Music Video Friday: Stand By R.E.M.

I'm certain that you've heard the news: R.E.M. is calling it quits after over 30 years of music making. I wouldn't call myself a dedicated fan, but I am a fan. I have all of their albums. I enjoy the vast majority of the music they've made. While their post New Adventures in Hi-Fi music was still good, the band called "R.E.M." was over when Bill Berry left. Michael, Peter, and Mike carried on for five more solid albums and 15 more solid years as something that very closely resembled "R.E.M." but not quite.

It's hard for me to pick out just one song to showcase. There are just so many. But the one I've got for you today is up in my Top 10 from the band. It's a bouncy tune with an important message about becoming actively involved "in the place where you live". It's up to you to decide to what degree and in what ways you will be.

And also, dance steps. We could all use a little more exercise, right?

Now face North.

Happy Pastafaria!

Today be t' Pirate high holy day. It be on this day, among others, that we pay our repects t' his Noodley Greatness in booty and rum. In honour o' me most favourite o' holidays, here be a tune from one o' t' most piratey o' modern pirates. Listen t' him cover a song from one o' t' most landlubbery o' landlubbers. Arrrrrrrrr! And RAmen!

Death Came Knocking

My neighbor passed away. She rented the unit next to mine from a non-resident owner. Her unit was newly renovated. She moved in a few months ago. She was a 50-something 38 year old woman who took trips for dialysis treatment three times a week. She was on Section 8. She was a smoker who frequently locked herself out of her unit. She had a male friend who visited on multiple occasions. This is all I really know of her.

The smell was noticed on Thursday evening. Her body was discovered on Friday evening, when the MPD and EMS were called in to break into her unit. EMS said that she had been dead for a few days.

Let me explain why there was a day's delay between discovering the smell and breaking into the unit. I cannot think of anyone who has not smelled the distinct scent of rot. It happens all around us every day, mostly in the form of trash that needs taken out. That is the level of stench Thursday night. Everyone who spoke to the police said the same thing, "I smelled it on Thursday night but I thought that someone either needed to take their trash out or had just taken their trash out." On Friday evening, one was smacked with it upon entering the front door. It was gag-enducing. I'm honestly surprised it didn't seep into my unit, either through the wall or under the door. Gag-enducing smells are plenty enough to call the authorities to come break your door down.

Not one of us in the building could name any of her relatives or her male visitor. None of us had a spare key to her unit. None of us had any emergency numbers. Not even the owner was any help. As of Saturday morning, no friends or family members had been identified. No one other than us knows of her death.

I don't really have a life-changing point to make here. I'm simply noting the passing of a neighbor, one I knew very little about.

Well, let me change that. I do have one point. None of us live in a vacuum. It's important to know your neighbors. It's important to know their families. It's important to know their friends. You don't have to be all buddy-buddy, but you do have to know them.

Because you need to know the people you're living around. And you need to know with whom to contact should something horrible happen.

I express my condolences to my neighbor's family and friends. I hope you find out soon and that you find comfort soon after that.

Music Video Friday: A Roy Orbison Bonanza

He is undeniably one of Rock 'N' Roll's greatest male voices. I've picked four of my favorite Orbison tunes. Enjoy!

Oh, Pretty Woman from Roy Orbison and Friends, A Black and White Night


Crying with k.d. lang


Walk On official video


Not Alone Any More as Lefty Wilbury of the Traveling Wilburys

Music Video Friday: Stone In Love By Journey

It's raining in the D.C. metropolitan area. It seems like it's been raining for months and will continue to rain for months. Depression is setting in all around me. I'm starting to grow moss in my armpits.

I think it's time for a pick-us-up.

Every once-in-a-while I get infected with an earworm. Some of them are chronic. "Stone In Love" is one of my chronic earworms. Steve Perry's unearthly vocals. Steve Smith's thundering drums. Neal Schon's and Jonathan Cain's powerful guitar work. Ross Valory's grounding bass riff. And the harmonies in the chorus. This is Journey in their chart-topping prime.

Music rarely gets better than this.



Actually, while it may not be better, the current version of Journey with Arnel Pineda at the vocal helm certainly holds its own.

ZOMG! I'm Being Gentrified!

Development is always something that happens somewhere else, like St. Elizabeths or the Southwest Waterfront or the Navy Yard area. But word came down this weekend that development was coming closer to home ... literally.

[Developer Tim Chapman] said he is under contract to purchase an auto body shop at 1708 Good Hope Road in Southeast D.C., on the border between Anacostia and Fairlawn, that he plans to develop into a 188-unit apartment complex with 25,000 to 30,000 square feet of retail. He would not disclose the price.

