Thursday Music

You have to have a cold black heart to not enjoy the Muppets. Actually if you claim to care nothing for the amusing puppets you're either lying or you were breast fed by a heroin addicted wet nurse.

I, like most of my generation, enjoy the Muppets in most of the incarnations. From "The Great Muppet Caper" to "The Dark Crystal", I rarely grow tired of the talents of Jim Henson and Frank Oz.

What I've always wanted to witness was how an agent approached their talent about going on the Muppet Show. I would just like to look at the face of Elton John or Dolly Parton when they were told they'd be performing amongst a bunch of puppets. I mean sure kids make a great market, but I can't imagine anyone really demanded to be singing alongside Fozzy Bear, but I've been wrong before.

With the newly released Muppets album the furry creatures seem to be in the consciousness again and that's a good thing. Still the younger generation may not remember some of the song choices back in the day. I remember my Dad didn't seem that happy that Gonzo was involved in one of his favorite songs, which I'll share with you below:



"When I record somebody else's song, I have to make it my own or it doesn't feel right. I'll say to myself, I wrote this and he doesn't know it!" - Johnny Cash

Thursday Music

The first trailer for the remake of 'Footloose' has been unleashed on the public and many of my generation are crying fowl. With the furious passion of Star Wars fans many are claiming that their childhood has been robbed and somehow feel this new movie will take away their enjoyment of the previous one. It's not like anyone's holding a gun to their head to see this one, but I'm sure curiosity will get the better of most.

I never did see the remake of "The Karate Kid", because I thought it looked stupid, especially given the fact that karate was never used in the plot. I have fond memories of the first one, but will admit it's not exactly high brow cinema. I casted my vote against the modern retelling by simply not buying a ticket for it. Imagine that.

The original "Footloose" is not a good movie. There I said it. In fact, it's pretty stupid. From the cheesy soundtrack to the almost cartoonish portrayal of small town America, the Kevin Bacon vehicle is a forgettable film for most. And while I understand people wanting to keep childhood memories as they once were, to bitch about this unnecessary remake is pointless. Actually, if they remade "Rad" I'd go see it, but as I'm guessing as with the new "Footloose" it'll do little but remind me of how incredibly flawed the original is.

Granted I do have some fond memories of watching "Footloose", but it's not because of the film itself. Most bad movies of yesteryear have a tendency to make us recall the good points of our past as well as help us forget the lower ones.

So today I bring you one of the cheesiest montage sequences in cinema history:

"Any idiot can get laid when they're famous. That's easy. It's getting laid when you're not famous that takes some talent." - Kevin Bacon

Thursday Music on a Friday

For reasons unbeknownst to me, whenever I hear Irish music I want to punch a German in the face. I have nothing against the humorless bastards that are from Deutschland. I've been to their country and enjoyed myself immensely. You would think the music of the Celts would steer my wrath towards the Italians, or even the British, but no.

Actually the music makes me want to drink. Not that I need an excuse to crave a tall pint of stout, but whenever I hear the bow hitting the violin at a rapid pace I want to raise a glass of craft beer and stomp my feet in manners that are very immature. Perhaps my heritage does hail from the small island after all. It would explain my love for beer and whiskey, not that all Irish are a bunch of drunks who smell like farm animals....stop laughing.

Today I need a beer, or six, so today dear readers I will share some Irish-centric music from a band heralding from my new home state:

"I'm Irish. I think about death all the time." - Jack Nicholson

Thursday Music

Once upon a gallant time the television audience was graced with a low brow cartoon entitled Beavis and Butthead. Many panned the show as being juvenile tripe, and to some degree it was a valid point, but they missed what made this comedy so endearing to many. Humor at it's core is subversive and pop culture at the time was ripe for the pickings. The cartoon pointed out at how silly and without artistic merit music was and for the fans we were all grateful.

Sadly the show lost wind and MTV viewers grew tired of seeing videos being picked apart. While we all saw the show's ending coming what we didn't expect is that no one made a real attempt to produce something that really makes a statement at how stupid pop culture is without being preachy. Beavis and Butthead was the rare exception in media critique that could generate a laugh without leaving the audience feeling they were being talked down to. Sure it poked fun at MTV's audience oddly enough, but I loved that fact and I wish someone would do it again.

