Seriously? You don't know...........

So,the other day I tried to introduce you to a few of the up and coming musicians that I feel you should know.

Today, I am going the opposite route,  I am digging deep into the vaults to highlight some musicians that I feel you might have missed, or, that don’t get enough attention. 

Maybe you know some of them, maybe you don’t , maybe your friends don’t and if your friends don’t … Nevermind, wrong song.

So here we go, get with the flow.

Joe Jackson

This is as good a place to start as any.  I think you’ve probably heard one or two of his songs.

At the very least you know this one:

But including this, he had a total of 6 songs on the US Hot 100 chart. And 11 in the UK.

So, by looking at the video of him, you can probably tell why he got swallowed up by the MTV scene, he was one of the mass casualties of video killing the radio star.  He’s not the best looking, but he is an incredible musician.

3 albums in the top 20 in the US with a total of 10 albums on the US album 100 charts, is hardly a shabby career.

Ok, so his best work was from 1979 to 1984, but he is still in my top 5 favorite artist lists. Yeah, I realize I was 2, but that’s none of your fucking business.

So Joe Jackson, went to the Royal Academy of Music  and then formed The Joe Jackson Band. 

So his early albums are new wave and British punk in the vein of Elvis Costello or The Police. His later work became more of a jazz fusion type of thing, and it’s all good. 

Some of his songs sound emo:

And some of his songs sound like this:

But his best charting song of all time sounds like this:

But my favorite Joe Jackson song sounds like this:

That’s it for Joe Jackson.

***So I just came to the realization that what I write may be of little importance, and giving you as many examples as I can is the only way to let you in on all this great stuff, so expect less writing and more music.***

The Oak Ridge Boys

Ok so they are actually really well known, but not by my generation or the one coming up after us. So they deserve some recognition.

And, yes, they are a country group, steeped in the tradition of barbershop quartets. They started out singing gospel and transformed into a great pop/ country group.  But does that mean you should just write them off?   Hell No, they have a lot to offer.

I’ve seen them in concert twice, and it’s a fucking riot.

Yeah I know that they sang at The RNC in 2012, but that was Romney’s year, and well, so what, people make mistakes. They love God and republicans, just like Tom Brady.

Ok, that was a bad example.

Hey check it, they were on The Dukes of Hazzard, does that make it better?

So here’s a direct lift from Wikipedia to explain the band members:  “The lineup which produced their most world-famous and most well-known country and crossover consists of Duane Allen (lead), Joe Bonsall (tenor), William Lee Golden (baritone), and Richard Sterban (bass). Aside from an eight-year gap (1987–95) when Golden left the group and was replaced, this lineup has been together since 1973 and continues to tour and record.”

So check this out, here they are singing one of their seventeen number 1 country songs.  Listen to Richard Sterban’s deep voice.  I don’t know what it’s like to get moist panties, but hearing Sterban hit those low notes is probably about as close as I can get.

Oh and the guy with the long hair and beard is William Golden, the guy on the far left is Joe Bonsall, and of course the other guy who starts the song is Duane Allen.

Here they are at the Grand Ole Opry, singing their highest charting song of all time. Not only was it number 1 on the country charts, it reached number 5 on the US singles chart. Richard Sterban’s hair got a bit longer but they can still sing,

Here’s my personal favorite song of theirs,  pay no attention to the video, even though it’s funny. I chose this video because it had the best sound quality and you can hear the pops and hisses which mean it was transferred from vinyl.  And that’s a raw sound that I love.

Here’s the last one for today, a bit more of a rocker.  Again Sterban’s voice, I need a cold shower,

Laid Back

This came as a recommendation from my cousin Brendan, and I have always taken some of my music cues from him.  Once on our way to a camping trip he questioned my knowledge of The Beatles White Album. (at the time I didn’t know anything about it.)

But anyways moving on.

Here’s the one song you might already know.

So, Laid Back is a couple of guys from Denmark, who just do it all together. They have this sort of synth-pop new wave sound, maybe that’s a good way to describe them. 

