She calls me April’s fool as I fall into May’s embrace – A Playlist
She calls me April’s fool as I fall into May’s embrace
A Playlist
“Stayin’ Alive” by Lizzo
“You Wouldn’t Like Me” by Tegan and Sara
“Stutter” by Elastica
“Why Can’t I?” by Liz Phair
“Supercut” by Lorde
“Sleepover” by Hayley Kiyoko
“Fade Into You” by Mazzy Star
“i love you” by Billie Eilish
“Wicked Game” by Gemma Hayes
“Reasons Not To Die” (Demo) by Ryn Weaver
“Glory Box” by Portishead
“All Apologies” by Sinéad O’Connor
“Killer” by Phoebe Bridgers
“Past Life” by Maggie Rogers
“Friend Like Me” by Betty Who
“Hollywood Lawn” by Jenny Lewis
“Erase/Rewind” by The Cardigans
“White Flag” by Dido
“Do What You Have To” by Sarah McLachlan
“Ruin” by Cat Power
“Head Alone” by Julia Jacklin
“Cartoon People” by Billie Marten
“Post Love” by Kimbra
“Black Star” by Gillian Welch
“Seventeen” by Sharon Van Etten
“Raspberry Swirl” by Tori Amos
“Hounds of Love” by Kate Bush
“Don’t Tell Me” by Madonna
“Troubled By the Way We Came Together” by Natalie Imbruglia
“I Don’t Want To Wait” by Paula Cole
She calls me April’s fool as I fall into May’s embrace
The ABC’s of Tori Amos
The ABC’s of Tori Amos
A lyriquediscorde favorites playlist
A Monday Playlist
“Amber Waves”
“Baker, Baker”
“Crucify”
“Doughnut Song”
“Enjoy the Silence”
“Frog On My Toe”
“Gold Dust”
“Hey Jupiter” (Dakota Version)
“Iieee”
“Jackie’s Strength”
“The Power of Orange Knickers” (featuring Damien Rice)
“Liquid Diamonds”
“Muhammed My Friend”
“Northern Lad”
“Ode to the Banana King (Part One)”
“Playboy Mommy”
“Beauty Queen/Horses”
“Raspberry Swirl”
“Silent All These Years”
“Tear In Your Hand”
“Upside Down”
“Virginia”
“Winter”
“Yes, Anastasia”
“Mr. Zebra”
The ABC’s of Tori Amos
We all wear masks – An Under the Covers Playlist
We All Wear Masks (To Cover Up Our Scars)
Under the Covers – Playlist
“Hallelujah” by Jeff Buckley
“It Ain’t Me, Babe” by Band Of Skulls
“Shoplifters Of the World” by Tanya Donelly and Dylan In The Movies
“Mad World” by Gary Jules and Michael Andrews
“Something” by Jim Sturgess (from the film, Across the Universe)
“Tears On My Pillow” by Clem Snide
“Make You Feel My Love” by Adele
“Chasing Cars” by Vitamin String Orchestra
“Fell In Love With a Boy” by Joss Stone
“Islands In the Stream” by Feist and Constantines
“Closet” by Juliana Hatfield
“Suspicious Minds” (live) by Pete Yorn
“Float On” by Ben Lee
“Everyday” by Fiona Apple and Jon Brion
“Teardrop” by Newton Faulkner
“My Boyfriend’s Back” by The Raveonettes
“When Doves Cry” by The Be Good Tanyas
“A Whiter Shade of Pale” by Annie Lennox and Heff Moraes
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Tori Amos
“Use Somebody” by Laura Jansen
“Crazy” by The Kills
“With Or Without You” by 2Cellos
“Wicked Game” by HIM
“Wild is the Wind” by Cat Power
“You Really Got a Hold On Me” She and Him
“Go Your Own Way” by Lissie
“Perfect Day” by Metric
“Under the Milky Way” by Sia
“Landslide” by The Smashing Pumpkins
“Such Great Heights” by Iron And Wine
Last Breakfast On Earth
Last Breakfast On Earth
Monday Playlist
“Bring On the Dancing Horses” by Echo and the Bunnymen
“Christine” by Siouxsie and the Banshees
“Pretty In Pink” by The Psychedelic Furs
“There is a Light That Never Goes Out” by The Smiths
“Hero Takes a Fall” by The Bangles
“In Between Days” by The Cure
“I Confess” by Haircut 100
“Lust To Love” by The Go-Go’s
“Never Say Never” by Romeo Void
“Bizarre Love Triangle” by New Order
“If You Leave” by OMD
“It’s My Life” by Talk Talk
“I Melt With You” by Modern English
“Catch My Fall” by Billy Idol
“Shine Like It Does” by INXS
“It Doesn’t Matter” by Depeche Mode
“Under the Milky Way” by The Church
“Oldest Story In the World” by The Plimsouls
“Whisper To a Scream (Birds Fly) by The Icicle Works
“Careless Memories” by Duran Duran
“Love is a Stranger” by Eurythmics
“True” by Spandau Ballet
“Everyday I Write the Book” by Elvis Costello
“Lay Your Hands On Me” by Thompson Twins
“Strip” by Adam Ant
“Cool Places” by Sparks, featuring Jane Wiedlin
“It’s a Miracle” by Culture Club
“Robert De Niro’s Waiting” by Bananarama
“Doot Doot” by Freur
Last Breakfast On Earth
“Down By the River” by Jill Sobule and John Doe
Over the last few months, I’ve been discovering/re-discovering Neil Young. I’ve been digging into albums, diving into deep cuts, realizing how much I enjoy so much of his music. Becoming an (albeit late) fan. Through my discovery/re-discovery Young-quest I’ve found so many great covers of his music. Today’s Song of the Day is one of those covers by two of my favorite singer-songwriter-musicians, Jill Sobule and John Doe, performing their cover of Neil’s “murder ballad”, “Down By the River”.