So today I bring you what I think is the briefest critique the dim witted duo ever made:

"They say it figures MTV would do such a vulgar, awful, horrible show and they completely miss that it's satirizing the people who watch MTV." - Mike Judge

Thursday Music

As some of you may be aware I lost an old friend a few days ago. It's actually hard to write about the guy, because he was one of the good ones. Not only was he a friend to all, had a wicked sharp sense of humor, but he was a man you could trust to do the right thing in any circumstance. Too often we don't see that kind of combination in the people we meet.

My friend Bruce and his girlfriend, who lost her life alongside him, will be remembered fondly. Today I'd like to share one of his favorite songs, the Grateful Dead's "Touch of Grey":

Goodbye Bruce....

"I hope it is true that a man can die and yet not only live in others but give them life, and not only life, but that great consciousness of life." - Jack Kerouac

Thursday Music

Even though I work closely with Indians (dot kind, not the small pox blankets kind) on a daily basis and live amongst many in my neighborhood I'm sadly largely illiterate when it comes to their culture. Most of my exposure to Indian life as a young lad came through Kipling books and watching the film Gandhi multiple times with my father.

The more I learn though, the more I'm fascinated with how Indians celebrate their heritage as well as their ordinary customs. One such holiday that always intrigued me was Holi, a spring religious festival where folks throw colored chalk and water at each other for reasons I'm still unclear about.

Unbeknownst to me America has the largest Holi celebration in the Western Hemisphere in none other than Salt Lake City, Utah. Yes you read that correctly. My friend Leif posted this video on Facebook, and while the festivities look all kinds of awesome I was equally entranced by the music. Film snobs may appreciate the masterful camera work, but I was enthralled by the editing as well. So today I bring you an Eastern celebration that doesn't seem to be bastardized by Western sensibilities, which is refreshing:

"I am always fascinated by India." - Gary Ackerman

Thursday Music

In all the days of One Bad Apple I have never posted a music video that truly displays how far the craft has progressed as the one listed below. Since the days of when cromagnon man placed a rock in his hand and discovered the pleasant sound of banging it against a hard surface, humanity has struggled to bring about harmonies that are pleasing as well as intriguing to the masses.

With the advent of music video directors brought songs to a new medium to be enjoyed by those who felt the sense of hearing just wasn't enough. Since then artists have been forever one upping each other with stunning visuals that enhance the experience.

But today I'll allow my readers to take in the pinnacle of sound and visuals. The artists known as "Leather Hands" have done the seemingly impossible and every contribution to the music industry in the future will pale in comparison. Yes, it's all downhill from here.

"Actually, I would love to make a music video. Maybe it would finally put to rest those persistent rumours that have followed me throughout my career - particularly when I was on camera performing - that I had died." - Perry Como

Thursday Music

Tis the day of St Patrick's feast and I'm sporting my green like a champion, even though I probably have no Irish blood. As a fine American I shall drink dark beer that number more than is safe or reasonable, but I shan't engage in activity normally reserved for 20 somethings. I'm 35 and married. It's about time I act my age.

My grandfather was born this day; however, he was Italian. Yes my Grandpa Mario was none too pleased he shared his birthday with an Irish holiday, but he took it in good sport most of the time. He never felt hostile towards his immigrant brethren, unless his boxing opponent happened to hail from the Emerald Isle.

So this day I shall bring you some modern Irish music from one of my favorite films. The staff at One Bad Apple wishes all a safe and happy St Patrick's Day!

"We have always found the Irish a bit odd. They refuse to be English." - Winston Churchill

Thursday Music

My father never had much diversity in his musical tastes. When riding in his car he would play the same music over and over again. He would never let my sister or I play DJ as we loved the 'devil's music'. Instead our traveling soundtrack would consist of Roy Orbison, Roger Whittaker, and the Kingston Trio.

I was so sick of hearing them all the time and I would annoy my father by making up my own lyrics to the songs, usually at his expense. Mom and my sister would laugh under their breath as Dad would proclaim my juvenile tastes to be just that. Still I enjoyed mocking the works of his favorite artists, which would cause him to rupture a blood vessel.

I think in all my time listening to music with Dad we heard the Kingston Trio more than any other. Hearing them as an adult I'm kind of surprised how dark some of the songs are and why the patriarch of my family deemed it as wholesome.

So today I bring you The Kingston Trio's "Tom Dooley":

"The 1960s were big for folk music, and the Kingston Trio led the way. They were the ones who started it all. The music was fresh and alive. College kids loved it and their parents did, too." - George Grove

Thursday Music

Way back in the day I picked up a little known album, at least to the small town I was currently residing in, called 'Pretty Hate Machine'. I heard a track playing in the record store and asked the hippie owner what it was. He informed me it was NIN and prophesied they would be really big. Liking the song that was blaring the business' speakers I purchased it, which was huge considering the meager income I was making in those days.

