Thursday, September 07, 2006

Random Goodness (And Badness)

Some random songs, truly random, for this welcome Thursday.

There are many REM songs that are good. And most of those are good for the whole family. This one has been featured on a children's comp or two. My daughter's favorite REM song though, is "Superman."

James Kochalka Superstar is a childlike recording artist whose songs you would think would be ideal for kids except most of them have at least a little profanity. This one, I don't think (but I don't promise) doesn't. He's from Vermont, he's a cartoonist and painter too and he's kind of funny in that totaly dorky fourth grade way.

Maya Angelou is famous for many good reasons. This 1956 album cut isn't one of them. Not that it's bad, it's just a little novelty bit that is catchy and throwaway. But I like it and the kids will have fun singing the word "Barbados" in a funny accent. Maya's own fake Caribbean accent was apparently put on for the tropical band she sang with in San Francisco when she was very young.

What can I say about LL Cool J? He's cool, still, and he can't live without his radio.

This Loretta Lynn track is so catchy, so sing-song singalong. From the Jack White produced Van Lear Rose CD. I saw it on somebody else's "family" music tape and thought, "Oh yeah."

REM, "We Walk"
James Kochalka Superstar, "Peanut Butter & Jellyfish"
Maya Angelou, "Mambo Africa"
LL Cool J, "I Can't Live Without My Radio"
Loretta Lynn, "High On A Mountaintop"

More about: REM, James Kochlaka Superstar, Maya Angelou, LL Cool J, Loretta Lynn

3 comments:

Idaho Dad said...

Oh wow, I'd forgotten about that R.E.M. song... I spent the entire year of 1983 listening to nothing but their Murmur album.

I loved how every time I listened to songs like "We Walk" and "Shaking Through" I would hear something different out of Michael Stipe's mouth. "We walk through the world, we walk... Up the stairs to the landing, up the stairs to the heart." Classic. Thanks for the walk down memory lane.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, don't ya miss the old mysterious stipe? Highschool pondering. It could be whatever we wanted it to be.
PB&Jfish?! Her body is a loaf of bread! I had tears.
LL Cool J reminds me that my son LOVES this crazy DVD we have of this wacky old-school hip hop show called "graffiti rock" with all these people in their pink izod shirts with the collars turned up. There's some break dancing in it that just makes him nuts. He's learning all the moves. It's hilarious.
"High on life and rich in love" - there you have it!

Anonymous said...

I am really enjoying your recommendations and reviews. We are always looking for ways to introduce our daughter to more of a variety of music!

We purchased that Innocence Mission album, once I heard Over the Rainbow I just had to have it!! I have yet to share it with my daughter but I am hoping she will like it too!