Their take on “Down By the River” appears on the cover-collaboration-tribute-for-charity album, Cinnamon Girl: Women Artists Cover Neil Young for Charity. This is a cool collection of covers that also features Tanya Donelly, Veruca Salt, Josie Cotton, The Watson Twins, Kristin Hersh, and others.
After a few days of anxiety and rough emotions, today represents a real first day for me. I know I’m 9 days late, but the New Year was bumpy, and I know that any day can be the first day – right? So, today is mine. My day to organize, set realistic goals, breathe a bit, and set myself on (hopefully) a path of better balance, love, (better) organization, home, family, budget, and self-care.
I’m only doing a Song of the Day today, as I spent most of today getting organized, setting goals, and breathing my decided first day in. Tomorrow will be back to other daily and weekly postings. Stay tuned.
“Down by the River” was written by Neil Young. It appeared on his 1969 (my birth year) album with Crazy Horse, called Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere. In the liner notes to Young’s 1977 anthology album Decade, he said that he wrote “Down by the River”, along with “Cinnamon Girl” and “Cowgirl in the Sand”, while delirious in bed, in Topanga Canyon, with a 103 °F fever.
The song feels like a “murder ballad” to me. With the lyrics “I shot my baby – down by the river” you can see why I’d think that. Young cleared up any questions, though, in a 1970 interview with Fusion. He said:
“There’s no real murder in it. It’s about blowing your thing with a chick. See, now in the beginning, it’s ‘I’ll be on your side, you be on mine’. It could be anything. Then the chick thing comes in. Then at the end it’s a whole other thing. It’s a plea… a desperation cry.”
Jill Sobule and John Doe contributed their cover of “Down By the River” to the collaborative cover album, Cinnamon Girl: Women Artists Cover Neil Young for Charity.
The collection of Neil Young covers benefits Casting for Recovery, a national non-profit support and educational program for women who have or have had breast cancer. Jill and John’s covers is one of my favorites in the collection.
“Down By the River” by Jill Sobule and John Doe
from the album, Cinnamon Girl: Women Artists Cover Neil Young for Charity (2008)
Song of the Day
“You take my hand,
I’ll take your hand.
Together we may get away.
This much madness is too much sorrow.
It’s impossible to make it today.
She could drag me over the rainbow,
send me away.
Down by the river,
I shot my baby.
Down by the river.”
Red Light Regards
Red Light Regards
Monday Playlist
“Give Out” by Sharon Van Etten
“He War” by Cat Power
“Darkness” by Leonard Cohen
“Funeral” by Phoebe Bridgers
“Switchblade” by Jenny and Johnny
“Feels Like We Only Go Backwards” by Tame Impala
“I’ll Be Around” by Yo La Tengo
“Drag” by Low
“Smother” by Daughter
“The Theory of Relativity” by Stars
“Turn On Me” by The Shins
“What You Do To Me” by Ben Gibbard
“Cruel” by St. Vincent
“Wish You Were Here” by Catherine Wheel
“The Man Who Sold the World (live)” by Nirvana
“Yet Again” by Grizzly Bear
“Hood” by Perfume Genius
“Wait” by Kindling
“Cold Morning” by Air Formation
“Into the Black” by Chromatics
“All Your Yeahs” by Beach House
“Lord Knows” by Dum Dum Girls
“Wildest Moments” by Jessie Ware
“Pyramids” by Frank Ocean
“No Aloha” by Breeders
“April Fool” by Patti Smith
“Salad Days” by Mac DeMarco
“But I’m Slow” by Infinity Girl
“Girl with One Eye” by Florence and the Machine
“Pretty When You Cry” by Lana Del Rey
Red Light Regards
“I Keep Forgettin'” by Laura Jane Grace
The A.V. Club’s cover project is one of my favorites to check in to when I’m craving a cover song discovery. For this Sunday’s Under the Covers feature – the first of the New Year, I’m going with The A.V. Club’s live cover of Michael McDonald’s early 80’s adult contemporary “break-up/heartache” song, that I remember all too well playing on the radio when I was in junior high, “I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near)”, performed by Laura Jane Grace, of Against Me!
