Category Archives: Music

Friday random ten: Parenthetically speaking, part 13

Posted on May 1, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Lucky thirteen… 1. Touch Me (I Want Your Body) – Samantha Fox 2. TRACKS (TALL BODIES) – Chelsea Wolfe 3. Until You Come Back To Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do) – Aretha Franklin 4. Waterfall (Psychedelic Teepee Twelve) – … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Girls Just Want To Have Fun

Posted on April 25, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

In a world where music videos had plot lines, there was Cyndi Lauper’s 80s classic: Lauper went on to do several remakes and remixes of this song, which stands up pretty well 30 years later. While this is absolutely Lauper’s … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Parenthetically speaking, part 12

Posted on April 24, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Twelve! Twelve lists of song names with parentheses in them! Ah ha ha! 1. Strangest Party (These Are The Times) – INXS 2. Sweet Dreams (Of You) – Patsy Cline 3. (Take A) Beetle To The Badlands – The Slip … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Gloria

Posted on April 18, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Settle in, kids, this is going to be a long one. We start with the original version of this classic, performed by Them, a “Northern Irih rock band featuring Van Morrison”, who are not to be confused with Them!, a … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Parenthetically speaking, part 11

Posted on April 17, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

More great parentheticals coming right at you. 1. Remember (Walking In The Sand) – Aerosmith 2. Right Next Door (Because Of Me) – Robert Cray 3. Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) – Bruce Springsteen 4. S.I.M.P. (Squirrels In My Pants) – … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Parenthetically speaking, part 10

Posted on April 10, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Starting to get close to the end. 1. Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song) – Billy Joel 2. (Nothing But) Flowers – Talking Heads 3. Papa Come Quick (Jody And Chico) – Bonnie Raitt 4. Pony (It’s OK) – Erin McCarley 5. … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Girl From Ipanema

Posted on April 4, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Easily the most famous bossa nova song ever, and possibly the most recognizable saxophone melody, here’s Stan Getz with Joao Gilberto and Astrud Gilberto doing their signature hit, “Girl From Ipanema”: I remember reading a “Peanuts” cartoon from a paperback … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Parenthetically speaking, part 9

Posted on April 3, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Ten more parenthetical songs for your Good Friday contemplation. 1. Mele Kalikimaka (Hawaiian Christmas) – Bing Crosby 2. Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want To Fight Tonight) – The Ramones 3. Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway) – … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Georgia On My Mind

Posted on March 28, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Legendary big band drummer Gene Krupa leads his troupe and an unnamed female vocalist in this classic: Of course, the version we all know is by Ray Charles: Some years ago I was visiting a school friend in Atlanta, and … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Parenthetically speaking, part 8

Posted on March 27, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

They keep making songs with parentheses in the titles, I keep writing about them. 1. Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) – Katy Perry 2. Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out) – John Mellencamp 3. Let’s Be Friends (Skin To … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Friend Of The Devil

Posted on March 21, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

A vintage clip of a classic Grateful Dead song: That video is about three times as long as the studio version of the song, but hey, the Dead were a jam band. Anything less wouldn’t feel right. It’s also interesting … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Parenthetically speaking, part 7

Posted on March 20, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Some real classic this week. 1. I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead (You Rascal You) – Asylum Street Spankers 2. Istanbul (Not Constantinople) – They Might Be Giants 3. It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) … Continue reading →

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R Kelly still on the bill at FPSF 2015

Posted on March 16, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Progress report from the Cancel R Kelly At FPSF 2015 Facebook page: No progress to report. Thanks for all the support! On Monday March 9th, we met again with Free Press Summer Fest. They had nothing to report about any … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: For You

Posted on March 14, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Some old school Springsteen, done acoustically by a more current version of The Boss: That’s from his debut album, Greetings From Asbury Park, New Jersey!. Did you know that three songs (that I know of and heard at least once … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Parenthetically speaking, part 6

Posted on March 13, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We spring forward to more parenthetical songs. 1. I Was Standing By The Bedside Of A Neighbor (If You See My Saviour) – Michele Lanchester & Sweet Honey In The Rock 2. I Won’t Ever Go Drinking Again (?) – … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Flashdance

Posted on March 7, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Tear up your sweatshirt and put on your leggings, it’s time to go back to the 80s with Irene Cara: You know my motto: There’s no cheesy 80s hit song that Big Daddy can’t take to completely unexpected places: Someone … Continue reading →

