Crankster

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Music Meme

Okay, as anyone who knows me will tell you, I have horrid taste in music. However, I have gamely undergone this somewhat painful meme that the profoundly evil Judith developed. I have done so for one reason--so that I can now inflict it on three people who undoubtedly have better taste in music than I do.

So, drumroll please:

Misanthropster, Alex (of Holtetboards), and Matt (of Animal Mind), you three are on!

What’s a great late night song?
Close the Door, Lou Reed (okay, I'm a little bent)

Name 5 wistful/bittersweet songs:
"I Hold Your Hand In Mine" - Tom Lehrer (okay, I'm a lot bent),
"All I Wanna Do" - Heart
"Somebody's Crying" - Chris Isaac
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" - Judy Garland
"Christmastime Is Here Again" - Vince Guaraldi



The 4 Best Songs Ever Written:
Nope, I'm not touching that one with a vaccinated crowbar. I will, however, mention three songs that I think are really well done.
"Condition" Kenny Rodgers
"Sweet Home Alabama" Lynyrd Skynyrd
"Free Falling" Tom Petty
"People are Strange" The Doors

3 Current Favorite Songs:
Lately I find myself obsessively listening to Wildflowers by Tom Petty, Rockin' in the Weary Land by Donna the Buffalo, and "Too Long In the Wasteland" by James McMurtry

A Classic Drinking Music album:
Best of Jimmy Buffett

A Song You Want (or did) To Play At Your Wedding:
How about one I wish I played? The Way You Look Tonight

4 Good Angry Songs:
"Hello, Dad, I'm in Jail"
"Sink the Censorship" Disappear Fear
"Idiot Wind" Bob Dylan
"You Oughta Know" Alanis Morissette

One of Your Favorite Lyrics:
From "Angeline," by Larry McMurtry

Barefoot in the autumn weeds
Cotton dress hanging to your knees
to the eyes of a stranger
You offered a smile
I went to work in your daddy's fields
Didn't seem like such a bad deal
At least it would do for a while.

We were both young and unabashed
We took what life offered
When the folks were distracted
Or too tired to care
With a frost on the land
The fates forced our hand
Your dresses fit tighter
With the spring in the air.

3 Cover Songs Arguably Better Than the Original:
Danny's Song - Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
Money - The Flying Lizards
With a Little Help - Joe Cocker



Ironic Song to Brutally Murder Someone to in a movie:
Fish Heads - Barnes and Barnes

Good Album to Clean The House To:
Best of the Temptations

Good Dining Music:
Anything by Mellow, Morphine, or Frank Sinatra

A Good Album To Put You In the Mood (that is NOT Sade, Marvin Gaye or Barry White):
Let's be honest--almost anything will work (I'm a guy)

Good Album To Sleep To:
Nomads, Indians, Saints - Indigo Girls

2 Songs That are Too Damn Sad:
"Hurt" - Nine Inch Nails

Great Love Song:
"They Can't Take That Away From Me" by George and Ira Gershwin. I like to imagine a guy in a mental institution or an Orwellian prison humming this to himself as they administer the Sodium Pentothal.

Song To An Ex That Isn’t Meanspirited:
"Whatever" - The Asylum Street Spankers

Song To An Ex That Is Kinda Meanspirited:
"Don't Fear the Reaper" - Blue Oyster Cult



Song to lose your Mind to:
"When the Trixter Starts a-Pokin'" Gogol Bordello

4 Songs That Make You Feel Amped and Inspired:
"The Battle Hymn of the Republic"
"Rock Me Like a Hurricane" Scorpionz
"Eye of the Tiger" (also best workout song ever)
"When I Was Born" Barenaked Ladies (more inspired than amped)

3 songs that are guilty pleasures:
Most of my preferred music is a guilty pleasure. Okay, how about "Annie's Song" by John Denver, "I Could Be Your Girlfriend" by Avril Lavigne, and "Tom's Diner" by Suzanne Vega. Embarrassingly enough, I also own a fair bit of Roger Whittaker.

Criminally Underrated Band That Didn’t Get Attention and Then Broke Up:
Strange Fruit

Best Screw You I Am a Teenager in Pain Song:
How about "Best I am a whiny pencil-neck living in the middle of the 1980's" song? The answer is, of course, "People Are People" by Depressed, excuse me, Depeche Mode.

Feel No Shame, Great Current Pop Songs:
I hate to say it, but I think "The Black Parade" might count as a great rock anthem.

Album No One Would Expect You To Love:
Latino Crooners

Hip-Hop Song You Know All the Lyrics Too:
Actually, there isn't one.

Random Album You Loved In High School But Are Afraid To Admit It:
Faith by George Michaels

Album You May Have Listened To More In High School than Any Other Album:
Basically, any comedy album by Monty Python, any musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and a fair bit of Jethro Tull

Album To Clear A Room With:
Soft, Safe, and Sanitized

Labels: , ,

18 Comments:

  • he-he. I know just about all of these. Does this mean I'm a geek too? :0)

    By Anonymous Anonymous, At April 26, 2007 at 1:18 PM  

  • You know, I'm personally "Still Crazy" about Strange Fruit.

    By Blogger Unknown, At April 26, 2007 at 1:53 PM  

  • Profoundly evil? Youre making me blush with such compliments ;o) I think I know about half a dozen songs you mentioned and thats it and I thought I was a bit savvy in the music field - thats told me!

    By Blogger Judith, At April 26, 2007 at 2:37 PM  

  • Ummm, you know that part about having horrid taste....? Didn't really need to tell us that.

    John Denver and George Michael were the giveaways.

