Buckeyes ended a long streak of embarrassing themselves on National TV on significant Holidays. It had been crushing to lose so often on the big stage, but after a little bit of Oregon Duck Hunting, Terrelle Pryor and crew took care of business. I wanted to congratulate my fellow Buckeyes on our Rose Bowl Title with a little victory music. It appears though that Queen had no problem winning on the big stage. Their 1985 Live Aid performance (video below) was voted (albeit, by a bunch of biased Lobsterbacks) the greatest live gig ever. Congrats again to The Ohio State Buckeyes on their victory, and all the fans on our ridiculous patience. Now you can go burn your couches in a fit of happiness, instead of burning them in a fit of rage.

GO BUCKEYES!

Song #31: Queen - We Are The Champions

WELCOME TO THE FUTURE

I think it's pronounced, "Twenty-Ten."

We should probably start getting used to it.

Something tells me it's going to be a good one.

UPDATE: I found this video made out of  Super 8 Home Movies from the 60's set to today's song. It's a really nice piece showcasing an extremely happy and beautiful family and I just had to share it. I have added it on top of the initial video. Happy New Year.

Song #30: The Zombies - This Will Be Our Year

A Fond Farewell to 2009

Regardless of whether you got your butt kicked, or you did the butt-kicking, it has been a very eventful 2009. Personally, I found myself experiencing moments of both, but my feet and butt can both agree that cathartic outlets have been at a premium this year. Many amenities we assumed were given have become casualties of a recession. This year has been an especially good one to learn that if you don't have a passion to fill the space that might be vacated by things (see also stuff), you might not have anything. Hold on to Health, Happiness, Music and Love this year. Thanks for sharing the tail end of 2009 with me here at Every Day, Another Song. I'll let the King of Pop (Bubbles rest his soul) play this year off. Be safe, I want to see you tomorrow in one piece.

Song #29: Michael Jackson - Rock with You

Penultimate 2009 Post

I hope you all are all getting your plans in order for NYE tomorrow. 2009 has been, for the most part, an overall wacky year. I feel that, as Americans, we have been all over the place and that we need to get back to some of the simpler, more natural things. I can think of no musical act that showcased more of a natural vibe then The Band. In today's musical climate of Auto-Tune, The Band would never have survived. There are tons of mistakes (or Artistic Decisions) in each song, but they tend to contribute more to the overall sound and feel of the album more than any amount of Robo-voice could. The Band played each concert, each rendition of each song, slightly different from any other time. It's one of the reasons they were able to keep things fresh and interesting on the road for as long as they toured. In essence, The Band toured so often they basically became musical story tellers, with the intricacies and details of the story changing each night. They passed their words on through song for many years and many miles but still remained humble. I will vouch for The Band, even with their "mistakes" they are one of the best rock groups in history, in fact, I have heard them referred to as "The Quintessential American Band.” The only problem with that statement... 4 out of the 5 of them are Canadian (These colors don't run, Levon). Today's song comes from one of my definite "Desert Island Picks". Listen to it all the way through (especially Side B) for the full effect, you will not be disappointed. Here is to 2010 being a much more good-humored and bountiful year.

Song #28: The Band - King Harvest (Has Surely Come) & Long Black Vail

Did they have a Mustache?

This band was the first Canadian Rock Band to score a #1 hit in America... Can you guess who?

Give up?

Song #27: The Guess Who - No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature

The United States of Jameraica

Due to some saddening circumstances, I had to postpone Biggie Sunday until today. However, as you know, today is also Rasta-Mon-day, so I found myself wondering how to remedy the issue. Needing both a roots oriented reggae song from a real Rastaman and a some authentic rap from a tried and true lyricist, I decided to skip the middle man and post this gem that my old roommate used to play back in the day. It marries the two categories like they were meant to be together and It's even already dedicated to Big. Enjoy this Mash-up featuring Guru from Gangstarr and the most famous Reggae artist ever, Bob Marley.

Song #26: Bob Marley Featuring Guru - Johnny Was

Tyler

Last night, we lost a longtime member of the family. A kind, sweet, noble dog, and a great friend. Rest easily Tyler. You will be greatly missed.

Song #25: Jefferson Airplane - Good Shepherd

Biggie Sunday/Reggae Monday tomorrow...