The store's owner was not exactly the Oracle at Delphi, at least in regards to time. None of my friends' heard of NIN and few really gave them a second thought. It wasn't until the release of 'The Downward Spiral' that Trent Reznor's project really started sweeping the rural as well as suburban landscape. Everyone was a fan.

NIN released material after 'The Downward Spiral', with mixed results at best. I never really gave them much thought in recent years, but after seeing 'The Social Network' I changed my mind. Trent Reznor co-wrote the soundtrack and one song really stood out for me. For fans of the movie, they'll know what I'm talking about.

So today I bring you some Reznor goodness:

"Sometimes we pee on each other before we go on stage." - Trent Reznor

Thursday Music

Last night I finally finished the series 'Battlestar Gallactica'. Yes I know. Go ahead and welcome me to 2005. I enjoyed the show far better than I thought I would.

*Spoiler alert*

In the last couple of seasons the song "All Along the Watchtower" played a prominent role in the series. When it was first played they used a cover I was unfamiliar with. They used part of the intro in many episodes as a tool for the fleet's search of a home planet, even incorporating some of the lyrics into the dialogue.

What's strange is that whenever I heard it I always thought of the Hendrix cover and not the original. I've always loved the song, but Jimi, in my humble opinion, gave it the best treatment. Corey IM'd me a while back stating how he recently gave "All Along the Watchtower" a good listen for the first time and ended up falling in love with the lyrics and melody. He admitted he's heard it a number of times, but never really gave the song much thought until he focused in on what Dylan was trying to say. I was a bit taken aback as my friend's never been much of a Hendrix fan, or Dylan for that matter, but suddenly he was interested in learning more about Renton's favorite son.

Like Corey it was the song that got me hooked on Jimi Hendrix so many years ago and I've never stopped loving it. So today dear readers I bring you two versions of the song I so love (Youtube won't grace me with the Bob Dylan version sadly):





"Democracy don't rule the world, You'd better get that in your head; This world is ruled by violence, But I guess that's better left unsaid." - Bob Dylan

Thursday Music

What may or may not surprise you is that I listen to NPR regularly. National Public Radio, or as some fellow Texans like to call it; Commie News, has some of the best news in radio or any medium. Plus the shows are entertaining, but one feature they have which I love is their song of the day.

Of course they feature an up and coming artist who they feel you should be listening to. Some of the songs they feature are, well all of them are forgettable. Seriously they infuse some of the worst new songs featuring the most unoriginal and uninspired musicians outside of country and top 40 in the name of being edgy.

What's so entertaining about it is reading their synopsis of the songs. Music journalism is always good for a laugh as you can tell the writer is scrambling for the perfect adjective to somehow differentiate a song from others that sound largely the same. Try reading this sentence aloud without laughing:

Carried primarily by the drums, it stomps and rolls with glammy antagonism, and Tunstall gnashes through it with a candy-coated sneer.

I admire their wordmanship though for they do the seemingly impossible. To try and make modern music seem anything other than over produced, auto-tuned, insipid sounds to appeal to the masses is truly a feat. I wish I had that talent.

So today I bring you an example of what NPR feels you need to listen to. I actually kind of like it:



"As a result, the song ignites at unexpected moments like Pop Rocks dropped in cola." - Marc Hirsh

Thursday Music

Christmas music is everywhere to the chagrin of a few. There's a station here in Dallas that plays nothing but Holiday songs from Thanksgiving till December 25th. It can be a pleasant listen, but after hearing Wham's 'Last Christmas' for the 47th time I find it a bit tiresome. Plus they seem to have an affinity for 'Wonderful Christmastime' which is unacceptable.

Still there is a lot of Christmas music I like, but strangely I don't hear a lot of it on the previously mentioned station, or anywhere for that matter. Stores blare Mariah Carey and the like, but nothing that really reminds me of the holiday of my childhood.

In the first grade my class put on a Nativity play and I was given the role of the Little Drummer Boy. Having no lines my task was to sit in front of the baby Jesus and bang a drum while the rest of the kids sang the infamous tune. I was quite the method actor as I practised my percussion for weeks. My folks decided against giving me the drum set I wanted, which was probably wise of them.