Laura’s live cover is mixed with a bit of drums lifted from The Cure’s song, “Close To Me”.
Her rendition of Michael McDonald’s song takes the track to such a different place. It brings out the sentiments of the lyrics and sets them in a more painful and raw place. The stuff of real break-ups and heartache.
There is anger and hurt in Laura’s interpretation, too. Making this version feel like an anthem of one of the most painful spits you’ve ever been a part of, the kind that is near impossible to get over, get past, and forget.
“I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near)” (live) by Laura Jane Grace
Under the Covers Sunday
Listening now, on repeat, I feel as if this is the first time I’ve ever heard this song. Isn’t that what makes the perfect cover song?
“Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near)” (also known as “I Keep Forgettin’) is a song by singer-songwriter Michael McDonald, from his debut album If That’s What It Takes. It was written by McDonald and Ed Sanford. Its similarity to the earlier song I Keep Forgettin’, by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, recorded by Chuck Jackson resulted in Leiber and Stoller also being given a songwriting credit.
“I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near)” by Michael McDonald
Michael McDonald recorded it, with his sister Maureen providing background vocals. It was featured on If That’s What It Takes, his first solo album away from The Doobie Brothers. Released as a single, it peaked at # 4 on the Billboard Pop Singles charts, and # 7 on the Billboard R&B chart. Greg Phillinganes, Steve Lukather and Jeff Porcaro of the band Toto played the clarinet, guitar, and drums respectively. Noted bassist Louis Johnson laid down the song’s pronounced bassline. (from Wikipedia)
What do you think of Laura Jane Grace’s cover? Do you know of any other covers of this song that you enjoy? Are there any other Michael McDonald, or The Doobie Brothers’ covers that you would recommend?
We get up and start it all over again
We get up and start it all over again
Female Friday Playlist
Lyriquediscorde
“Make Me Feel” by Janelle Monáe
“Mr. Big Stuff” by Jean Knight
“Los Ageless” by St. Vincent
“Get Some” by Lykke Li
“Me and My Husband” by Mitski
“Your Dog” by Soccer Mommy
“Pristine” by Snail Mail
“Nothing, Not Nearly” by Laura Marling
“Sail” by Macy Gray
“Cellophane” by Sia
“I Don’t Wanna Be Funny Anymore” by Lucy Dacus
“In Undertow” by Alvvays
“Mariners Apartment Complex” by Lana Del Rey
“Bette Davis Eyes” by Kim Carnes
“One Day” by Sharon Van Etten
“I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)” by Aretha Franklin
“Comfortably Numb” by Dar Williams
“Hey Joe” by Charlotte Gainsbourg
“Blush” by Wolf Alice
“Horses In My Dreams” by PJ Harvey
“Enjoy the Silence” by Carla Bruni
“I Put a Spell On You” by Nina Simone
“Don’t Kiss Me Goodbye” by Ultra Orange and Emmanuelle
“Sparks Fly” by Waxahatchee
“Portions For Foxes” by Rilo Kiley
“Caught a Light Sneeze” by Tori Amos
“Motion Sickness” by Phoebe Bridges
“You Know I’m No Good” by Amy Winehouse
“I’d Rather Go Blind” by Etta James
“Is That Alright?” by Lady Gaga
“I Honestly Love You” by Julianna Hatfield
We get up and start it all over again
But some of us are looking at the stars (and garters)
But some of us are looking at the stars (and garters)
A Monday Playlist
Lyriquediscorde
“I’ll See You In My Dreams” by Matt Berninger and Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks
“Dusty Rainbow” By Wax Tailor, featuring Charlotte Savary
“Love Me Or Leave Me” by Regina Spektor and Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks
“Love Is the Drug” by Bryan Ferry and The Bryan Ferry Orchestra
“Fever” by Peggy Lee, Bob Norberg, and Robert Norberg
“Rio” (Ballad Version) by Moby, featuring Mindy Jones
“I Found a Million Dollar Baby” by Bing Crosby
“La vie en rose” by Edith Piaf
“Dream a Little Dream of Me” by Ella Fitzgerald
“I Surrender Dear” by Elvis Costello and Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks
“Crazy” by The Kills
“Sea Of Love” by Phil Phillips and The Twilights
“Sway (Quien Sera)” by Dean Martin
“Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps” by Cake
“My Baby Just Cares For Me” by Nina Simone
“I Wanna Be Loved By You” by Marilyn Monroe
“Make Believe” by St. Vincent and Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks
“Sister Kate” by The Ditty Bops
“Beyond the Sea” by Bobby Darin
“Who’s Sorry Now” by Karen Elson and Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks
“Teach Me Tonight” by Dinah Washington
“I’ll Come Running Back To You” by Sam Cooke and The Soul Stirrers
“C’est Si Bon” by Eartha Kitt
“Fly Me To the Moon (In Other Words)” by Frank Sinatra
“If You Want the Rainbow (You Must Have the Rain)” by Norah Jones and Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks
“Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out” by Neko Case and Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks
“Lush Life” by Lady Gaga
“Something’s Gotta Give” by Sammy Davis, Jr.
