The Keynes / Hayek Rematch Video

This is pretty epic and if the sergeant stripes were not inverted and it didn't flow over my template it would be near perfect.

Stars and Stripes Forever - Muppet Style

Wow. The Muppets celebrate Independence Day in the manner they are accustomed.

(Hat tip to Deacon Greg)

The Boys of the NYPD Choir Still Singing Galway Bay

It's Christmas time again.  I'm very sentimental and love the Perry Como/Bing Crosby catalog, but I also think this song is brilliant. (RIP Kristy McColl)

Santa Drives a Truck

Every year I lament the musical injustice that Rob Ervin's "Santa Drives a Truck" is not in heavy rotation and making a mint in royalties for my old WBGU-FM radio buddy.

In hopes that there will be sweater-in-the-drugstore moment, I share Santa Drives a Truck with you on Amaze.fm.

And If you are an A&R person looking for talent, I think I can get in touch with him for you.

Update: Thanks, everybody! Song of the Week!

A New Elf Yourself Creation

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Pandora Reminds Me...

that Del Amitri's "The Last To Know" may be the most perfect song of the 1990's.

Prepare for St. Paddy's Day the Muppet Way

Belgrade's Most Popular Irish Band

I'm not a world traveler. But I hear that no matter where you find yourself, you can have a pint at an Irish bar. With this in mind, I share with you a video I stumbled upon on YouTube. It is by the Orthodox Celts. The description says they are Belgrade's most popular Irish and Celtic band. I can't argue with that, but do wonder how crowded is the Irish music scene in that part of world.

100 Greatest Songs of the 90's - Really?

I didn't see the whole show on VH-1. They say "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is the #1 song of 90's. You could make that argument, of course. I mean, if it was good enough for Full Action Hose to cover, it must be pretty good. They pegged "One" by U2 as #2. If you ask me - for pure songwriting and emotional impact - they had them flip-flopped. I contend that a listener in 2008 who had never heard either song would tell you "One" is the better song.

I do not know where "How do you talk to an angel?" was slotted.

CMA Recap

I enjoyed watching the CMA's very much. Glad to see the people who won. They deserved it. Now here is my red carpet recap - I guess that makes me a Joan Rivers wannabe without the annoying voice.

LeAnn Rimes - nice dress I guess but she is so pale that I don't think I like it that much.

Taylor swift - nice dress - she looks like an emmy award.

Jewell - can you say boob job?? That doesn't look natural - it looks like it hurts to be honest with you.

Sara Evans is really pretty but this dress reminds me of my sister's first homecoming dress back in 1988. I think it might have helped things if it went below the knees and what is up with the Wilma Flinstone jewelry??

Kellie Pickler looked nice. She did a nice job of not accentuating the boob job.

The elegant award winners go to Carrie Underwood and Martina McBride. Both looking awesome as always!

Croc Guitar

Outside the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

Outrageous! a-ha was robbed!

What!? VH1 Classic is a pretty sure bet for a child of the Eighties when he is up late with his child of 2006. Always a video on that start a trip down memory lane. Sometimes Memory Lane is a dead end, but that is another topic for another day.

Last night I was watching VH1 Classic and they had "20 Top Videos of the Eighties" or some such thing. A countdown of ...well...you get it. Anyhow, whoever assigned rank and value to these videos must have the artistic sensibility of Twinkie addled baboon. They put "Take On Me" by a-ha at number eight. How in the name of Cindi Lauper can they place that video any lower the number one? That video is the best video of the Eighties. I don't know what they said was number one. I went to bed when "Take On Me" was named eight. It does not matter. Sure. Dire Straits' "Money For Nothing" was good. I could almost live with that. ZZ Tops' "Sharp Dressed Man" is almost worthy. But neither top "Take On Me"

I have a sick feeling that "Thriller" won. Don't tell me if you know. I am SO over it. That show was totally bogus.

music, tv

Sara Evans - State Theater

Thanks to the generosity of my brother and his wife, Joyce and Matthew K got to see Sara Evans when she played the State Theater in Cleveland last week. Oh My! The nicest seats a man could ask for. I now know the following about Ms. Evans:

1. She is better performer in concert than I had suspected.
2. Her band is very good.
3. She matches her toenail polish to her shoes.
4. Her perfume is delightful.
5. Freckles can be lovely.
   

I was really impressed by her stage presence. The show was well paced, with just the right amount of banter and introduction of the material. Her song selection on the albums carried through to excellent pacing in concert.

And did I mention she is a charmer? I would swear she was singing only to me during "Perfect". I know that is not the case. But that is the mark of an engaging performer. I would highly recommend you see her perform if she graces a stage near you.

Kudos to Radney Foster, who opened with an acoustic set of about a half hour. A member of Foster and Lloyd (I played their albums in my college radio days), he has also written hits for Sara Evans and Keith Urban. Some songwriters are shaky singers, not our Mr. Foster. Very strong voice, good guitar. I'd enjoy a longer show from him.

Technorati tags: Sara Evans, Radney Foster, music

Christmas on the radio

I hear it is a national trend that more radio stations are playing Christmas music, and they started earlier. My local market seems to follow this trend. With all those hours to fill, do you suppose the overall quality of the music suffers? Do the programmers think we will tire of Bing and Perry and Nat and Burl? Do they pump in Twisted Sister to add spice? (I actually heard Twisted Sister singing Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas on NPR today. No pledge for You!)

Personally, I can't make an informed decision about the merits of more Christmas music on the radio. I listen to CDs. And I usually don't have the luxury of choosing them. But I'm not complaining, because John and James have really good taste in music. Too soon to tell with Patrick, but Mommy is training him well.

John heard We Three Kings the other day and he said "Hey! Is that George Strait?" Gotta love that!

Santa Drives A Truck

Rob Ervin & The High Strung Lifters are a "rockin'-country-poppy-folky outfit", Ohio- based and fun loving. You might sense this when you listen to "Santa Drives A Truck" a soon-to-be holiday classic. While you are visiting their website, check out "$30 Thursday" and "A Hound Dog Will Always Be True".

These guys perform witty, catchy original music. Tell your friends, commit the lyrics to heart and whistle these tunes in the shower. You will thank me later when your life improves immeasurably.

Cool Tunes on Yahoo!

Yahoo has a music service, basically musical programming similar to Internet only radio stations. It is free, but we get premium access because we have DSL service through AT&T Yahoo!. I have really been enjoying it lately. The stations I usually listen to are 1980's pop and rock, jazz, holiday tunes of various genres. And kids friendly stations when the boys are awake.

One of enjoyable things about new media is discovering new bands/songs you'd have to be real lucky to catch on your local college radio broadcast. I heard a song by The Sprites called "I Started A Blog Nobody Read". Hit a little too close to home, but a fun ditty.