    I'm glad to see you sense of play has returned, though.

    By Blogger The Geezers, At April 26, 2007 at 2:41 PM  

  • I'm speechless.

    But it's hip to be square, right?

    Puss
    (Jethro Tull??!!)

    By Blogger Glamourpuss, At April 26, 2007 at 3:09 PM  

  • As a personal victim of just how bad Crankster's musical taste can be, I felt some relief at the eclectic nature of these responses. And no where did I see The Proclaimers or any songs from Paul Simon's Graceland album, which I must have listened to at least a 1000000000 times in college at the begging, pleading, down right pathetic requests of the 18 year old version of the man that stands before us now.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, At April 26, 2007 at 4:56 PM  

  • Wow, I have a lot of catching up to do.

    By Blogger The CEO, At April 26, 2007 at 5:24 PM  

  • Reflecting Pool-
    I can't tell you how reassuring it is to find someone with the same bad taste in music. You restored my faith in humanity!


    Suzanne-
    Thank you. I was wondering if anyone was going to get that reference!


    Jude-
    The trouble is that you only know good music. I, on the other hand, swim in the depths of bad music.


    Mystic Wing-
    I was taking it easy on you. I still have a Fine Young Cannibals CD around here somewhere...


    Puss-
    I was in high school. That's all I'm gonna say.


    Jules-
    I was wondering if you were still checking in! I thought about the Proclaimers and Graceland, not to mention Little Miss S!


    CEO-
    I say this with absolute sincerity--take your music cues from someone with taste. Really. I'm not your go-to guy for this one.

    Although I think you'd probably like The Shins. And James McMurtry. And, of course, Tom Lehrer!

    By Blogger Crankster, At April 26, 2007 at 7:57 PM  

  • I'll second The Shins...saw them at DAR a month or so ago. I can also get on board with Monty Python. The rest of it...very interesting.

    Any chance you remember that guy you used to play sometimes in your car? I think he was on tape. I don't remember him very well, other than how dreadful (and amusing) he was. I most enjoyed seeing the giddy-maniacal excitement that overtook you when listening to it.

    By Blogger William, At April 26, 2007 at 8:27 PM  

  • I'm going to have to think about this for a while, but I gotta say - reading through your list it immediately reminded me: I started up a playlist on my iTunes about 2 months ago, called "really bad songs that I like." It was sort of a work in progress but now I'm think I need to post it sometime.

    By Blogger holtetboards, At April 26, 2007 at 9:48 PM  

  • "I hold your hand in mine, dear,
    I press it to my lips.
    I take a healthy bite from
    Your dainty fingertips.

    I'm sorry that I killed you
    For our love was something fine.
    Until they come to get me
    I will hold your hand in mine.

    The night you died I cut it off
    I really don't know why
    "Cause now each time I kiss it
    I get bloodstains on my tie.

    I'm sorry now I killed you
    For our love was something fine.
    Until they come to get me,
    I will hold your hand in mine."

    By Blogger heartinsanfrancisco, At April 27, 2007 at 2:31 AM  

  • Here's an encore from Tom Lehrer:


    "When the shades of night are falling
    Comes a person everyone knows,
    It's the old dope peddlar,
    Spreading joy wherever he goes.

    He gives the kids free samples
    Because he knows full well
    That today's young innocent faces
    Will be tomorrow's clientelle.

    There's a cure for all your troubles
    There's an end to all distress,
    It's the old dope peddlar
    With his powdered happiness."

    By Blogger heartinsanfrancisco, At April 27, 2007 at 2:35 AM  

  • Tom Lehrer was a professor at my university, and I had the profound honour of performing for him at a student night - we did The Masochism Tango, complete with stiletto heels and red roses in our teeth. The students loved it, I think he was a tad embarassed. (Poisoning Pigeons in the Park is my personal favorite!)

    By Blogger MrsG, At April 27, 2007 at 4:35 AM  

  • William-
    You saw the Shins? How cool!

    Regarding the bad singer on tape...geez, you'll have to narrow it down! I guess I'll have to go through some old tapes and see if I can find it.


    Holtet-
    Wow. I reminded you to finish a list called "really bad songs that I like."

    I can't tell if that makes me a good teacher, or just is further evidence of my evil, evil musical tastes. I need to think on this!


    Hearts-
    You are so very, very cool! My mom and I used to listen to Lehrer all the time and cackle to ourselves!


    Amy-
    That is so awesome! I was always a big fan about the one that went "I Wanna Go Back to Dixie."

    And "The Old Dope Peddler."

    Yeah, and "Poisoning Pigeons," too!

    By Blogger Crankster, At April 27, 2007 at 8:19 AM  

  • I love your musical taste. I think my mother breastfed me Monty Python. This is a wicked musical meme and I might have to swipe it. I'm notorious for that.

    Things seem to be coming back to "normal" for you and for that I'm glad.

    Be well and enjoy the day.

    By Blogger Danielle, At April 27, 2007 at 10:56 AM  

  • I will have to get back to you. Oh, how I miss allofmp3.com, the "legal" Web downloading site in Moscow.

    By Blogger M@, At April 27, 2007 at 1:03 PM  

  • Awesome post. It was nice and meaty. I could've taken a nice chunk of goodness away from this. Believe that!

    By Blogger Me, At May 1, 2007 at 1:04 AM  

  • Danielle-
    Thanks! It's nice to know that I'm not the only one with bizarre musical taste.

    And, yes, Monty Python is God.


    Matt-
    I'm just enjoying passing on the pain!


    Orhan-
    Glad you found something tasty!

    By Blogger Crankster, At May 1, 2007 at 10:44 PM  

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