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Ezra Charles

Posted on March 7, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Great story about a local music legend. The Ezra Charles Band was playing tighter than ever in its decades-spanning history when its leader decided to pull the plug. Charles – a remarkable pianist from Beaumont – received a lifetime achievement … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Parenthetically speaking, part 5

Posted on March 6, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

You know the drill by now… 1. Holy Lamb (Song For Harmonic Convergence) – Yes 2. HOOPS Yes! (FC Dallas) – The Polyphonic Spree 3. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) – James Taylor 4. I Am … Continue reading →

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Chron covers R Kelly controversy

Posted on March 6, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s the story. Free Press Houston and concert promoter Pegstar are deciding what to do about the inclusion of R&B performer R. Kelly at the 2015 Free Press Summer Festival after a local protest began to draw national attention. Kelly … Continue reading →

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Why is R Kelly in the Free Press Summerfest lineup?

Posted on March 4, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Maybe this wasn’t such a hot idea. Music fan David Hayes has attended the Free Press Summer Fest every summer since 2010, and was planning to go this year as well—that is, until he saw that one of the headliners … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

Posted on February 28, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

You all know the Roberta Flack version: If you’re old enough to remember that song, you’re probably old enough to remember a TV ad or two selling a compilation of mellow hit songs that included this. (You may also remember … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Parenthetically speaking, part 4

Posted on February 27, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

So many parenthetical songs. 1. Don’t You (Forget About Me) – Simple Minds 2. Flashdance (What A Feeling) – Irene Cara 3. Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words) – Frank Sinatra with Count Basie 4. The Fox (What … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Fire and Rain

Posted on February 21, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a James Taylor classic: But have you ever said to yourself “You know, I’d like to hear that song with a bluesier voice and a horn section backing it”? Well, then Blood, Sweat & Tears is here for you: … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Parenthetically speaking, part 3

Posted on February 20, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

More parentheses! So many more parentheses! 1. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) – U2 2. Come And I Will Sing You (The Twelve Apostles) – Great Big Sea 3. Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah) – Chic 4. The Deal … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Fire

Posted on February 14, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

A young Bruce Springsteen does an acoustic version of one of his classics: There’s a reason they call him the Boss. But for all his many virtues, I don’t think anyone has ever called Springsteen funky. For that, we have … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Parenthetically speaking, part 2

Posted on February 13, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

More songs with parentheses. 1. But Still He Loved Her So (The Ballad Of Harry And Esther) – Sally Fingerett 2. By Cover of Night (Fire Fight) – Sebastien Grainger 3. California (There Is No End To Love) – U2 … Continue reading →

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KTRU will be back

Posted on February 11, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Awesome. And unexpected. Rice University’s popular student-run radio station, relegated to the Internet when the university sold it in 2010, is returning to the airwaves. The Federal Communications Commission on Monday approved the construction of a low-power FM broadcast station … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Eye Of The Tiger

Posted on February 7, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s Survivor. Feel the awesomeness. You can’t top that – you can’t even come close to equaling it. There’s a reason Dave Bickler, the lead singer, went on to do those Real Men of Genius ads. The best you can … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Parenthetically speaking, part 1

Posted on February 6, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Time for another set of theme lists. You know how some songs have an optional title, or extra words to the title, set apart in parentheses? Let’s go through the library and see what songs like that I have. 1. … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Existential Blues

Posted on January 31, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I’m sure I have a few Dr. Demento fans in my reading audience. As such, I’m sure you’re familiar with Tom “T-Bone” Stankus and his stream of consciousness masterpiece: There are some better videos that show Stankus singing, with some … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten – Dance Party!

Posted on January 30, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I mentioned Scalzi’s 80s dance party playlist a couple of Fridays ago, and also mentioned that it had some oversights on it. Well, no party lasts forever, so you have to cut it off somewhere. Be that as it may, … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Exactly Like You

Posted on January 24, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Nobody does western swing these days like the Hot Club of Cowtown: I’ve been a fan of theirs for awhile, though I haven’t seen them in Houston recently. For a clear demonstration of their instrumental chops, see this blazing rendition … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: My year in music, part 3

Posted on January 23, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s Part One, and here’s Part Two. I hadn’t originally intended for there to be a Part 3, but there was enough music in that post-Christmas splurge to make it worthwhile, so here we go. 1. Diga Diga Doo – … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Everybody Hurts

Posted on January 17, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

An REM classic, as done by the Meat Puppets: And by Amanda Palmer and Cormac Bride: I have some more versions of this, all in a similar style. They’re from a tribute to REM called “Drive XV”, which is still … Continue reading →

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