Bad Reputation

I wasn't sure what to write about this evening, so I started browsing through some tunes from 1980.  Have to say that I wasn't too excited about any one of them in particular tonight.  In fact, I think I found some of them to be a little on the cheesy side.  It's no fault to the singers, though, because even someone like Diana Ross can get stuck with a tune that is just downright silly.  Sometimes, it just happens...

Anyway, somehow I came across Joan Jett's "Bad Reputation," which was written just one year later in 1981.  Now, this is a classic tune that just about sums it up for me.  Yeah, I don't give a d@mn 'bout my reputation either, so this is perfect!  I'm just a clarinet player and not anywhere near as rockingly awesome as Joan Jett, but this message is probably shared by more than you'd think.  I noticed recently that Miley Cyrus covered this tune, and I even saw a video of her performing with Joan Jett.  Poor Joan.  No offense to anyone's creativity or artistic freedom, but Miley Cyrus?  Come on.  All I can think about is bubble gum and popcorn.  I just don't see Miley coming anywhere close to the renegade spirit of Joan Jett.  Teenaged rebellion just isn't the same, and I don't think Miley's hairdos or tattoos really are all that shockingly rebellious.  Anyway, back to Joan Jett.  SHE ROCKS!  Yup -- that about says it all.  The song was inspired by her search for a record company and the advice given to her by her producer Kenny Laguna.  She wasn't going to change for anyone, regardless of how many companies wouldn't sign her because of her "bad reputation."  Yeah -- right on, Joan.  I hear you loud and clear.  That message is so meaningful today -- and probably shared by even more than it was in 1981.  Let's face it, there is so much nonsense in the world today, and so many people talking about what is politically correct or not. Sometimes, you just have to say, "I don't give a d@mn" about what people think.  "A girl can do what she wants to do, and that's what I'm gonna do!"  You can, too -- just turn this tune on and crank it up!

Fleetwood Mac Tour - "Dreams" Can Come True

The other day I was driving home from work and heard this fabulous Fleetwood Mac tune on the radio.  I've probably heard it a million times, and you know, I never bothered to find out what the name was.  Sheesh.  After all these years, all I knew was "Thunder only happens when it's raining..."  Well, those are the lyrics in the chorus, but the title is actually "Dreams."  Yup.  I'm sure just about everyone in the world knew this except me  -- until now!  But, the nice thing about Fleetwood Mac is that their songs are so amazing lyrically that the title can escape you from time to time.  Certainly not like canned pop where the title can be very obvious and perhaps even the most prevalent line.  Anyway, I thought it would be perfect to post this since it was just announced that Fleetwood Mac will be touring in 2013.  YES!  I have to see them.  I think their first dates are in April, and they will begin rehearsals in February.

Meanwhile, this song was written in 1977, so I cheat once again here, but hey, Fleetwood Mac is a legendary group that spans the decades.  They haven't had a dull moment in over 30 years, so it seems perfectly fine to include them here.  I have to say that I hadn't really listened to the lyrics carefully until this evening, but as I thought about it, I figured it would be something heavy.  "Thunder only happens when it's raining..."  Yeah, I should have known it was about heartbreak.  Amazing how they can mask that in this amazingly soothing tune that seems perfectly slotted musically.  Kind of like trumpet players when they talk about how a trumpet "slots."  Kind of hard to explain, but in a nutshell, it means everything falls into place.  I am mesmerized at how Stevie Nicks sings this in such a calming, soothing tone -- almost like a lullaby.  Hmmm...  maybe that was her remedy for a broken heart.  Anyway, this video of their live performance is more perfect than ever.  I hadn't realized Mick Fleetwood could tear up the drums like that.  Wow.  Amazing as always.  Hope I get to see them!

Pat Benatar Live in NH

Finishing up with the series of concert videos here.  Pat Benatar was actually the second act to go on for the concert with Loverboy and Journey.  There was quite a long intermission to change the stage set after Loverboy and before Pat Benatar, yet oddly enough, she did not have an elaborate stage set at all.  Nope -- just Pat and her husband Neil Giraldo (on guitar) as the main focus.  When she came out on stage, it was quite thrilling.  Such a tiny lady with a huge voice -- and so much mystique and rock and roll power!  I remember seeing an interview with her, and the interviewer asked, "So how can we be as cool as you?"  She said, "it's all in the pointing," and proceeded to demonstrate her famous awesomely cool pointing technique.  I believe she said that it "makes you look tough."  Works for me!  I'm going to practice that now.  In the meantime, I hope you enjoy these videos.  I am so glad I saw her -- finally!

Journey Live in NH

Well, somehow time has escaped me again, and I am ashamed that it has been a month since I went to see Journey, Loverboy, and Pat Benatar in Manchester, NH.  I took several short videos with my Blackberry but had trouble uploading them directly from my computer -- so I added them to my YouTube channel.  I know they aren't the clearest or the best quality, but I think they certainly capture the excitement and general essence of the concert.  I can't tell you how blown away I was when Journey took the stage.  They basically exploded onto the stage with "Anyway You Want It."  I honestly felt like I was going to pop out of my seat - which I did!  I stood for their whole set, just mesmerized in a Journey trance.  The new lead singer is so full of energy, and the veteran band members are nothing short of amazing.  I hope you enjoy the videos!

Loverboy Live!