I have 2 other Laid Back songs on my hard drive.

Cocaine Cool:

Which by the way, this will wreak havoc on your neighborhood if you are blasting through subs.

And, Sunshine Reggae

That’s as much as I can introduce you to. Because frankly that’s as much as I know.  But that doesn’t mean you have to end the journey there, keep looking.

Steve Winwood

Just the other day I was putting a ton of Steve Winwood onto my phone. I thought to myself, Dear God, I’ve begun my transformation into an old man. 

So Steve Winwood has been in some great bands, The Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, and Blind Faith, with Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker.

I don’t have time to introduce you to all those groups. So go back and check them out. Seriously, do it, or I will kill a lobster.

So Steve Winwood’s solo career had its highest moments from 1977 to 1987.

But Damn was it good.

It started with While You See a Chance

And then continued with  Valerie:

Then erupted with Higher Love

Then it started to wind down with Back in the High Life Again

Then it picked back up with The Finer Things

And then he got funky with Roll With It

And then  it started to dwindle, sure he had success with Don’t You Know what the Night Can Do and Holding On, but they didn’t have the staying power of the previous hits.

But like I said, these are just the hits, I’m putting your toe in the water, but it’s up to you to dive into the deep end.

Teddy Pendergrass

Teddy Pendergrass started out in Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes.  And, while I didn’t introduce you to Steve Winwood’s group work, Harold Melvin and the Blue notes are also often overlooked.

Soul, It’s deep fucking soul, (not literally, we’ll get to that later)

I Miss You

If You Don’t Me By Now  (which you should know by now)

And the original version of Don’t Leave Me This Way

Then Teddy split from the group and found solo success.

Close The Door  This is what made him a Sex God. Seriously, listen to the whole song, and you may be half clothed by the end.

And if that didn’t do it.. here’s the literal deep fucking soul I was talking about earlier

Turn Off The Lights

Still need more?   Here’s Love TKO

There’s a lot more worth listening to, but I want you to take the time and find them. 

Teddy’s career was taken from him too soon. He was in a car accident that left him paralyzed from the chest down.    Not to be insensitive  or crass, but how do you sing about sex when you can’t feel your tool?  So sadly he sort of fell into obscurity, but It’s almost Valentine’s day, and It’s Black History Month, never a more perfect time to get you some Teddy.

Roger Whitaker

If you are scratching your head, then  I’ve done my job.

Check out the crowd reaction as he sings his biggest hit. They’re clearly not having any fun

Seriously, that was his only charting song in the US  and those people look like they were forced to watch him. And they are afraid of the camera.

Ok, so yeah this is the old school hippie folk side of me coming out, but seriously, don’t just pass it over.

 Try This.  Durham Town

Ok so maybe this isn’t the best way to follow up Teddy Pendergrass, and maybe this is boring to you, but like I always say, get your own damn blog, this is mine.

Roger Whitaker was from Kenya and moved to the UK to get famous He was born in 1936 and from 1968 until now he has looked like he was 65.  So at least his age has caught up to him.

He was the first person to ever record Wind Beneath My Wings

Here’s my favorite Roger Whitaker song

Dirty Old Town

Ok, so he isn’t cool, but he has a great voice.  Give him that credit at least. 

If you have to get high to enjoy it, do that, just give him a chance. 

Violent Femmes

This may be all you know of the Violent Femmes

There’s so much more. 

Hell their debut album combined so many great hits.

Here’s my favorite Femmes song ,

So basically, the meat and potatoes of their career was from 1983 to 1991 and the really good stuff is all in the 80s. 

They’re a Wisconsin band so, I mean I assume they are bigger in Wisconsin. In fact we should change our State slogan to “Wisconsin: Cheese Curds, Old Fashioneds and the Femmes”

I love that there is so much great live footage of them.

They have so many great songs and you really need to just check it out, Hell Gnarls Barkley covered them

That’s it for now. 