I'm of a mixed mind about this. On one hand, we need development (and redevelopment) East of the River, especially if the development includes retail. More, better, housing is always welcome. New retail opportunities are always welcome.

Sidebar: Mr. Chapman has not said whether this would include retail. So there's that. Actually, he did say. It's in the friggin' quote I used from the article. Yes, faithful readers, reading is fundamental.

That said, this development will be displacing, or possibly closing altogether, an excellent auto body shop. I recently needed some auto body work. And since 1) Murphy's is within walking distance of my condo and 2) Murphy's is a GEICO (my insurance company) partner, I went with them. The work was stellar and the customer service was the best I've ever had for auto body work. I was planning on taking my car back to them for additional body work that needs to be done once I had the finances to do so. I can only hope that Murphy's will find a new home and nearby.

Progress is painful. But it is necessary. And it is ... well ... progress. While I will morn the loss of Murphy's Auto Body, I will openly welcome new apartments/condos and (hopefully) retail.

Music Video Friday: 5 Songs For A Hurricane

In case you didn't know, the East Coast is going to meet an angry lady named Irene this weekend. Here's some music to help you through.

1. Beatles - Rain




2. Garbage - Only Happy When It Rains




3. John Fogerty - Who'll Stop The Rain




4. Madonna - Rain




5. Gene Kelly - Singing In The Rain

Music Video Friday: I Wish By Skeelo Vs. Stevie Wonder (A Mashup By Roel "rrremix" Regelink) (Plus A Bonus Video)

I've had a crap day. So I'm sharing a mashup that always brings a smile to my face.

If you don't know what a mashup is, it is a song that is comprised of two or more songs "mashed" together. I've posted a mashup before on this site and spoke a little more about them.

So enjoy!



BONUS VIDEO: Jimmie, now that you've heard it, you can never unhear it.

Music Video Friday: Uprising By Muse (Plus A Bonus Video)

To set off this week's music video, I regret that I'll need to get a little political.

I'm pissed off at my government. Maybe I'm making a big thing of nothing here, yet I can't help but feel that the people we've picked to speak for us aren't listening to what we have to say. It's full steam ahead with the same failed politics, the same failed arguments, the same failed games. The whole sorry circus came to its latest head this week, when S&P downgraded the country's credit rating for the first time in our country's history.

My faithful readers, I've had it. And so has a great number of people. I don't think anyone has put it as eloquently as comedian Felonious Munk. WARNING: This epic rant is generously peppered with colorful language; if you're reading this in a sensitive location (i.e. work, church, so on and so forth), you might want to put the headphones on.



He puts to video what, I believe, a lot of people are thinking. Frankly, I don't care who started rolling the snowball from the top of the mountain. We didn't elect these people to their roles in government so that they can finger-point. You, the people in Congress and the White House, are at the wheel now. Fix this mess or we'll find other people who will.



LEGAL DISCLAIMER: I do not advocate violence as a solution. Nor do I advocate releasing an army of Naughty Bears on the world. If you want to change the system, get yourself educated on the truth of the issues and on the candidates running for office then VOTE wisely!

UPDATE 15 Sugust 2011 13:31: What? No one was gonna tell me the Muse video didn't work?

Tuna Steaks With Tomato And Basil Raw Salsa

Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling, plus 2 to 3 tablespoons
4 (1-inch) steaks, 6 to 8 ounces each
Salt and pepper
6 plum tomatoes, chopped
1 small red onion, chopped
A handful parsley leaves, chopped
1/2 cup torn or chopped fresh basil leaves, about 10

Combine raw tomatoes, onions, parsley, and basil in a bowl. Dress with 2 to 3 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil, enough to coat the tomatoes evenly. Season the salsa with salt and pepper, to taste. Let the salsa set in a covered dish in the refrigerator for at least 10 minutes.

Heat a grill pan or indoor/outdoor grill to high. Drizzle extra-virgin olive oil over the tuna steaks and season with salt and pepper.

Grill tuna steaks 2 minutes on each side for rare, 3 minutes for medium, and 4 minutes for well done.

Stir salsa then serve liberal amounts on top of the steaks.

Robbie's Spicy Chicken Pasta

2 cups of penne pasta
6 cups of water
Salt and pepper
Vegetable oil
2 chicken breasts, cubed
1 jar of favorite canned spaghetti sauce
1 can of diced tomatoes
1 onion, diced
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tube of Gourmet Garden Italian Seasoning Herb Blend
1 glass of red wine
Hot sauce


Combine vegetable oil, salt, pepper, and water in a deep pot. Bring water to boil. When water reaches a boil, add pasta and let cook for 4 minutes. Drain pasta but do not rinse.

