Janet Kagan is looking for the full lyric to "The Man with the Sign" by Sheldon Harnick (set to the tune of "Stars and Stripes Forever by John Philip Sousa): [link]
Any ideas or suggestions? Or pointers to an actual recording?
I'll just jump in my time machine, go back to the twelfth century, and ask the vampires to postpone their ancient prophesy for a few days while you take in dinner and a show.
Giles ,'Selfless'
Buffista Music III: The Search for Bach
There's a lady plays her fav'rite records/On the jukebox ev'ry day/All day long she plays the same old songs/And she believes the things that they say/She sings along with all the saddest songs/And she believes the stories are real/She lets the music dictate the way that she feels.
dcp - Dec 28, 2006 6:24:30 pm PST #4698 of 10003
The more I learn, the more I realize how little I know.
Sue - Dec 29, 2006 3:54:30 am PST #4699 of 10003
hip deep in pie
Album cover quiz. I think most of them are classic rock. I've got about 5 right so far, and there are many more where I know the band but not the alubm title.
This didn't work for me in Firefox.
tommyrot - Dec 29, 2006 5:39:32 am PST #4700 of 10003
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.
Interesting. Plus many of the songs have links to videos, audio, etc....
eta:
#27 "Turn Turn Turn"
by The Byrds
ORIGINAL ARTIST: God
Hee!
Though originally recorded and arranged by Pete Seger, it was God's surprisingly good lyrics from Ecclesiastes that really made the song danceable.
DXMachina - Dec 29, 2006 5:55:35 am PST #4701 of 10003
You always do this. We get tipsy, and you take advantage of my love of the scientific method.
Hah! I was just coming back to post that.
I will say, though, that any list that thinks Bananarama's version of "Venus" is better than Shocking Blue's is suspect.
tommyrot - Dec 29, 2006 5:59:17 am PST #4702 of 10003
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.
How come I didn't know this existed?
#3 "Hurt"
by Johnny Cash
ORIGINAL ARTIST: Nine Inch Nails
This is probably the single most requested song for inclusion by retroCRUSH readers. And how can you blame them? You can totally picture Johnny's world crumbling away from him as he sings this mournful tale of how "Everyone I know goes away in the end." The video adds an especially eerie touch as June stands by his side, then vanishes. I don't know how Trent Reznor could ever sing this song again. It's Johnny's now.
This song was on heavy rotation on MTV when a close friend of mine died of AIDS. I still find it very hard to listen to. The Johnny Cash video brought tears to my eyes....
tommyrot - Dec 29, 2006 6:03:54 am PST #4703 of 10003
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.
I will say, though, that any list that thinks Bananarama's version of "Venus" is better than Shocking Blue's is suspect.
I love them both (pretty much equally).
Fred Pete - Dec 29, 2006 6:37:39 am PST #4704 of 10003
Ann, that's a ferret.
First, take what DXM said, and assume I said it about Lenny Kravitz's version of "American Woman." Not that I think the Guess Who had one of the greats there, I just can't stand the guitar riff Kravitz uses in that one.
Beyond that, the list suffers from a defect too often found in lists of that type -- bias toward the present. If they're going to give a nod to Fats Domino -- twice, why leave out "Blueberry Hill" (which started life with Glenn Miller)? Elvis did lots of covers, yes -- but was "Blue Suede Shoes" better than "Hound Dog"?
And I haven't gone anywhere near the Platters yet.
Oh, and I like Bananarama, but "Venus" wasn't one of their best.
tommyrot - Dec 29, 2006 6:47:00 am PST #4705 of 10003
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.
One more:
#16 "Superstar"
by Sonic Youth
ORIGINAL ARTIST: The Carpenters
Written for a Carpenters tribute album, this Sonic Youth version of Superstar is creepy, cool, and beautiful. Definitely a unique and brilliant take on an otherwise syrupy classic.
I love love love their cover of this and ITA about the "creepy, cool, and beautiful." A lot of the Carpenters tribute album was great - it made me see the weird melancholy that runs through a lot of their songs.
bon bon - Dec 29, 2006 7:17:03 am PST #4706 of 10003
It's five thousand for kissing, ten thousand for snuggling... End of list.
Top 25 of that list is interesting, the other 75 is filler.
beekaytee - Dec 29, 2006 10:26:56 am PST #4707 of 10003
Compassionately intolerant
I love love love their cover of this and ITA about the "creepy, cool, and beautiful." A lot of the Carpenters tribute album was great - it made me see the weird melancholy that runs through a lot of their songs.
I adore that album, especially Shonen Knife's On the Top of the World...serious fun. Oh, and Matthew Sweet's Let Me Be the One. ITA about the cover versions really showcasing the sad, sad thread through all the Carpenter's pseudo-chirpy work.
Another cover I love for the same reason is Natalie Merchant's One Fine Day from the soundtrack of the Clooney/Pfieffer fluffballmovie of the same name. Whoa. The Dixie Cups' bouncy rendition covers a truly sad, not to mention co-dependent lyric. And Natalie's torch treatment makes is a classic.
I do believe this is my first venture into the music thread after 2+ years as a buffista. My tastes are so shame-worthy, I figure I can't keep up with the cool kids. But I ambled in today after having a housecleaning fit to a Crash Test Dummies soundtrack. (see the above 'shame-worthy' comment)
The nostalgia for the 5 times I saw them live...and their witty/snarky/smart lyrics caused me to seek the Dummies out on the interbunny...just to see what is up with them. Man. Turned out to be a depressing mistake. One should never look back, eh?
Oh, and it made me think of one show of theirs I saw at the Warner Theatre in DC. Opening act? Milla Jovovich. No lie. And despite coming across as a complete whack-nut, she had one of the most beautiful voices I've ever heard. And made some very interesting songwriting choices. Who knew?