“Try a Little Tenderness” by Otis Redding
“The End of the World” by Sharon Van Etten
But some of us are looking at the stars (and garters)
Top 5 Music Obsessions featuring Laura Marling
Today is harder than I expected. Rougher in ways I hoped it wouldn’t be. I woke up hoping that things would start feeling better. That hopeless hopeful person I am rearing her naive head. But it feels the same, or maybe a little worse. Maybe this is how things are now. The new normal. Maybe I need to just learn to live with things this way. Maybe I am just overreactive and overemotional, wanting and needing too much. I don’t know anymore.
I’ve always believed in tomorrow. In fresh starts. In new chances. In realistic happy-ever-afters. I think its why I used to like Mondays, and why I’ve always loved first days of the month, and year. The power of the blank page, of a new day to make things better, a chance at hope. I always believed that love is the most important thing. That it endures. That it is enough. That it can make everything better. That everything else – money, jobs, school, loss, disappointment, the future – that all of it can be traversed, and survived if love is there to hold on to. I think that’s just another example of me being naive.
Maybe its time to say goodbye to my optimism. Maybe its time to face the reality of life. Maybe I can’t be the person I’ve been anymore. Maybe that’s why writing, and music, is so hard on me now. Maybe that’s why just being me is so hard now.
I’m trying though, to at least write and try to take in music, listen to it, and maybe hang on to it a little. Music has always been my buoy, my muse, and my lifeline…and in some ways…my life. I don’t want to lose everything that is me. I don’t want to lose being hopeful, even if I know I should.
Top 5 Music Obsessions – Tuesday, November 19, 2018
1. “The Needle and the Damage Done” by Laura Marling
from the single to “Blues Run the Game” (2010)
“I’ve seen the needle and the damage done,
a little part of it in everyone,
but every junkie’s like a settin’ sun.”
I’ve been digging into Neil Young’s music for a few months now and indulging my ears in some of the cover versions out there. This is a tough song for me, as there’s been a lot of loss I’ve seen and felt and lived through because of needles and the damage they’ve done. But, this is a beautiful, albeit sad, version.
2. “When Doves Cry” by Patti Smith
from the album, Land (1975-2002) (2002)
“Why must we scream at each other?
This is what it sounds like when doves cry.”
Another cover. An unusual cover, also beautiful, and sad. This song hits harder today than the original, or any other version I’ve heard before.
3. “I’ll Be Around” by Yo La Tengo
from the album, Fade (2013)
“When I stare into space,
I’m looking for you,
and, I can see you,
at times.”
I’ve been listening to this album all afternoon, since late morning. Since he sent this to me earlier today. This is my favorite track on the album.
4. “Always On My Mind” by Bahamas
from the album, Sweetheart 2014 (2014)
“Little things I should have said and done,
I just never took the time.
But, you were always on my mind.”
This cover version makes me cry every time I hear it. Especially today.
5. “Always Remember Us This Way” by Lady Gaga
from the soundtrack album to A Star Is Born (2018)
“When I’m all choked up,
but I can’t find the words.
Every time we say goodbye,
baby, it hurts.
When the sun goes down,
and the band won’t play,
I’ll always remember us this way.”
Still loving the film, and the movie from it. This, and “Shallow”, are my favorites from it. Something about Gaga’s performance of this song in the film reminds me of early Elton John. Beautiful song.
