Music

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Music Perception Study

Via Johndan, a music perception study. You listen to pairs of tunes and then answer whether you think they're the same or slightly different. I got 22 out of 30 right, which appears to be about average (random guessing would yield a score of 15, according to the researchers).

Which is the better MC Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock song?

The Music Is Back

Remember that computer I used to tinker with? Well, some months back, I tinkered with it a little too much, because it wouldn't boot up. I just started using my iBook full time, but I still had two hard drives full of files, including music, that were trapped. Finally I broke down and paid an accomplished professional to investigate it. Well, I'm sad to say the motherboard is fried, but the guy who tried to fix it burned all my files to DVDs, so at least I have everything. It's nice to have music again. In honor of my data recovery, a random list of ten:

1. Me, Myself and I (De La Soul)
2. If Anyone Falls (Stevie Nicks)
3. Second Hand Rose (Barbra Streisand)
4. Gettin' It In (Jadakiss feat. Kanye West)
5. Head Over Heels (Go-Gos)
6. I Try (Macy Gray)
7. When Doves Cry (live) (Ani DiFranco & Aimee Mann)
8. Clair de Lune (Claude Debussy)
9. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman (Carole King)
10. Talking in Your Sleep (The Romantics)

Scenes that make you laugh/cry EVERY TIME

Shakespeare's Sister wants to know, What movie scenes always make you cry?

I am such an easy target when it comes to crying at movies, which is why I try to avoid sad movies at all costs, but here are some of mine.

Pretty in Pink, when Blaine says to Andie, "You said I never believed in you, that's not true, I always believed in you. You just didn't believe in me." *sniff*

The School of Rock, at the end when the kids perform on stage. And the girl who's so self-conscious about her weight sings her solo! And she's so GOOD!

Stealing Home, when Billy (Mark Harmon) has the flashback to something Katie (Jodie Foster) said, finally knows what he must do with her ashes, and then runs out and scatters them.

On Golden Pond, when Ethel (Katharine Hepburn) defends Norman (Henry Fonda) against Chelsea's (Jane Fonda) harsh words. Then again in the "you're my knight in shining armor" scene.

Steel Magnolias, Sally Field at the funeral.

And then Amanda asks which scenes always make us laugh.

The School of Rock, when Jack Black is showing that one kid how to adopt the "power stance" when he's playing the guitar.

Raising Arizona, as Nicolas Cage is being chased through the store but still trying to get those Huggies. The physical comedy is pure genius, and the word "huggies" is hilarious in their accents.

Over at The Valve, there's a recent post about spoilers in which Laura and the commenters are talking about "the long-term durability of a story (ie its ability to withstand and reward repeated engagements.)." So far Coleridge has been quoted, but Kenneth Burke talks about this too in "Psychology and Form" in Counter-Statement when he makes the distinction between the "psychology of form" and the "psychology of information." There's more to say about that, but I'm too tired. I'll just end with this link to "the 5 songs that we've ruined thanks to irony." This guy, by the way, has the best blog title ever.

2 Unlimited

As I suffered through my Stairmaster workout yesterday (I hate exercise, and I'm done with pretending I don't), I was listening to my Club Mix: The 90's CD, and "Get Ready for This" by 2 Unlimited came on. You've all heard it, if not in actual clubs in the 90s, you've at least heard its stimulating keyboard hook at any given sporting event. That song is an aural testosterone/adrenaline cocktail.

I wish a good music journalist would write a complete cultural history of that song. If I recall correctly -- and I could very well be off here -- it got a lot of play at gay bars before it became more of a mainstream club hit. It would be interesting to interview the members of 2 Unlimited, find out how they came together, what they're doing now, how much money they've made and continue to make from that one song, etc. This could also be done in a VH-1 Behind the Music-type format, but with a focus on the circulation and appropriation of the song, not just the artist. What other songs could have their own episodes?

More Music

A little more music you should buy right now...

From Nouvelle Vague, Nouvelle Vague (an album of covers, BTW):

Love Will Tear Us Apart

This Is Not a Love Song (I prefer this version to PIL's original)

Making Plans for Nigel

From William Shatner, Has Been:

Common People

Ideal Woman

And, finally, from The Perceptionists, Black Dialogue:

Memorial Day (It's about the war in Iraq and the Bush Administration -- good stuff)

Again with the disclaimer from G Zombie:

MP3 files are posted for evaluation purposes only. Availability is limited: usually 24 hours. Through this site, I'm trying to share and promote good music with others, who will also hopefully continue to support these artists. Everyone is encouraged to purchase music and concert tickets for the artists you feel merit your hard earned dollars. If you hold copyright to one of these songs and would like the file removed, please let me know.

UPDATE: This one's for Jim at the Blogora.

Music!

Here's a sampling from my new Jean Ritchie CDs, Mountain Hearth & Home and Jean Ritchie and Doc Watson Live at Folk City, both of which you should buy right now:

What'll I Do With the Baby-O (lyrics) (I hope that in a few years, I'll be playing and singing along to this song in the middle of the night, dancing around in an effort to soothe my fussy baby. Maybe Jodi can use it now. :-))

Jubilee

O Love Is Teasin'

The L and N Don't Stop Here Anymore (very sad)

One More Mile

I've decided to use this disclaimer from G Zombie:

MP3 files are posted for evaluation purposes only. Availability is limited: usually 24 hours. Through this site, I'm trying to share and promote good music with others, who will also hopefully continue to support these artists. Everyone is encouraged to purchase music and concert tickets for the artists you feel merit your hard earned dollars. If you hold copyright to one of these songs and would like the file removed, please let me know.

Dissertation Theme Song(s)

The Mountain Goats, "This Year." As if it could be any other song.

Okay, okay, it could also be MC Hammer's "Turn This Mutha Out."

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