At the risk of having Mattbear, who doesn't blog enough by the way, breaking out his in depth knowledge of Kung-Fu on me, I'll post one of my favorite Christmas tunes from one of the oddest duets ever:

"Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won't make it 'white."' - Bing Crosby

Thursday Music

Christmas music is something most of the public love or hate. I find it a mixed bag, as some of the old tunes I love, but of things produced for the holiday season end up being corny or uninspired at best.

Last night I turned on the television and saw in the cable listings that 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' was on. I chose it on the remote, but sadly they deceived me as it was some computer animated short featuring the voice of Betty White as Mrs Claus. I was a sad Wiwille as my intended viewing is one of my favorite Christmas cartoons of all time. It ranks right up there with the Grinch and Rudolph.

What I didn't learn until recently is that the theme for Linus and Lucy first debuted on 'A Charlie Brown Christmas'. I'm not sure what I find about that tune so appealing. Maybe it's nostalgia, but hearing it always makes me smile. So today dear readers I bring you a little ditty that may make you hearken back to your youth:

"Life is like a ten speed bicycle. Most of us have gears we never use." - Charles M. Schulz

Thursday Music

Yesterday I was part of an email thread between my wife, my brother-in law, and his fiance. Russ was notably absent for the most of the communications, which was just as well. It was concerning our plans for New Years Eve. Below is an excerpt:

Kristy: Maybe they will have a concert at Billy Bob's. Show Erik how to "BootScoot" :-)
Me: You may be shocked to know that I actually do know how to Boot Scoot. There may or may not be video of the sad event.
Kelly: Honey, I love you! I danced with you @ Ernie's . Sadly, there is not evidence of this Boot Scooting. We need to practice more. ;)
Me: I think we may have different interpretations of this Boot Scoot. I'm talking about the white trash fad of the early nineties where congenial folk stood in a line and followed along with everyone else to the twangy talents of Brooks & Dunn.
Kelly: That is called line dancing. Boot Scooting is more like 2 stepping or 3 Stepping. :)
Kristy: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Me: So if one does the Boot Scoot Boogie it's called line dancing, but if one 2 or 3 steps to whatever song of their choosing it's boot scooting.... I'm a very confused individual who is Texas retarded. I think this state should require it's own cultural literacy program before they give you your driver's license.

I think a little background is in order regarding my incorrect interpretation of this boot scooting all the kids are talking about. Years ago I finally convinced a girl that going on a date with me was actually a good idea. She invited me to join her friends to do some line dancing.

Ye gods it took all I had to not hang up the phone and light it on fire, but a gentleman was I so I thought I'd buck up and try it. I concluded it might be fun.

There was no second date.

So today dear readers I bring you the song that I learned how to line dance to. It never was a good tune and time has not been it's friend:

"I don't like country music, but I don't mean to denigrate those who do. And for the people who like country music, denigrate means 'put down'." - Bob Newhart

Thursday Music

As I've stated before I'm not a huge fan of The Beatles. Granted I like their later work, but their early career does little for me. It's not offensive by no means, just not my thing. Still their talent is undeniable and they can't be faulted for singing silly pop songs when the band was young.

After the band's breakup the four of them went in different directions and still continued careers in the music business. Paul McCartney seems to have the most success, partially because he outlived two of his former band mates and some would argue he had the most talent.

Still I enjoyed Paul's writing, but interestingly enough he happened to perform one of my least favorite Christmas songs, if not songs period, ever. Just listen to it and the horrible synthetic sound and the lyrics which probably took ten minutes to write. I usually enjoy Christmas music, but when the holidays come around I want to break sound systems that are responsible for polluting the airwaves with this dreck.

Everyone has their low points in their aesthetic careers, but right now I can't think of anyone who climbed so high, but yet stooped so low:

"I used to think that anyone doing anything weird was weird. I suddenly realized that anyone doing anything weird wasn't weird at all and it was the people saying they were weird that were weird." - Paul McCartney

Thursday Music

Today is indeed Veteran's Day, a day which the country gives thanks to those who serve(d) in the armed forces. Many in the media, traditional and social, remind us of how we should honor those in uniform by showing our gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy and often take for granted.

I know many veterans, but none of which signed up for any sense of patriotic duty. I may be mistaken, but the norm amongst my social circle was that they joined up to enjoy the benefits of service, get an education, see the world, learn a trade, etc. Regardless of their intentions they do deserve a thanks and much, much more.

While I'm sure all who we honor are grateful for our thanks, I can't help but feel that it might ring hollow. While they cheat death at their jobs an apathetic nation sits back in their Snuggies while consuming shallow bits of pop culture and make little to no attempt to shape policy in their favor. When's the last time any of us have written a Congressman to extend medical benefits for them? Oh I forgot government run health care is evil socialism. Sorry.