While pasta is being prepared, season the chicken in a bowl with salt, pepper, 1 tbsp. of hot sauce, and olive oil. Combine garlic and half of the diced onion in a separate bowl and season with salt and pepper.

Put 3 tbsps. of olive oil in a sauce pan and bring to a high heat. Add the onion/garlic mix and sweat until onions start to become clear. Add the chicken and cook until brown. Reduce heat to low. Add spaghetti sauce, diced tomatoes, 2 tbsps. of hot sauce, other half of the onion, and 1 oz. of the Italian herb blend. Use the wine to "clean" the sauce jar and add. Stir until all ingredients are thoroughly integrated. Let simmer under lid for 15 minutes. Remove lid, add pasta, and let simmer for an additional 8 minutes.

Serve in a pasta bowl (or a regular bowl or a dinner plate). Garnish with fresh parsley and Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Serves 4.

Music Video Friday: Drum Duet And Los Endos By Genesis

I'm not exactly sure, but I think this live performance was taken from the last Genesis tour a few years back. Phil Collins is acknowledged as one of the greatest percussionists to have ever sat behind a drum set, and rightly so. But, come on. Chester Thompson deserves a bit of recognition too. There aren't too many people who can keep pace with Phil.

And those other three guys on guitars and keyboards aren't too shabby either.



By the way, I love the set. It's most certainly a blatant nod to a previous concert tour's set design.

When The Cab Is At The Door, You Have To Take That Ride

Last night I got to thinking about the sudden yet not-completely-unexpected death of Amy Winehouse. She was 27 years old and joined an inauspicious group of famous people who left this physical plane at a young age.

First, I want to note that I didn't say "she left us too soon". Amy died when she was meant to die, not a moment too soon or too late. The world may not have been ready for her to go. But that is our fail of expectation. People die. Sometimes we're ready for it, as when someone suffers from a long-term illness. Sometimes we aren't, as when someone makes a quick exit that we didn't see coming (but should have). That's life.

My grandmother died of heart failure at the young age of 69. She was a feisty woman. She embodied life. But her time was done. I don't agree with it. My mother doesn't agree with it. My father doesn't. My siblings don't. My uncle and cousins don't. She was the dearest person in the world to me and I still hear her laugh, see her smile, smell her perfume and cigarettes. I wanted her to stick around long enough to see me married and with great-grandkids for her to enjoy. But them's the breaks. Her time on this earth was over.

One of my heroes and role models, Melvin Ray Batten, died around the same age and the same time. Mr. Batten was my high school music director. He introduced me to choral music. He taught me how to sing and how to read music. He planted in a small, frail, insecure boy the seed of self confidence. He showed me that the only thing that stands between me and what I want to achieve is me. I wasn't ready for him to go. A good number of people weren't either. But it was his time.

All of that is to say this: people die. We wish they could stick around forever. But they can't. That's not the way this universe was arranged. All we can do is honor their lives, acknowledge their memories, and share their love.

At some point during my week, The Lord Bless You And Keep You will play in my head. I always wear a locket with a picture of my grandmother in it. And I have Back To Black in my iTunes library.

We best honor those we've lost by never forgetting them.

Music Video Friday: I Am Glad, Cause I'm Finally Returning Back Home By Eduard Khil

You may not recognize the name of the artist or the title of this 1966 television performance, but I guarantee you that you've seen the video. There have been a ton of parodies and remixes to this Internet meme and I've watched or listened to a fair number of them.

But this remix by Bob Rovsky is my favorite of the bunch. It tactfully combines the playfulness and rib-poking that an Internet meme shows the artist with a reverence to the artist and the original material.

Without further ado, I present to you the earworm of the day. You're very welcome.

Music Video Friday: Wear My Hat By Phil Collins

No other artist ruled the 1980's like Phil Collins. From Genesis' Duke album with its wildly popular (and, IMHO, totally craptastic) "Misunderstanding" through his own solo album, ...But Seriously, you couldn't turn on the radio without hearing something in which he was involved.

Oh, Diarist. You're such an idiot. Everyone knows that the 1980's was the Decade Of The King Of Pop.