So -- it has again been much too long since my last post.  I apologize and have something special to post now!  Last night, I went to hear Journey, Pat Benatar, and Loverboy.  I have about 8 videos total, so here is the one of Loverboy's "Turn Me Loose."  I thought I had recorded "Working for the Weekend," but it didn't record.  Oh well.  It was really my first try at recording anything in length with the Blackberry.  It was a GREAT show.  Go see them if you can!

Girls Just Want to Have Fun

This post is for Mike!  Mike had commented on my last entry that I hadn't written about Cyndi Lauper, who was an important fixture on the '80s scene.  Well, when I was in 5th grade, she released the album "She's So Unusual."  The year was 1984 I believe.  I absolutely LOVED that album and listened to it over and over.  That was about the time when I think I was first allowed to have slumber parties, which were SO much fun.  Yup -- just invite a handful of your closest (girl) friends over, have pizza, snacks, put the records on, and dance and sing (or lip sync) into the wee hours.  Sleeping bags were there, but not really for sleeping -- more for giggling and storytelling in the dark.  Boy, those were some fun times.  It was just after we had started band, so all of my closest girlfriends were in band with me.  Good times!  Needless to say, my "She's So Unusual" LP was full of skips -- you know, from when you're dancing around and the needle skips and scratches across the vinyl.

Ancient Artifact - Corded Telephone

Anyway, this song is so notorious.  I read that this video won the very first award for best video by a female artist on the 1984 MTV Video Music awards.  I am not surprised.  I probably watched the show, too.   I remember waiting anxiously every year for it.  Seems that around that time, Cyndi Lauper and Madonna were neck and neck competitors.  Newsweek thought that Cyndi would eclipse Madonna, who they called the "Trash Heap Queen."  Ah, yes, well, Madonna was also queen of re-invention and crafty marketing, so I think she gained more notoriety and sold more records, but Cyndi was always my idol.  Her hair was just so amazing with its flaming red color (along with all the other colors throughout time).  The video is terrific, too.  I think I read somewhere that Cyndi's mother is in all of her videos, and it's true.  Her mom always looked so kind and endearing.  Captain Lou Albano played her father, and the video is one giant feel-good dance party.  In fact, at the end of the video, she brings all of Manhattan into her bedroom for a dance party.  I know it isn't all of the city, but it seems like it to her parents.  I love the part where the guy comes in with flowers looking for her.  He says, "Cyndi? Cyndi?"  You can really see him mouth the words.  Then, as was the case in the '80s, we see Captain Lou peeking through the keyhole to see what's going on in there.  The vision of Cyndi and the boy embracing makes him irate, he opens the door, and everyone falls out.  It's pretty funny.  But, I really think aside from the guy mouthing "Cyndi," my favorite part is the telephone sequence.  Remember telephones with cords?  Amazing.  I also think this is a perfect video in the midst of all the "binders full of women" satires.  Yup, this is one video binder full of women.  So, Governor Romney, if you are looking for some female "folks," call Cyndi!

Time (Clock of the Heart)

This evening I was looking for an '80s song with a saxophone solo -- only because I just felt like hearing some good ol' '80s style pop sax.  Seems like every song in the decade had saxophone, but when I looked up a list on Songfacts, I was quite disappointed.  Seemed like the list was way too short.  Somehow, I stumbled on to Time (Clock of the Heart) by Culture Club.  This tune has a huge sax solo which I had forgotten about, so bingo -- I fulfilled my wish.  I had guesstimated that the song was released in 1985, but boy was I off.  It was released in 1982, which meant I was pretty young.  In fact, it was my pre-clarinet time, and I think I was in the third grade.  That all may seem inconsequential, but it helps make sense of my perspective.  I remember when Culture Club came out in the U.S., and they seemed really different.  Boy George was a guy?  Woman?  We didn't really know.  Funny thing was, it didn't seem to matter back then.  There were plenty of male rock and pop singers wearing make-up, and that was alright.  They looked good.  Boy George wore a bit more color, and I guess we knew he was a guy, but he was a pop singer, so really, rules didn't exactly apply.

Anyway, I listened to the song this evening and couldn't believe how awesome the bass guitar line was in this.  How could I have missed this all these years?  Well, as mentioned, the song came out before my clarinet playing, so I wasn't really keen on things like that.  In fact, a "bass line" would have been completely foreign to my ears and musical knowledge at that time.  Now, it is certainly prominent, and it's a darn good one.  I also like the synthesized strings in the beginning with a touch of bells.  I bet Culture Club could perform with a live orchestra, and this would sound terrific.  It's hard to put your finger on just what makes British music from this time so distinctive, but I think it's difficult because the music seems to have a mix of so many stylistic elements.  The vocal harmonies (complete with back-up singers) seem to hint at R&B style, and the relaxed strings are almost reminiscent of '70s dance music.  And, of course, the saxophone solo definitely gives it a Top 40, pop feel.  I really like this song, regardless of everything that one might think about the group now -- and Boy George.  The lyrics are pretty straightforward, too.  Sounds like it's about a relationship that didn't work out, but the cool bass line makes it seem all okay.  "And time makes lovers feel, like they've got somethin' real..."  Yeah!  You know how much I love when song lyrics include words like "lovers" and "romance" or "romancing."  It's all so glamorous and unrealistic for regular speech.  Thank goodness for the '80s...  Gotta love those clocks in the video, too.  Swatch watch, anyone?  Let me grab my three and put them all on the same arm ;)

These little plastic watches were so expensive, but we had to have them!