 7 musicians that have since gone away that deserve a resurgence  pass it on to your friends, come on, make a mix cd of pirated songs.  I dare you. 

Cause seriously, that’s how you can move music. Pass it out to everyone like a cheap music whore.  (I think that was the working name of Napster)

Ok. Take it easy. 

10/9/40-12/8/80

December 8^th

If I had to sum it up, I’d say John Lennon’s death is a big part of my life. But I wasn’t even born yet.  

 It’s honestly hard for me to think about. I hate violence and guns and all that crap. 

I can’t think of anything else to say, and I don’t really want to. today is not about me or my opinions.  

So This is an image of John Lennon signing a copy of his album for Mark David Chapman

This is Mark David Chapman

John Lennon once said:

“I don't intend to be a performing flea any more. I was the dreamweaver, but although I'll be around I don't intend to be running at 20,000 miles an hour trying to prove myself. I don't want to die at 40."

This is why Mark David Chapman’s picture is a mugshot

This is how it was felt.

Here’s a few things you may have not seen.

This is from the Rolling Stones Rock n Roll Circus.  Which was an epic event all on its own.  The fact that John was there rocking and singing Beatles tunes is just, I mean, the man wasn’t big on doing concerts. 

So there’s some cool stuff out there that John did with Chuck Berry on the Mike Douglas show in 1972

Here’s that moment recreated with Julian Lennon

Julian paid tribute to his father many times.  Here he is again

John had another son too, you know.   He played his dad’s songs too

It’s amazing how both the boys sound a bit like their father but are able to do it in their own way.

John’s emotion just fucking bowls you over in this one.

Hey check this out.  Click Here

I leave you here….

Sorry that’s all I’ve got.  Maybe you can add to it. What did I miss?

Wait…

Here’s a jab at Paul.

 Now I’m done.  

What?! Oh Hell No! Hold up. Huh? Oh Ok

(Or, what’s that song really about?)

Wake Me Up When September Ends – Green Day

So, we hear this song every year when a football team starts out 0 and 4.

We also hear it when we are seeing tributes to the September 11^th attacks.

It was used as a tribute to Hurricane Katrina

The video itself is a long sweeping love story about a young couple torn apart by the war. The sadness of waiting for a loved one to come home, and everything we feared during the Iraq war.  

Obviously none of that is what the song is about at all.

But the band never told anyone not to use it.  I think good musicians are aware that, even when their words are misconstrued, they can still help others heal.  (ok maybe not the football stuff)

The song’s real meaning came from Billie Joe Armstrong’s childhood.   They mention it in one line in particular, but at the age of ten Billie Joe lost his father in September of 1982.  So the line “Like my father's come to pass”  is the whole meaning behind the song.

The video was okayed because Billie Joe felt that it still conveyed loss, along with their disdain for the war.

Closing Time – Semisonic

20 years later, bars are still playing this song as they turn up the lights.

Seems simple enough, we all know the bar culture, “you don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here“ has been around for years, hell, it’s in the Blues Brothers

So, ok, what’s the song really about?

Childbirth.   Yep, just listen to the damn lyrics, take the bar context out of it, and realize that the bar is a womb, that  “won’t be open until your brothers or sisters come”    

It’s the baby that knows who it wants to take him or her home. 

Yep. 

Don’t believe me, Singer Dan Wilson breaks it down line by line in the video below.

Say It Ain’t So – Weezer

I don’t get to talk about this song enough, and more people should know what it’s really about.

So if you don’t understand the importance this has to me, recognize that the symbol on the bass drum head is on my arm.  Or realize that when I am talking about Rivers the next couple of lines, I am talking about the leader of Weezer; not my son, but recognize where I got my son’s name.

So I don’t know what you think the song is about, I’ve known for years, so I don’t know what people think it’s about.

Anyways Rivers’ real parents split when he was a kid, and when that happened Rivers believed it to be due to the fact that his father was an alcoholic.  I can’t confirm that he was, only that this was what Rivers believed.

