Today’s been a good day. Woke up with the morning-energy-good vibes that I sometimes have, and thankfully it hasn’t stopped feeling like that yet. I’m almost at the 3pm slump that often hits me, and so far I feel pretty good.
Music has been hitting me in all the right places, and in all the right ways, so far this week. Today is no different. So, how about we press play and have a listen to today’s Give Me Five selection?
I’d love to hear about/listen to what you’ve been playing this week, too. If you care to share.
Give Me Five – April 20, 2021
Listen (and follow along for April’s GM5) on Spotify and YouTube
Song 1: “Headshots” by Suzanne Vega
“The sign said “Headshots.”
And that was all,
A picture of a boy,
and a number you could call,
two eyes in the shade,
a mouth so sad and small.
It’s strange the way a shadow,
can fall across the wall,
and make the difference,
n what you see.
Ah…”
My first year in college I had to get headshots done. I had no idea where to go, but I remembered this photo studio near my house that said, among passport photos and other posters made from camera film, that they did headshots. It was in this upstairs office, kind of sketchy feeling, kind of messy. But, they took them and they weren’t very expensive. Of course, they weren’t very good either, but they were most likely the best you can get in some upstairs sketch photo office on a minimum wage record store job in the late 80’s.
It was that same year that I discovered Suzanne Vega. Her earlier albums, both Self Titled and Solitude Standing. The latter of the two I carried around in my bag, and would switch out my math tapes for in the tutor lab. Algebra and “Luka” were a theme.
I love Objects Of Desire, the album, too. “Caramel” was always my favorite track, but this one – track two – “Headshots” – is coming in a close second.
If you want to hear more Suzanne Vega, and help support her music, go here.
Song 2: “Sonnet” by The Verve
“My friend and me,
looking through her red box of memories.
Faded I’m sure,
but love seems to stick in her veins,
you know.”
I tend to hold memories deep within me. I always think of them residing in my bones, or maybe in my soul – but I suppose “in her veins” fits, too.
Bad luck in love most of the time. I tend to either be taken for granted, or be at the right place at the wrong time kind of thing. My heart not healed yet, or the others not healed at all. I hold no regrets though. Not with love.
I remember seeing Richard Ashcroft a few years back, one of the last dates I had with one of those bad luck loves. This one was definitely in the taken for granted lane. Big time. I did get to hear this song live though, and it was gorgeous.
To hear more from Richard Ashcroft, and to help support his music, go here.
Song 3: “Thinking Of You” by The Colourfield
“If you ever think of me,
I’ll be thinking of you.
Through thick and thin,
I bear it and grin,
and never give in.
I could be the one thing left,
in your hour of need.
So, if you decide to change your views,
I’m thinking of you.”
My best friend found the album, Virgins and Philistines, at one of our favorite record stores in the 80’s – Music Market. They had this amazing import section that we always went to first – often picking out albums based on their covers, names, or something we’d read about in a music magazine, or the liner notes.
I think this was my first real encounter with Terry Hall. I love the way his voice sounds, along with Katrina Phillips, in this song. This was their second single – though we’d never heard The Colourfield on the radio in Orange County.
This is still one of my favorite albums.
Song 4: “Dying To Believe” by The Beths
“I’m sorry for the way that I can’t hold conversations.
It’s such a fragile thing to try support the weight of.
It’s not that I don’t think that my point of view is valid.
It’s just that I can’t stand the sound of my own patterns.”
New discovery band. Found on a Spotify Playlist called Bad Bitch Club.
It is new music/new band, but it reminds me a lot of the 90’s girl bands/riot grrl bands I loved.
Definitely going to dig more into their music.
To hear more of The Beths, and to support their music, go here.
Song 5: “Suddenly Last Summer” by The Motels
“It happened one summer,
it happened one time.
It happened forever,
for a short time.
A place for a moment,
an end to dream.
Forever I loved you,
forever it seemed.”
Ooh this one stings. Lots of memories from a long time ago here.
Hurts to listen to, but I do love this song.
To hear more of The Motels, and to help support their music, go here.