Worse still is we Americans don't give two shits about our foreign policy. We turn a blind eye to the lessons of history and shrug our shoulders when soldiers are sent to perish to put third world tyrants in power or protect corporate interests. Look at our news today. It's never about the ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan or Iraq where many lose their lives. It's all about self interests, our economy, Taylor Swift, etc.

The military doesn't make policy, we civilians do. Instead of exercising our rights to benefit those in uniform we instead make Facebook status updates and blog posts...wait what?

If we really want to give thanks we'd take action instead of just reciting words we're told to say. So while I do give praise to those who serve; past, present, and future I also have to apologize for not doing enough to make their service a better one.

So today dear readers I give you one of my favorite military songs that was used in one of my least favorite war film:

"On the battlefield, the military pledges to leave no soldier behind. As a nation, let it be our pledge that when they return home, we leave no veteran behind." - Dan Lipinski

Thursday Music

Sometimes I surprise myself with the music I tend to like. I'll be listening to the radio and a song will come on that does not fit the genre that I'm normally accustomed to, but for whatever reason I'm drawn to it. Usually though after a few listens I get bored with it as it offers little more than catchy beats and simple lyrics.

Such is the case with The Temper Trap's 'Fader'. I was driving to Lowe's one day and I heard the song play over the airwaves (yes I'm one of the few that still listens to terrestrial radio for music when I'm not tuned into NPR) and was hooked. You can tell their influences as they make it kind of obvious, but still I enjoy it's simplistic melody.

This song has not been what one would call a hit spanning cross genres, but that's to be expected. So today I bring you a song which will be largely be forgotten soon by consumers, sadly.

"Anybody who thinks pop music's easy should try to make a pop single and find out that it isn't." - Robert Wyatt

Thursday Music

As everyone of my generation I loved cartoons as a kid. Every day I came home from school KPTV played the GI Joe/Transformers hour which was normally the highlight of my television watching. My father and I were big Looney Tunes fans and I'd watch them every chance I got. As I got older I enjoyed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and various others that were nothing more than toy commercials.

My father was a huge fan of Uncle Scrooge comic books when he was a lad. These stories were normally centered around the rich Scrooge McDuck taking his nephews around the globe in search for more ancient wealth. My dad kept these stories and my sister and I read them as children. They were normally based around ancient myths, such as lost cities of gold, Atlantis, the fountain of youth, etc. They were great tales of adventure and I loved them.

Disney then produced Duck Tales, which were all based on the old comics and I loved the series. It lasted quite a while given that most cartoons back were broadcasted for maybe two seasons. What I really liked about the show was the theme song was really cool, for a kid at least. Most of those theme songs were really cool for that matter.

So today I bring you a creative fella who used his talents to perform 28 cartoon theme songs in seven minutes. Join with me a journey down memory lane:

"I don't think cartoons are only for kids, but I think kids will love anything as long as it's visually interesting." - John Kricfalusi

Thursday Music

When I was a kid we had a neighbor who played music so loud the entire road could hear his musical tastes. Genres varied as he played Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, and Led Zepplin, but one day as I was out playing in the field he decided to put on a an album by The Doors.

I had never heard them before, but I was mesmerized by the music, from the pop-ish tunes (Light My Fire, Touch Me) to the haunting melodies (The End). Having already taken to jazz I loved the rhythms as well as the strange lyrics and the keyboards. I became an instant fan and every time my neighbor across the road played The Doors I would sit quietly and listen.

I found myself a loner in the fact that I enjoyed them. My friends were more into Michael Jackson and the soundtrack to Footloose. For years I only had the chance to listen to them when I was alone. My parents hated them and called them devil's music. Early on they knew their child was weird.

Finally director Oliver Stone released 'The Doors', his biopic of Jim Morrison. Suddenly everyone was a fan for at least eight months. People would accuse me of becoming a fan only because of the film, which I wasn't, but I didn't see why that would matter. It's not as if radio stations were playing them so most of my generation's first exposure to them was through the movie. Regardless it was nice to hear people enjoy the music that I loved as a kid and as a benefit I got to hear it more.

While the movie may not have been entirely faithful to history I enjoyed it. Of course it portrayed Morrison as a megalomaniacal self destructive sociopath, but I didn't care. I was only interested in the music, songs that I would never stop enjoying no matter how old I get.

"Violence isn't always evil. What's evil is the infatuation with violence." - Jim Morrison