Flash forward to Rivers in High School and he comes home and there is beer in the fridge, So Rivers immediately thinks of the worst.  He now thinks that his step father is going to become an alcoholic and leave his family just as his real father had done.

So, listen to the lyrics now, it’s all there,  a Heineken in the fridge,  “like father , step father”   really the words were there the whole time, so if you missed it, well yeah  I can understand.  That’s a lot of personal history to know about. 

Damn.

Semi- Charmed Life – Third Eye Blind

You didn’t realize what this was about because on the radio and video edits, they backmask  the word, and in the video, lead singer  Stephan Jenkins covers his mouth .

But if you watch the video, he also walks backwards as he says it, which, means nothing, but come on, backmasking and showing that you did it.

Fucking genius.

The radio and vide edits also take out the post bridge.  I mean, you aren’t missing much, but the lyrics make sense if you know what you are hearing.  

There are other edits that take a shit ton more out. They use those on “light” radio stations nowadays, and those edits make it impossible to understand the true meaning.

Ok fine, I’ll tell you

Crystal Meth.  The song is about  a downward spiral into a slow addiction to Crystal Meth. The original chorus was, “I want nothing else”

So, yeah, he says “Doing Crystal meth will lift you up”

Drugs man, drugs.  Has anyone ever written a straight up song about drugs and got it on the radio?  Maybe someday soon. 

So here is the official video

Here is an unofficial fan made lyric video of the whole song intact as it appears on the album 

Love Song – Sara Bareilles

So, you may think that it’s a break up song, or a fuck you to a former lover.

It’s actually a fuck you to her record label.

She was trying to make an album and she was writing song after song, and the label, Epic, was still looking for a hit.  They weren’t ready to put out an album without a radio hit.

She was running into writer’s block and just became frustrated.

So Bareilles just wrote out the way she felt about the record label’s pressure and the way that they would just offer no help other than to shoot her down.  They wanted a love song.

That’s exactly what they got.

The Freshmen – The Verve Pipe

Depending on who you ask, the song means a lot of things. 

Only two of them are acceptable answers. 

The song is usually referred to as a song about suicide, and lyrically that’s what it’s about, the lead singer’s ex committing suicide.

Except that it never actually happened. 

The girl in question did have an abortion, and that’s what the song is really about.  There’s only 1 line that truly refers to it, but it’s there and you probably never  noticed it. 

“Stop a baby's breath and a shoe full of rice”

I don’t know what the rice part means.  But yeah, it’s a really deep dark song.

And here’s the darkest version out there.

And here’s the brightest:

Total Eclipse of the Heart – Bonnie Tyler

So the song was written by Jim Steinman, the man who wrote and produced Meat Loaf’s Bat out of Hell.

So right off the bat (no pun intended) you know it’s going to be some crazy shit.  The song was originally longer, I mean you’ve heard Paradise by the Dashboard Light, Jim Steinman writes some long ass crazy songs. 

The video is crazy as fuck too, and if you haven’t seen the Literal version, you owe it to yourself to see it. Click Here.   Watch other literal videos too.

So anyways, the song is a love song, but it’s not just any love song, it’s a vampire love song.

I would’ve watched more of Twilight had they used it.

So yeah, it’s a god damned Vampire love song.  So it’s about literally living in the dark all the time and that will be the only time for love or anything. 

Obviously the eclipse represents that moment of darkness in the middle of day. A brief moment where you can be totally out and free.

Summer of 69 – Bryan Adams

Seriously?

Bryan Adams was 10 in the summer of 69, you really think he had a band then?

And that one of the members would have left the band to get married?

Sex.   As in the sexual position of 69ing.

There’s some nostalgia in there and you can say it’s about young love, but 69 is there on purpose.

So that’s it for today.

 I’m sorry if I ruined your ideas as to what this music was really about, I know that you probably won’t look or hear the songs in the same way again.

