Bohemian Rhapsody Muppet Style

This is doing the rounds at the moment so why not jump on the band wagon.

Beaker is the best...

Lowdown

It's Friday y'all and it is HOT HOT HOT in Sydney.

41 degrees celcius in Sydneys west. Great beach weather.

Today's track is one of those songs where I think "he's pretty fly for a white guy".

Boz Scagg's Lowdown is one of those tracks that is so laid back with that funk/soul/groove thang going on that it is just cool. It reminds me of driving at night in Sydney during summer with the window down and going across the Spit bridge.

I didn't know this until recently (ok maybe 2 minutes ago) but Lowdown was written by the guys from the band Toto before they were Toto (they were/are talented session musicians).

A bit of trivia about this track: The producers of the movie Saturday Night Fever asked to use Lowdown but were turned down by Boz Scaggs' manager. I bet they were kicking themselves when they saw the album sales for SNF.

Lip Sych?

There has been a bit of media coverage in Australia surrounding the Britney Spears tour. For those that don't know, Britney lip synchs practically 98% of her show (I have heard that she sings some of her ballads live but I have never been to her concert so I don't know 100%)

The issue that has been raised is the amount of money people are outlaying to see a live show ($200 upwards in many cases) when in fact it is lip synched.

I know that most artists these days are using some kind of "help" with their "live" performances. A lot use vocal boosting (where they sing over the top of their pre recorded track), auto tuning (where bum notes can be eliminated live) and a pre record of them singing in rehearsal live then played back for the show. So there are lots of ways to cheat and appear like you are singing live without having to mime an entire show.

My feelings regarding lip synching are echoed by none other than Sir Elton John in the clip below at 0:55

Romeo Void

Today I am featuring two tracks from the 80's San Franciscan, New Wave band Romeo Void.

I can't say I know a lot about Romeo Void other than they were more popular within the college scene at the time and that Ric Ocasek  from the Cars co produced their EP.

The track "Never say never" is probably best known for the chorus "I might like you better if we slept together" and for featuring in the movie "Reckless" with Daryl Hannah and Aiden Quinn. Not long ago I heard (once again) a dreadful dance remake of this very good song.

The track "A Girl in trouble (is a temporary thing) was apparentlty written by lead singer Deborah Lyall as an answer song to Michael Jackson's Billie Jean. A reader on You Tube is of the opinion that this track is about abortion: "Both songs are about the devastation of unplanned pregnancy, one from a male viewpoint, one from a female viewpoint." Interesting. I'm not sure if that is correct or not but it makes for a good theory.

Never Say Never


A Girl in Trouble (is a temporary thing)

Wild Horses

Yesterday was Melbourne Cup day in Australia. The race that stops the nation. I am sure there are a few people out there nursing some sore heads today.

So todays song is Mebourne Cup inspired (somewhat..I was having trouble thinking of horse related songs that were above a 6 year old level).

Enjoy Gino Vannelli's "Wild Horses"