Burnin' for You

I'm not quite sure why I was thinking about this song today, but it was running through my head for some reason.  Actually, I guess you could say it was burnin' through my mind.  Anyway, I admit that I knew basically nothing about the song or group.  All I knew was "I'm burnin', I'm burnin', I'm burnin' for you..."  Yup, the lyrics from the chorus can put you into a trance where that's all you can sing over and over.  So, I was curious to know what the rest of the lyrics were, and I am not sure what to make of them.  One could probably split hairs about it and discuss all kind of interpretations, but it seems to me that the song is about a guy who is so deeply in love that all he can think about is, well, that he's burnin' for this girl.  Sounds like he is so in love that he feels he sold his soul to the devil ("I'm living for giving the devil his due").  Hey, I can understand this.  Haven't we all been crazily and hopelessly in love at least once in our lives?  Have no fear, though, because you really won't combust like the guy in the video.

Original alien cult member?

I am pretty psyched to learn that the group is from NY.  YES!  I am from NY as well, so wooooo hooooooo!!!!!  Always good to have an awesome rock band from the homeland.  These guys are amazing, and I am sorry it's taken me this long to really discover them.  I probably heard "Don't Fear the Reaper" a million times on the radio and had no idea who sang it or what the title was.  That's what I get for not paying attention.  I also wondered what was up with the name.  Why is there an umlaut over the O?  I mean, it's an oyster!  I guess it doesn't matter.  This group is rockin', and they can put an umlaut there if they so choose.  Turns out the "blue oyster cult"came from a poem written by the band's manager about a group of aliens gathered secretly on earth to guide history.  Ah, aliens!  Once again, they come walking in...and make for a terrific rock band name!

Love Walks in.....As An Alien

This morning I was reading about a new album coming out next week by Van Halen and was curious to know more about it.  So, as always, I began scouring the internet to find more information.  Had a chance to hear the new song, "Tattoo," on Van Halen's website, but I also came across some very interesting history about the band.  I admit, this may not be news to everyone, but I had no idea that the band's history was so intriguing -- and complicated.  I missed a couple of years in there, too, because I didn't realize they had three lead singers (I had no idea they had a third one - Gary Cherone).  I also did not realize that they were on the list of groups with finicky riders, which seemed prevalent in the '80s.  No brown M&Ms for Van Halen.  Not a single, solitary one.  Seem picky?  Well, turns out they used that as a test for their venue hosts.  They requested a bowl of M&Ms with the brown ones removed.  They wanted to make sure that the entire rider was read to assure safety measures written into the rider as well.  Sounds like an excellent idea to me.  Kind of like when you are talking to someone, and you realize they are not listening, so you say something off the wall and wait for their reaction.  I've done this a couple of times.  Anyway, I think if clarinetists were working at the host venue for a Van Halen tour, they would be more than happy to pick all the brown M&Ms out of the bowl.

Meanwhile, I always preferred their songs from the Sammy Hagar days.  There were so many great love songs -- two of which I've previously posted ("When It's Love" and "Why Can't This Be Love").  I had forgotten about the third, "Love Walks In," and took a listen this morning.  I had no idea what the lyrics were other than "....nothing feels the same..." and "...love comes walkin' in..."  So, I listened to the rest of the lyrics and read an article about Sammy Hagar's meaning behind the lyrics.  Apparently, he's had some extraterrestrial visits, and the song references these experiences.  He sings, "Some kind of alien, waits for the opening, simply pulls a string, love comes walkin' in."  In retrospect, I thought I heard the word "alien" in the lyrics, but I figured that I was just hearing the lyrics incorrectly.  My brother and I used to argue over lyrics all the time in the 80s.  Back in the day, you couldn't just look them up on a computer.  So, looks like it really is "some kind of alien."  Drat.  I was sure it was love.  I guess it still could be, but it's hard for me to conceptualize love and extraterrestrials in the same lyrics.  Eh, well, I guess there's always Star Trek.  My family loves that show, and Captain Kirk was always winning over these gorgeous alien ladies.  Anyway, I hope you enjoy the video.  Check out Alex Van Halen and his awesome Ludwig Vistalite set, too.  Pretty awesome.