But hey at least you know the truth right?

One last fun story,  Randy Bachman of Bachman Turner Overdrive has a brother named Gary.   Gary had a stutter. 

So when BTO was making the Not Fragile album the guys were playing around with a fun song, it was a nod to The Who, with the chorus progression being the same as Baba O’Riley. 

The song was not supposed to be a part of the album and Randy Bachman stuttered through the chorus as a joke to his brother, Gary was supposed to get the only copy of this song.   

Well, the rep from their label was still looking for a hit, and this was proposed, Randy re-recorded the lyrics without the stutter, but no one liked it, so they used the original with the stutter, and they had a number 1 song. 

Ok, Bye Now, 

See you later.

Woops??!?

Ok, bye now,  see you next week or something .

Protest

Here we go-

You still here?

Thank You  for sticking with me

**********You may notice the absence of a few songs. I blogged about them on my History Through Music post.  Click on it to see a few more. *********

Music can be a powerful tool.

It can bring people together.

Don’t believe me?  Go meet someone new, ask them about music,  you’ll probably be best friends in 20 minutes

Unless they’re only into some weird avant-garde shit that only 3 people like.  Or Tegan and Sara

That being said, music can unite people over issues. It can make us love one another. It can make us come together against ideas, against people, against anything.  It can even just make us realize that things are ok.

Enter the protest song.  And there are many.  Personally, I think the people of the 60s really knew how to protest, but Hip Hop has also had its great protest songs.

So today, I’m going to give you some of the good ones.   

******Please know that I only support peaceful protest. Violence may be fantasized, but to actually resort to it, is never the answer ******

Today is not a day for being sensitive, you may see something you don’t believe in, you may see something that you don’t like, but don’t get angry. Realize that some people have a different view of life than you.  And that’s ok, we  can have different points of view and still be peaceful.

However, you also have to understand some of these songs are going to come from an angry point of view.  They may say things angrily and they may incite violence, anger, and fear .  That may upset you, but don’t let it consume you. Just try to understand them.

Just try.

Swing Low Sweet Chariot

So, I can’t give you the greatest  info about this song, It’s considered a Negro Spiritual.  So basically it was passed on and on.  But the genre is known for bringing Christian valued songs to the plantation workers.

There are also supposed underground railroad references in the song.  I hear that in it.

But I also just hear the idea that, maybe the only way out of slavery is death, and that hey maybe not in the best way, but at least it was over, and you could believe that the afterlife was the best life. 

That’s completely fucking sad. But it may be true. 

Anyways, I chose this version, because for me, it’s the best, I know Clapton did it and I know the hippies stole it too.  But Paul Robeson’s voice really paints the picture.

Cop Killer

So I thought, do we go chronological?  Do we go movement to movement,  how do we do this? 

I’m not looking for shock value, I am not looking to piss you off right away,

Contrast, there is some serious contrast that’s going to happen , so why not get it out of the way as quick as possible.

So, first off, this song is 24 years old, and yet just yesterday, Police Officer Jeronimo Yanez was charged with manslaughter for the death of Philando Castile.

I am not saying we kill anybody, and I don’t condone violence, but understand the sentiment and the anger that people have had for years over the unwarranted deaths and beatings and abuse by the police. 

I know, I know, not all police officers are bad people, but some of them are, and if you’ve ever heard, said, thought, or read the statement that One bad apple spoils the whole bunch, then you understand why Ice T would make a  blanket statement like that.

Now he stars in Geico commercials and ironically as a Cop on Law and Order SVU.

So look, like I said, you have to understand the anger, but look at it this way, if someone made a song about how much McDonald’s fucks up your order, you’d blast that shit every time you went through the drive thru.

 And don’t act like you’ve never seen anyone get mad about that shit and agreed with it.  So if it helps, during the part of the song when they say “Fuck the Police”, think of “Fuck Mickey D’s” and just think that the only cop they want to kill is Officer Big Mac.

