For those of you in the Chicago area, especially those who helped put together the Be-All, my condolences on the loss of activist Julie Anne Johnson. She was a cool lady & liked trains more than I do, even. The Chicago Tribune carried her obituary.
Two Tune Tuesday: To Madison’s Protesters
How could I not? Billy Bragg, modern labor troubador, at your service. (He’s damned good live, if you get the chance.)
For those labor geeks out there, there’s a recording of the original Florence Reece song “Which Side Are You On?” on YouTube. You can listen to Billy Bragg’s studio version of that song, too, which is one of my all-time favorites.
(thanks to my friend Cleo of the band Alright Alright for reminding me of the 2nd track!)
Two Tune Tuesday: Devotchka
Two Tune Tuesday: Bright Eyes
In honor of his new one, People’s Keys (which you can hear over at NPR), here’s two tracks by Bright Eyes, Conor Oberst both quiet & loud:
Two Tune Tuesday: What You (Didn’t) Say
I heard the Toby Lightman on an episode of Bones the other day & the lyrics leapt out at me — as lyrics will when they are so close to what you’re already feeling. In looking for a song to go with it, I wanted Elvis Costello’s cover of “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” and found instead Via Tania’s — and I’d never heard of her before but was pretty stunned with how gorgeous and different her cover was.
Everyday is a struggle between what I wanna say
And what I should keep to myself
And the words that manage to leave my lips
Don’t hurt me, but they hurt everyone else Continue reading “Two Tune Tuesday: What You (Didn’t) Say”
Gaga Sings the Trans
Lady Gaga’s new song “Born This Way” from her upcoming CD Born This Way has these lyrics:
Bridge
Don’t be a drag, be a queen
Whether you’re broke or evergreen
You’re black, white, beige chola descent
You’re Lebanese, You’re Orient
Whether life’s disabilities
Left you outcast, bullied or teased
Rejoice and love yourself today
Cause baby you we’re born this way
No matter gay, straight, or bi
Lesbian, transgendered life
I’m on the right track baby
I was born to survive
No matter black, white or beige
Chola or Orient made
I’m on the right track baby
I was born to be brave
And to temper the news, read this critique of the Gaga when she gets it wrong on LGBT issues.
Two Tune Tuesday: Amanda Palmer Shows Off Her Bush
By god this is brilliant:
Amanda Palmer & The Young Punx – “Map of Tasmania” Music Video from Amanda Palmer on Vimeo.
She’s Neil Gaiman’s wife, and formerly of The Dresden Dolls. It’s kinda hard not to hate her, except that I can’t, exactly because of songs like this — and there is way too much Ants style going on (& maybe some Ari Up, too).
Two Tune Tuesday: Cage the Elephant
Wow do I hate their name, but I heard this “wicked” track on the radio the other day & thought they had an interesting thing going on. I can’t make up my mind where it’s coming from: I alternately think of Aerosmith, early Beck, the Pistols (there’s some John Lydon in his voice) & Nirvana.
Hugely derivative, yet still entertaining.
Two Tune Tuesday: Pink
A student mentioned her in my feminist theory class – as an example of a cool feminist woman in the media – so here she is, first hit & most recent. I’ve always loved that she flaunts her lack of dainty, and how can you not someone who came up with “too school for cool”? Count me in: wrong in all the right ways, indeed.
It Gets Better (Music Video edition)
It’s a singalong!
One day you’ll look back and you won’t give a fuck
When you’re swimming through your pussy vault like Scrooge Fucking Mcduck
And when you’re snatching your first grammy super glammy lookin slick
It wont be much time till they get in line for a chance to suck your dick
All the lyrics here, but those are my favorite: I’m pretty sure pussy and Scrooge McDuck have never appeared in a song lyric together before.