As a solo recording artist, I fully agree with you. There was no other act in music who could touch Michael Jackson. But Jackson didn't rule ... didn't own the 1980's the way Phil Collins did. Let's look at Collins' track record:

• All four of his solo albums released from 1981 to 1989 cracked the Top 10, with two of them going to the Number 1 spot and all of them reaching multi-Platinum sales.
• He provided Number 1 hit songs for three films during that time period.
• His work with Genesis saw three of their four offerings break the Top 10. (Duke, released in 1980, was the worst performer, reaching Number 11.) All four of those albums went Platinum as well. Four of the singles released from these albums reached the Top 10 with one going all the way to Number One.
• Of all the albums Collins produced, twelve were released in the 1980's. Including his solo work, he produced five Top 10 albums, with two going Number 1, and seventeen Top 10 singles, with six hitting Number 1.

And let's not even get started on the songs, concerts, and television shows on which he guest-performed. If you want more detail, The Eighties Club has a great run-down of what the man was up to during those ten years.

Anyway ... all that was to say that Phil had amassed a large and looming shadow over the music industry and had captured the hearts, minds, and wallets of the general public. He was poised to continue his domination of the music business deep into the next decade.

And then 1993 happened. His album that year wasn't a complete flop by reaching the Number 13 spot. But it most certainly took all the wind out of his sails. Now I'm all for artists following their hearts and making MUSIC, but music is a business and momentum is everything. And Both Sides killed his momentum. It could have been the solemn music or the IMPORTANT lyrics, but I think it was the decision to record the album by himself without his band that did him in. It gave it an unfinished demo, phoned-in feel. I think if he had brought his band in ... and produce it in a less-polished fashion ... he could have still reached that intimate experience and keep the attention of the general public.

Three years later, Phil released Dance Into The Light, a true "return to form". The album was light and bright but still managed to address IMPORTANT themes. AND it didn't contain any use of that blasted drum machine! (Seriously, dude, you're a drummer!) It's a shame that Both Sides ever happened. I think that if Dance Into The Light had followed ...But Seriously, it would have done much better than its Top 21 high point; it really deserved better than that. Maybe it wouldn't have been his third Number 1 album, but it would have been his fifth Top 10.

One of my favorite songs from Dance Into The Light is the completely pointless "Wear My Hat". Now I don't mean pointless as in "having no excuse for being". I mean pointless as in "having that frozen yogurt hurt my waistline but OMGZ was it good". The song is a funny poke a celebrity groupies and the video, while it isn't the most clever he's done, is still fun to watch.

This song ... this album ... went a long way to patching things up with fans and getting him back on track again. That is until he went and fucked things up again with Testify.

Music Video Friday: Killer Queen By FreddeGredde

This week's music video comes courtesy of my brother Jimmie. I offer it to you without further comment. Enjoy!

Music Video Friday: The Declaration Of Independence

There is no music video today. In three days, we will celebrate the day our country was born. Sure, I could post some patriotic ditty or another but for some reason I feel the need to be a bit more somber of America's 235th birthday. So instead, I offer you a scene from John Adams.

Five Reasons Montréal Métro Is Better Than Washington Metro

1. The wait for a train on Montréal Métro was never longer than 5 minutes ... on a holiday weekend no less! Good luck getting that kind of time from Washington Metro.
   
2. Compare this, one of Montréal Métro's most cavernous stations, to this, one of Washington Metro's most cavernous stations.
3. Montréal Métro's station names are concise while still giving even the first-time rider a sense of place. Very much unlike Washington Metro system's unfriendly and unwieldy naming convention.
4. TV! In the friggin' stations!
5. Because it's on rubber tires, the Montréal Métro sings a comforting tune as it arrives and departs. Nothing at all like the screeching and wailing of Washington Metro's trains.
   

Music Video Friday: Perform This Way By "Weird Al" Yankovic

I know. I know! This isn't Friday. It's Tuesday. But I couldn't post a video this past Friday, so I'm playing catch-up. Please enjoy this heartfelt offering from one of my generation's greatest performers.

Music Video Friday: My Time By Dutch Feat. Crystal Waters

This weekend is Capital Pride in the Nation's Capital. When I was a younger, less experienced homosexual, I participated in a lot of Pride activities. It was a way to be around like-minded people ... people who were otherwise mostly invisible. I was somewhere I could fit in and be my complete self openly and without fear. Yes, the world was a slightly different place back then.

As I've gotten older and more secure in the "complete me", I've found myself having less and less to do with Capital Pride events. It's not that I think it isn't still important to associate with people who are more like you. But I honestly have no idea what the point of it all is and I haven't found anyone who can tell me outside of established talking points. Even though my opinion of the festivities may have changed, I certainly do not begrudge those who do still enjoy it all.

To those of you who will be out and about showing the world how proud you are of being Out And About, this one's for you.