You could say this is the same message too…

This Land is Your Land

First off, if you’ve ignored Woody Guthrie your whole life, you’ve missed out.  Especially on original versions of songs that other people made famous.

Woody lived through the Great Depression, and the Dust Bowl.  He lived through some horrible times.

Was he a communist, maybe, but more likely a socialist who was against facism.

So the song, is about the fact that we are always told that we live in a free country, but sometimes it doesn’t feel so free.  

This version includes lyrics about a wall, that he had to jump over. 

There’s other versions, there’s other lyrics.  

It’s weird because I, like many of you was taught this song in elementary school, only to learn in college that this land was sold to the highest bidder and then they used it to tax you and me.  But isn’t it weird that we learned this socialist view of the world at age 7.  (Maybe the whole Bernie thing makes more sense now)

But really, it has been used as a protest song for years.  Ironically, in 2010 an anti gay group was using the Peter Paul and Mary version of the song, until Peter and Paul told them to knock it the fuck off.

So the video is longer than the song, there’s no cool eater egg at the end, so when the song is over , move on. 

Give Peace a Chance

All we are saying is “Give Peace a Chance”

Do I need say more?

 It was the Vietnam era, people were against war, we still are. 

John Lennon got a bunch of people together and put this song together. 

This song pops in and out of relevance monthly. Really if you know the truth about the world we live in, there hasn’t been peace since this was written and recorded.

So, maybe we should try it, once, just to see what happens.

No? You don’t want to try it?   How about this then?

How about this concept then?

Ok, so you don’t think those last 2 were protest songs?  Certainly, this next one is.

The man really wanted to spread a message.  Can you blame him?

Like I said, we’re still waiting for the utopian world of Imagine, or just the Peace to finally get a chance. 

And Instant Karma, ha, people don’t care about Karma any more than they do Jesus’s message.

Blowin’ in the Wind

So Bob Dylan wrote this, but.

As for now, I give you the Peter Paul and Mary version, because that is the one that I have heard so many times.

This is what my mother played, and every Christmas we would watch  the Christmas special, and that, was when I learned about life, and kindness. It’s also when I realized my mother was a hippie and still longed for world peace.

My dad always made a joke of it, but I think it was to ease the tension.  You see, my mom, to this date, still can’t hear Blowin’ in the Wind without crying.

I can’t blame her.

Blowin’ in the Wind is a take of a negro spiritual song,  Dylan admits it himself.  And really the song speaks for everyone and anyone who has been disenfranchised.

God damn, it still resonates today, and none of the questions asked have yet to be answered. 

Peter Yarrow introduces the song to us here, and it’s worthwhile to pay attention.

There’s also this…

Mosh

Remember 2004? George Bush won re-election, we were all surprised as fuck.   (Boy, we should have seen 2016 coming)

Anyways, We were at war, another war like Vietnam, where we were there, but we didn’t  want to be.

Remember “Support the Troops” 

So we fired back with “We support the troops, just not the war”

At the same time, we were headed to the recession, it was expensive as fuck to be an American,.

Oh, and again, W was our president and he wasn’t that good at it, he lied to us, he mumbled and stumbled through important speeches. 

Don’t act like you are proud of George W Bush, no one has ever said that.

Honestly, the only reason this didn’t have enough effect was that it came out a bit too late. The election was like 2 weeks away.

Maybe it got people interested in politics, maybe it helped in 2008.

Ok, so the video and song tell the tale, just watch…

They Don’t Care About Us

The song was about prejudice and got misinterpreted, so the lyrics got changed a little.

But it’s the same sentiment that black people had been saying for years, it was what Kanye said about Bush in 2005.

The song  got more attention, because  Michael said “Jew me” and “Kike me”  But come on, Michael was already being scrutinized, and was angry, but those words were in solidarity.  You mean to tell me you really think Michael hated Jews?

I mean, how many times does it need to be said?

This is the reason behind Black Lives Matter, whether you agree it or not, that’s all black people have been trying to say for 250 years.  They matter and they feel like you don’t think they do. 

