Fairytale of New York and why I love the Pogues

I just downloaded and added Fairytale of New York by the Pogues (with Kirsty MacColl). In its own twisty Poguean way its a great xmas / holiday song (more on my favorite holiday / xmas / hanukkah songs in a future post). Starting off as a typical xmas song with slow important piano, it quickly reveals the star of it Shane MacGowan crooning about "Christmas Eve in the drunk tank" but remains a sweet ballad of drunken Shane dreaming of his loved one, hoping for a Christmas when dreams come true. The song goes from the romance of New York and new love to the bitter reality of this downtrodden couple sung verse after verse to the same tune. They curse at one another and are spiteful, all while singing along to a irish tune. It's a great song with that mirthful Pogues sense of humor and perhaps reality. I once read that Virgin Radio listeners voted it the best christmas song of all time - with good reason that those british radio listeners have a sense of humor. Add it to your holiday playlist if you have listeners with a sense of humor.

I love the Pogues. A touch of classic Irish music, a touch of 80s punk, a heavy shot of too drunken rockers putting together some of the most rolicking and most beautiful music by the same band. For every "Love You Till The End" there will be a "Sickbed of Cuchulain" romancing and cursing. Without the Pogues, there would be no Black 47 and then there would be no Dropkick Murphys. If you were sucked in by that song from The Departed "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" by Dropkick Murphys, spend some time exploring the original Pogues.

For the sweet love songs, get "Love you till the end" from Pogue Mahone. For a fun song that is now a Cadillac commercial, get "The Sunnyside of the Street" from Hell's Ditch. And for a great intro to who the whiskey swilling Pogues really are, get the album Rum, Sodomy & the Lash (produced by Elvis Costello). And then do your best to see them live (a rare tour) this March 2008 in the states.

Music for All: The Apples In Stereo & The Polyphonic Spree

I like music. As you will learn on this blog, I particularly focus on music for my kids lately. Having a large music collection and twin pre-schoolers has caused a seismic shift in my listening and buying habits that I buy for "us" as well as "me" (let's be honest, i could say i buy for them, but i enjoy it too).

So, imagine my surprise and pleasure when I downloaded Energy by The Apples In Stereo and found the kids loving the song. Playing it over and over again like its one of their own, the power pop catchiness with a touch of the grandiosness of the Polyphonic Spree make this well worth a download for all to share. Free on amazon.

Having an even higher playcount on my ipod, thanks to the little ones in the backseat, is Running Away by The Polyphonic Spree. The kids likes Light and Day / Reach for the Sun, but this past summer while riding her bicycle down a hill, A told me that when she was zooming down a hill she had "Running Away" in her head. I knew at that point we were both hooked. Hearing her sing it in her pre-school voice was well worth my 99 cents.

Both songs, make excellent additions to any kids or adults playlist.

Peter Himmelman - My Green Kite

I just discovered the refreshing release from that other son of Bob, Peter Himmelman, called My Green Kite. If only Jakob Dylan would continue to write and record so well.

My Green Kite is Himmelman's latest kids album and its a gem. Himmelman has a long and prolific eclectice career ranging from the power jangle of Alex Chilton like pop, to new and traditional Jewish music, to some modern folk to the occasional kids collection. Pulling together the tunefulness, playfulness, and best elements of XTC to TMBG (They Might Be Giants) Himmelman puts together a thoroughly enjoyable set of tunes for all to enjoy. If the subject matter wasn't so endearingly simple and funny, he'd have a great release for us adults.

Fortunately for us, and our kids, Himmelman kept it for the kids. The title track, "My Green Kite", its simply great. The catchy chorus and cute air traffic control voice overs from the radio tower observing the kite of the song make it so much fun. Just as much fun on this album is "Feet" which as the title of most kids songs, suggests, is pretty easy to understand what the subject is.

My kids like it too. "A" says that the song about feet makes her laugh. She likes her feet and likes the shmendrick voice. "S" likes the green kite song because she likes green. and blue. and orange. and if the wind blows too hard she'll need bricks to keep her feet down on the ground.

Simple subject matters aside (afterall it is music for kids, not Radiohead) the voices, the tunes, the melody, and mood all make for enjoyable downloading for all. Available on itunes and amazon for download tonight.

New songs for vacation Pt. 1 - kids music

Just in time for winter travel, bountiful new music is available to share with my kids. My philosophy has always been "If I have to listen to it, I might as well enjoy it and create the playlist."

Just downloaded (as seen on my list to the left) are the three great songs from the soundtrack to Enchanted. Written by the great Disney team of Alan Menken (Little Mermaid & Beauty and the Beast) and Steven Schwartz of Wicked, these 3 songs are classic Disney princess songs which my two princesses immediately adored. The movie is pasable, but the songs are a heck of a lot of fun.

That's How You Know recalls the same calypso / reggae feel pioneered in Little Mermaid and True Love's Kiss is classic Beast.

Kudos to itunes as well for making the desireable songs downloadable individually as opposed to album only (which quite often happens with itunes). Three songs for 99 cents each - you cannot go wrong.

Next post - new Peter Himmelman. The son of Bob Dylan pens some great stuff for kids.

Finest Worksong

it always sounded like a call to action to me. imploring you to rise up and do something. the opposite of sitting still, this was telling one's own self to be prepared for greatness yet to come.

Courtesy of The Complete R.E.M. Lyrics Archive

Finest Worksong
From: Document

The time to rise has been engaged
You're better best to rearrange
I'm talking here to me alone
I listen to the finest worksong
Your finest hour
Another chance has been engaged
To throw Thoreau and rearrange
You are following this time
I beg you not beg to rhyme (blow your horn)
Your finest hour (blow your horn)

Take your instinct by the reins
Your better best to rearrange
What we want and what we need
Has been confused been confused (blow your horn)
Your finest hour (blow your song)

Applicable copyright is implicit (Copyright © R.E.M./Athens Ltd. for all R.E.M. originals).
These lyrics are official only when stated and in other cases represent a collaborative interpretation by fans.