Early Valentine's for some of you =)

I will be back to posting normally soon, I hope. Getting over being deathly ill. It's always something! January was so rough. Very happy that it's February.

In the meantime - enjoy the latest from The Magnetic Fields - "Andrew in Drag" - NSFW for some mild nudity of people getting in/out of drag. The title should be enough to warn off people who are offended by the idea, but just in case you're at work or have grandma around or something, be aware! Catchy song, very striking video. The people, the very deliberate getting dressed, the colors, all very nicely staged. I am just happy that they made an official video! More videos, please! I always want to share their music and more videos would be awesome. (I hope for some more, and for some that are indeed safe for work and those with delicate sensibilities.) 

For more discussion of the song, it premiered on NPR's All Songs Considered and they discuss it and quote Merritt on the story and etc. Check it out!

Thoughts?

And I didn't tweet it as a new post, cause it's a comedy video, but my last post got a TON of views, LOL, I almost had a heart-attack when I saw the stats. So check it out as well if you missed it, it is hilarious.  

If snow won't change your heart, let it fall

Sorry no recent posts - winter finally happened here - snow, ice, I didn't have power for 4 days, etc. Things have been kind of hectic around these parts.

So a taste of weather songs - over on my FB, someone had asked for favorite songs with 'rain' in the title - and I was going to put this one, but someone beat me to it, LOL. I remember the first time I heard this song, I was pretty young like 11 or 12 (a formative age!), listening to my walkman in bed, and this song came on the oldies station and I was just blown away. It has been a beloved favorite ever since. There's something completely perfect about the rain sounds, the plunky xylophone type sounds - and that opening:

"Listen to the rhythm of the falling rain / telling me just what a fool I've been / I wish that it would go and let me cry in vain / and let me be alone again..." 

Followed later by the superb "Rain won't you tell her that I love her so / please ask the sun to set her heart aglow / rain in her heart and let the love we knew start to grow"

"Rhythm of the Rain" - The Cascades (look at these charmers/creepers!)






And I know that I must know more songs about snow, but I am still kind of mentally exhausted from the prior week of actual weather drama, so the first one I could think of was the Belle & Sebastian classic "Fox in the Snow" and followed by "Rain and Snow" a delightful American classic performed by The Be Good Tanyas (I love them, you should really check them out if you're not familiar with them).


"Fox in the Snow" - Belle & Sebastian (this is not an official video, but it is super adorable!):





"Rain and Snow" - The Be Good Tanyas




And perhaps a more easily appreciated of their songs (and one of my favorite songs ever) - "The Littlest Birds" - The Be Good Tanyas (which also aptly references "the cold and the rain"):

"I love you so dearly, I love you so fearlessly..."

But I saved yet another delight for last - "Only Time" by The Magnetic Fields - Stephin Merritt (you will eventually get sick of my fangirl adoration for him, apologies (not really)) is the greatest songwriter of his generation, or possibly of all time. His more lyrically playful songs are amazing and clever and he has a knack for perfect turns of phrase to thrill the heart of word-nerds everywhere. But even his simplest songs - like this one, not a ton of flowery lyrics or anything - convey such richness of emotion, such depth of sadness & woe & love & sweetness & bitter longing and everything all at once. (I made my favorite line the title of this post.) And TMF have by far the best strings around, which is also a personal obsession.

When things go wrong, I sing along

No real vids today.

For some reason, these songs kinda remind me of each other. No one beats the Magnetic Fields for the music of  the broken, breaking, heart; nor for pure joyful love longs. But the Fields song has some of the same feel to it, to me, of the importance of the song... the earnestness, magic and mystery... (even though they say you don't need this song)... I don't know. I am not always a coherent speaker. I just like these songs. I think they are both lovely meditations.

"No One Will Ever Love You Honestly" - The Magnetic Fields

"You Don't Need This Song (To Fix Your Broken Heart)" - Fields



And I don't usually plug things, but the new Stephin Merritt (of TMF and various other lovely bands) album "Obscurities" is out! I am listening to it right now in delight. Just an FYI.  For instance,"I Don't Believe You" is one of my TMF favs - Obscurities has this version, rather than the one on "i" (LOLZ anime fan vid set to "i" version).

Friend post

Friends can have a lot of influence in our lives - this post is devoted to Miss Michael, who is currently visiting. I used to be a huge fan of making mix CDs (still am), and I would give them to friends, especially a mutual friend "L" who is the reason I met Michael in the first place. Part of the reason we bonded as teenagers was our shared love of music (specifically the Travis song "Flowers in the Window"). Over the years, this translates to a number of bands/songs that I might not otherwise have heard, and vice versa.

So to commemorate her visit (in-between our discussion of music/TV/movie husbands, watching of Buffy and Hot Fuzz, and our adventuring about town) a post:

First, our shared love of Travis - "Why Does it Always Rain on Me": a classic video, simple, but cute. Two things we love: Scotland, and kilts.


A video from an artist that she introduced to me -

"Black White" - The Raveonettes: (from the excellent Gap "Sound of Color" ad series):



An artist that I introduced her to -

"Strange Powers" - The Magnetic Fields: who need to make more videos, so that we have more to showcase, please! But their musical body of work is magnificent.



Up next, she will guest blog a couple of her notable videos!

*** Following by Miss Michael ***

Shirley Manson & Elijah Wood in "Les enfants s'ennuient le dimanche" [Oliver Peoples 2010 campaign] (directed by Autumn de Wilde):
Okay, I know this is technically an advertisement, but seriously, what's not to love? Music, good. Shirley Manson, good. Elijah Wood, very good. It's very whimsical, but borderline creepy because they almost seem like siblings. Or maybe step siblings a la The Royal Tenenbaums (or Cruel Intentions, if you want to trash it up a little).



"Limon y Sal" - Julieta Venegas:
This video is so charming. I like the song, even though I have little to no clue what she's saying, but I especially like the storyline and the fairy tale qualities.


*** End guest blog ***


Those are two adorable videos, thank you Miss Michael! I could just eat up Elijah Wood and Shirley Manson in that ad.