Sorta the same message here…

We Shall Overcome

This needs no explaining, except for the fact that it is as relevant now as it was in the 60s

I’m giving you Joan Baez’s version, because in 63 she did it with 300,000 people.

Fortunate Son

When I think of Vietnam, and how scary and unwanted it was, come on, what other song comes to mind.

You know how rich kids didn’t get drafted, or they got out of serving their country by saying their feet hurt.

This is about them, this is about how the kids we were sending to war were already the less fortunate kids. 

It seemed like the draft cards were only being called upon on one side of the tracks. 

John Fogerty said this song was also the response to seeing  the grandson of Eisenhower marrying the daughter of Nixon,  like there was this elitist social club who could do what they want, while the rest of the world had to go war.

For What It’s Worth

So this became a protest song about so much, people used it against the war and the Kent State shootings and basically anything else they could think of

But it was actually about some riots on Sunset Strip, as a result of a curfew. 

Basically, Hippies, and counterculture started to happen, and LA decided to have a 10pm curfew.

So they had a protest, and that’s actually what this song is about.

So, The protest song hasn’t died, it’s still alive and well…

 Keep protesting, keep letting your voice be heard, but be peaceful about it.

Celebrities in Music Videos

So, not to get all preachy, but weezer has a new music video, for their song, I Love the USA, and it is really a nice video for a great extra song.  

Which yes, I now need to buy the deluxe version of the White Album, (weezer’s not The Beatles).  

Anyway, as you will see below, the video features Patton Oswalt, and it is not the first time that Weezer has had a celebrity in their video.

There was Elisha Cuthbert in the Perfect Situation video.

Or every single YouTube sensation in the video for Pork and Beans

The Muppets were in the Keep Fishin video.

There were more, but I don’t want to bore you.

So, I thought I would take a look at other celebrities in music videos.  I won’t have a lot to say about them, but I will let you know who and what to look for.  But we are going to skip past Cortney Cox in Dancing in the Dark, everyone knows that one.   I was hoping to find you some you didn’t know about

Counting Crows – A Long December

Speaking of Courtney Cox, in 1996 she was in the video for Counting Crows A Long December. 

She had dated Adam Duritz (Vocals, Piano for Counting Crows) 

This was after she was with Batman, so, I mean; she really got around for a while there.  She was in a few other music videos too.  But who has the time.

Michael Jackson – Remember the Time

There were multiple stars in this video, and that is what makes it so great.  

It’s Egyptian, it’s fun, it’s hip and it stars, Eddie Murphy, Iman, and Magic Johnson.  

I mean really could it get any better than that?  

Certainly I don’t think so.  Not to mention this is a good jam. 

Paul Simon – You Can Call Me Al

Paul Simon did a whole ton of great shit on Saturday Night Live. He could have been a comedic actor, I honestly believe that.  He plays the straight man well, and has great timing.

“I can't fit through the door!”

 In this video he plays backup singer and instrumentalist to SNL’s own Chevy Chase. So you know damn well it is going to be a fun great time. I have always also loved the way they move together whilst playing instruments.

Also, if you don’t get the “I can’t fit through the door” reference, I dislike you, but look it up please.

The Offspring – She’s Got Issues

You might have to pause it, if you really want to see it, if you don’t believe me, but the heroine of this video is none other than a 19 year old Zooey Deschanel.  

It’s actually, pretty easy to see.  I just want you to watch a cool music video that you forgot about or never saw.

I’m not sure how this came about; it may have just been an acting gig for her.   But hey, it’s also a great song with some really good animation. 

Aerosmith – Crazy

So this was Alicia Silverstone’s third video for Aerosmith. 

Which by the way, let’s talk about the fact that in 1994, Aerosmith was still relevant. How many bands from 1970 can say that?

So, let’s get back to the video, this was Liv Tyler’s first video, and she was cast from her prior work in a shampoo commercial. The director found out later she was the bandleader’s daughter. 

Which, by the way, who allows their daughter to be the sex appeal of their own video?  Which is even weirder because, Liv Tyler was originally Todd Rundgren’s daughter, but that’s another story.  Anyways yeah.

Mumford and Sons – Hopeless Wanderer

So, what we have here is a song that is already good as hell.  If you haven’t acknowledged Mumford and Sons as a good band, then give them some time.

This is just a case of some great comedic presences acknowledging a great band and playing them in their video.  Basically, the band is not there, they are instead played by Arrested Development’s Jason Bateman, SNL’s Jason Sudeikis and Will Forte, and ED Helms, that dude from the Office.

The video is as great as you might be thinking.  If you haven’t seen it, watch the whole damn thing right now.

Annie Lennox – Walking on Broken Glass

I think I have shared this video before,

Truth be told, I love Annie Lennox, with or without Dave Stewart.

This video was directed by Sophie Muller, who directed tons of great videos, including weezer’s Say it Ain’t So.

I digress; this video stars John Malkovich and Hugh Laurie, now that is a lot of star power. (Two guys, I wouldn’t stop from grabbing my pussy)  So Laurie is just reprising his role as Prince George.  Look it up

Malkovich is just being his cool ass self as a dude who just got married, but used to hook up with Lennox’s character. 

Ok it’s English, so it doesn’t make sense, just watch it.

Hanson- Penny and Me

This is one of those, “It’s my blog so shut up” moments. 

So first off, yes, Hanson had more songs than MmmBop.

Secondly, yes I think Samaire Armstrong is a celebrity.  You may know her from Dirty Sexy Money, or Not Another Teen Movie, but I remember her best as Anna from The OC, and if you don’t know about The OC, well that’s your problem.

I mean seriously, it was produced by McG, yeah that same McG who’s Supernatural you love.

Ok, so also, this video was hard to find, but here is a link to it.  

 http://www.mtv.com/videos/hanson/29855/penny-me.jhtml

Bobby McFerrin – Don’t Worry Be Happy

Ok, so this one might be hard to stomach, and, honestly I am choked up by the irony/foreshadowing. 

This is a very happy song, and how can you not enjoy it.  It stars, Bill Irwin, who, does tons of work as a clown and has been in so many movies that when you see the video, you will be like “I know that guy “

It also stars Robin Williams.

There is so much that I would like to say right now, but this isn’t the right venue, or the right place.

But folks, the world is real and it sucks and you have to take care of yourself and those around you.  Depression is real. Dementia is real, and they can both do some nasty things to you.  So, sorry for being a downer, but, if you or someone you love needs help.

You're not alone. Confidential help is available for free.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Call 1-800-273-8255

Available 24 hours everyday

We aren’t going to end on that note though.  There’s still one more.  Plus hundreds that I did not even talk about. 

Fatboy Slim - Weapon of Choice

Did you really think I would leave this one out?

Christopher Walken epitomizes coolness.  Sure there are some stunt doubles involved, but Walken was a dancer in theatre before he was an actor. 

The video won 6 MTV awards and a Grammy.  What more can you want?  Walken even took home a Moonman from the VMA’s.   How many people have won them at the age of 58?  That’s the other thing, he is 58 in this video, and doesn’t speak a word…  Not to mention, this was not his first music video.

This was voted as the best video of all time in 2002 for Christ’s sake. 

What more do you want from me people?

So, there it is, that’s today’s list of things.   I apologize if I left out your favorite, but make your own damn list then.   I know, I say that every time.   I left out a few on purpose, like Ben Affleck in Jenny from the Block.  Or that guy that plays Hawkeye in Pink’s video for Trouble.   I also didn’t mention any of the Cyndi Lauper videos starring Captain Lou Albano.  So there.

Anyways, as long as they keep making videos for songs, celebrities will continue to be in them, so if your favorite Actor isn’t in one yet, well then give it time.

Ok. Bye